the beef checkoff program announced that extra lean ground beef ground beef that is at least 96 lean, 4 fat is now certified by the american heart association® to display its recognized and respected heartcheck mark. retailers now have the opportunity to help identify eight different extra lean beef items as options for part of an overall healthy diet to their shoppers using one of the most trusted nutrition icons on food packaging today.the extra lean beef cuts that meet the american heart association&rsquos® requirements for hearthealthy foods as part of an overall healthy dietary pattern, and are certified to display the heartcheck mark, include  extra lean ground beef 96 lean, 4 fatbottom round steak usda select gradesirloin tip steak usda select gradetop sirloin petite roast, boneless usda select gradetop sirloin strips usda select gradetop sirloin filet usda select gradetop sirloin kabob usda select gradetop sirloin steak, boneless, center cut usda select grade&ldquobeef has many nutritional benefits and having the american heart association certify yet another beef cut empowers consumers to feel good about including beef in their diet, not only for its great taste but for its nutritional value,&rdquo said jo stanko, a cowcalf operator from steamboat springs, colo., and vice chair of the checkoff&rsquos nutrition and health subcommittee. &ldquobeef farmers and ranchers like myself share a common goal to help consumers make shopping decisions to fit their needs and lifestyles by educating them about the health benefits of their food. to this end we will continue to support valid science to show consumers how extra lean beef is part of a healthy diet.&rdquobefore putting its heartcheck mark on any food, the american heart association® evaluates it against nutrition requirements based on sound science regarding healthy dietary recommendations, food categories, specific product ingredients and nutrient values.multiple retailers with hundreds of stores across the u.s. currently display the heartcheck mark on certified beef items in the meat case. retailers and processors can work with the beef checkoff program to receive a discount on the certification fee for the american heart association® food certification program.resources such as onpack labels, posters and recipes are available for retailers to use in store and in shopper communications to promote the certified beef cuts.to learn more about participating in the american heart association® food certification program, please visit www.beefretail.org.for more information about your beef checkoff investment, visit mybeefcheckoff.comunderstanding the beef checkoff programthe beef checkoff program was established as part of the 1985 farm bill. the checkoff assesses 1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. states may retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the cattlemen&39s beef promotion and research board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to usda approval.
