Heinz Continues Quest to Spread Good News On Nutrition; ADA Conference Highlights Health Benefits of Zesty, Well-Loved Tomato Products

Business Wire, Oct 23, 2001

Business Editors, Health/Medical & Food/Beverage Writers

PITTSBURGH--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 23, 2001

This week the tomato showed that it not only thrills the taste buds and brightens the dinner table, it also helps fight disease and educate the public on good nutrition.

That's the verdict as H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE:HNZ) reviews its successes at the American Dietetic Association's Food & Nutrition Conference & Exhibition in St. Louis Oct. 20-23.

Throughout the conference the Heinz booth dispensed nutrition information, product samples and featured access to lycopene and food experts. At a culinary demonstration Oct. 22, Certified Master Chef Byron J. Bardy whipped up zesty dishes rich in tomatoes and nutrition expert David Yeung, Ph.D. discussed the disease-fighting benefits of lycopene abundant that is abundant in tomatoes. The demo also included a press briefing and the giveaway of free recipe pages.

"It was great to see how people responded to the delicious tomato dishes Byron Bardy cooked up. Attendees also were enthusiastic about the nutritional good news on tomatoes and processed tomato products," said Dr. Yeung, a noted nutrition expert who is director, corporate nutrition, for H.J Heinz Company. "It really inspired us in our ongoing drive to tell people that healthy food made with their favorite tomato products can be tasty, bright and easy to cook."

Scientific research from across the world provides evidence that lycopene may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer, other forms of cancer, heart disease and other ailments. The biggest sources of lycopene in the North American diet are processed tomato products, such as Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Classico pasta sauces, and the growing palette of colored condiments in the Heinz EZ Squirt line (which has the same lycopene content as Heinz Ketchup.)

Spreading the word

A new Heinz survey, however, suggests that Americans' nutrition knowledge may have temporarily plateaued. Following up on a 1999 consumer study, the survey queried people on their awareness of nutrition, lycopene and functional foods, which are foods that meet nutritional needs and also supply other health benefits.

Conducted by an independent research firm that polled more than 1,000 people August 17-19, 2001, the survey produced some good news about nutrition:

-- The percentage of people eating tomatoes or tomato products every day has
increased from 20.9 percent in 1999 to 25.1 percent today.

-- Nearly 98 percent of the people polled eat tomatoes or tomato products at
least occasionally.

-- There was an increase, from 9.3 percent to 14.5 percent, in the percentage
of those who answered correctly that lycopene is something naturally found in
fruits and vegetables.

But the survey also showed that:

-- Only 10.4 percent of Americans can recall hearing about

lycopene, a slight dip since 1999 (although still far above

the 6.5 percent who had heard of it in a previous study.)

-- The percentage of Americans who have heard about functional

foods has also declined, from 15.4 percent in 1999 to

11.4 percent in 2001.

"This survey shows that people love tomatoes and cooked tomato products more than ever, but most people are not yet aware of the health benefits they provide," Dr. Yeung said. "That's why we at Heinz are continuing to mount new research initiatives and our drive to inform the public."

In addition to attending the ADA Conference & Exhibition and similar events, Heinz continues to create healthy new recipes for consumers. Its researchers are also conducting further studies on the benefits of lycopene, including a project in which the source of lycopene is Heinz Tomato Ketchup.

About Heinz

With sales approaching US$10 billion, H. J. Heinz Company is one of the world's leading marketers of branded foods to consumers everywhere, whether in supermarkets, restaurants or on the go. Its 50 companies operate in some 200 countries, with more than 20 power brands, including the Heinz(R) brand with nearly US$3 billion in annual sales. Among the company's famous brands are Heinz(R), StarKist(R), Ore-Ida(R), Classico(R), 9-Lives(R), Wattie's(R), Plasmon(R), Farley's(R), Smart Ones(R), Bagel Bites(R), John West(R), Petit Navire(R), Kibbles `n Bits(R), Pounce(R), Pup-Peroni(R), Orlando(R), ABC(R), Olivine(R), Jufran(R), Pudliszki(R). Heinz also uses the famous brands Weight Watchers(R), Boston Market(R) and Linda McCartney(R) under license. Information on Heinz is available at http://www.heinz.com.

Available for interviews:

Dr. David Yeung, Ph.D., director, corporate nutrition, H.J. Heinz

Company.

Certified Master Chef Byron J. Bardy, national manager of

foodservice research and new business development for Heinz North

America Foodservice Division.

This press release is also available at www.jackhorner.com.