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Heart-Check Mark Nutritional Guidelines
  • Updated:Jan 2,2013

Looking for the American Heart Association's Heart-Check mark on food packaging in the grocery store is a good first step in creating a sensible eating plan. In Sept. 2011, changes and enhancements to the program were made to be inclusive of foods that can be building blocks to a heart-healthy dietary pattern.

To be certified, a product must meet the specific nutritional levels. These levels are based on a single serving size as specified by the FDA for an individual food (officially known as Reference Amount Customarily Consumed or RACC) unless otherwise specified. Other aspects of federal health claim regulations may also apply.

View this chart to see the nutrition guidelines. 
 

Heart-Check Food Certification Program Nutritional Guidelines

  • Total Fat: Less than 6.5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1 g or less and 15% or less calories from saturated fat
  • Trans Fat: Less than 0.5 g (and label serving)
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg or less
  • Sodium: 480 mg or less (also per label serving)
  • Beneficial Nutrients: 10% or more of the Daily Value of 1 of 6 nutrients (vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein or dietary fiber)

Other:

  • Unsweetened popcorn is the only certifiable products in the snack category.
  • No desserts are eligible for certification.
  • Beverage certification is limited to milk, dairy alternatives (such as soy milk, rice milk, and nut milk), drinkable yogurts, fruit juices and vegetable juices.

Nutritional changes effective Jan. 2014:

  • Grain-Based Products: Certifiable grain-based products include breads; biscuits; cereals (ready-to-eat & cooked); crackers; pancakes, French toast; waffles; muffins, and sweet quick-type breads. All grain-based products must be a good source of dietary fiber (10-19% DAILY VALUE per RACC) and contain 7g or less Total Sugars per serving. If the product is an excellent source of dietary fiber (20% or more Daily Value per RACC), the limit is 9 g or less Total Sugars per serving, Sugars from pieces of fruit do not count toward the total sugar allowance but amounts and sources must be disclosed.
  • Grain-based bars are not eligible for certification.
  • Certifiable juices must be 100% juice or 100% juice plus water with no added sugars/sweeteners (this excludes non-nutritive sweeteners), 120 calories or less per 8 fl oz, and a minimum of 10% Daily Value for 3 nutrients for which a Daily Value exists. At least one of these beneficial nutrients must satisfy the 10% Daily Value level (i.e. jelly bean rule) requirement.
  • Total sugar for yogurt is limited to 20 grams or less per standard 6-ounce serving.
  • Milk and milk alternatives must have 130 calories or less per 8 fl oz.
  • No “Heavy Syrup” allowed for canned fruits and vegetables, including potatoes and sweet potatoes.
  • Frozen fruit must be 100% fruit with no added sugar.
  • Sodium limits by category.

We're on your side. When a product is close to exceeding the limits for fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fat or sodium, we conduct lab testing to verify that it meets our nutritional criteria.

It's just another reason why the heart-check mark is a symbol that you can trust when shopping for heart-healthy foods in the grocery store. 

We do not currently certify: medical foods, dietary supplements, meal replacements, alcoholic beverages, candy or confections, desserts, any product containing stanol-sterols, any product whose end result per preparation instruction on the package does not meet our criteria, other products that do not align with American Heart Association Science, are inconsistent with AHA Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations, or product names that convey an unhealthy message that could adversely affect the credibility of the program.

No donations are used to support the Heart-Check program.  Participating food manufacturers in the Food Certification Program pay an administrative fee to the American Heart Association which is used to cover program operating expenses. 

 




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