launched late in 2009, the smart choices program (scp) was a rating system developed by a coalition of companies from the food industry. the criteria for rating food products used 18 different attributes. the system had varying levels of acceptability based on 16 types of food which allowed for wide discretion in the selection of foods to include in the program. the program was discontinued in october 2009 after sharp criticism for including products such as "froot loops," "lucky charms," and "frosted flakes" as smart choices.