Food Lion highlights initiatives to promote healthier living

Food Lion shared that it is on a mission to provide greater access to fresh and affordable food. This World Health Day on April 7, the company is highlighting some of the ways it promotes healthier living.

Guiding Stars Program

Through Food Lion’s Guiding Stars program, shoppers can easily identify nutritious food products by providing 1-, 2- or 3-star ratings (on a good, better, best scale) if they meet certain criteria. Customers can conveniently locate these stars on shelf tags, prepared foods, store brand packaging and online product pages. 

Orange & Apple Bag Campaigns

Every year, Food Lion holds a “buy one, give back” campaign—featuring orange bags in the spring and apple bags in the fall. For every themed produce bag purchased over a given period, Food Lion donates five meals to Feeding America and local partner food banks to ensure their food-insecure neighbors are nourished. Since the programs began, Food Lion has helped provide more than 56 million meals.

[Read more: Food Lion, Novant Health partner on food pharmacy pilot program]

Local Goodness

Whenever possible, Food Lion sources products directly from the towns and cities it serves through its Local Goodness program. This means shoppers can find fresh local produce, meat, seafood and more grown right in their communities. Produce grown closer to home tends to spend more time on the vine—ensuring it’s packed with nutrients and flavor. Locally grown can sometimes mean more expensive, but Food Lion noted that it works to make these healthy products more accessible and affordable.

[Related: Food Lion Feeds, customers join to nourish neighbors]