Dean Foods Co., Dallas, the producer of Land O Lakes® milk products, introduces Land O Lakes 80 ‘N Sunny™ low-fat milk and fruit juice blend. The blend has only 80 calories per 8-oz serving, and contains as much calcium as an 8-oz glass of milk and as much vitamin C as an 8-oz glass of orange juice.

"Our research told us kids love the refreshing taste," says Dave Haley, dir. of marketing. "And besides tasting great, our new product helps address two critical issues with today's kids: Obesity and a shortage of calcium.

"We feel that once people try it, they will become a regular customer," Haley says. "And to help consumers discover just how good this new product is, we've committed to giving away one million trial-sized samples in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Milwaukee and Chicago markets alone." These are the rollout markets for Land O Lakes 80 ‘N Sunny, which is packaged in half-gallon cartons and comes in four flavors: Blue Raspberry, Fruit Punch, Orange Creme and Strawberry Banana. Suggested retail price is $2.99 per half-gallon.

San Antonio, Texas-based FussWorthy Foods LLC has quite the story to tell. What began as a quest by two moms to find a good-for-you and nutritious, yet still good-tasting and fun frozen novelty for the whole family to enjoy, has become an entrepreneurial business that is putting smiles on the faces of health-conscious parents in the Northeast, the Southeast and the entire state of Texas.

Worthies™, the all-natural frozen snack with an attitude, comes in three flavors: Berry Mix, Chocolate and Strawberry Banana. The bars have been available through foodservice since this time last year, but have only been sold in retail six-packs since May. The foodservice single-serve bars are available through impulse venues including schools, vending machines, c-stores, movie theaters, ballparks and hospitals. Each 3-oz bar contains only 90 calories, 2.5g fat, 12g carbohydrates and 5g protein. A single-serving bar also contains 20% of the Daily Value of vitamins A, D, B₆, B₁₂, C, E and folate, and the minerals calcium and iron.

Yancey's Fancy Inc., Corfu, N.Y., is rolling out some unique cheese flavors. New Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce Cheddar is made with the original Anchor Bar sauce that has brought so much fame to the Buffalo wing appetizer.

Also, new Aged Cheddar with Peppadew Peppers tastes like a sweet pickled pepper. Peppadews give creamy aged Cheddar an irresistibly delicious, sweet and tangy flavor. This dynamic cheese has already claimed two medals, taking home a silver in the New York state fair dairy competition, and gold at the World Dairy Expo Championship cheese contest in Wisconsin. Yancey's Fancy manufactures both new Cheddar cheeses in red waxed wheels and wedges.

CalciMilk® is a fortified line of great-tasting, farm-fresh milk made with a patented calcium ingredient. Marketed by McNeil Nutritionals LLC, a Johnson & Johnson company, New Brunswick, N.J., CalciMilk contains double the calcium of any other fluid milk, boosting the value from 300mg per 8-oz serving to a whopping 600mg. CalciMilk comes in Whole, Reduced Fat (2%) and Fat Free varieties of ultra-pasteurized milk. Calorie content ranges from 90 to 160 calories per 8-oz serving, and 0g to 9g fat. Available in half-gallon cartons, all varieties of CalciMilk feature an easy-pour spout for no mess. Suggested retail price is approximately $3.49 to $3.79.

Made from California milk, CalciMilk is making its debut in Northern California. To support the launch and alert consumers to the latest news on osteoporosis, CalciMilk is partnering with the Foundation for Osteoporosis Research and Education to provide educational materials, free CalciMilk samples and free bone density screenings this holiday season.

Noteworthy Introductions

J&J Snack Foods Corp., Pennsauken, N.J., introduces a new club store product just in time for holiday parties. Ideal for year-round entertaining, these European Desserts are petite ice cream cones. Sold in boxes of 30 (15 each chocolate and vanilla), the petite ice cream cones are covered with rich Belgian chocolate and sprinkled with hazelnuts. The cones are individually packaged in colorful foils: Bronze for chocolate and blue for vanilla, making them a decorative party tray item.

Promised Land Dairy's eggnog is promoted as a healthier alternative to other eggnogs because it is made with the company's famous Jersey cow milk, which is 20% higher in calcium, 10% to 20% higher in protein, 100% natural, and produced without the use of artificial hormones. Promised Land Dairy, San Antonio, Texas, uses Jersey milk for all its flavored and regular milk products.

Orrville, Ohio-based Smith Dairy Products Co., now has a new flavor in its holiday eggnog line up. Moovers® English Toffee eggnog is a winning combination of premium eggnog enhanced with a delicious buttery toffee flavoring. "We have had great success with our seasonal eggnog products in the past five years," says Bill McCabe, v.p. of marketing. "We wanted to develop a unique flavor that would complement our existing line and generate incremental sales."

INTERNATIONAL

In Germany, the Fit for Fun brand name appears licensed on a number of products in various categories. All products have some sort of a health positioning. From Roncadin there are Fit for Fun Active Ice Sundaes appear. Active Ice is a multi-pack containing three sundae varieties: Erdbeer-Jogurt, which is a strawberry yogurt and vanilla sundae made from skimmed milk and a fruity strawberry sauce; Exotic-Jogurt, which is a yogurt and fruit sundae with a creamy and light pineapple and coconut sauce and added aloe vera; and Schoko-Vanille, an extra light and creamy chocolate and vanilla sundae made from skimmed milk, with a chocolate sauce made from low-fat cocoa. The sundaes only contain 3% fat.

Energy Ice is a multi-pack containing four strawberry-flavored and four-guarana flavored ice tubes. The on pack "FoodFact!" claims that fructose provides energy but without straining the sugar level of the body. The ice tubes contain 0% fat and are enriched with vitamins.

Also in Germany, Molkerei Ammerland is introducing a line of cheeses under the Fit for Fun brand. The line includes Chili Cheese, a savory natural ripened cheese with the spicy flavor of handpicked chili pods, and only 4.9% fat. Paprika Cheese is a natural ripened cheese with the delicate flavor of sweet paprika and also only 4.9% fat. Mild Fitdamer is a natural mild cheese that has 17% fat, while Deli Fitdamer is a mild and nutty flavored fitness cheese also with 17% fat. The on pack "FoodFact!" claims that the range is rich in protein and calcium for cell regeneration and bone stabilization. The range will be available in 2005 and is packaged in 100g trays containing five slices of cheese.

The idea of "little bottles," or fermented dairy drinks with probiotic ingredients, continues to develop. In Japan, where the concept originated, Kagome now has a variety that contains lycopene and rosehip. The rosehip lends flavor, and the lycopene equals that found in a tomato.

On the other end of the health scale, we have seen chilled yogurts appear with a decidedly upscale positioning. In Australia, The Peters & Brownes Group introduced a Connoisseur yogurt range. The line comes in 150g twin packs and 500g tubs in flavors such as Peachy Mango Perfection, Berry Apple Abundance, Cinnamon Apple Strudel, Caramelized Pear and Classic Vanilla. By no means are these yogurts low in fat.

Contributed by Lynn Dornblaser, dir., Global New Products Database (GNPD) Consulting Services, a division of Mintel International, a global research company. For more information call 312/932-0400, or visit www.gnpd.com.