The Nation - News from June 27, 1988

The American Heart Assn.’s annual delegate assembly in St. Louis approved a system to identify and endorse processed foods that meet the group’s guidelines. The association said it will look mainly at salt, cholesterol and fat levels in deciding whether to endorse food products as “heart-healthy.” Items bearing the group’s seal of approval are expected to reach shelves within a year. “We regard this new initiative as a logical expansion of the American Heart Assn.’s well-established role as the public’s chief advocate, and efforts to reduce premature death and disability from heart disease and stroke,” said Dr. W. W. Aston of Dallas, chairman of the AHA task force that studied product approval.