March 14— Guckenheimer has announced it will use the United States Healthful Food Council (USHFC)'s Responsible Epicurean and Agricultural Leadership (REAL) Certification. The USHFC is a nonprofit dedicated to improving consumer access to healthful, affordable and sustainable food and beverages.
Four Guckenheimer cafes around the country will be audited and assessed by the USHFC for best nutrition and sustainability practices. The process will help define standards in contract foodservice before the REAL certification program is rolled out nationwide.
Beginning with pilot accounts in Boston, San Francisco, Oakland, Calif., and Omaha, Neb., the locations will be assessed by REAL credentialed professionals across a range of criteria determined by the USHFC's Panel of Experts, such as the use of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthful cooking and preparation methods, moderate portion sizes, behavioral components that encourage better-for-you choices, sustainable practices for food sourcing and more. Guckenheimer facilities that meet orexceed the USHFC's criteria will be the first locations managed by contractfoodservice to achieve REAL Certification.
"Guckenheimer's history of innovation and emphasis on health, wellness and sustainable sourcing makes them an ideal company for piloting the REAL Certification in the contract foodservice environment," Lawrence Williams, president of the United States Healthful Food Council, said in a press release.