1987

• AHA launches Heart Guide initiative

1989

• Sweden’s National Food Administration creates Keyhole symbol

1991

• New Zealand Heart Foundation creates Tick Programme

1992

• Study on shelf-tags shows market shares of shelf-tagged products increases (Schucker et al., 1992)

1993

• FDA and USDA publish final rules defining nutrient content claims and providing for health claims

1995

• AHA introduces Heart Check program

1999

• Canada’s Heart and Stroke Foundation introduces Health Check program

2002

• Wegmans creates Wellness Keys

2004

• PepsiCo introduces Smart Spot

• General Mills introduces Goodness Corner

• FDA introduces Calories Count: Report of the Working Group on Obesity

2005

• Whole Grains stamp is launched

• FDA publishes an advance notice of proposed rulemaking requesting comments on displaying calories more prominently on food packaging

• Kraft Foods introduces Sensible Solution

• Heart Check adds an additional certification: whole grains with moderate fat content

• President’s Choice launches Blue Menu to designate its healthier products

• Naturally Nutrient Rich score introduced (precursor to NRFI)

2006

• CSPI petitions FDA to develop a simple, uniform, science-based rating system

• Harris Teeter introduces Wellness Keys

• Hannaford introduces Guiding Stars

• Confederation of the EU (CIAA) commits to voluntary nutrition labeling scheme across EU member states

2007

• Unilever introduces Choices program

• U.K. Food Standards Agency implements Traffic Light system

• Kellogg’s introduces Nutrition-at-a-Glance

• General Mills implements Nutrition Highlights to replace Goodness Corner

• Keystone Food and Nutrition Roundtable studies the various FOP systems in the United States

• FDA public hearing on front-of-package and other nutrition symbols

• NuVal system is developed

2008

• ConAgra introduces Start Making Choices symbol using MyPyramid

• Smart Choices program is developed

• Mars International launches Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) labeling of its foods and snacks in the United States

• Nutrient Rich Food Index articles are published in the scientific literature

2009

• Healthy Ideas is launched at Giant Foods and Stop & Shop supermarkets

• Sara Lee introduces Nutritional Spotlight; similar to recent efforts by Mars and Kellogg’s

• FDA releases “Comments on Symbols Public Hearing and Current Plans for Addressing Issues,” from the 2007 hearing

• Smart Choices is formally launched

• FDA issues letter to Smart Choices

• Most industry participants suspend use of Smart Choices; program is put on hold

• FDA designs and begins to implement a plan to conduct research on FOP nutrition rating systems and symbols

• Institute of Medicine Nutrition Rating Systems and Symbols committee is formed