heart-check food certification program application packet

Program Changes and Enhancements
In September 2011, the American Heart Association announced changes to the Heart-Check Food Certification
Program that make choosing more types of healthy foods even easier for consumers. Some changes took effect
immediately; others will go into effect Jan. 15, 2014. See below for a summary of program changes.
Heart-Check Program Changes & Compliance Requirements (announced Sept. 15, 2011)
Program Change
Standard (FDA-regulated products)
certification: Total fat criterion increased
from less than or equal to 3 grams to less
than 6.5 grams. Product must meet
American Heart Association nutritional
guidelines and qualify under Docket
#2006Q-0458: Saturated Fat, Cholesterol
and Trans Fat and Reduced Risk of
Heart Disease health claim.
Expansion to certify eligible nuts:
Almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans,
pistachios, walnuts and some pine nuts.
Products must meet American Heart
Association nutritional guidelines and
qualify under Docket #02P-0505: Nuts
and Coronary Heart Disease health
claim.
Expansion to certify fish meeting
American Heart Association criteria and
qualify under Docket #2003Q-0401:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Reduced Risk
of Coronary Heart Disease health claim.
Sodium criterion: One of four sodium
levels was assigned to particular food
categories based on the evaluation
criteria: 140 mg, 240 mg, 360 mg or 480
mg sodium.
Fiber/sugar/calorie screening
guidelines: Sugar screening guidelines
developed for food categories that tend
to have higher levels of added sugar, but
make a positive contribution to the diet in
the way of natural fruit, whole grains,
fiber, etc.
Mark/graphic standards: The revised
single version of the Heart-Check mark
replaces the multiple versions: Standard,
Whole Grain and Extra Lean.
120-Day Written
Notification
Required
Written Notification
Effective
Compliance Effective Date
Yes - Waived N/A Effective immediately
No N/A Effective immediately
No N/A Effective immediately
Yes - Issued Sept. 15,
2011
Yes - Issued Sept. 15,
2011
Yes - Issued Sept. 15,
2011
Account Management Structure and Staff
Jan. 15, 2012
Jan. 15, 2012
Jan. 15, 2012
The Heart-Check program staff provides a personalized experience for every participant.
Jan. 15, 2014 for all certified products
Jan.15, 2014 for all certified products
in the following categories: milk and
milk alternatives, yogurt, certain grainbased
products, fruit juices, vegetable
juices, canned fruits and vegetables
and frozen fruit
New mark on packages and
promotional materials by Jan. 15,
2014
New companies work with April Whitfield, Manager of Business Relations and Account Services, to learn more
about the Heart-Check Food Certification Program, navigate the company application process and submit a
product for certification. She can be reached at 214-706-1879 or April.Whitfield@heart.org.
Once your product(s) is certified, you are assigned an Account Manager. The Account Manager is your primary
contact for adding and renewing products, resolving certification-related issues, sharing program or association
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© Copyright 2012 American Heart Association Heart-Check Food Certification Program, Rev. 1/2012