Grocery retailer Food Lion is highlighting its efforts to promote healthier living for World Health Day on April 7.
Guiding Stars program
Food Lion says its Guiding Stars program helps shoppers identify nutritious food products by providing one-, two- or three-star ratings — on a good, better, best scale — based on certain nutrition criteria. Customers can locate the stars on shelf tags, prepared foods, store brand packaging and online product pages, according to a news release.
Orange and apple bag campaigns
Every year, Food Lion holds a buy one, give back campaign featuring orange bags in the spring and apple bags in the fall. For every themed produce bag purchased over a given period, Food Lion says it donates five meals to Feeding America and local partner food banks to ensure their food-insecure neighbors are nourished. Since the programs began, Food Lion has helped provide more than 56 million meals, the release said.
Related: Food Lion launches orange bag campaign to address food insecurity
Local Goodness program
Whenever possible, Food Lion says it sources products directly from the towns and cities it serves through its Local Goodness program. This means shoppers can find fresh local produce, meat, seafood and more grown in their communities. Produce grown closer to home tends to spend more time on the vine, ensuring it’s packed with nutrients and flavor. Locally grown can sometimes mean more expensive, but Food Lion says it works to make these healthy products more accessible and affordable.
Related: Food Lion takes local produce to the next level
Food Lion is part of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam, Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize.