Accomplished physician-scientist Dr. Lydia Bazzano has published scores of peer-reviewed papers relating to cardio-metabolic diseases. In addition to her work in the internal medicine department of the New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System, Dr. Lydia Bazzano is a member and contributor to the American Heart Association (AHA).
To help consumers identify foods that are part of a heart-healthy diet, the AHA has labeled products that meet certain criteria with a recognizable red and white heart-healthy logo. Generally, eligible products must meet nutrition guidelines set by the AHA, including low amounts of sodium and cholesterol.
Although the AHA logo has been used since 1995, a method for determining exactly which products meet the criteria has just been released by data science firm Label Insight. To create the Heart-Check Certification Industry View, the company compiled thousands of attributes of products with the AHA heart-healthy seal into a database platform.
Using a series of filters based on machine learning, food products can be analyzed according to each attribute. The final result will show if the product qualifies for the AHA seal. Otherwise, the View will provide a detailed explanation of why the product failed to meet the criteria.
This data platform will help brands and food manufacturers determine if their current product lines meet AHA criteria and how to revise their products to be heart-healthy. In the long-run, Label Insight and the AHA hope the platform will increase the availability and variety of heart-healthy foods for consumers.
