DALLAS — Subway will become the first restaurant chain to apply and meet the nutritional criteria required to certify meals and display the Heart-Check mark from the American Heart Association.
The A.H.A.’s latest certification program is designed to help consumers select heart-healthy meals that meet the A.H.A.’s nutritional criteria.

The red-and-white check mark has grown to be recognized as a source by consumers when making purchase decisions in supermarkets, the A.H.A. said, and now may be sought out by consumers when eating out.

“With Americans increasingly relying on fast, convenient, prepared food, caloric intake is up and nutrition value is down,” said Gordon Tomaselli, M.D., president of the A.H.A. “In fact, Americans have lost touch with what is in the foods they eat. That’s why we are making it easy for consumers to make smart choices that are heart-healthy when eating outside the home, knowing they often don’t have the benefit of reviewing the nutrition facts.”

The Heart-Check logo will be present on all Subway Fresh Fit meals featuring a variety of 6-inch subs served with apple slices and water, Subway Fresh Fit for Kids meals served with apple slices and 12-oz low-fat milk, and on a selection of salads served with apple slices, water and sweet onion dressing. The meals meet the Heart-Check's nutritional criteria for levels of sodium, calories, cholesterol, saturated fat and trans fats. All of the Heart-Check items must be prepared using the recipes approved and certified to meet A.H.A. nutritional standards for heart-healthy meals.

“Being the first restaurant to meet the stringent nutritional standards required for the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check Certification program is another health milestone for Subway restaurants,” said Tony Pace Sr., vice-president, global chief marketing officer of the Subway brand. “The Heart-Check reinforces our leadership as a healthy food option for the many Americans who want a simple way to enjoy eating better.”