As you shop the aisles of your local grocery store, ever wonder what the red Heart Check Mark means? Besides the fact that it symbolizes foods that are a good heart smart purchase? According to the American Heart Association, who issues the Heart Check Mark, only food products that meet the Food Certification Program standards of nutrition can display the Heart Check Mark seal of approval.

The American Heart Association Food Certification Program offers shoppers valuable information that each serving of the food certified has a total of three grams or less of fat; one gram or less of saturated fat; 20 mg or less of cholesterol; and 480 mg or less of sodium. In addition, each serving must include at least ten percent of the daily value of one of six nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein or dietary fiber. All seafood, game meat, meat and poultry must be extra lean.

New to the Heart Check Mark Food Certification Program is the Whole-Grains Certification. Whole grain foods that meet the criteria for acceptable saturated fat and cholesterol levels can display the red heart with the white checkmark when the total fat is less than 6.5 gms; 1 gm or less saturated fat; 20 mg or less cholesterol, 480 mg or less sodium; .5 gm or less trans fat; and include at least ten percent of the daily value of one of six nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein or dietary fiber.