The new food pyramid is heading for your grocery stores. A campaign to encourage shoppers to buy foods based on the pyramid recommendations was announced last week. The campaign will include point-of-sale information, such as shelf cards at the dairy case that remind consumers milk is a recommend part of a healthy diet.

The triangle-shaped guide for healthy eating will be promoted in 2,000 supermarkets in 17 states, reaching millions of grocery shoppers, officials announced Thursday. More supermarket chains are expected to join the campaign, which is being paid for by food companies and stores. Store chains in the campaign are Publix Supermarkets Inc., the central region of Supervalu Inc., Brookshire Grocery Store Co., Giant Eagle Inc. and Raley’s.

Based on federal dietary guidelines, the rainbow-colored pyramid appeared in 2005, replacing an old pyramid that most people recognized but that hardly anyone followed, surveys showed. The new pyramid doesn’t spell out what foods to eat or how much to put on your plate. It’s supposed to be a motivational symbol, like a Nike swoosh, directing people to a Web site. The Agriculture Department also has a kids’ food pyramid and a Spanish-language pyramid.