NEW PRODUCTS

Cadbury Adams introduced a new flavor of Trident® gum called Cool Rush™, which uses innovative cooling technology and flavor crystals to cool the mouth while cleaning the teeth. The mint-blend flavor will also be extended to the Trident White® product line, which according to a clinical trial, significantly reduces surface stains on teeth in as little as four weeks. The pairing makes Trident White Cool Rush the only intense whitening gum on the market, Cadbury said. The two gums will be available in special store promotions this winter and nationwide by December. Cadbury Adams is based in Parsippany, N.J.

Blue Galleon introduced WildCatch canned and frozen Alaskan salmon to its product line of sustainable, gourmet fish products. The salmon are caught throughout Alaska. The product serves as an alternative to farmed salmon and is free of dyes, antibiotics, and harmful levels of PCBs and mercury, the company said. WildCatch salmon is available as sockeye and coho fillets, sockeye lox, smoked king salmon, salmon jerky, salmon burgers, and canned sockeye salmon. Blue Galleon is located in Wayland, Mass.

Inko LLCT introduced its second flavor of ready-to-drink white tea: Unsweetened Hint O’ Mint. The sugar-free, carbohydrate-free drink has 56 kcal/16-oz bottle. It is brewed from rare white tea buds, fresh-cut ginger, and fresh whole mint sprigs. The product contains no sugars, artificial sweeteners, or artificial colors. Some research studies show that white tea has higher levels of antioxidants than green tea, the company said. Inko is based in New York, N.Y.

Pacific Foods of Oregon introduced 8-oz, single-serve soups in aseptic packaging in creamy butternut squash, organic creamy tomato, and roasted red pepper and tomato varieties. Pacific Foods operates under an ingredient certification program, “Certified to the Source™,” which tracks and ensures that every natural and organic ingredient is of the highest quality and from a guaranteed source. Pacific Foods is based in Tualatin, Ore.

Ham’s Restaurants is the first foodservice establishment to use trans fat-free Whole Harvest® cooking oil to prepare chips and other menu items. Whole Harvest, manufactured by Carolina Soy Products, Warsaw, N.C., is said to be the nation’s first commercial cooking oil that contains no trans fatty acids; the oil is not hydrogenated, is naturally low in saturated fats, and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Ham’s Restaurants are located in North Carolina and Virginia.

Heinz U.S. Consumer Products announced several new products in response to consumer trends. Addressing the lower carbohydrate trend, Heinz introduced One Carb Ketchup, which contains 75% fewer carbohydrates in a 1-g serving than traditional Heinz® Ketchup. In January 2004, the company will introduce three Extra Crispy versions of Ore-Ida® Golden Crinkles, Fast Fries, and Tater Tots® Other Ore-Ida innovations expected over the next 12–18 months include products that address demands for greater convenience and less trans fat and products that will expand Ore-Ida’s franchise beyond fried potatoes. Heinz has also introduced new Classico® Homestyle Meat Selections in classic beef with onions and garlic and hearty steak with burgundy wine sauce. Heinz is based in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Link Snacks, Inc., Minong, Wis., has introduced Jack Link’s® Fully Cooked Ground Beef. The precooked, pre-drained, ready-to-eat product is made from lean cuts of 100% beef. The shelf-stable product comes in a retort pouch, contains no preservatives, and requires no refrigeration. Each 10.6-oz pouch is equivalent to 1 lb of fresh, uncooked ground beef. The product comes in three varieties—Mexican, Italian, and Lightly Seasoned—and can be used in a wide variety of dishes, soups, appetizers, and popular boxed dinners. The product was introduced in Wal-Mart Supercenters across the country in early October, and a nationwide launch is planned shortly thereafter.

Organic Wild Puffs® cereal is the newest family cereal from natural foods company Barbara’s Bakery, Petaluma, Calif. The product consists of lightly sweetened puffs of wheat fortified with 11 essential vitamins and minerals, with a softly crunchy texture and taste that appeals to the whole family. The product is low in fat, is an excellent source of folic acid and other essential nutirents, contains no hydrogenated oils or trans fats, and is suitable for low-fat, low-sodium, vegan, and kosher diets. The product is sold in natural foods stores and supermarkets nationwide. Each purchase supports the National Wildlife Refuge Association.