Probiotic Instant Coffee; Seasoning Packets for Slow Cookers; Low-Sodium Hot Dogs

Probiotic Instant Coffee
Tipton Mills, Buffalo, N.Y., and Ganeden Biotech, Cleveland, Ohio, have teamed up to offer probiotic instant coffee. Ganeden Biotech’s unique, patented probiotic, GanedenBC30^®, can survive heat, cold, and other conditions that can destroy probiotics, making a warm probiotic beverage possible. One cup of instant probiotic coffee can deliver up to 5 times the amount of active probiotic in a single serving of yogurt. The product comes in 0.07-oz stick packs, packaged six to a carton.

“GanedenBC30 is the most studied heat-stable probiotic in the world and has excellent shelf life,” said Wayne Eschberger, Vice President of Operations, Tipton Mills. “We were looking for a superior tasting, functional instant coffee compared to the typical freeze-dried or spray-dried soluble products that are available and we feel that we have that now, thanks to Ganeden Biotech and GanedenBC30.” In addition to instant coffee, Tipton Mills offers probiotics in chai lattes, lattes, cappuccinos, teas in various flavors, and high-protein shakes and smoothies.

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Seasoning Packets for Slow Cookers
B&G Foods, Parsippany, N.J., is making food preparation in slow cookers easier with the rollout of Crock-Pot ^® Seasoning Mixes. The 1.5-oz mixes are available in three varieties: Hearty Beef Stew, Savory Pot Roast, and BBQ Pulled Pork. Each single-serving packet seasons 2–3 lbs of meat and fresh ingredients in a slow cooker, producing meals to feed 4 to 6 people. The mixes carry a suggested retail price of $1.99.

According to a recent survey, today’s parents often forgo home-cooked meals in order to get food on the table after a busy day. About 85% of families order takeout for dinner at least once a week, while 67% of families say, rather than trying something new, they repeat meals during the week out of convenience. Meanwhile, three out of four adults surveyed sacrifice quality time with their partners to get dinner ready for their families, and more than half say they also sacrifice quality time with their kids.

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Low-Sodium Hot Dogs
John Morrell Food Group, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, Lisle, Ill., has introduced Armour and John Morrell 40% Lower Sodium Franks for foodservice operators. Utilizing a patented, all-natural sodium replacer, the new franks deliver the same traditional flavor with 40% less sodium compared to regular franks. “We are using a break-through all-natural sodium alternative that allows for a one-to-one replacement of salt,” said Chuck Gitkin, John Morrell Food Group Vice President of Marketing, Innovation, and R&D.

With customer demand for lower-sodium menu items and the advent of new menu-labeling regulations, the company recognizes the importance of providing foodservice operators with lower-sodium solutions, especially K–12 schools, healthcare facilities, and colleges and universities. The new lower sodium Armour and John Morrell franks are CN labeled for school lunch menus. Each 2-oz frank provides a 2-oz equivalent meat for child nutrition meal pattern requirements. (Use of this statement authorized by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.) The line includes all-beef formulations and beef/pork blends to match the flavor profiles preferred by adults and kids.