Vilsack espouses Health Initiative program

U.S. Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack says Americans have “serious challenges” with sodium and sugar and a U.S.D.A. pilot project in the new year will try to find a way to steer shoppers to more nutritious food. It’s called the NuVal system. Coffee creamer, for example, gets the lowest score of one, while unsweetened shredded wheat in the cereal aisle gets an 83 out of 100.

Vilsack joked a bit about the nutritional labels on the food sold in grocery stores. “You know, if you take a look at a label — unless you’re a dietician or a chemist or a doctor — it’s really hard to determine between two products which is the best product for you and your family,” Vilsack said. According to the ag secretary, that’s why the NuVal system the Hy-Vee grocery store chain is using is so intriguing. While the system reviews all the things are that are printed on the label, it comes up with a single number to signify the product’s nutritional value.

Steve - while this initiative has good intentions, I fear that it will be rife with tampering from Big Food, aside from the fact that I do not trust the USDA to rate what is deemed healthy food.

In 2010, the U.S.D.A. will launch the “Health Initiatives Program.” States will be able to apply for $20 million in U.S.D.A. grants to test projects that get consumers to buy more fruits and vegetables.

Steve - this is something I can get excited about, as long as the money is allocated properly.