20110602-OSEC-RBN-3686

20110602-OSEC-RBN-3686


Image by USDAgov
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (at podium) held a press conference directly after the announcement new food icon that will serve as a reminder to help consumers make healthier food choices at the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday, June 2, 2011 (behind Secretary Vilsack L to R President and CEO, Food Marketing Institute Leslie Sarasin, Director of Nutrition, WebMD Kathleen Zelman, President and CEO, United Fresh Produce Association Tom Stenzel, Lieutenant General US Air Force (Ret.) Norman R. Seip, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, Deputy Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) Dr. Robert Post). First Lady Michelle Obama and Surgeon General Regina Benjamin joined Secretary Vilsack at the launch of the new food icon. The White House Child Obesity Task Force called for simple advice to consumers with information to help them make healthy food choices. As a result USDA has introduced the new food icon to replace the MyPyramid image representing the food guide pyramid as the government’s primary food group symbol. The new food icon will be part of a comprehensive nutrition communication initiative that provides consumers with easy-to-understand recommendations, a new website with expanded information and other tools and resources. USDA photo by Robert Nichols.