Agricultural News
American Heart Association Certifies Extra Lean Ground Beef
Tue, 10 Feb 2015 09:50:55 CST
The Beef Checkoff Program announced that Extra Lean Ground Beef (Ground Beef that is at least 96% lean, 4% fat) is now certified by the American Heart Association® to display its recognized and respected Heart-Check mark. Retailers now have the opportunity to help identify eight different extra lean beef items as options for part of an overall healthy diet to their shoppers using one of the most trusted nutrition icons on food packaging today.
The extra lean beef cuts that meet the American Heart Association's® requirements for heart-healthy foods as part of an overall healthy dietary pattern, and are certified to display the Heart-Check mark, include:
-- Extra Lean Ground Beef (96% lean, 4% fat)
-- Bottom Round Steak (USDA Select grade)
-- Sirloin Tip Steak (USDA Select grade)
-- Top Sirloin Petite Roast, Boneless (USDA Select grade)
-- Top Sirloin Strips (USDA Select grade)
-- Top Sirloin Filet (USDA Select grade)
-- Top Sirloin Kabob (USDA Select grade)
-- Top Sirloin Steak, Boneless, Center Cut (USDA Select grade)
The Heart-Check mark makes it easy to spot heart-healthy foods in the grocery store or when dining out. Simply look for the name of the American Heart Association along with our familiar red heart with a white check mark on the package or menu. But not all red hearts you see are from the American Heart Association; look for the AHA name to be sure.
When you spot the American Heart Association's Heart-Check mark, you'll instantly know the food has been certified to meet our nutrition requirements. It's a good first step in creating an overall sensible eating plan.
Help consumers make shopping decisions to fit their needs and lifestyles by educating them about the health benefits of their food. To this end we will continue to support valid science to show consumers how extra lean beef is part of a healthy diet.
Before putting its Heart-Check mark on any food, the American Heart Association® evaluates it against nutrition requirements based on sound science regarding healthy dietary recommendations, food categories, specific product ingredients and nutrient values.
Multiple retailers with hundreds of stores across the U.S. currently display the Heart-Check mark on certified beef items in the meat case. Retailers and processors can work with the Beef Checkoff Program to receive a discount on the certification fee for the American Heart Association® Food Certification Program.
Resources such as on-pack labels, posters and recipes are available for retailers to use in store and in shopper communications to promote the certified beef cuts.
To learn more about participating in the American Heart Association® Food Certification Program, click here.
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