A lawsuit filed against Campbell Soup, on Thursday, claims the heart-healthy label is false.
According to the Associated Press, the lawsuit is contesting the validity of the heart-healthy claims on cans of Campbell's soups. The lawsuit is examining the "Heart-Check" certification by the American Heart Association, and whether it rightfully conveys that a product carries particular health benefits.
The lawsuit is claiming that the American Heart Association "Heart-Check," seal of approval is misleading people into thinking that products "possess some cardiovascular benefit not enjoyed by products that have not been certified by the AHA."
The AP reported that the lawsuit stated the only difference is that Campbell pays money for the certification. According to ABC News, a nonprofit group lets Campbell and other companies use the "Heart-Check" label on their products, in exchange for fees.
"The AHA, for a fee, abandons its general, non-commercial dietary and nutritional guidelines," the lawsuit states, according to ABC News.
To earn a "Heart-Check" certification, the AHA website stated a product must have no more than 480 milligrams of sodium per serving.
A can of Campbell's "Healthy Request" condensed Chicken Noodle Soup, is listed as having 410 milligrams of sodium per half-cup serving, the AP reported. The lawsuit claims there are two or more servings per can, which means there would be at least 820 milligrams of sodium in a can.
According to the AHA website, people should aim to eat at least 1,500 mg of sodium or less per day. But the website also notes that "low sodium" is defined as having 140 milligrams or less per serving.
A representative for the American Heart Association, Amit Chitre, said in an email that the group doesn't make recommendations on what can quality as an appropriate level of sodium for an individual serving, according to the AP. The goal of the American Heart Association is to fight cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
Campbell Soup Co. said in an email that the company had not been served with a lawsuit and has no comments to the allegations. But the Camden, N.J.-based company said it had "complete confidence" in the accuracy of its labels and that they meet regulatory and other legal requirements, the AP reported.
The company stated the food certification program conducts lab testing to verify products that earn its certification meet nutritional criteria.
