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Major Brands Cutting Calories from Supermarket Shelves

by Jeremy Holcombe

Major food companies are holding true to their word by removing a total of over 6.4 trillion calories from supermarket shelves, in an attempt to promote healthy living and weight control.

According to Health Day News, a recent report funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), a respected nonprofit group, evaluated the pledge made by 16 major food companies to remove 1 trillion calories from the marketplace by 2012, and 1.5 trillion calories by 2015. So far, the companies have topped their 2015 pledge by more than 400%.

“This is good for the American people by helping to reduce the obesity epidemic,” said Dr. James Marks, senior vice president and director of the health group at RWJF.

How Are They Reducing Calories?

Major brands such as Hershey’s Miniatures, Coca-Cola Zero, Pepsi Next, Special K Cracker Chips, Keebler Mini Fudge Stripes, and Ball Park Lean Beef Franks are participating in this calorie reduction project, by:

  • Reformulating Products
  • Developing New Products
  • Repackaging Products to Make the Portions Smaller

To remove calories from the marketplace, the companies formed the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation in 2009.

In 2007, the 16 companies sold 60.4 trillion calories, which provided the baseline for their pledge. In 2012, they sold 54 trillion calories. This 6.4 trillion calorie reduction means that, on average, every person in the United States is consuming 78 fewer calories each day, according to the RWJF report.

“We are excited about this report because we have exceeded our goals,” said Lisa Gable, president of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. “This really speaks to the competitive nature of this market,” she added.

Major brands will continue to cut calories from supermarket shelves, part of a bigger plan to help Americans live healthier. Hopefully the new project will do just that.

Sources: Health Day NewsRobert Wood Johnson Foundation | Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation

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