Campbell’s Makes a Heart Healthy Move

Posted February 25, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Alexandra M. Haller

Section: Her Health, Her Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Weight Control

Another major company joins the anti-sodium brigade. This week Campbell’s Soup Company announced plans to cut even more sodium from their line of kid-friendly soups. You know they are marketed towards children because instead of the usual sparse red and white label, this line touts Jimmy Neutron and Batman™ varieties.

This is not the first time Campbell’a cut back on the sodium in their cans. Three years ago they decreased sodium levels by 25%. This move cuts levels back another 20%. The result is that the new cans can legitimately be labeled as heart-healthy. According to FDA guidelines, a food can be marketed as heart-healthy if it contains 480mg or less of sodium per serving size. All of Campbells® Kids 12 soups will fit this criterion.

“Your kids can enjoy Dora the Explorer even more,” said Douglas R. Conant, Campbell’s president and chief executive, said in an interview. “They’ll be down to heart-healthy levels.”

Sodium is known to be a contributor to high blood pressure which is linked to diabetes and stroke. As more people become cognizant of the sodium content in their favorite foods, the desire to market these items is growing. “In 2003, [Campbell’s] sold $100 million worth of reduced-sodium soups. Now, Campbell’s says, the lower-salt soups are bringing in $650 million a year in retail sales.

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