Nonfoods

Although America has long had a love affair with salty foods, recent data from Chicago-based Mintel revealed that consumers are starting to pay more attention to their intake, with more than half (52 percent) watching the amount of sodium in their diets.

Meal planning is much on the minds of those involved with the store core. From the rollout of the “Smart Choices Program” -- envisioned as a comprehensive, consistent nutrition-labeling system across CPG brands and even stores – to the planned theme of “Pasta Meals on Every Family Table” for the upcoming World Pasta Day 2009 event, the grocery industry is working hard to persuade U.S. consumers, who are eating at home more often during the recession, to choose center store products when whipping up their own creations.

In the latest example of the food industry’s close attention to health-and-wellness issues affecting consumers, the “Smart Choices Program” made its official debut last week, its green check mark symbol now appearing on of hundreds of products in supermarkets and other retailers across the United States.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is deferring the final implementation step of the GS1 DataBar on coupons for one year because the industry isn’t ready yet to meet the original deadline.

Chef Pierre, the No. 1-selling foodservice pie in the United States, has introduced Fruit Lattice Pre-Sliced Pies to build on the success of the Sara Lee Foodservice brand’s pre-portioned pie portfolio, which offers seven other varieties.

They may not always eat what’s good for them, but children are aware of what they should be eating.

Alouette, the No.1 spreadable cheese brand in the United States, has now introduced a complete line of fresh cheese crumbles. The seven traditional and seasoned varieties are All-Natural Blue Cheese, All-Natural Feta, All-Natural Feta with Garlic and Herbs, All-Natural Gorgonzola, Feta Mediterranean, Goat Cheese, and Goat Cheese Provencal.

Perfect for the health-conscious shopper, Pomegranate Splash! Reduction Sauces are brewed using a “microblend” process, in which a wine-and-natural-fruit combination maximizes overall health benefits.