Meriterese Racanelli, M.S. joins Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, as a R&D Food Scientist and Nutritionist to help expand Goya’s healthy product lines and wellness campaigns to meet national consumer demand for healthy foods.
Goya has been at the forefront of offering nutritious, high quality and affordable Hispanic products for more than 78 years, coupled by providing authentic recipe ideas to encourage consumers to maintain healthy lives. Goya’s healthy product lines featuring a variety of low sodium and organic beans, organic brown rice and quinoa, frozen vegetables and fruits, coconut water and beverages, as well as household staples like olive oil and low sodium condiments, succeed in uniting both wellbeing without sacrificing on flavor.
With her extensive knowledge of over 15 years, Meriterese will guide Goya’s research and development team on the nutritional benefits of specific ingredients, products and recipes associated with the variety of Hispanic origins of Goya consumers. She will educate consumers on strategies that incorporate natural foods, like beans and olive oil, into their every day diets and that also aid in weight management, diabetes, hypertension, Celiac disease and more. “We’re pleased to have Meriterese as part of our wellness team and to help us expand our healthy product line while educating our consumers about the overall benefits of Goya products and of Hispanic foods,” says Bob Unanue, President of Goya Foods. “Meriterese’s experience will help us to develop new products and recipes that will provide excellent food options for our consumers to live a healthy lifestyle and will aid in the reduction of various health conditions that are on the rise among the Hispanic community including diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and blood pressure.”
Meriterese obtained a Masters of Science degrees in Nutrition and Food Science from Montclair State University and studied pre-med/biology in her under-grad degree. Her training in food, clinical nutrition and their effects on the body’s health aided in her success as a Food Scientist Product Developer, where she’s created and produced products, recipes, books, and nutritional programs. “I look forward to helping health professionals, Goya consumers, and others learn how Hispanic foods like beans, guava and olives can support disease prevention, good health and fitness,” says Meriterese Racanelli. “Goya Foods’ low sodium canned beans are a good example of how good nutrition can be combined with convenience and good taste.”
Meriterese is a member of the American Society of Nutrition, the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, the New Jersey Dietetic Association, the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Nutritional Foods Association, and the National Hispanic Health Foundation.
For more information about Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com