FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canadians Think They Have Good Eating Habits,
Study Finds

Toronto, ON - March 6, 2000 - Think you're eating healthy? You're not alone. However, do you really understand what comprises a healthy diet? In a recent survey conducted by Angus Reid Group, 71 per cent of Canadians polled rated their own personal eating habits as good from a nutritional standpoint, and 94 per cent rated nutrition (second only to taste) as an important factor when choosing their groceries. However, when polled on the four food groups and the recommended daily servings adults should include from each food group, there appeared to be a lack of understanding of what comprises healthy eating.

At first glance, the survey results seemed to indicate that generally, Canadians demonstrate a fairly good knowledge of the four food groups included in Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating. On an aided basis, eight in ten Canadians correctly identified the food groups as Grain Products (89 per cent), Meat and Alternatives (88 per cent), Milk Products (91 per cent) and Vegetables and Fruit (95 per cent). However, it is also true that similar proportions think that Breads and Pastas (82 per cent) and Beans and Legumes (78 per cent) are food groups included in Canada's Food Guide.

And Canadians were much less knowledgeable about the recommended servings adults should have from each food group daily. This is especially true of the Grain Products category. Only seven per cent correctly identified the recommended daily amount as 5 to 12 servings. Less than half correctly identified 5 to 10 as the correct serving size of Vegetables and Fruit.

"These results are concerning from a nutrition standpoint," says registered dietitian, Susan Mah. "Eating the recommended number of servings from each food group, especially grain products, is essential to healthy eating."

Perhaps the most surprising survey results pertain to fibre. Although 80 per cent of those polled said they were concerned about getting nutritional elements like whole wheat or fibre in their diet, only 38 per cent could correctly identify the amount of fibre recommended daily. In addition, very few could name the health benefits of fibre. Though 60 per cent cited prevention of bowel problems as one of the health benefits of eating fibre, only 25 per cent could identify other benefits like reducing the risk of certain cancers or lowering blood cholesterol levels.

"Getting enough fibre in your diet is important for healthy eating," says Mah. "Eating between 25 and 30 g of fibre a day has a variety of health benefits. Not only does fibre help to maintain a healthy weight, but it can also help lower blood cholesterol, control blood sugar levels and prevent bowel problems - important health issues for many Canadians."

Mah recommends eating foods such as whole grain breads, cereals, and fruits and vegetables, which are sources of dietary fibre and low in fat. She also suggests adding whole-wheat pasta to your diet, like CATELLI's Healthy Harvest pasta, which contains 5 g of dietary fibre per serving. "Whole wheat pasta is an easy and delicious way to add fibre to your diet," says Mah. "And for time-crunched Canadians, this is a great option that combines convenience, ease of preparation, taste and nutrition."

The survey was based on interviews with 1500 individuals in Canada, 18 years of age and older. The margin of error for this study was +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CATELLI Introduces New Healthy Choices

Toronto, ON - March 6, 2000 - Looking for ways to keep your heart healthy? CATELLI Healthy Harvest may be the answer you've been looking for. Committed to providing healthy choices for consumers, CATELLI announced today its partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada's Health Check program. The Health Check symbol will soon be featured on CATELLI's entire line of Healthy Harvest whole wheat pasta. Health Check is an education program that helps consumers make wise food choices at the grocery store through an easy to understand labelling system.

"We're very pleased to be part of this program," says Gabriella Schiavoni, assistant brand manager for CATELLI. "Healthy Harvest's participation in the Health Check program is in line with our objectives to meet an increasing consumer demand for convenient and easy to prepare meal solutions that help meet daily nutritional requirements."

Based on Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating, the Health Check logo identifies foods that have met specific nutrient requirements and are therefore part of a healthy diet. These requirements include fat, calcium, calorie and fibre content, and can vary according to food category. CATELLI Healthy Harvest pasta is high in dietary fibre and low in fat, which are important components of healthy eating.

"Eating foods that are higher in fibre and lower in fat is essential to a healthy diet," says registered dietitian, Susan Mah. "These foods help to maintain a healthy weight, prevent bowel problems, control blood sugar and lower cholesterol - important health issues for many Canadians."

The inclusion of Healthy Harvest to the Health Check program is also an important step for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. "This is an exciting announcement for Health Check," says Nancy Messham, director of business development for Health Check. "CATELLI Healthy Harvest is the first pasta with the Health Check logo and we're very glad to be able to offer this healthy choice to consumers," she says.

CATELLI Healthy Harvest is available in six pasta varieties including spaghetti, rotini, penne rigate, macaroni, lasagne and spaghettini. CATELLI Healthy Harvest pasta featuring the Health Check logo will be available on grocery store shelves across Canada in April.