Making healthier options easier to choose
Eating well should be easy. Nevertheless, it can be confusing to know exactly what foods and drinks are a healthier choice. That's where the Eat Smart™ and Drink Smart™ logos come in. You'll find these logos on the front of packs of all our foods and drinks that meet specific Unilever criteria which are based on U.S. Dietary Guidelines. You will also find information about dietary guidelines and the nutritional composition of each product on our food labels.
Busy shoppers
You may lead a busy life but that doesn't mean you don't care about eating a healthier and smarter diet. Most people take only a few seconds when choosing food items, so the Eat Smart™ and Drink Smart™ logos will help you quickly identify the smarter option amongst all Unilever products to form part of a nutritious and varied diet. Shopping for smarter foods and drinks never has been easier.
Understanding information on nutrition
Eating well should be easy. Nevertheless, it can be confusing to know exactly what's a 'healthier choice' when it comes to buying food and drink. All too often there's a lack of straightforward information and it can be difficult to know how to use the information already provided on food packages. A recent study conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) provides valuable information on consumer's current knowledge about foods and a healthy diet and confirms that most consumers could benefit from a clear simple system to help make good food choices. The report can be found on the IFIC website.
That's why we are introducing the Eat Smart™ and Drink Smart™ logos – to help you quickly and easily identify those Unilever products which are better for you. As part of an otherwise healthy diet, selecting these products can help you reduce your intake of trans fats, saturated fats, sodium (salt), sugars and cholesterol. The products bearing the logo meet specific criteria created by Unilever for trans fats, saturated fats, sodium (salt) and sugars. These criteria are based on U.S. Dietary Guidelines. In addition, the products that bear the logo in the U.S. also take into account cholesterol.
The role of nutrients in the diet
All nutrients are important to a healthy, nutritious diet. However, many people in the United States and around the world consume more than the recommended daily amount of trans fats, saturated fats, sugars, sodium (salt), and cholesterol. Reducing the amounts of these nutrients in the diet can contribute to health and overall well-being. That's why the Eat Smart™ and Drink Smart™ logos are so important. When you see it on your favourite products, you can be even more confident about the food you're eating. In addition to these logos, look at our labels for additional information about the way our products may help you get the nutrients your body needs and other potential health benefits. Look for products that are good sources of many nutrients and help you meet the dietary goals described by the USDA's MyPyramid plan.
Healthier eating & dietary guidelines for Americans
U.S Dietary Guidelines recommend a diet based on a variety of foods rich in nutrients within calorie needs to help maintain a healthy weight. A healthy eating pattern is based on selecting foods that are low in trans fats, saturated fats, added sugars, sodium and cholesterol while providing portions of cereals and whole grains, better-for-you oils, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, lean meats and fruits, vegetables and legumes.
International Choices Foundation
The Eat Smart - Drink Smart Program in the U.S. is part of the International Choices Foundattion.
The International Choices Foundation is a world-wide initiative set up to make the healthier choice the easy choice. It has introduced a simple front-of-pack logo on food products that have passed an evaluation against a set of qualifying criteria based on international dietary guidelines. Those criteria are periodically reviewed by an independent international scientific committee made up of leading scientists.
