Health Magazine Seeks Healthiest Grocery Products

Consumer publication Health magazine has introduced the “Must-Eat List,” a multiplatform franchise that will serve as a comprehensive guide to healthy packaged and fresh foods available in grocery stores across the country. As part of the process, the New York-based publication will vet thousands of new and existing products considered natural and good-for-you.

“Our goal is to better educate consumers on making truly smart choices at the supermarket,” explained Health Editor-in-Chief Ellen Kunes. “Health is gearing up to provide healthy, delicious recipes and smart eating plans using these Must-Eat List foods.”

Helped by a panel of nutrition and food science experts, the magazine’s editors have developed a set of criteria and will evaluate packaged and fresh foods and beverages to create an expanding list of Must-Eat grocery items.”

The panel consists of Adam Drewnowski, director of the Center of Public Health and Nutrition and the Center for Obesity Research, director of the Nutritional Sciences Program, and professor of epidemiology, the University of Washington in Seattle; Cynthia Sass, New York Times best-selling author and contributing nutrition editor for Health; Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition, and chair of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health; and Caroline Kaufman, an award-winning nutrition blogger and founder of SweetFoodie.com

To make the list, a food or beverage must be free of ingredients that may be harmful to health, and at the same time contain one or more nutrients that have been scientifically proved to promote good health. Product submissions will also be judged on taste.

To submit a product for consideration, companies can go online. Submissions will be reviewed through Jan. 10, 2013. All “Must-Eat List” foods will be able to use the logo on future branding efforts in-store, online and on television.