The power of the world’s most researched probiotic culture in children, Lactobacillus GG (LGG), is now part of the cultured Danimals dairy products line from The Dannon Co., White Plains, N.Y. LGG can be found in Danimals Smoothies and Danimals XL, and will be added to Danimals Cups in April. Stay tuned for more details in the April issue of Dairy Foods.

The power of the world’s most researched probiotic culture in children, Lactobacillus GG (LGG), is now part of the cultured Danimals dairy products line from The Dannon Co., White Plains, N.Y. LGG can be found in Danimals Smoothies and Danimals XL, and will be added to Danimals Cups in April. Stay tuned for more details in the April issue of Dairy Foods.

Dannon has also made its Activia probiotic yogurt lighter. Activia yogurt contains Bifidus Regularis, the company’s patented, proprietary culture that helps consumers regulate their digestive system by helping reduce long intestinal transit time. The new Light version has reduced sugar, zero fat and a third fewer calories than original Activia. It comes in peach, raspberry, strawberry and vanilla flavors.

All-natural frozen dessert Alpine Ice from Mountain Herbal Foods, Marblehead, Mass., is vegan certified and free of the eight major food allergens. Alpine Ice comes in six flavors: Bolder Berry, Green Tea Verbena, Hibiscus Rose, Lavender Sunrise, Mango Passion and Plum Lucky. Each serving contains 45 to 85 calories, depending on variety, and no fat. Alpine Ice is also low in sugar.

Barry Sears, author of The Zone, states that Alpine Ice “ushers in a new era of ‘guiltless pleasure.’ These are foods that you believe you should feel guilty about eating because they have such great taste, yet they are manufactured to deliver incredibly high levels of nutrients known to improve health and wellness. Life can’t get much better than that.”

In January 2007, the multi-billion dollar energy drink category expanded into frozen novelties, thanks to Hershey’s Creamery Co., Harrisburg, Pa. The company has co-branded with the manufacturers of the popular energy drink Banzai to create Banzai Energy Ice. This 4.0-oz treat comes in the form of a smooth, refreshing ice with a delicious citrus taste and is packaged in an easy, squeeze-up container. Banzai is perfect for students, professionals, athletes and anyone on-the-go looking for that extra burst of energy. Students at many samplings compared the taste to the market leader, Red Bull, but commented that Banzai had a better aftertaste.

Kraft Foods Inc., Northfield, Ill., adds two new varieties to its American cooking cheese classic: Velveeta. New Velveeta Made with 2% Milk contains half the fat of regular Velveeta, but has that same great Velveeta melts and taste, the company says. It’s labeled as “reduced fat pasteurized prepared cheese product,” and the top-five ingredients are: part-skim milk, whey, water, milk protein concentrate and whey protein concentrate.

Recognizing that consumers like some kick with their cheese, there’s also new Velveeta PepperJack white pasteurized prepared cheese product with jalapeño peppers. The top-five ingredients in the PepperJack are: milk, whey, water, whey protein concentrate, milk fat and milk protein concentrate.

Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based Unilever introduces Slim-Fast Easy to Digest weight loss shakes. “Avoiding dairy products is a challenge for millions of Americans with symptoms of lactose maldigestion who are actively on a diet or trying to lose weight,” says James Wong, v.p. of marketing for Slim-Fast. “The new Easy to Digest shake is the latest innovation from Slim-Fast that offers people with lactose intolerance, as well as individuals with gluten sensitivity an effective, proven weight-loss approach that meets their unique dietary needs.” Flavors are Chocolate, Coffee and Vanilla. A single 11-oz serving contains 180 calories, is a good source of protein (10g) and calcium (50% of the Daily Value), and is fortified with 24 vitamins and minerals.