Wellness Foods - October 2007 - (Page 22)

On THe SHelF Play Misty for Me ABF Beverage llC (www.drinkherbal. com), Cedarhurst, n.Y., rolls out Herbal Mist, a new line of all-natural premium sweetened iced teas infused with yerba maté and other botanicals. The beverage comes in six flavors – White Tea, Black Tea, Green Tea, Peach, Lemon and Raspberry – and is sweetened with natural cane sugar. According to the Yerba Maté Assn., yerba maté provides many health benefits, such as antioxidants, that aid in mental clarity, enhanced immune system functions, weight control and proper digestion. Suggested retail price is $5.49 per 6-ct. 8 oz. package. Frankly Speaking A & B Famous Gefilte Fish Inc. (www.gefiltefish.com), Paterson n.J. introduces its line of 100% Natural Salmon Franks. The 100% salmon product look like standard meat hotdogs on the outside, but are made from hearthealthy, omega-3-rich salmon filets. extremely low in cholesterol and carbohydrates (including sugar), the pups come in three flavors: Regular, Dill and Tarragon. They have about half the calories of traditional beef and pork varieties and contain no trans fats, MSG or nitrites. All A&B products are certified kosher or kosher parve. Suggested retail price is $5.49 per 6-ct. 8 oz. package. Expert Opinion Marketing to Facts vs. Myths By David Schmidt R ecently I’ve become acutely aware of the growing number of food products on the market labeled as “gluten free.” Food companies play an important role in helping gluten-sensitive consumers choose a safe and nutritious diet, and giving consumers what they want is Marketing 101. But what about marketing to consumer opinion that we know is less than informed? For instance, gluten intolerance is real, while harm from consuming foods produced using biotechnology is not. Yet this myth is propagated by many who market organic, natural and other descriptors for niche foods. Marketers who base some of their efforts to increase market share on important public health needs, while giving in to the whims of myths or unscientific public opinion for other campaigns, run the risk of losing the public trust they work so hard to attain. Today, many processors market food products “free” of “GMO’s”, HFCS, artificial sweeteners, BST, hormones and “fake” ingredients, among other examples. While there is no evidence of harm from consuming such ingredients,- which have FDA approval as safe and efficacious - marketers often fan the flames of activists who target certain food components in order to advance a particular agenda. The problem is, when we confuse the marketplace with label declarations that are sometimes important for public health and at other times misleading, we are gambling away consumer trust in food products. If a trusted brand markets one product as “gluten-free” and another as “GMO-free” wouldn’t many loyal consumers of that brand believe that consumption of both products could lead to adverse health effects for at least some people? Is it OK to market against HFCS and imply there is something different about it than any other sugar when the facts are otherwise clear? The cost to future brand loyalty could be substantial for those who market to myths. – David Schmidt is president and CEO of the International Food Information Council (www.ific.org), Washington. IFIC helps cut through information (and misinformation) overload by providing science-based information and consumer insights on food safety and nutrition. IFIC is supported by the food, beverage and agricultural industries but does not play a role in lobbying or regulatory advocacy. IFIC and IFIC Foundation publications on food safety and nutrition issues are produced in cooperation with leading government, health professional, academic and other expert organizations. 22 | October 2007 www.wellnessfoodsonline.com Food Processing’s Wellness Foods™ http://www.drinkherbal.com http://www.gefiltefish.com http://www.drinkherbal.com http://www.ifc.org http://www.wellnessfoodsonline.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Wellness Foods - October 2007

Wellness Foods - October 2007 Diluting the Messages Healthbites New Ingredient Profiles Power Up! Ingredients for Energy and Immunity Beverages for Beauty Potassium Rocks Get Smart with Omegas On the Shelf Marketing to Facts vs. Myths

Wellness Foods - October 2007

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