Mr. Peanut Is Declaring His Love For Hearts With Planters Heart Healthy Peanuts

NORTHFIELD, Ill., Feb. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mr. Peanut has hearts on his mind, as February marks National Heart Health Month. To mark the occasion, Planters, an American favorite for over 100 years, announced today that Planters Lightly Salted Dry Roasted Peanuts and Planters Unsalted Dry Roasted Peanuts have been certified with the American Heart Association's (AHA) Heart-Check Mark.* The certification officially identifies heart healthy foods and both Planters products will now display the AHA Heart-Check Mark on packaging.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130205/NY54192 )

"For years, Planters fans have enjoyed our peanuts for their delicious taste," says Peter Cotter, Senior Brand Manager for Planters. "While many of our Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts have always been heart healthy, we are now recognized by a respected and well-known authority committed to heart health."   

To help spread the word about the heart health benefits of peanuts, Planters has teamed up with Harley Pasternak, celebrity fitness and nutrition expert.

"When I'm training my clients, I always make sure they are making healthy choices in all aspects of their lives, particularly in their diets," says Harley Pasternak, fitness and nutrition expert. "Partnering with Planters was a natural decision since I encourage my clients to eat heart healthy foods."

Mr. Peanut is also helping to spread the word with Valentine's Day video e-cards available via the 'Keep That Heart Pumping' Facebook application. From February 1 until February 28, fans can choose from three sexy e-cards starring Mr. Peanut to get their friends swooning. The e-cards can be personalized in different ways, and fans that view or share them will also receive a coupon for Planters peanuts. Find the app on Mr. Peanut's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mrpeanut or go to www.keepthatheartpumping.com. 

*All certified nuts, including salted varieties, must meet the American Heart Association's nutritional criteria which include a limit of 140 mg or less of sodium per label serving size.

About Planters: Planters has a long history of pioneering industry firsts. This inventiveness is delivered through a diverse portfolio of nutritious and delicious plant-based snacks such as peanuts, cashews, almonds and other nuts. Planters NUT-rition offers a distinctive line of nut mixes that focus on specific nutritional needs. Planters Trail Mix blends roasted nuts, delicious fruit and other delicious ingredients to help fuel an active lifestyle.

About Kraft Foods Group: Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: KRFT) is North America's fourth largest consumer packaged food and beverage company, with revenues of approximately $19 billion in 2011. Launched as a public and independent company on Oct. 1, 2012, the new Kraft has the spirit of a startup and the soul of a powerhouse. The company has an unrivaled portfolio of products in the beverages, cheese, refrigerated meals and grocery categories. Its iconic brands include Kraft, Maxwell House, Oscar Mayer, Planters and JELL-O. Kraft's 25,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada have a passion for making the foods and beverages people love. Kraft Foods Group is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 index. For more information, visit www.kraft.com and www.facebook.com/kraft.

About the Heart-Check Mark: The American Heart Association established the Heart-Check mark in 1995 to give consumers an easy, reliable system for identifying heart-healthy foods as a first step in building a sensible eating plan. Over 900 products that bear the Heart-Check mark have been screened and verified by the association to meet criteria for heart-healthy foods. To learn more about the Heart-Check mark, and to see a complete list of certified products and participating companies, visit heartcheckmark.org.

SOURCE Planters