Sara Lee® Premium Meats Gets Heart Healthy, Bringing Great Tasting, Nutrition-Minded Products to the Deli Counter09:00 EST Wednesday, February 06, 2013 CHICAGO (Business Wire) -- As 2013 got off to a start, so did Americans' New Year's resolutions, filled with hopes for a well-balanced lifestyle and diet. With February's celebration of American Heart Month, consumers have a renewed reason to look for delicious and sensible meal solutions by seeking out products they can feel good about serving their families and deliver on taste. According to a recent Food and Health survey1, nearly all Americans are trying to improve at least one of their eating habits, and therefore, they are considering various dietary components when making food purchase decisions. However, taste continues to be the most important factor driving food purchases – and Sara Lee Premium Meats has improved the quality of its sliced-to-order turkey, chicken and ham products without compromising the great taste that consumers desire or for which the brand stands. As a result of these changes, Sara Lee Premium Meats announced today that its turkey, chicken and ham deli meats, found behind the deli counter, meet the American Heart Association criteria for heart-healthy food as part of an overall healthy dietary pattern and now feature the signature Heart-Check mark – just in time for American Heart Month. Additionally, Sara Lee Premium Meats has taken steps to further improve and build upon these product offerings as its sliced-to-order turkey, ham and chicken products now contain: No added hormones2 Zero grams trans fat No MSG No gluten No fillers No artificial flavors Sara Lee Premium Meats has made all of these changes without sacrificing taste. “In listening to our consumers, we know they are looking for great taste but also want to understand what goes into the products they are purchasing,” said Joe O'Malley, director, Sara Lee Premium Meats. “With the recent steps we've taken to improve our deli meats, we're providing consumers with heart-healthy options that have the fresh, delicious flavor that they have come to expect and nothing more.” With these changes that will be rolling out over the next few weeks, Sara Lee Premium Meats unveils a new direction for the brand, including a new logo, packaging and point-of-sale materials on its sliced-to-order deli meats. The packaging highlights a redesigned, richer logo with a striking ribbon graphic wrapped around the product, a fresh take on the classic Sara Lee ribbon logo that was formerly on products. Sara Lee Premium Meats has also launched www.saraleedeli.com, where consumers can find detailed product information and search for great tasting recipes. Sara Lee Premium turkey, ham and chicken sliced-to-order products are available in 29 varieties, including a line of full flavored deli meats, such as Basil Pesto Chicken and Chipotle Seasoned Turkey Breast, for consumers looking to satisfy a richer palate. The average cost of Sara Lee Premium sliced-to-order deli meat is $6.49-$8.99 per pound, which varies by product and/or geographic region. About Sara Lee Premium MeatsSara Lee Premium Meats offers high quality and convenience through a portfolio of sliced-to-order and pre-sliced deli meats that simply taste great. Made with no fillers, Sara Lee Premium Meats are available in 29 sliced-to-order and 22 pre-sliced varieties, including lower sodium options, available behind the deli counter and in fresh re-sealable tubs in the deli section. Additionally, Sara Lee Premium sliced-to-order turkey, ham and chicken and lower sodium options feature the American Heart Association Heart-Check mark. The portfolio also includes a line of full-flavored deli meats for consumers looking to satisfy a richer palate as well as sliced-to-order and pre-sliced cheeses. Visit www.saraleedeli.com and http://www.facebook.com/saraleedeli for more information. About The Hillshire Brands Company The Hillshire Brands Company (NYSE: HSH) is a leader in meat-centric food solutions for the retail and foodservice markets. The company generates nearly $4 billion in annual sales and has approximately 9,500 employees. Hillshire Brands' portfolio includes iconic brands such as Jimmy Dean, Ball Park, Hillshire Farm, State Fair, Sara Lee frozen bakery and Chef Pierre pies, as well as artisanal brands Aidells and Gallo Salame. For more information about the company, please visit www.hillshirebrands.com. About the Heart-Check Mark The American Heart Association established the Heart-Check mark in 1995 to give consumers an easy, reliable system for identifying heart-healthy foods as a first step in building a sensible eating plan. Nearly 900 products that bear the Heart-Check mark have been screened and verified by the association to meet criteria for heart-healthy foods as part of a healthy dietary pattern. To learn more about the Heart-Check mark, and to see a complete list of certified products and participating companies, visit heartcheckmark.org. 1 The International Food Information Council Foundation's 2012 Food & Health Survey: http://www.foodinsight.org/Content/3848/FINAL%202012%20Food%20and%20Health%20Exec%20Summary.pdf 2 Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in pork and poultry MWWKate Simpson, +1-646-215-6893orThe Hillshire Brands CompanyAshley La Croix, +1-312-614-8732