Jim Carper's Dairy Case

By James Carper

Welcome to the dairy case, a round-up of what’s new in products, companies and marketing. In this issue: International Dairy Foods Association, Haagen-Dazs, Breyers, Popsicle, Liberte, Laughing Cow, Lovin’ Spoonful and more.

Welcome to Jim Carper's Dairy Case, a look at the new dairy products, companies and marketing efforts making the news.

REGULATIONS

IDFA doesn’t like NMPF’s milk plan
An International Dairy Foods Association analysis of the National Milk Producers Federation’s dairy market stabilization program shows that the program would “slow U.S. job growth in agriculture, curtail the U. S. dairy industry's export potential and impede worldwide food security while increasing domestic price volatility.”

IDFA Chief Economist Bob Yonkers wrote the economic review, "A Look at Dairy Market Price Volatility and Options for Dairy Policy Reform." He concludes the NMPF program would periodically restrict the U.S. milk supply by imposing new federal taxes on dairy manufacturers based upon each dairy producer's production base.

The economic review is available at

http://www.idfa.org/files/A_Look_at_Dairy_Market_Price_Volatility_and_Options_for_Dairy_Policy_Reform_5-25-11.pdf.

NEW DAIRY FOODS

New ice cream flavors from Haagen-Dazs

“This year we really focused on flavor experiences when looking for inspiration and ideas," said Gulbin Hoeberechts, Haagen-Dazs Brand Director. "A slice of holiday pie, a bite of fresh fruit from the orchard, a visit to the ice cream parlor, a trip to India – all of these led to the creation of our 2011 flavors and new sundae cones." Among the ice cream flavors are:

Caramel Apple Pie
Cranberry Pumpkin Spice
Sweet Chai Latte
Spiced Peach Crumble (a Walmart exclusive)

Breyers, Popsicle use branded cookies, candies

Breyers Blasts! offers12 varieties made with well-known candy and cookie brands, including eight new flavors. They are:

Mrs. Fields Mint Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough
Oreo Cookies & Cream Chocolate, Oreo Cookies & Cream
Mint Chips Ahoy! Chocolate Chip Cookie
Whoppers
Waffle Cone with Hershey’s Chocolate Chips

The Breyers Blasts! line also includes Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers Caramel Swirl Chunk and Oreo Cookies & Cream and Heath.

Popsicle introduces Jolly Rancher Awesome Twosome ice pops made with 10% fruit juice. The 20-pack includes two flavors in each pop: Blue Raspberry/Cherry and Grape/Green Apple.

Canadian yogurt maker is coast-to-coast in U.S.

Liberte, a natural and organic yogurt brand from Quebec, Canada, launched a website to reach U.S. shoppers (www.LiberteYogourt.com) and a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LiberteUSA). Liberte first started distributing its products 12 years ago in Vermont, New York, Maine, and Connecticut. Consumer demand for Liberte's high-quality natural products soon increased, and the company's products are now carried at 3,000 stores nationwide, including Whole Foods, Albertson's, Earth Origins, Tunie's, Richard's Foodporium, Chamberlin's & Nutrition S'mart, leading independent natural food stores and Publix. Liberte manufactures specialty dairy products including yogurt, kefir and goat's milk butter. Yogurts are made with rBGH-free milk sourced from Vermont's Champlain Valley.

Bel Brands adds 2 flavors
The Laughing Cow launched two new flavors of Mini Babybel: white cheddar and sharp original. Bel Brands USA Inc, a subsidiary of Fromageries Bel, a family-owned cheese maker headquartered in Paris, France.

RESEARCH AND AWARDS

Pediatricians frown on sports, energy drinks for children

Sports and energy drinks are heavily marketed to children and adolescents, but in most cases they don’t need them, according to “Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks for Children and Adolescents: Are They Appropriate?” published in the June 2011 issue of Pediatrics. Moreover, some of these products contain substances that could be harmful to children.

Sports drinks can be helpful for young athletes engaged in prolonged, vigorous physical activities, but in most cases they are unnecessary on the sports field or the school lunchroom.

“For most children engaging in routine physical activity, plain water is best,” Dr. Benjamin said. “Sports drinks contain extra calories that children don’t need, and could contribute to obesity and tooth decay. It’s better for children to drink water during and after exercise, and to have the recommended intake of juice and low-fat milk with meals. Sports drinks are not recommended as beverages to have with meals.”

Maria Shriver’s ice cream company names award recipient

Lovin’ Scoopful, a premium ice cream company founded by Maria Shriver, Tim Shriver and partners to benefit nonprofits that support those with intellectual challenges, announced that the national Lovin’ Compassion Award recipient is Caitlynn Cantrell from McMinnville, Ore. Cantrell, 14, received numerous nominations for her dedication to promoting acceptance and respect for all students.

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Jim Carper is the former editor-in-chief of Dairy Foods.