DALLAS, Jan. 22, 2020 — The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, recognized the WICShopper® mobile app, submitted by Kellogg Company, with the Association’s first-ever food industry innovation award.

The WICShopper® mobile app was developed in 2012 by JPMA, Inc., to help simplify shopping for WIC foods. The app helps people participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) monitor their real-time account balances, scan products to ensure they are WIC eligible, find store locations and more. Kellogg Company worked closely with JPMA, Inc, to add new recipes and an alert feature to flag benefits to help participants redeem and prepare healthy foods that may otherwise have gone unused.

Kellogg Company’s innovative enhancements to the app rose to the top for a panel of expert judges who selected the 2019 American Heart Association Foodscape Innovation Excellence Award and for consumers who voted for the corresponding Consumer Choice Award. The American Heart Association’s Foodscape Innovation annual awards recognize meaningful change by the food industry supporting a healthier, sustainable food system.

“Collaboration with experts in the food system is imperative to getting to accessible, affordable and healthy food options for consumers,” said American Heart Association Chief Medical Officer for Prevention Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., M.P.H., FAAFP. “The American Heart Association believes food and nutrition security are necessary to optimize health, and we’re encouraged to see many innovations committed to making healthful change in the foodscape.”

The American Heart Association launched the Foodscape Innovation Awards last spring following its science advisory highlighting the value of voluntary change by the food industry in support of public health.

“We are thrilled that the WICShopper® mobile app is the awardee this year for both categories,” Melanie Hall, Kellogg senior wellbeing and regulatory lead said. “Recognition from the American Heart Association will help us continue to raise awareness of WIC resources and our common goal to provide health education and better access to healthy foods for all people.”

Applicants for the inaugural awards were scored by judges with expertise in nutrition, food science, environmental sciences, retail, food manufacturing and public health. The panel selected the recipient of the excellence award, while the public voted to select the consumer choice awardee among four judge-selected finalists. The second annual Foodscape Innovation Awards are expected to launch in the spring.

To learn more, visit heart.org/foodinnovationawards.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a leading force for a world of longer, healthier lives. With nearly a century of lifesaving work, the Dallas-based association is dedicated to ensuring equitable health for all. We are a trustworthy source empowering people to improve their heart health, brain health and well-being. We collaborate with numerous organizations and millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, advocate for stronger public health policies, and share lifesaving resources and information. Connect with us on heart.orgFacebookTwitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Erin Kanter: 214-706-1223; erin.kanter@heart.org

For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

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