Our Methodology 2023

To assess the progress of PHA partner commitments, we work with a team of external verifiers, including:

• Altarum
• Keybridge
• Leading Health, LLC
• UCONN Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

Methodology - Corporate Commitments

Keurig Dr. Pepper’s progress toward its commitment to increasing the number of beverage products in its portfolio that contains one serving of fruit or vegetable or contains nutrients to encourage or functional attributes with < 40 calories per serving was reviewed by Leading Health, a consulting organization hired by Partnership for a Healthier America to serve as an independent verifier for partnership commitments. SKU-level data on beverages sold in Keuring Dr. Pepper’s beverage markets was reviewed, as well as governance documents detailing the methodology used by Keuring Dr Pepper to determine the total beverage volumes sold in these markets and nutritional information related to products sold in these markets, including definitions, assumptions, calculations, and rounding procedures. Product data and methods were reviewed for completeness against guidelines agreed upon by Keurig Dr. Pepper and Partnership for a Healthier America and publicly available information on Keurig Dr. Pepper products.

Keurig Dr. Pepper’s commitment to disclosing in its annual Corporate Responsibility Report their marketing dollars spent to drive sales of products that meet the established definition was reviewed by Partnership for a Healthier, and Keurig Dr. Pepper’s commitment to creating and disclosing a company-wide responsible marketing policy that informs the advertising practices the company engages in when reaching all consumers was reviewed by Partnership for a Healthier America.

Ahold Delhaize’s progress towards its commitment to having at least 54% of own-brand food sales across all brands achieving 1, 2, or 3 stars through the Guiding Stars program was reviewed by Leading Health. SKU-level data on products sold in Ahold Delhaize’s portfolio and nutrition information related to the Guiding Stars program were reviewed.

Ahold Delhaize’s commitment to disclosing the percentage of total store sales generated from all products that achieve 1, 2, or 3 stars through the Guiding Stars program was also reviewed by Leading Health. Ahold Delhaize intends to create transparency around its national brand performance.

Methodology - Good Food at Home

To continue to improve the Good Food at Home program and measure its impact, participants completed pre and post-surveys and qualitative interviews from Altarum about produce consumption and online shopping habits. The data will be used to showcase the unmet demand for fresh produce, to create opportunities for food retailers to meet demand at an affordable price point, and to further learn about online shopping behavior.

Methodology - Healthy Hunger Relief

Healthy Hunger Relief partners received support from Partnership for a Healthier America to implement a comprehensive nutrition ranking system, developed by an expert panel led by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Eating Research. In addition, Partnership for a Healthier America provided technical assistance to help partners understand the nutritional quality of their inventory and make strategic decisions within and across food categories to improve nutritional quality, enhancing food equity for the communities they served.

Methodology - Veggies Early & Often

To assess progress on commitments, verifiers reviewed product ingredient lists and nutrition facts panels to ensure products available provided vegetable servings and limits on saturated fat, added sugars, and salt. Parent education campaign materials, websites, videos, and social media posts were reviewed for accuracy and consistency with the Veggies Early & Often Initiative goals.