Supervalu Rolls Out Nutrition Labeling Program
By Pork news staff
| Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Supervalu has joined a handful of other grocery retailers in providing an in-store labeling program to provide nutrition information about foods. The program called "nutrition iQ," is "designed to help consumers make healthier choices," say company officials.
Minneapolis-based grocer developed the program in collaboration with Joslin Clinic, which is an academic medical center affiliated with Harvard Medical School. It uses Food and Drug Administration Nutrient Content Claims as a framework to determine the nutritional benefits of products that meet certain criteria.
A product that meets the criteria is further evaluated to identify its top one or two nutritional benefits. Those benefits are then highlighted with color-coded shelf tags. For example, products that are an "excellent or good source of protein" have yellow tags, products that are low calorie have purple tags and products low in saturated fat have red tags.
Company officials say the program will roll out nationwide in two phases in more than 1,300 Supervalu-owned stores.
Other grocery retailers that have similar labeling programs include Giant Foods, Bloom and Sweetbay supermarkets.
Source: Supervalue, Meatingplace.com
