When I began working as Corporate Dietitian for United Supermarkets, LLC in November 2005, my first assignment and order of business was to develop and implement a health tag labeling system for our stores. Coming from an academic background, my initial task was to research the problem to determine possible solutions. Since that time, many other organizations have followed similar paths to develop various systems to help consumers when shopping at the supermarket.

I thoroughly reviewed research, processes and recommendations by national health organizations in devising a plan of action. In addition, I consulted with nutrition specialists and medical professionals throughout the country, as well as consumers to assure a sound, science-based system that would offer unique services to our guests.

In 2006 we rolled out our health tag program within several specialty division stores. This included three tags that were manually placed to the right side of the price tag:
GF – Gluten-Free
HHDM – Heart Healthy Diabetes Management
O – Organic.

Food products must meet specific criteria to receive a tag and only one tag is hung per food according to priority in the order listed above, even though it is possible for an item to meet greater than one tag standard. Space limitations on shelves prohibit a line-up of tags.

As our organization grew, particularly with the opening of several Market Street™ stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, we made the decision to hire another full-time dietitian based in that area of Texas. Alicia Brown is our Health and Wellness Marketing Manager and helps in support and management of the health tag program. We work together to review products to determine their qualifications for tags, monitor stores for compliance and develop educational literature for this program both within stores and on our Web site. Alicia is a great asset to our organization and has recently been named Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year for the Texas Dietetic Association, an honor that goes to only five registered dietitians in the state. Congratulations Alicia!

We have recently expanded our health tag program to include two new tags:
S – Sugar-Free/Reduced Sugar
L – Lean/Low-Fat Meat & Dairy

In celebration of National Nutrition Month in March, we are introducing a new and improved program to better meet the needs of our guests as they seek to improve their health/wellness and become a more informed consumer. Currently our system for documenting qualifying food items and printing of health attributes directly on the price tag has been computerized and automated. This assures greater accuracy and decreases manpower to provide this service to our guests. We continue to operate our program within a priority system that includes all five health labeling tags.

How and Why You Should Use the Tag System

Eating well means different things to different people. We have combed the aisles of our stores to read and interpret nutrition labels. No matter where you are in your life or where your health is, we have a tag that can help you build a foundation of good health.

Below is a quick glance at our tag program and how it may best guide your journey to wellness.

Gluten-Free	Heart Healthy Diabetes Management	Organic	Lean / Low-Fat Meat & Dairy	Sugar-Free / Reduced Sugar
Those living a gluten free lifestyle will find value in our Gluten Free tag. Our GF tag identifies products that are made without gluten and are manufactured/prepared in dedicated gluten free facilities. You will find the blue GF tag on our gluten free aisle and throughout the store. See our GF brochure for more information.	With America's attention focused on heart disease, diabetes, overweight and obesity, we want to do our part to help you navigate the grocery store aisles. Our HHDM tag identifies products that meet criteria established by the American Heart and American Diabetes Associations. Whether you're trying to lower fat or sodium intake, lose weight or increase fiber, our HHDM tag can help you find the products you need to meet your goals. See our HHDM brochure for more information.	The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established a set of national standards that food labeled "organic" must meet, whether it is grown in the United States or imported from other countries. To find products that meet USDA standards for organic labeling, look for the green O tag throughout the stores. See our O brochure for more information.	Selecting lean meats and low-fat dairy can be a challenge when trying to eat healthy. We have simplified the process by identifying meat, dairy, eggs and vegetarian substitutes that meet The Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Look for the orange L tag when selecting lean cuts of meat and dairy lower in fat and sugar, yet high in nutrients. See our L brochure for more information.	Many Americans are choosing to reduce their daily sugar intake. Many of our guests have requested we identify sugar-free and reduced sugar foods to help them reach this goal. The red S tag identifies products in our store receiving one of the FDA regulated terms "sugar-free" or "reduced sugar". See our S brochure for more information.