American Italian Pasta Company Extends Line of Healthier Pastas With Heartland(R) Perfect Balance

KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Combining the great taste of traditional pasta with the added benefits of whole grains and fiber, American Italian Pasta Company (OTC: AITP), the largest producer of dry pasta in North America, has expanded its better-for-you pasta offerings with the introduction of Heartland(R) Perfect Balance pasta.

Heartland Perfect Balance is an innovative better-for-you pasta that looks, tastes and has the same texture as traditional pasta while seamlessly blending the nutritional benefits of whole wheat. Available in angel hair, spaghetti, rotini, elbows and penne shapes, Heartland Perfect Balance is a "good" source of whole grains and fiber, providing a healthier option without sacrificing taste.

"People are increasingly looking for meal options that offer added nutrition to serve their families, but many are unwilling to sacrifice taste for more healthful options," said Drew Lericos, vice president of marketing at American Italian Pasta Company, makers of Heartland Pasta. "Heartland Perfect Balance delivers the nutrition families need and the taste that even the pickiest eaters will enjoy."

Heartland Perfect Balance is the newest addition to Heartland's popular national line of better-for-you pastas. Heartland's better-for-you pastas include:

Founded in 1988 and based in Kansas City, Missouri, American Italian Pasta Company is the largest producer of dry pasta in North America, with brands including Mueller's(R), Golden Grain(R), Heartland(R), Martha Gooch(R), Pennsylvania Dutch(R), Pasta LaBella(R), R & F(R), Luxury(R), Ronco(R) and Anthony's(R). The Company has four plants that are located in Excelsior Springs, Missouri; Columbia, South Carolina; Tolleson, Arizona; and Verolanuova, Italy.

SOURCE American Italian Pasta Company