INDUSTRY NEWS

Wine packaged in Tetra Pak aseptic package
Tetra Pak Ltd., Wrexham, UK, has launched the first United States domestically produced wine packaged in the Tetra Brik^® Aseptic Package.

Bandit Cabernet, produced by Three Thieves of California, is also the first product in the U.S. to feature the Tetra Pak SlimCap, which is composed of a plastic screw cap, ring pull, and standard pull tab.

The SlimCap provides practical storage and stacking, easy opening with tight reclosing to protect the product, and pouring control. The package is also airtight until opened, a feature that standard cork and bottles cannot provide.

"Utilizing this type of packaging, we are able to cut costs, increase shelf life, and provide a high-quality product to consumers at a lower price point," said Charles Bieler, who helped develop the Three Thieves brand. "Tetra Pak’s technology afforded us the opportunity to distinguish ourselves in our market, and ultimately fulfill our pledge to bring great wine to the average wine buyer and still offer versatility, convenience, safety, freshness, and flavor."

The wine became available to consumers in April. It follows last year’s debut of Three Thieves Bandit Bianco, which is packaged in the Tetra Brik and imported from Italy.

Certain scents can lower drivers’ angst
The next time you are driving and another driver cuts you off, instead of blowing your car horn reach for something peppermint or cinnamon scented.

A recent study, supported by grants from NSF and NASA and led by Bryan Raudenbush, Associate Professor of Psychology, Wheeling Jesuit University, shows that the scent of peppermint or cinnamon can help reduce drivers’ frustration. Peppermint helped to decrease the fatigue and anxiety in drivers, and both scents helped to maintain greater levels of driving alertness.

Participants involved in simulated driving conditions were exposed to one of three odor conditions (peppermint, cinnamon, or non-odor control). Low-flow oxygen carried the odors via an oxygen concentrator, dispensing odors every 30 seconds for 15 minutes. Cognitive performance, wakefulness, mood, and workload were also examined.

The paper, "Effects of Odor Administration on Driving Performance, Safety, Alertness, and Fatigue," was presented at the Association for Chemical Reception Sciences Conference in Sarasota, Fla.

by KAREN BANASIAK
Assistant Editor
[email protected]