A new, voluntary, nutrition-labelling system, “Smart Choices,” made its debut at the American Dietetic Association’s Food and Nutrition Conference this week.<\/p>\n
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To help Americans make smarter nutrition choices and improve public health, a diverse group of scientists, academicians, health organizations, food and beverage manufacturers and retailers have created a new, voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labeling system called the Smart Choices Program(TM).<\/em><\/p>\n
The Smart Choices Program was motivated by the need for a single, trusted and reliable front-of-pack nutrition labeling program that U.S. food manufacturers and retailers could voluntarily adopt to help consumers make more nutritious food and beverage choices that fit within their daily calorie needs.<\/em><\/p>\n
The Smart Choices Program was unveiled today at the American Dietetic Association’s Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo and will begin appearing on food and beverage packaging next year.<\/em><\/p>\n
The Smart Choices Program was developed under the leadership of The Keystone Center, a non-profit organization that specializes in creating consensus solutions to public health problems. The Smart Choices Program includes a symbol that identifies more nutritious choices within specific product categories and provides calorie information that identifies calories per serving and servings per container on front-of-pack, with the intent to help people stay within their daily calorie needs.<\/em><\/p>\n
Several companies have stated that, although not all the details are yet settled, they are likely implementers of the Smart Choices Program. These include Coca-Cola (US), ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Kellogg Company (US), Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Unilever (US) and Wal-Mart. Companies that have joined The Keystone Center’s Food and Nutrition Roundtable recently, including Nestle, are in the process of reviewing the program elements and assessing possible implementation of the program.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n