Less Corny

While researchers seem perfectly willing to lay the blame for obesity squarely upon high fructose corn syrup, the Corn Refiners Association is making strides in getting its message to consumers. Several television commercials and other marketing efforts have been implemented to make sure the viewer understands that HFCS is just like sugar and is treated as such by the body.

That said, the debate over the ingredient continues, and one company has opted to omit it entirely from its line of products. Oroweat, a manufacturer and distributor of premium bread, buns and rolls, announced it has removed all HFCS from its entire line. As Oroweat marketing director Dan Larson explains, “We continuously monitor studies regarding HFCS and its health implications. Even though there are differing opinions among the experts, more and more of our consumers have told us they do not favor high fructose corn syrup. It was a significant project, and we’re now pleased to provide our products without HFCS.”

Smart Thinking

With Americans of all ages facing obesity and related health issues, groups are working together to make it easier for consumers to opt for more nutritious foods and beverages. Most recently, a group of scientists, academicians, health organizations and food manufacturers have created a new, voluntary, front-of-pack nutrition labeling system--the Smart Choices Program.

As the organizers noted, “The Smart Choices Program was motivated by the need for a single, trusted and reliable front-of-pack nutrition labeling program that U.S. food manufacturers and retailers could voluntarily adopt to help consumers make more nutritious food and beverage choices that fit within their daily calorie needs.”

Smart Choices labeling is expected to begin appearing on food and beverage packaging next year. It includes a symbol to identify more nutritious choices in specific product categories and offers calorie information to identify calories per serving and servings per container on the front of the package.

Gone Country

Carl’s Jr. is well known for its sizable hamburgers; its six-dollar burgers have grown to become a staple of the franchise and now encompass an entire range of the chain’s menu. However, developers at the chain have turned their attention to breakfast and, just like with those bigger burgers, not in a small way.

The Big Country Breakfast Burrito promises to make a complete breakfast portable; however, while it may meet that particular trend, the notion of portion control is nowhere to be found. Carl’s Jr.’s burrito boasts eggs, crumbled bacon and sausage, diced ham, shredded cheddar cheese, hash rounds and a ladle of sausage gravy, all in a flour tortilla.

The effort is part of Carl’s Jr.’s “Breakfast as Big as Our Burgers” advertising campaign that launched earlier this year to promote the Monster Breakfast Sandwich.

THE IN BOX:

For daily industry news updates, see the homepage of www.PreparedFoods.com and www.NutraSolutions.com.

* MGP Ingredients Inc. has consolidated the production of wheat proteins and starches at its facility in Atchison, Kan., resulting in the discontinuation of MGPI’s protein and starch manufacturing operations in Pekin, Ill. MGPI also announced it will source flour for its value-added wheat protein and starch ingredients exclusively from ConAgra Mills.
* Kemin Industries Inc. and AVT Natural Products Limited announced a long-term Critical Global Strategic Partnership Agreement, whereby AVT Natural exclusively supplies to Kemin, and Kemin exclusively purchases from AVT Natural, all marigold oleoresin used to formulate FloraGLO crystalline lutein for manufacture into quality nutritional product forms. pf