NEW SKUs

Beech-Nut Nutrition Corp., St. Louis, Mo., recently introduced a line of dry cereals and jarred baby foods based on various day parts and nutritional requirements. Good Morning and Good Evening baby foods offer key ingredients to infants eating solid baby foods. Good Morning baby foods are made with ingredients such as whole grains and proteins to encourage a steady release of energy throughout the morning and keep them alert and ready to learn and play. They also contain 1 gram of soluble fiber/serving. At night, because babies grow most when they are resting, they need a diet containing high-quality protein to help build muscles and help keep them calm and relaxed during the evening. In addition to high-quality whey protein, Good Evening includes another beneficial ingredient that can help babies’ digestive health—a prebiotic called inulin found naturally in some foods. Prebiotics help digestion by stimulating the growth of "good" bacteria in a baby’s digestive system. Beech-Nut Good Evening is the first major jarred baby food and cereal line to include prebiotics.

Hot Sandwich Kits

About 70% of Americans work straight through lunch or spend a brief 5–10 minutes gobbling down a quick bite. To add meal variety for this time-starved crowd, Oscar Mayer, Madison, Wis., has launched Deli Creations Hot Sandwich Melts. Each build-your-own sandwich comes with Oscar Mayer shaved meats, premium Kraft cheeses, specialty condiments, and an innovative sub roll that heats in the microwave for fresh-baked taste in 60 seconds. Consumers unwrap the sandwich ingredients, place them on the specially designed microwaveable paperboard tray, arrange the sandwich, and heat in the microwave for 60 seconds. Graphic Packaging Corp., Marietta, Ga., supplies the QuiltWave microwave receptor tray and the camphor-shaped outer carton. The carton is printed in seven colors plus a coating to attract consumer attention. Available in five varieties, the chilled products carry a suggested retail price of $2.99.

Tortillas Benefit from Canola Oil

Tumaro’s Gourmet Tortillas, Los Angeles, Calif., recently reformulated its entire line of 8" and 10" flour tortillas through expanded use of canola oil. In addition to its health benefits, the oil makes the product substantially more flavorful, tender, and pliable—enhancing its use as wraps. "We are constantly tinkering with our formula to make our products better," said Tumaro’s Vice President Brian Jacobs. "And with the FDA’s new report on the health benefits of canola oil, our timing couldn’t have been better to bring our new and improved healthy flour tortilla line to market."

Varieties in the new line include: Honey Wheat, Premium White, Garden Spinach & Vegetables, Sun Dried Tomato & Basil, Jalapeño & Cilantro, Chipotle Chili & Peppers, and Pesto & Garlic flavors. All of products are low fat; made with 89–93% organic ingredients; contain no lard or cholesterol; have 0 grams of trans fats; and are certified by the American Heart Association.