FALMOUTH, Maine -- A gold star rating system that attempts to direct shoppers to more healthier foods appears to have some influence, the Associated Press reports. Hannaford Bros., a New England supermarket chain, reported that sales of items tagged with at least one out of three stars outshone similar products with no stars.

The biggest difference was with packaged foods, such as cereal, canned goods, snacks and bakery goods. The grocery store found that those products with stars saw sales advance 2 ½ times more than similar items with no such designation.

Hannaford’s system, which it wants to patent, awards stars to foods with more vitamins, minerals, fiber and whole grains; those with added sodium, trans fats, saturated fats and cholesterol receive less or even no stars. For example, whole milk receives no stars, 1 percent milk sports two stars and skim milk shines with three stars. Whole-grain breads receive more stars than standard white flour breads. Nearly all fresh produce are tagged with three stars.

“The fact that the movement of products with stars has been growing steadily since the introduction of the program suggests to me that customers are using the program,” Caren Epstein, Hannaford spokeswoman, told the newswire.

The grocery store’s ratings encompass more than 25,000 items now, with plans to expand to the items, including baby food, later this month. Already, other supermarkets have added the Guiding Stars program: Florida-based Sweetbay Supermarkets already has the program in place and Food Lion has plans to debut the program in 2008. Delhaize America owns all three chains.