McCain Foods Joins Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation

McCain Foods will provide support for programs and activities designed to help people achieve a healthy weight by balancing energy (calories) consumed with energy expended through physical activity.

12/29/2010 --- McCain Foods, the world's largest maker of frozen prepared potatoes, has joined the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF) in its pledge to reduce obesity, especially among children aged 6 to 11, by 2015.

McCain Foods will provide support for programs and activities designed to help people achieve a healthy weight by balancing energy (calories) consumed with energy expended through physical activity. Today, many Americans are consuming more calories than they expend, and nutrition and health experts are calling for all stakeholders to do their part in bringing solutions to the table. HWCF activities focus on three specific areas the marketplace, the workplace and schools.

"At McCain, we've made a commitment to innovation that has resulted in great-tasting French fries and other potato products that are in tune with today's taste and health needs," said Frank Finn, Chief Operating Officer, McCain Foods, USA.  "In addition to making the best French fry and potato choices, we're helping educate people about the nutritional benefits of our products.  Potatoes - and the French fries that are cut from them - are packed with meaningful nutrients, from fiber to potassium (more than a banana) to Vitamins B6 and K."

More than 40 HWCF member companies are reformulating products, modifying calorie labels for greater visibility, reducing portion sizes of existing single-serve products, and/or promoting healthful eating, according to the Foundation. 

As part of its effort to make healthier food available to Americans, McCain Foods is making ongoing enhancements to its food service and retail product portfolios, with more bake-able and steam-able products, such as:

* Food Service: Harvest Splendor Deep Groove Sweet Potato Crinkles and Farmer's Kitchen Oven-Baked Potato Crinkles
* Retail: New Purely Potatoes Whole Baby Skin-On Potatoes (now available in freezer cases at grocer's nationwide)
* McCain has reduced saturated fats in its products by 48 percent. Since 2005, McCain has cut sodium by up to 40 percent in many school fries and other potatoes items, and was one of the first manufacturers to eliminate trans fats from its products.