Smithfield, VA - With the recent announcement by the American Heart Association that obesity is now considered a major risk factor of heart disease, the focus for Americans should turn more and more toward eating well and exercising regularly. The food industry has been offering low-fat and lean items to consumers for years, but with more than 22 percent of U.S. adults age 20 to 74 listed as medically obese, consumers should pay special attention to reading product labels to ensure that they are buying the leanest, most nutritious products available.
The meat industry has responded by offering a variety of lean meats from skinless chicken to extra lean beef and pork. Smithfield Packing Company's branded line of lean pork known as Smithfield Lean Generation Pork touts more than 40 retail cuts that have been certified by the American Heart Association as a food that can help reduce the risk of heart disease when used as part of a low-fat, balanced diet.
American Heart Association certified meat products meet USDA standards for "extra lean" raw or fresh meats. The certified cuts meet the following criteria per 100 grams and per reference amount:
Less than 5g of total fat Less than 2g of saturated fat Less than 95 mg of cholesterol Less than or equal to 480 mg of sodium
Due to the importance of a heart-healthy diet and because of consumer requests, the American Heart Association in 1994 introduced the American Heart Association Food Certification Program - a program designed to help consumers easily select foods in the grocery store that can be part of a sensible, heart- healthy eating plan.
Such certification places this lean pork alongside many cuts of skinless chicken, turkey, seafood and lean beef as useful proteins in a balanced low-fat diet. Results from a clinical study performed by the Sarah W. Stedman Center for Nutritional Studies at Duke University Medical Center showed that this lean pork is as effective as skinless chicken at lowering harmful LDL cholesterol when used as part of a lipid-lowering diet. The studies also showed that Smithfield Lean Generation Pork is between 35 and 61 percent leaner than regular pork. And, it is "nutrient dense" - significantly higher in protein, vitamin A, thiamin, niacin and zinc than traditional pork and is guaranteed to be all natural and hormone and antibiotic residue free.
Although obesity has been added to its list of major risk factors for heart disease, the American Heart Association also notes that the list is headed by smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and lack of exercise. Until now, the AHA had listed obesity as a "contributing factor" to heart disease.
The leanness of Smithfield Lean Generation Pork comes after 25 years of selective breeding. In 1991, Smithfield imported a herd of 2,000 pigs from the National Pig Development (NPD) Company of East Yorkshire, England. After careful selective breeding and genetic improvement, Smithfield pigs are leaner, longer and more muscular. Smithfield Packing Company holds the exclusive rights to develop and market the extraordinary NPD breed in the United States and Mexico.
Smithfield Packing Company, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods Inc. (NASDAQ:SFDS - news), maintains its headquarters in Smithfield, Virginia. The company produces and markets fresh pork and processed meats under a number of brands, including Smithfield Lean Generation Pork and Smithfield Premium.
Meat Industry Insights News Service
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Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
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