Food Lion has launched a “food pharmacy” pilot project to address food insecurity and provide smarter food choices to customers with chronic health conditions.
Under the two-year program with Novant Health’s New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, Food Lion said it would distribute about 3,000 boxes of nutritious, storable food.
The initiative aims to give participants access to healthy foods and encourage them to make healthy lifestyle choices to achieve lasting health.
In part, qualified patients will be determined through evaluations by Novant Health dietitians and other professionals in the three-state integrated health network.
“This partnership with Novant Health is an opportunity to help our neighbours eat healthier by using food as medicine,” said Matt Yates, vice president of brand strategy for Food Lion, based in Salisbury, North Carolina.
“Through the food pharmacy program, we provide our neighbours with nutritious foods that help them manage chronic diseases and help them thrive, setting them up for success.”
The program uses the Guiding Stars food labelling system from Ahold Delhaize USA, the parent company of Food Lion.
Designed to help shoppers quickly assess the health benefits of food products and follow doctor-prescribed dietary guidelines, the three-star rating system awards one star for good, two stars for best, and three stars for best nutritional value.
Food Lion said the food pharmacy box includes pre-ordered, shelf-stable food products such as milk, oatmeal, tuna, black beans, cans of sodium-free vegetables, and pasta sauce, as well as information about the supermarket’s nutritious products and the Guide Stars system used on products and shelf labels in all Food Lion stores.
At New Hanover Regional Medical Center, dietitians screen patients at risk of malnutrition, and part of this assessment includes food insecurity screening, according to Food Lion. Patients who present with food insecurity are eligible to receive a box of food upon discharge.
“We are very grateful to Food Lion for supporting our vision of a food pharmacy to benefit patients in need and for its investment in this program that improves health outcomes for patients in our hospitals and clinics.
Many of whom have a chronic illness and identify as food insecure,” said Schorr Davis, executive director of the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation. “Partnerships like this help us further our mission to improve the health of our communities.”
Must Check: Food Lion Senior Discount Requirements & Details.
About Food Lion
Food Lion is an omnichannel retailer committed to feeding its neighbours at critical times. Over 82,000 employees in over 1,100 stores provide an easy, fresh and convenient shopping experience in 10 Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states.
Through its “Count on Me” culture, Food Lion fosters a sense of belonging among all employees, promoting a diverse and inclusive environment that has supported LGBTQ+ equality for nearly two decades.
Food Lion is the only company in the country to be named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for 21 consecutive years. The company has also pioneered a food recovery program to support neighbours living in food-insecure conditions.
Through Food Lion Feeds, the retailer has donated more than 1 billion meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has pledged to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025.
Founded and headquartered in Salisbury, N.C., in 1957, Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Ahold Delhaize, headquartered in Zaandam. For more information, visit foodlion.com.
About Novant Health
Novant Health is an integrated network of hospitals, clinics and outpatient facilities that provides a seamless and convenient healthcare experience to communities in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
The Novant Health network comprises more than 1,800 physicians and more than 35,000 team members who provide care at more than 800 locations, including 15 hospitals, hundreds of outpatient facilities, and medical clinics.
In 2021, Novant Health provided more than $1.1 billion in community benefits, including financial assistance and services.
For more information, visit our website at www.NovantHealth.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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Contact
Food Lion Media Relations – 704-245-3317
publicrelationsteam@foodlion.com.
Novant Health Public Relations – 844-536-3288