The AHA offers food manufacturers a food certification program, labeling with the Association’s “heart-check mark” foods that are low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. To cover the costs of administering the program, the AHA charges companies on a per product basis $7,500 for 1-9 products, $6,750 for 10-24 products and $5,940 for 25-99 products in their first year. To renew in subsequent years, the prices are $4,500, $4,050, and $3,570 respectively. (Email from Wilma Davis to CSPI, written 5/22/03; on file at CSPI) CSPI estimates that in 2002, with over 630 products certified, the AHA received over $2 million from its food certification program. (http://216.110.59.27/productlist.aspx; accessed 5/22/03)
Merck is spending $400,000 to finance an AHA program teaching 40,000 doctors to treat cholesterol according to guidelines. (Wall Street Journal, 6/14/98)
American Heart Association was paid $450,000 by the Florida grapefruit growers for exclusive grapefruit use of the Association’s heart-healthy endorsement. (Phila. Inquirer, 5/7/97)
American Heart Association has received $1.1 million (and an annual renewal potential of about $300,000) from food manufacturers as license fees to use the “heart check mark.” (Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/7/97)
AHA charges $2,500 (plus a yearly renewal charge of $650) for a company to put the association’s heart-check symbol on a package. Florida Dept. of Citrus paid $450,000 for exclusive promotion and advertising contract from 1994 until early 1997. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association paid $25,000 for its arrangement with the AHA to promote lean cuts of beef. For an agreement with ConAgra in 1992-93, the AHA received $3,500,000 for a TV program on nutrition. For companies that want an exclusive agreement with the AHA like that of the Florida citrus growers, the cost is $55,000 a quarter or $200,000 a year. Without exclusivity the cost is $25,000 a quarter or $90,000 a year. (New York Times, 10/22/97)
National Livestock and Meat Board gave $189,000 to the AHA to sponsor the HeartRide cycling series. AHA says the program will help ensure that people don’t think that AHA recommends abstaining from meat. (IEG Sponsorship Report, on file at CSPI)
American Heart Association has endorsed only Bayer aspirin. (New England Journal of Medicine, 9/4/97, p. 700) According to Kramer Laboratories, Inc. (Miami), “Bayer, as we understand it, contributes over $500,000 a year to the American Heart Association.” (Letter to AHA, 9/23/96) Web site is sponsored by Pfizer, Campbell, ConAgra (Healthy Choice), and Hoechst (Tufts Nutrition Navigator web site).
Corporate Contributors greater than $25,000 (partial list)
(American Stroke Association / American Heart Association - Ten Ways We are Working for You in Your Community, 2002 annual report, http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1044910608480Annual_Report_2002.pdf)