Product innovation designed to meet growing consumer demand for fiber-rich foods

MINNEAPOLIS – June 25, 2009 – A new line of High Fiber soups from Progresso®, available in grocery stores this fall, is set to raise the bar for taste, nutritional value and variety among ready-to-serve soups.

While consumers regard fiber as the No. 1 ingredient to positively impact health, 9 in 10 Americans are not getting the recommended Daily Value. In fact, nearly 80 million baby boomers say they are seeking more fiber in their diets

“Increasingly, consumers are looking for foods with health-enhancing benefits that don’t sacrifice taste or convenience,” said Chad Johnson, marketing manager for Progresso soup. “As the category leader, Progresso is in a position to respond quickly to consumer feedback by introducing healthy innovations that taste great. We’re proud to say we’ve done just that with the new High Fiber line.”

Progresso soup’s new High Fiber line includes four varieties: Chicken Tuscany; Creamy Tomato Basil; Hearty Vegetable and Noodles; and Homestyle Minestrone – all with no added MSG*, no artificial flavors and seven grams of fiber per serving.

“It’s important for consumers to eat high-fiber foods, as they’ve been shown to support digestive health,” said Michelle Tucker, senior nutrition scientist, General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition. “With 28 percent of the recommended Daily Value of fiber per serving, Progresso High Fiber soups will make it convenient for consumers to get more fiber in their diets while enjoying a wholesome, satisfying meal.”

This latest offering is part of the Progresso® brand’s ongoing focus on healthy innovations, which includes its popular Progresso® Light soup line, the first consumer packaged product in any grocery category to carry the Weight Watchers® endorsement with a POINTS® value of 0 per serving.

Learn more about Progresso® High Fiber Soups.

About Progresso
The Progresso tradition began in 1905 when a young Sicilian, Vincent Taormina, began a small importing business to bring authentic Italian foods to Italian-American families. Driven by the wartime shortage of imported products, Progresso opened its original manufacturing plant in Vineland, N.J., where the company created the first Progresso premium soup in 1949, a minestrone based on an old family recipe. It was the first canned, ready-to-serve soup in America. Today, Progresso continues that tradition with more than 80 premium, ready-to-eat soups and broths including the newest line of light soups.

Progresso has grown to become the No. 1 ready-to-eat soup brand in America by using quality ingredients and adding new products like Rich & Hearty, microwaveable bowls and reduced sodium. It established a new health segment with the Progresso Light line for those concerned with weight management. Progresso continues to build on its rich history of flavorful products that delight the consumer.

Progresso® is a registered trademark of Pet Incorporated.

WEIGHT WATCHERS for services and POINTS® are the registered trademarks of Weight Watchers International, Inc. and are used under license.

At Progresso, we love great soup. It’s been our passion for more than 50 years. We craft our soups from authentic recipes using only the highest quality ingredients. We are dedicated to making better taste, better for you. We are also dedicated to our customers, and delivering the great tasting soups that you want. You told us that you don’t want MSG or artificial flavors in your soup, and we listened. So we are removing MSG and artificial flavors from all of our soups, while keeping the taste and quality that you love.*

MSG Facts

Q. What is MSG?

A. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, an amino acid present in virtually all proteins. Glutamate actually occurs naturally in any food that contains protein, such as milk, corn, tomatoes, whole wheat, or parmesan cheese. It is used within the food industry as a flavor enhancer.

Q. Is MSG safe?

A. Yes, MSG is a safe food ingredient. It is on the Food and Drug Administration’s list of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) food ingredients along with salt, pepper, sugar and many other common food ingredients. It has been thoroughly studied, and it is approved as safe for use in foods.

Q. Why use MSG at all?

A. Monosodium glutamate has the ability to enhance the original flavor of many foods, increasing their appeal to the palate. When added to food, it enhances flavor characteristics. It also blends the wide range of flavors present in sauces, soups and casseroles, and restores some flavors that are lost through processing.

Q. Is MSG currently listed on Progresso's labels?

A. Yes, monosodium glutamate is labeled on the packages of products that contain added MSG. Progresso has long been an advocate for complete ingredient labeling and complies with all federal labeling regulations.

Q. Is Progresso removing added MSG?

A. Yes, Progresso is removing added monosodium glutamate, or MSG, from all Progresso soups.

Q. Why is Progresso removing added MSG?

A. We are taking this initiative to offer you, our consumers, a choice of a full-line of soups that do not contain added MSG. This move is not in response to any concern on our part regarding MSG, but simply to provide you with an option. We believe this initiative will be very well-received by the public. You can rest assured that we will continue to deliver the same high-quality and great taste you have come to expect from Progresso.

Introducing a new & improved version of Progresso® Chicken Broth! Progresso® broth is made with simple ingredients for a delicious, homemade flavor. Formulated with no artificial flavors, no additives and no MSG, Progresso® Chicken Broth is 99% fat free and all-natural.

Learn more about Progresso® Broth.

Progresso® is improving the great taste of its Rich & Hearty Beef soups. Made with hearty chunks of our most tender beef and a delicious medley of vegetables, Progresso Rich & Hearty Beef soups are savory and satisfying. The soups have no added MSG* or artificial flavors, and contain 150 calories or less per serving!

Learn more about Progresso® Rich & Hearty Soups.

Progresso® is growing its Light lineup with two indulgent new flavors: Italian Style Meatball and Chicken & Dumpling. Each soup contains 80 calories and 1 Weight Watchers® POINTS® value per serving. These delicious flavors are created without added MSG* or artificial flavors with a great taste you’re sure to love!

Learn more about Progresso® Light Soups.

Each year, The Better Homes and Gardens Best New Product Awards are given to the top food, beauty, personal care and household products. Over 50,000 consumers across the United States weighed in on their favorite products, and Progresso® Light Soup was voted as the best soup, according to the independent market research survey conducted by BrandSpark International. Read more.