Quick facts at a glance about the Heart Foundation Tick

What does the Tick on food mean?
A Tick approved food means it is a healthier choice when compared to similar foods. For example, meat pies with the Tick are lower in saturated and trans fats and sodium than other pies; cheese with the Tick is a healthier choice of cheese and when eating out, a meal with the Tick is a healthier choice of meal. 

 What is the goal of the Heart Foundation Tick?
The Tick is the Heart Foundation's guide to help people make healthier food choices quickly and easily. It also encourages food manufacturers and food outlets to develop or modify products and meals that meet the Heart Foundation's nutrition standards. In general, Tick approved foods and meals have met strict standards for saturated fat, trans fat, salt and where appropriate, kilojoules and fibre, and with meals we also monitor serve size.

How do companies earn the Tick?
All foods, without exception, must meet the Heart Foundation s strict standards. Food companies or outlets must have their foods or meals independently analysed to ensure they meet the nutrient criteria before they can use the Tick on their foods. If a product fails to meet the standards, it cannot enter the Program. The Heart Foundation may work with the food manufacturer or food outlet to improve the nutritional profile of that product or meal, so that it can reapply to the Tick Program.

For Tick meals eaten out the process goes even further, reviewing not only what s in the meal but also the way that the meal is prepared and cooked.

How can we be sure that Tick standards are maintained?
Foods and meals with the Heart Foundation Tick are subject to random testing. This ensures that the strict Tick standards are always maintained. Failure to meet Tick standards will result in foods or meals being expelled from the Tick Program.

Why are food companies charged a fee to use the Tick?
As a non-profit, non-government organization, the Heart Foundation uses these fees to run the Tick Program. They are the sole source of income for the Tick. Fees contribute towards:

• Educating consumers and health professionals about the Tick and its role in good nutrition
• Randomly testing Tick foods or meals to ensure they continue to meet Tick's tough standards
• Supporting national nutrition research and education
• Keeping Tick running

Every cent that comes into Tick goes back into ensuring our standards are met, making the foods we eat healthier and funding nutrition research for the Heart Foundation. It benefits all Australians.

What other standards must be maintained?
In addition to meeting Tick's nutrition standards, all packaging and advertising material for Tick foods must be approved by the Heart Foundation. This means that all Tick foods must have either on packaging or at point of sale, a nutrition information panel as specified in the Australian New Zealand Food Authority Code and comply with the Code of Practice on Nutrient Claims in Food Labels and in Advertisements (NFA, 1995). Tick foods offer not only a healthier choice but truth in food labelling too.

Did you know?

• About one third of the foods with the Tick are fresh foods.
• Salads and sandwiches are among the meals eaten out that are approved to carry the Tick.
• 2.7 million Australians eat at fast food restaurants every day. That's why the Heart Foundation believed it was so important to take action in this area and challenge outlets to provide healthier options for customers.
• Swapping a Big Mac meal for a Tick approved lean beef burger meal slashes 70% of the saturated fat, half the kilojoules and a third of the salt.
• A Tick approved pizza at Crust has a third of the salt and saturated fat of comparable varieties, virtually no trans fat, and provides up to 80% of your daily fibre needs.
• Foods with the Tick are subject to the most rigorous independent auditing in Australia. For example, on average, twice a week, every week of the year, a McDonald's store somewhere in Australia is being audited to ensure Tick standards continue to be met. 

Research shows Australian shoppers already understand the Heart Foundation Tick and how it works: 

1. More than eight in ten shoppers agree with the statement that companies pay a fee for the Tick to be on their products only when they pass nutrition criteria.*
2. Almost 50% of shoppers are aware that the Heart Foundation is not for
   profit. *
3. Almost three in four Australians agree that foods with the Tick have been independently tested.*
4. Eight in ten Australians (80%) agree that foods with the Tick meet standards for things like fat, salt and fibre.*
5. The Heart Foundation Tick understands that Australians are looking for solutions, not lectures, to help them make better food choices on foods they like to eat.
   - 88% want healthier choices from burger chains**
   - 91% want healthier choices at chicken chains**
   - 88% want healthier choices at pizza chains**
   - 90% was healthier choices at sandwich chains**
6. Overall, almost one in five (19%)  McDonald's customers reported to have switched to a Tick meal - 48% of customers switched from a non-Tick meals to a Tick meals at point of sale, while 29% intending to buy a Tick meal bought a non-Tick meal (mostly 15-24 year olds)** - a difference of 19%.

Click the following link to download a full list of foods approved to use the Tick in the supermarket:
Download

Click the following link to download a list of meals eaten out that are approved to carry the Tick:
Download

Click on the following link to download a brochure with frequently asked questions on Tick:
Download

  * Instinct and Reason 2006
** Instinct and Reason 2007