Peruvian avocados can now be marketed as a heart-healthy food in the US. The American Heart Association has granted the Peruvian Avocado Commission (PAC) the right to use the Heart-Check mark for its marketing promotions and campaigns.
It follows a decision by the Food and Drug Administration last year to grant avocados healthy food status, recognising that they can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
“The valuable Heart-Check mark has served as a trusted resource for consumers, and by adding the heart-check to our efforts it will help to complement the official seal of approval from the FDA and USDA that avocados are a healthy food – something that all consumers will be culturally aware of,” said Xavier Equihua, CEO and president of PAC.
“The new tools that we have to promote avocados as officially healthy will also help us to educate consumers that not all fat is bad. Avocados, along with other healthy fats like nuts and olives, are crucial to our daily diets.”
With heart disease being a leading cause of death in both women and men in the US, the confusion about dietary fats can result in missed opportunities for those who are trying to lead a healthy lifestyle. The Heart-Check Food Certification Programme helps consumers identify foods that can be building blocks of a heart-healthy diet.
