When you go shopping, you're often in a hurry. Even though you want the best possible foods for your family, reading all those labels might seem too difficult and time consuming. There are hundreds of choices, each product claiming to be the best. What can you do? Well, the American Heart Association (AHA) can help.
The AHA Food Certification Program
You might have seen the small red heart with a white check mark in the middle on some of the packaged foods you buy at the supermarket. And you might not be sure what it means.
The AHA and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work together to review a wide variety of foods. Foods that meet the AHA/FDA criteria are allowed to include the heart-check mark on the label of their products. The criteria are specific and consumer-friendly.
In order to receive the AHA heart-check mark, a single serving of food (size as specified by the FDA) must meet all of the following nutritional criteria:
- Low fat (less than or equal to 3 grams per serving)
- Low saturated fat (less than or equal to 1 gram per serving)
- Low cholesterol (less than or equal to 20 milligrams per serving)
- Sodium less than or equal to 480 milligrams per serving
- Must contain at least 10 percent of the Daily Value of one or more of these nutrients: protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, or dietary fiber
- (For meat) Must be extra lean
How It Helps You
Anything that makes shopping easy, convenient, and healthier for your family is worth checking out. Look for the heart-check mark on a label. It's simple, and it guarantees that a food meets the AHA standards.
- It is convenient - The information you need is easy to see.
- It saves time - The heart-check mark is easy to see.
- It is trustworthy - The information comes from the AHA and FDA, not advertisers.
- It is widespread - Hundreds of foods in all parts of the U.S. are included.
Take advantage of the ease, safety, and security of choice and in knowing you are making healthy choices for yourself and your family. |
