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It's Not the Shape that Counts,
It's the Recommended Amounts

New Food Guidance System Highlights Bigger Role for Fruit and Whole Grains;  
Glass of Orange Juice and Bowl of Oatmeal Easy Way to Get Consumers Almost Half Way There

Chicago (April 18, 2005) - The soon-to-be-unveiled update of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Guidance System will put to rest the speculation over the shape of America's diet, but experts say that the real focus should be on the actual new dietary recommendations - including those that call for eating more fruits and whole grains.

"The time for debating the shape of the new system is over," said Penny Kris-Etherton, Ph.D, R.D., Distinguished Professor of Nutrition, The Pennsylvania State University and a member of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.  "Now the real work begins, showing people how easy it is to translate the guidelines into a real life meal plan."

Kris-Etherton has developed a snapshot of a daily meal plan that fits with the new Food Guidance System.  She puts special emphasis on the increased recommendations for fruits (four servings) and whole grains (three servings) per day.

"To meet the new guidelines for fruit and whole grains, eating breakfast gets you off to a great start, said Kris-Etherton.  "While many people claim to be to time-pressed, breakfast doesn't have to be challenging - it can be as simple as a glass of Tropicana orange juice and a bowl of Old Fashioned Quaker Oatmeal topped with blueberries to get two servings of fruit and two servings of whole grains."

Fruits
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee Report, eating fruits and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of certain types of cancer, heart disease, hypertension and stroke.  Currently, Americans on average only consume three-quarters of a cup of fruit per day*, as compared to the new recommendation of two cups.

Fruits and fruit juices are important sources of nutrients of concern in the diet, including potassium and vitamin C.  Only about half of U.S. adults consume the recommended amount of vitamin C.  No single age group currently gets the recommended amount of potassium.  Potassium is important because it may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.  Drinking an 8 oz. glass of Tropicana orange juice daily provides a full day's amount of vitamin C and is a good source of potassium (13% DV) and folate (15% DV)**.

Whole Grains
Whole grains appear in the Food Guidance System for the first time because the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee Report linked diets rich in whole grains to reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes, as well as helping with weight management.  In spite of these important benefits, government surveys have shown that fewer than one in 10 people consume the recommended amount of whole grains.

Oatmeal is the only whole grain food recognized by the FDA to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Oatmeal can also aid in maintaining a healthy weight as part of a diet rich in fiber.  All Quaker Oatmeal - Old-fashioned and Instant - are whole-grain foods and provide proven health benefits.

"We consider Quaker Oatmeal to be the original whole grain cereal because Americans have been enjoying it for more than 125 years," said Mark Andon, Ph.D., Nutrition Fellow for Quaker Oats.

Breakfast Benefits
In addition to providing a great start in meeting the recommendations, a healthy breakfast also delivers many well-documented benefits.  Research shows that people who eat breakfast tend to weigh less than those who skip it***.  According to the American Dietetic Association's Guide to Healthy Eating for Kids, children who eat breakfast are more likely to meet their daily nutritional needs, keep their weight under control, have lower blood cholesterol levels and attend school more frequently.

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Interviews available upon request; Additional graphics available

ABOUT TROPICANA
Tropicana Products, Inc., a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., is the leading producer and marketer of branded fruit juices. Tropicana markets its products in the United States under a variety of brand names, including Tropicana Pure Premium not-from-concentrate juices; Dole juices and juice blends; Tropicana Juices and Pure Tropics juices; Tropicana Smoothies; and Tropicana Twister juice beverages. The Dole brand name is licensed from Dole Food Co., Inc.  For more information about Tropicana, visit www.tropicana.com.

ABOUT QUAKER OATS
In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted the first food-specific health claim to Quaker Oats for soluble fiber in oatmeal and its heart-health benefits.  The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., one of the world's largest consumer packaged good companies.  Quaker's brands include Quaker Oatmeal, Quaker Rice Snacks, Cap'n Crunch and Life cereals, Rice-A-Roni and Near East side dishes and Aunt Jemima pancake mixes and syrups.  For more information, please visit www.quakeroatmeal.com.

*       According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee Report, 2005 (Section 6, Page 7)
**     Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower, depending on your calorie needs.
***    From "The Role of Breakfast in the Treatment of Obesity; a Randomized Clinical Trial," published in the American Journal of Clinical         Nutrition, Volume 55, 645-651, 1992.
****   The Dietary Guidelines of Americans recommend that a majority of fruit servings come from whole fruit.

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