McCain Foods Joins Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation

McCain Foods USA, the world’s largest maker of frozen prepared potatoes, has joined the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF), whose mission is to reduce obesity, especially among children age 6 to 11, by 2015.

Lisle, Ill.-based McCain will support programs and activities created to help people achieve a healthy weight by balancing energy (calories) consumed with energy expended through physical activity. HWCF activities concentrate on three key 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 McCain COO Frank Finn. “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 member companies are reformulating products, making calorie more visible, reducing portion sizes of existing single-serve products and/or promoting healthful eating, according to the HWCF.

As part of its effort to make healthier food available to Americans, McCain is offering a greater number of bake-able and steam-able items, including Harvest Splendor Deep Groove Sweet Potato Crinkles and Farmer’s Kitchen Oven-Baked Potato Crinkles in its foodservice portfolio and New Purely Potatoes Whole Baby Skin-On Potatoes, now available at retail in supermarket freezer cases nationwide

The company has also reduced saturated fats in its products by 48 percent. Since 2005, McCain has cut sodium by as much as 40 percent in many school fries and other potato items, and was one of the first manufacturers to remove trans fats from its foods.

The HWCF is a first-of-its kind coalition that unites more than 125 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, sporting goods and insurance companies, professional athletes, restaurants, a professional sports association, trade associations, NGOs and the Army. For more information, visit www.healthyweightcommitment.org.