Now that many restaurants post nutrition information on their menus, wouldn’t it be great to get similar access on shelf labels at the grocery store? You can pick up a box and look at the label, but grocery store chain United Supermarkets is going a step farther with its NuVal Nutrition Scoring System. The Texas-based supermarket chain posts food scores on the label along with price per unit.United Supermarkets made the information available last year as a test in 14 specialty stores. Now rolled out to its 50 stores, shoppers can now find the NuVal scores on shelf price tags.
An independent panel of nutrition and medical experts from universities and health organizations developed the NuVal system. The system rates all foods and beverages on a scale of one to 100 based on a variety of nutrition characteristics. Each product’s score is determined by the presence of more than 30 nutrition factors including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, cholesterol, sugar and sodium. The higher the NuVal score, the better the product’s nutrient value.
Scores are included on shelf tags and other in-store signage on all foods once the NuVal score has been calculated.
To support its NuVal system, United said it will host educational Healthy New You Expos at its 10 Market Street stores throughout January.