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United States Healthful Food Council Announces First Corporate Cafes to Earn Certification for Nutrition and Sustainability Practices at Menus of Change Conference

June 12, 2013

REAL Press Release June 12 PDF

Pilot Program Results in REAL Certification of Guckenheimer’s Blue Glass Cafe and Corporate Dining Facilities at Google San Francisco, Clorox and Union Pacific

BOSTON – (June 12, 2013) – The United States Healthful Food Council(USHFC) announced today that four Guckenheimer cafés are the first contract foodservice operations in the nation to achieve REAL Certification. The announcement, which concludes a six-month pilot program, was revealed at the first annual Menus of Change™ leadership summit, co-presented by The Culinary Institute of America and Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Responsible Epicurean and Agricultural Leadership (REAL) Certification, a program of the USHFC, first began as an assurance of nutrition and sustainability best-practices in restaurants, starting with certified locations in Washington D.C., where the nonprofit is headquartered. These new REAL Certified locations mark the expansion of the program nationally, as well as with foodservice vendors running café operations within corporations, universities, hotels, senior living facilities, event centers and more.

The four inaugural contract foodservice facilities to become REAL Certified are:

  • Blue Glass Café*, John Hancock Building - Boston, Mass. (*open to the public)
  • Café Hive, The Clorox Company - Pleasanton, Calif.
  • W6 Café, Google San Francisco - San Francisco, Calif.
  • Union Pacific Café*, Union Pacific - Omaha, Neb. (*open to the public)

“These companies should be lauded for taking a pioneering position as champions of nutrition and sustainability in the workplace,” said Lawrence Williams, President of the USHFC. “With America’s increasing reliance on food prepared by others, the foodservice industry has unprecedented influence over dietary choices which, in turn, has profound impact on our nation’s health. Expanding REAL Certification into contract foodservice not only widens the scope of our message, but shows that nutrition and sustainability is not only good for consumers, but good for business.”

The pilot program began in December 2012 as Guckenheimer collaborated with accounts to undergo USHFC review. Utilizing a flexible points-based model similar to the LEED® green building standard, USHFC’s registered dietitians audited and assessed the cafés across a range of criteria determined by USHFC’s Panel of Experts, such as the utilization of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthful cooking and preparation methods, moderate portion sizes, behavioral components that encourage ‘better for you choices’ and sustainable practices for food sourcing.

“We thank USHFC’s bold efforts and the dedicated individuals at each account who have worked to make this certification a reality,” said Randall Boyd, Guckenheimer CEO. “The shift to nutrition-centric food at work has tremendous impact for businesses that we are just beginning to quantify. We are at the tipping point where data will verify that employee health and productivity are inextricably linked, and food preparation, as well as its presentation, is a large component of that cycle. Guckenheimer’s core offering aligns with USHFC’s objectives and the foodservice industry should be ready to rise to the occasion.”

In addition to contract foodservice establishments, the USHFC certifies and promotes REAL Certified restaurants as part of its Eat REAL™ initiative. For more information, see www.eatreal.org.

ABOUT UNITED STATES HEALTHFUL FOOD COUNCIL (USHFC)

Established in 2011, the USHFC is a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to fighting obesity, diabetes and other food related diseases by increasing access to healthful, affordable and sustainable food and beverages. The USHFC works towards its mission through REAL Certification, the first national nutrition and sustainability best-practices program, nutrition analysis, menu labeling and recipe consulting. For more information, please visit ushfc.org and eatreal.org.

ABOUT GUCKENHEIMER

Founded in the San Francisco Bay Area by two healthcare professionals, Guckenheimer is an onsite specialty foodservice company dedicated to the philosophy that health and productivity at work is achieved through exceptional food and dining experiences. With accounts across 31 states, Guckenheimer features evolved employee health and wellness programs led by registered dieticians, customized menu creations and fresh meals-from-scratch prepared with sustainable and organic ingredients, locally sourced when available. All accounts are led by professional chefs trained in the culinary arts and fine-dining. Visit http://www.guckenheimer.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Sarah Coppersmith l United States Healthful Food Council
[email protected] / w) 202.207.3660 c) 602.418.0316
Serene Buckley or Katie Young | Guckenheimer
[email protected] // [email protected] / (415) 392-1000

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