Patented Nutrition Rating System Takes the Guesswork out of Identifying Nutritious Foods
Krames StayWell, the leader in custom print and interactive health communications, has partnered with Guiding Stars®, the world’s first store-wide nutrition navigation system.
“We’re excited to be the first health information provider in the U.S. to partner with Guiding Stars and help consumers make informed decisions about the nutritional value of the foods they like to eat,” said Krames StayWell president Trent Sterling. “Our goal is to continually provide our clients with the most advanced and robust product solutions available and this partnership delivers on that promise. The retail pharmacies, hospitals, health plans and employers who utilize our digital health content will now be able to guide their consumers toward more nutritious food choices, which in turn will support healthier lifestyles.” The Guiding Stars nutritional rating system will be integrated with Krames StayWell consumer health information platform in the fourth quarter of 2011.
With Guiding Stars, every food item in its database—including packaged, fresh, and prepared foods—is rated for its nutritional value and receives a zero-to-three star rating. Guiding Stars offers busy consumers a simple, at-a-glance tool that helps them quickly identify foods that offer the most nutrition for the calories.
“We’re pleased to partner with Krames StayWell and bring Guiding Stars—a proven tool for helping consumers eat healthier foods—to consumers who utilize the Krames StayWell online health content,” said John Eldredge, director of brand and business development at Guiding Stars Licensing Company. “Together, I believe we can provide tools and information that support better food choices and improved health.”
Guiding Stars was recently awarded patent protection for its nutrition rating algorithm, which is grounded in evidence-based science and the most current dietary guidelines and recommendations of leading national and international health organizations, such as the FDA and USDA. The system credits all edible foods based on the presence of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and whole grains, and debits for the presence of trans fat, saturated fats, cholesterol, added sugars and added sodium. Food items are then awarded zero, one, two or three stars – one star means good nutritional value; two stars, better nutritional value; and three stars, the best nutritional value.
About Krames StayWell
Krames StayWell is the largest provider of patient education, consumer health information, and population health management communications in the country. Combining extensive technology and content assets with vast consumer insights and a strategic approach, Krames StayWell engages consumers across the entire spectrum of their health care experience. The company’s health communication solutions integrate print, interactive, and mobile formats at multiple touch points to attract and retain consumers, improve health outcomes, and lower costs. Krames StayWell delivers measurable results for hospital, healthcare professional, health plan, employer, retail pharmacy, government, and association clients with world-class design, commitment to health literacy principles, and a focus on custom development. Additional information can be found at www.kramesstaywell.com.
About Guiding Stars Licensing Co.
Since 2006, Guiding Stars has been leading the way in helping consumers make nutritious food choices and recently received a U.S. Patent for the Guiding Stars nutrition rating algorithm. The Guiding Stars nutrition guidance program is a simple, easy-to-understand tool for making good nutrition choices and is designed to make a positive and lasting impact on public health. Guiding Stars is currently in more than 1,600 supermarkets including Food Lion, Hannaford, Bloom, Sweetbay, Homeland, Kings Super Market, and launching soon in Marsh Supermarkets. Guiding Stars has also expanded into public schools, colleges, hospitals, and corporate cafeterias and appears on the Shopper mobile iPhone application. Additional information can be found at staging.guidingstars.com.