Beginning in mid-2009, a new food label called 'Smart Choice' may be appearing on the front of packaged goods at your local grocery store.

The Smart Choices Program is a new nutrition labeling program that aims to help shoppers make more nutritious food and beverage choices throughout the supermarket. It includes a symbol that identifies, right on the front of the package, the more nutritious choices within specific food product categories. In order to qualify for the Smart Choices Program, a product must meet specific nutritional standards that were developed based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other authoritative nutrition science sources.

Participation in the Smart Choices Program is on a voluntary basis, and companies that are likely to participate in the program include Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kellogg, Kraft Foods, and Wal-Mart. For more information on the Smart Choices Program, visit smartchoicesprogram.com