New Product Offerings Include Healthy Snacks, Refreshing Drinks, Plant-Based Meat Products

BY A.J. FLICK

Lots of interesting and tasty products have launched recently, some of them making their debut at Natural Products Expo West

Those who don’t live near Mexico might not be familiar with the drink tepache, although it’s become a trendy cocktail mixer in the last few years The traditional Mexican drink has hit the shelves in more than 1,100 stores across the United States in colorful cans, thanks to De La Calle

The lightly fermented drink is traditionally made with pineapple rinds, and De La Calle’s recipes are based on co-founder Rafael Martin Del Campo’s grandmother’s recipes Three fizzy, fermented flavors are out now: Hibiscus Citrus, Tropical and Pineapple Chili (you gotta try that one!)

De La Calle’s tepache is naturally fermented with fresh pineapples, sweetened with turbinado sugar and has Mexican-inspired spices Each can has 40 calories, is slightly carbonated, low in sugar, organic and gluten free

The refreshing De La Calle tepache is functional and fermented, so it’s good for gut health

The new flavors join the others already in stores: Orange Turmeric, Mango Chile and Tamarind Citrus

Speaking of refreshing drinks, our friends at Eat the Change have expanded its Just Ice Tea organic tea line, launched in October, with three new flavors: Mango White Tea, Original Black Tea and Lemon

Ginger Tea

Gourmet News spoke to co-founder Seth Goldman last fall about his desire to pick up where his Honest Tea line left off The team is back with Barry Nalebuff and Chef Spike Mendelsohn behind Just Ice Tea

Just Ice Tea is an organic, fair trade and OU Kosher certified bottled tea line that includes unsweetened and a trademarked Just Sweet Enough option using organic, Fair Trade Certified agave and honey as sweeteners

The new flavors join the six original varieties: Original Green Tea, Honey Green Tea, Moroccan Mint Green Tea, Peach Oolong Tea, Half Tea & Half Lemonade and Berry Hibiscus Herbal Tea

“These new varieties give us the chance to expand our line of chef-crafted teas – reviving some fan favorites while enhancing them with Chef Spike’s touch,” Goldman said “Just Ice Tea was created with the same mission-in-a-bottle values we brewed into Honest Tea, and we are thrilled to develop them with Organic and Fair Trade certified ingredients ”

Mango White Tea is a Just Sweet Enough blend of delicate white tea and the juicy taste of mango that’s just 60 calories per bottle Original Black Tea is an unsweetened real-brewed blend of two varieties of black tea from India that delivers a smooth well-balanced taste with zero calories

Lemon Ginger Herbal Tea blends brewed herbal tulsi and rooibos with lemon and ginger for caffeine-free refreshment at just 40 calories per bottle

Just Ice Tea is available nationwide at Whole Foods Markets and Sprouts Farmers Market, along with regional grocer y and natural co-op retailers

I’m always on the lookout for snacks that satisfy my salty tooth but aren’t too bad for me Aren’t we all? Apparently, dairy farmers are, too, and they did something about it

In Good Hands, a better-for-you snack company founded by California dairy farmers, introduced its first product line, Nacho Cheese Protein Puffs and White Cheddar Protein Puffs, at the Winter Fancy Food Show

The Protein Puffs feature 12 grams of milk protein, are gluten free and have only 1 gram of sugar with 130 calories per serving The development team spent several years perfecting its process to create a high protein puff with an optimal crunchy texture and cheese flavor

“Like 97 percent of consumers, our dairy farmers are snackers and always looking for better-for-you options to power them through their busy days,” said Stacy Heaton, director of communications for California Dairies Inc, parent company of In Good Hands “They also take pride in producing high quality milk, so it’s important that this first product focused on delivering flavor while remaining true to the integrity of real milk and dairy ingredients

“Considering 51 percent of shoppers switched from traditional snacks to high-protein, lower sugar options in the last year, our Protein Puffs are just the right fit for how consumers snack today and the evolving wellness landscape Packed with quality milk protein and that cheesy flavor we all love, they are perfect for a post workout power up or a guilt-free workday snack ”

Poised to tap into the betterfor-you snack market, which is expected to reach $108 billion by 2027, In Good Hands Protein Puffs are an initial offering in a line of milk protein based products made with Real California Milk and dair y ingredients from California dair y families using some of the most sustainable farming practices in the world

“Nacho Cheese and White Cheddar Protein Puffs are snacks our farmers feel good about supporting and consumers can feel good about eating,” said Heaton “As we like to say, you are In Good Hands ” Nacho Cheese and White Cheddar Protein Puffs are available online Additional flavors will come online in early 2023

NuttZo has added Chilled Nut & Seed Butter Bars to its family of better-for-you nut and seed butter products The refrigerated bars allow customers to enjoy NuttZo’s blend of nutritious nut and seed butter, on the go (they can be stored unrefrigerated for up to two weeks)

Available in two flavors, Almond Butter Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chocolate, the bars contain 7 to 8 grams of protein, 4 grams of sugar and no artificial preser vatives Both bars are packed with a blend of nuts and seeds filled with healthy fats, omega-3s and amino acids

Almond Butter Chocolate features NuttZo’s Power Fuel blend of seven nuts and seeds (cashews, almonds, Brazil nuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds)

Peanut Butter Chocolate features NuttZo’s Peanut Pro blend of six nuts and seeds (peanuts, cashews, almonds, flax seeds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts and sunflower seeds)

Like all NuttZo products, a portion of all proceeds will be donated to Project Left Behind, NuttZo’s sister non-profit benefiting orphaned and underprivileged children worldwide

Those who went to Natural Products Expo West got a sneak peek at The Daily

Crave’s Crunchy Fries To-Go, which will hit stores in June

Crunchy Fries are made with high quality, non-GMO potatoes and are certified gluten-free and kosher There are two flavors: Himalayan Pink Salt and Taco Dil-licious, both in a 4 25-ounce bag

With an authentic, French fry taste, these Crunchy Fries are delicious on their own, but even better with ketchup, ranch or melted cheese They can be warmed up quickly in a microwave and can also be the perfect, better-for-you side dish to any entree

Crunchy Fries provides ease and efficiency to families; there’s no need to preheat the oven to waste electricity and time to cook frozen potatoes

A 1 ounce serving gives the consumer up to 60 pieces, compared to 16 pieces of the traditional high-fat, restaurant-style French fries, which is more than 250 pieces per bag to share

“We’ve been looking to offer a new snack made with simple ingredients that are unique to the market and loved by all,” said Hassan Alireza, founder and CEO “As I waited over 30 minutes for my frozen fries to cook and become crispy, I realized how much time and energy it took for my favorite snack to be ready I knew there had to be a better way to satisfy my fries craving without compromising the taste and the crunch ”

The Daily Crave has 15 products and will launch three products in 2023 The Daily Crave is in more than 14,000 retail stores across the United States and in more than 23 countries

Red Lobster has launched its first line of seafood products for retail Inspired by craveable guest favorites, the entrees include Cheddar Bay Biscuit Shrimp, which combines the Cheddar Bay Biscuit with sweet, succulent shrimp, and Coconut Shrimp Bites, which are tossed in shredded coconut and served with Sweet Chili Sauce

In addition, the company offers Cheddar Bay Biscuit Cod, wild-caught cod breaded with iconic Cheddar Bay Biscuit seasoning, and Parmesan Crusted Garlic & Herb Stuffed Shrimp, which includes cream cheese and is coated with a Parmesancrusted breading

Red Lobster also sells frozen, ready-tobake Cheddar Bay Biscuits, Gluten-Free Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix, Traditional Mix and Honey Butter Biscuit Mix

The plant-based movement continues to roll If you were at Natural Products Expo West, you might have seen Nasoya and its new Plantspired Plantspired Gochujang

Steak and Plantspired Sweet Chili

Toss’ables Nasoya, best known for its popular tofu brand, has expanded its Plantspired line of entrees with the steak, which comes in a gochujang flavor variety and Plantspired Toss’ables, which has a Korean-inspired sweet chili flavor

The launch of Plantspired Gochujang

Steak comes one year after Nasoya brought its award-winning Plantspired Korean BBQ Steak to grocers nationwide Marinated in a spicy, sweet and savory gochujang sauce, the new steak variety is sliced and charcoal grilled, offering the same convenience as Plantspired Korean BBQ Steak

Well-balanced with notes of garlic and natural sweetness from Asian pear, Nasoya ’ s Gochujang

Plantspired Steak boasts 14 grams of plant-based protein per serving and is made with high-quality, nonGMO ingredients

Joining the existing Garlic and Herb Toss’ables, Korean-inspired Sweet Chili Toss’ables feature bite-sized, pre-baked tofu cubes marinated with a Korean Sweet Chili Sauce Sweet Chili Toss’ables are made from Nasoya’s Organic Super Firm Tofu and contain 11 grams of plantbased protein per serving

The tofu bites are cubed and marinated in a sweet and savor y sauce packed with sesame oil and aromatics such as garlic and ginger Non-GMO Project Verified and USDA-Certified Organic, Sweet Chili Toss’ables are ready to enjoy right out of the package and can be served with rice, noodles, salads or stir-frys

“The addition of Gochujang Steak and Korean-Inspired Sweet Chili Toss’ables builds on our mission to make eating plantbased foods accessible and convenient, while meeting consumers growing desire to enjoy unique and global flavors at home,” said Ellen Kim, director of brand strategy & marketing communications at Pulmuone, parent company of Nasoya

Plantspired Gochujang Steak will be available this spring at retailers including Sprouts Farmers Markets, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions Sweet Chili Toss’ables can be found at Albertsons, Publix, Giant Landover and Sprouts Farmers Markets – with additional distribution for both products expected in 2023 Meantime, Impossible Foods has launched three plant-based chicken products: Spicy Chicken Nuggets, Spicy Chicken Patties and Chicken Tenders

The Spicy Chicken Nuggets and Patties are designed to indulge heat-seeking palates with a blend of custom spices that

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Than Their Animal

counterparts

“Our chicken products caught on fast with consumers, and they’ve ser ved as a successful entry-point to our brand,” said Sherene Jagla, chief demand officer “In retail, our original nuggets are leading the plant-based chicken categor y in dollar sales, and in foodservice, consumers prefer them to animal chicken nuggets ”

Impossible Foods achieved record sales in 2022 The company continues to be the fastest growing plant-based meat brand in U S retail stores, where it experienced more than 50 percent dollar sales growth last year In the foodservice sector, its flagship Impossible Beef product has been the best-selling product by volume of any plant-based meat brand in the United States

There can never be enough hot sauce, am I right? Kraft Heinz partnered with add kick to the crispy, juicy, tender bite of the brand’s original plant-based chicken recipe The Chicken Tenders feature a deliciously savory blend of spices in a larger, elongated shape for different eating occasions – great for wraps, salads and baskets

All three products offer 10 to 12 grams of protein per serving and no cholesterol, as well as up to 35 percent less total fat and up to 55 percent less saturated fat compared to their animal counterparts Like all Impossible products, they also have a significantly smaller environmental footprint than animal chicken Impossible Chicken products use 44 percent less water, 49 percent less land, and emit 36 percent less chart-topping, to create its new Tingly Ted’s hot sauce

Having already worked with Kraft Heinz on previous collaborations involving Heinz ketchup, Sheeran sought out Kraft Heinz’s proven expertise to develop a hot sauce like no other, ser ving the needs of many with just one bottle

“I love sauces, ” Sheeran said “That’s no secret But the older I’ve got, the more I love and need spice with every single meal

“I travel a lot, so having a bottle in my suitcase wherever I go that can spice up any

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