Company: The Dannon Co. Inc., Tarrytown, N.Y.

Distribution: National.

Suggested Retail: $2.69 for four 4-ounce cups.

Ingredients: (Vanilla Cream) Water, ultra-filtered skim milk, cream, contains less than 1 percent of whey protein concentrate, modified corn starch, natural and artificial flavors, kosher gelatin, sucralose (Splenda® brand), potassium sorbate (to maintain freshness), malic acid, annatto extract (for color), caramel color, sodium citrate.

Nutrition Information: (4 ounces) Calories 60, fat calories 25, total fat 3g, saturated fat 2g, cholesterol 10mg, sodium 30mg, potassium 75mg, total carbohydrate 3g, dietary fiber 0g, sugars 2g, protein 5g, vitamin A 6 percent RDV, vitamin C 0 percent RDV, calcium 15 percent RDV, iron 0 percent RDV.

Other Varieties: Peaches ’n Cream, Raspberries ’n Cream and Strawberries ’n Cream.

More Details: Dannon’s new cultured dairy snack has 80 percent less sugar than regular lowfat yogurt and 3 grams of carbs per 4-ounce serving. The company has also launched a Web site devoted to its Carb Control line, www.dannoncarbcontrol.com, featuring a carbohydrates counter and tips on eating and living healthy.

Ingredients: Grade A pasteurized lowfat milk, cocoa processed with alkali, food starch, cocoa, salt, carrageenan, sucralose (Splenda® brand), natural and artificial flavor, vitamin A palmitate and vitamin D3 added.

Nutrition Information: (1 cup) Calories 110, fat calories 25, total fat 2.5g, saturated fat 1.5g, cholesterol 10mg, sodium 220mg, total carbohydrate 13g, dietary fiber 0g, sugars 11g, protein 8g, vitamin A 10 percent RDV, vitamin C 4 percent RDV, calcium 30 percent RDV, iron 0 percent RDV, vitamin D3 25 percent RDV.

More Details: Swiss Valley Farms developed its no-sugar-added chocolate milk in response to the changing milk-drinking habits of its consumers. The cooperative’s new offering fits the low-carb trend because the only carbohydrates found in this milk come from its naturally occurring lactose. Sweetened with Splenda, the chocolate milk was developed with these groups in mind: the estimated 30 million to 50 million on low-carb diets, the 20 million diabetics and parents who want to reduce their kids’ sugar intake.

Ingredients: (Chocolate) Skim milk, cream, polydextrose, sorbitol, cocoa processed with alkali, stabilizer-emulsifier combination to maintain smoothness (mono & diglycerides, locust bean gum, cellulose gum, guar gum, carrageenan), sucralose (Splenda® brand).

Nutrition Information: (1/2 cup) Calories 120, fat calories 80, total fat 8g, saturated fat 5g, cholesterol 20mg, sodium 35mg, total carbohydrate 14g, dietary fiber 7g, sugars 3g, protein 3g, vitamin A 4 percent RDV, vitamin C 2 percent RDV, calcium 8 percent RDV, iron 0 percent RDV.

More Details: Carb Success is a follow-up to Pierre’s Slender® No Sugar Added Reduced Fat Ice Cream introduced in late 2002. Also a no-sugar-added ice cream, Carb Success is geared toward carb-cutting consumers with 3 grams of net carbs per serving. Additional flavors will be introduced this year.

Ingredients: Pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, annatto (vegetable color), potato starch and powdered cellulose (to prevent caking), natamycin (a natural mold inhibitor).

Nutrition Information: (1/4 cup) Calories 110, fat calories 80, total fat 9g, saturated fat 5g, cholesterol 30mg, sodium 180mg, total carbohydrate 1g, dietary fiber 0g, sugars 0g, protein 7g, calcium 20 percent RDV, vitamin C 0 percent RDV.

Varieties: Stars and Moons™ and SunBursts™

More Details: Sargento’s new shaped bite-size cheese snacks come as Stars and Moons (in Natural Mild Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses) and SunBursts (Natural Colby-Jack, Mild Cheddar and Monterey Jack). These convenience products can double as finger foods or toppers for appetizers. The reclosable packaging features Sargento’s patented Slide-Rite® Advanced Closure System.

Ingredients: Aged cheddar cheese, (milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, annato color), butter, (cream, salt), defatted soy flour, fine whole wheat flour, oat bran, wheat gluten, cayenne pepper, white pepper, paprika.

Nutrition Information: (12 pieces) Calories 160, fat calories 100, total fat 11g, saturated fat 7g, cholesterol 30mg, sodium 170mg, total carbohydrate 6g, dietary fiber 2g, sugars less than 1g, protein 9g, vitamin A 8 percent RDV, vitamin C 0 percent RDV, calcium 15 percent RDV, iron 4 percent RDV.

More Details: Cheese straws, a traditional Southern snack made predominantly from natural cheese, are now available in a lower- carbohydrate format, encouraging consumers to “snack all day the low-carb way.” Like the original line, the new low-carb offering is made with 50 percent real aged Wisconsin cheddar cheese and real butter. The low-carb variety has 60 percent fewer net carbs than Geraldine’s other three varieties: Traditional, Sesame Roasted Garlic and Chipotle.

After years of catering to ice cream lovers’ indulgent side, Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. is jumping on the better-for-you bandwagon with — count ’em — four healthier line extensions.

Carb Karma, No Sugar Added, Light Ice Cream and Low-Fat Frozen Yogurt were created with a “holistic mind, body and soul approach,” says the company, which is owned by Unilever. These new dessert options are being introduced in one fell swoop, with all four varieties hitting retail freezer cases nationwide in April.

Ben & Jerry’s says it’s answering the wishes of loyal fans who love its ice cream but struggle with satisfying their sweet tooth while pacifying their health concerns. Now, legendary favorites like Cherry Garcia and Half Baked will be available in lighter varieties.

“A big part of the Ben & Jerry’s philosophy is to address our fans’ concerns. Offering no alternatives isn’t in keeping with what we’re all about, so we created a new line of ice cream and frozen yogurt that has something for everyone,” says Arnold Carbone, “conductor of bizarre & D” at Ben & Jerry’s. “Depending on what you’re looking for, we’ve removed some of the sugar, carbs, fat or calories, but none of the taste.”

Carb Karma, sweetened with Splenda® brand sucralose, contains 2 to 5 grams of net carbs per serving and is available in Chocolate, Half Baked and Swiss Vanilla Almond. No Sugar Added Ice Cream flavors, also with Splenda, comes in New York Super Fudge Chunk and Strawberry. Light Ice Cream has 50 percent less fat and 25 percent fewer calories than the average superpremium ice cream, and is available in Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Mint and Vanilla. Low-Fat Frozen Yogurt contains 3 grams of fat or less per serving and comes in Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Cherry Garcia and Half Baked.

“Months of top-secret research and testing went into creating the new flavors,” says Carbone. “We mixed hundreds upon hundreds of experimental batches and then … sweet success. Now you get to reap the sweet rewards.”

Ingredients: (Half Baked) Reduced lactose skim milk, cream, unbleached wheat flour, maltitol syrup, lactitol, palm oil, polydextrose, sorbitol, cocoa (processed with alkali), inulin, glycerine, eggs, butter, egg yolks, vanilla extract, coconut oil, cocoa, chocolate liquor, sucralose (Splenda brand) guar gum, natural flavors, sugar, salt, soybean oil, acesulfame K, carob bean gum, soya lecithin.

Nutrition Information: (1/2 cup) Calories 180, fat calories 120, total fat 13g, saturated fat 8g, cholesterol 50mg, sodium 55mg, total carbohydrate 18g, dietary fiber 4g, sugar alcohol 9g, sugars 1g, protein 5g, vitamin A 8 percent RDV, vitamin C 0 percent RDV, calcium 10 percent RDV, iron 6 percent RDV.