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Research, Experts Underscore Need for New Food Guide Pyramid

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 April 2005, 15:00 CDT

ConAgra Foods - A Wellness Product Pioneer since the 1980's - Looks Forward to New U.S. Food Guidance System and Providing Consumers with a Wide Variety of 'Good to Eat, Good for You' Foods

With new research showing Americans confused by conflicting food advice and looking for more sensible mealtime choices, food experts say variety is the spice of life, and a key ingredient for building a satisfying menu of great-tasting, nutritious foods. It is also expected to be integral to the soon-to-be-released redesign of the U.S. Food Guidance System - the familiar "Food Pyramid" - which will offer consumers advice and tips for how to follow the 2005 Dietary Guidelines issued in January.

"The new 2005 Dietary Guidelines provide a firmer base of nutritional information Americans have been looking for to improve their eating habits and well-being," said Dr. Pat Verduin, senior vice president and director of Product Quality and Development for ConAgra Foods - creators of one of the first convenient, great-tasting and nutritionally balanced meals, Healthy Choice(R). "We applaud them."

"The challenge is to translate these guidelines into consumer awareness and action. The new Food Guidance System will be an important tool for giving consumers the information they need to make better food choices, regarding what and how much to eat. It should be complemented by a concerted effort from the food industry, government and academia," said Verduin.

The new Food Guidance System is expected to be unveiled in early to mid-April and will update its recommendations - maybe even its shape - to stress the importance of eating a variety of good food, including fruit, vegetables and whole grains, as well as getting exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. The Food Guidance System graphic was first introduced as a pyramid by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1992, and has since been reprinted on billions of cans, boxes and other consumer food packages every year.

"Adding variety to daily meals is a key ingredient for a satisfying, nutritious diet," said Roberta Duyff, M.S., R.D., food expert and author of the award-winning American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide." First, promoting variety can help ensure we get more of the essential nutrients we need. Second, food variety infuses more taste and texture to make nourishing meals more enjoyable. The real trick is finding a variety of flavorful, nutritious foods that offer convenient meal-time solutions when we need them."

New Research: Americans Confused by Conflicting Advice, Want More Sensible Food Choices

ConAgra Foods' continued research in the wellness arena shows Americans are more engaged than ever in looking for more sensible food choices. But, they are also confused by often-conflicting fad diets and food advice. A recent nationwide survey(1) of 1,000 adults commissioned by ConAgra Foods found that:

-- Fully 91% of Americans say it's important that foods are nutritious and good for them.

-- 87% say it's important they have a variety of choices and tastes in food so they don't get bored.

-- 46% say it's hard to find foods that are nutritious and also convenient and flavorful.

-- 42% of Americans agree that it's hard to meet the different nutritional needs of everyone in their households when buying and preparing food for meals.

-- 72% want more easy-to-prepare flavorful, nutritious meals to help them spend more time with their families.

-- 69% say they are looking for more foods that are nutritious and convenient to fit their schedules.

-- 67% of consumers are turned off by fad diets and want more sensible, balanced food choices.

-- 43% say so many different sources for nutritional information exist they don't know where to turn.

-- 78% of Americans say it's important for them to be able to identify and find foods that are nutritious and good for them, such as those outlined by USDA and HHS in the Dietary Guidelines.

"ConAgra Foods continues to take responsible steps to enhance the taste, nutrition and convenience of our products. Variety is the spice of life and good eating, and we want to give consumers the variety of good food choices they need to help manage today's on-the-go lifestyles," said Verduin.

As one of America's leading packaged-food companies, ConAgra Foods (NYSE:CAG) and its brands are well-suited to help consumers add more variety of good food options to their daily menus, offering a wide range of great-tasting, nutritious meals and other food products to help consumers meet their individual mealtime needs, morning, noon and night. For more information about ConAgra Foods' products, consumers can visit www.conagrafoods.com. Consumers can visit other online resources such as www.nutrition.gov and www.eatright.org for tips and advice for healthful eating.

About ConAgra Foods

ConAgra Foods Inc. is one of North America's largest packaged-food companies, serving grocery retailers, as well as restaurants and foodservice establishments. ConAgra Foods' wellness brands include Butterball, Culturelle, DAVID Sunflower Seeds, Egg Beaters, Fleischmann's, Golden Cuisine, Healthy Choice, Hunt's, Lightlife, Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop!, PAM, Rosarita, Ultragrain and Van Camp's.

(1) These results are based on a nationally representative survey of 1,000 American adults, fielded by Ipsos-Reid on behalf of ConAgra Foods between Dec. 28 and 30, 2004. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Source: Business Wire

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