Kroger implements NuVal in its stores

NEW YORK A supermarket chain adopted a system that assigns a numerical rank to foods based on their nutritional value to help customers make healthy eating choices, according to published reports.

The Lexington, Ky., Herald-Leader reported Wednesday that Kroger, based in Ohio, would begin testing the system at 23 stores in Central Kentucky, including all of its Lexington stores.

NuVal assigns each food item a score of 1 to 100 based on factors such as protein, calcium and vitamins, as well as fat, sodium and cholesterol, with 100 representing the highest nutritional value. Thus, chewy Nabisco Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies have a score of 2, while red tomatoes have a score of 96. Regional supermarket chains Hy-Vee and Price Chopper were the first to roll out the system, followed by Midwestern mass merchandise chain Meijer and, recently, Texas-based United Supermarkets.