Meijer Announces Expansion of NuVal Scoring Program

Those 15,000 products analyzed by NuVal will sport small tags that reveal their scientifically calculated nutritional value score, ranging from 1-100, with 100 being the most nutritious.

7 Apr 2010 --- One year ago, Meijer introduced an independent scoring system which calculates and summarizes a grocery product's nutritional information into a single number. With more shoppers relying on the NuVal Nutritional Scoring System to assist in meal planning and eliminate the nutritional mystery surrounding a product, the Midwest grocer has announced that 2,000 new items have been added to the scoring ranks. Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Michigan, based retailer that operates 191 supercenters throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

This second wave of products scored by NuVal for Meijer come from 19 new grocery categories, including frozen snacks, mustards, baked goods, soups, pancake mixes, tomato pastes, and creamers. In total, Meijer will now have more than 15,000 private label and national brands assigned a NuVal nutritional score on its store shelves.

Those products analyzed by NuVal will sport small tags that reveal their scientifically calculated nutritional value score, ranging from 1-100, with 100 being the most nutritious. The NuVal system was developed by a team of renowned nutritional experts from leading universities and health organizations, and is currently in use by a handful of major grocery chains across the country.

"This independent nutritional scoring system has become an incredibly important tool for our shoppers over the past 10 months," said Ralph Fischer, group vice president of grocery at Meijer. "It's been a resounding success, and our customers wanted more products brought into the NuVal system. We're only too happy to help them in their effort to make well-informed nutritional choices on a product-by-product basis."

Meijer grocery shoppers will soon begin seeing NuVal scores for such items as lobster tails, lamb, pot pies, bagels and refrigerated pudding.

The NuVal system is the most comprehensive consumer tool in determining the nutritional value of a product, taking into account more than 30 distinct factors and evaluates the dietary importance of each to determine an overall nutritional quality score.

The system was developed as a way to address the rise in obesity, diabetes and heart disease, all of which are related to food choices. Furthermore, it seeks to eliminate the consumer confusion over current nutrition information written on packages.

Of the 2,000 new products tested, a sampling of scores shows the nutritional disparity within every category. Edy's Slow Churn Fat-Free No Salt Added Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry ice cream yogurt received a NuVal score of 99, while an Edy's Fun-House Cookie Dough ice cream yogurt scored an 8. A brand of raisins scored a lowly 6, while a number of "greens" (collard, turnip and mustard) garnered a top rating of 100. Fanta Orange soda scored a 1, while Monster Khaos energy drink received a NuVal score of 23.

Other findings include Hot Pockets Ham & Cheese frozen snack with a score of 3, Weight Watchers Ice Cream Sandwich was given a 29, and black grouper fillet scored an 82.

As one would imagine, fruits and vegetables tend to rank in the upper tier of the NuVal scale, with scores usually at 90 or above (e.g. radishes: 99; artichokes: 99; navel oranges: 100).