Over 1,000 Food Labels Now Carry Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Logo

Logo Helps Moms Make Healthy, Informed Purchases

WILMINGTON, Del., July 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Moms shopping for healthy options can now find the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters(R) logo on over 1,000 different food labels in stores nationwide. To carry the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters logo, food products must meet strict nutrition guidelines for total fat, saturated fat, trans-fat, added sugar, fiber, and sodium content. Consumers can look for the logo when shopping as a designation that a product is nutritious and to remind them to eat more fruits and vegetables for better health. Healthful habits, like eating fruits and vegetables, may help lower the risk of obesity and other related diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Retailers, growers, packers and manufacturers across the country support the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption by including the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters logo prominently on both nationally marketed, brand name products, like those from Green Giant, Sunkist, Welch's, and others, as well as on the private label products of several grocery chains. A&P is the latest grocery retailer to have some of their private label frozen and canned fruits and vegetables approved to include the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters logo on their packaging. Other retailers featuring the logo on a number of select items from their private label line include: Bi-Lo, Kroger, Meijer, Publix, Safeway, Schnuck's, SuperValu, Ukrop's, Wal-Mart, and Weis.

"When you see the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters logo on a package of frozen, canned, 100 percent juice, dried, or fresh-cut fruit or vegetables, you know we've already done the label reading for you. It makes purchasing decisions easier," said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president and CEO of PBH, the nonprofit entity who, together with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is behind the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters health initiative. "Not all products will qualify to use the logo; we evaluate each product's ingredients and nutrition panel to ensure that it meets CDC's stringent guidelines before we allow the logo to appear on its packaging."

Pivonka said she is pleased that shoppers can find the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters logo on many products throughout the store, as well as in the fresh produce section. "The logo helps Moms add more fruits and vegetables to their meals and snacks and make informed, healthy purchases. While there are other good products on the market that contain a substantial amount of fruits and veggies, because indeed more matters, you can be assured that items carrying the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters logo are the best of the best."

She added that the logo exemplifies PBH's commitment to helping Moms make better choices and that more fresh, frozen, canned, 100 percent juice, and dried fruit and vegetable products are being submitted for logo certification every week.

Consumers can look for the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters logo on product packaging as an easy way to help them add more fruits and vegetables to their family's plate. Additional tips can be found on the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters website, www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org.

Note to editors: for a print or web quality image of the Fruits & Veggies--More Matters logo, contact Jill LeBrasseur at jlebrasseur@pbhfoundation.org .

Produce for Better Health Foundation

CONTACT: Jill M. Le Brasseur, Communications Specialist, Produce for
Better Health Foundation, +1-302-235-2329, jlebrasseur@pbhfoundation.org

Web site: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/
http://www.pbhfoundation.org/