Peeps for Easter 2007

Flix Candy has posted on its website a preview of some new Peeps candies scheduled for Easter 2007.

Flix Candy is making these products under a licensing agreement with Just Born Inc., the owner of the Peeps brand.

• Peeps Lollipop Rings - A hard candy in the shape of a Peep on a ring. Comes in two flavors, Marshmallow, and Strawberry Cream.



• Peeps Easter Eggs - A plastic easter egg filled with tiny candies in the shape of Peeps, along with a page of Peeps stickers



• Peeps Pop Slider - A hard candy lollipop in a slider-tube. The top of the tube has a cap that doubles as a collectible Peeps toy. Comes in flavors of Blue Raspberry, Marshmallow, and Strawberry Cream.

You won't be able to buy these until February 2007.

Visit Flix Candy at: http://flixcandy.com

Previous articles about Peeps...

• Sugar Free Peeps - Jun 7, 2006


• Decorate Your Peeps - Jan 11, 2006

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Yahoo Food Portal

Yahoo announced the official launch of its "Yahoo Food" portal today. I took a look around to what it had to offer in the area of Junk Food.

Check it out here: http://food.yahoo.com/

To sum it up, the portal doens't offer any kind of anchor page for snacks, candies, and other greasy offerings. But it does offer some news content, blog posts, and recipes covering some junk.

Probably the page I'll be checking most often is their "Bites" section. This takes you to a page containing news. I just like news.

I had hoped to see coverage of new products, in the same vein as what I do here on Junk Food Blog, but no such thing.

However, Adam Kuban has a cool blog within Yahoo Food called, "A Hamburger Today", where he writes everything about the burger...

http://food.yahoo.com/blog/ahamburgertoday

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Ketchup in Big Bags

Apparently in other countries, Chile in particular, ketchup is packaged in bags as opposed to bottles.

The product pictured here is produced by Chilean-based Alimentos Wasil S.A. under their Jano brand, and is distributed in Chile. It contains 100g of ketchup, which is similar to a standard sized ketchup bottle in the USA.

The bag has a "ziploc" seal.

So, I wonder how you're supposed to get the ketchup out? With a spoon?

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Country Choice Oatmeal Squares

The newest offering from Country Choice Organic of Eden Prairie, MN are these varieties of Oatmeal Squares.

The company describes them as having all the nutritional value of a bowl of instant oatmeal but in a ready-to-eat hand-held square. Varieties include...

• Oatmeal Raisin Squares - oats baked with sweet chewy raisins and a touch of cinnamon.



• Maple Squares - oats baked with real organic maple syrup.



• Apple Cinnamon Squares - oats baked with real organic apples and cinnamon.

Each variety is certified organic, contains zero trans fat, made with whole grains, and are good source of calcium and fiber. They're loaded with carbs, however.

You can find them at all major grocery stores throughout the USA.

They can also be bought in bulk from the company's online store:
http://www.countrychoiceorganic.com/store

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Sweet & Salty Caramel Bugles

General Mills recently launched a new variety of Bugles, called "Sweet & Salty Caramel Bugles".

They're distributed in a 3.5 oz. bag for a price of $1.99.

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Giants Sunflower Seeds - New Varieties

Giant Snacks, LLC of Wahpeton, ND released two new flavors in their line of sunflower seeds: Salt & Pepper, and KC Style BBQ.

Here's how they describe the Salt & Pepper variety...

Enjoy the classic flavors of Salt & Pepper together at last. We have combined our great tasting Original Salted GIANTS with a unique blend of peppers that creates a zesty flavorful experience.

I don't have a description to give you on the KC Style BBQ variety.

Each variety will be sold in 5.75 oz. bags for $1.39 each.

You can buy them online from their site: http://www.giantseeds.com/

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Hot Tamales - Ice Variety

Perhaps in a gesture of irony, Just Born, Inc., the maker of the famous Hot Tamales line of spicy chewy candy, released an "Ice" variety.



The new cool blue variety offers fans with a way too cool down after eating a box of regular Hot Tamales.

They're available in single-serve 1 oz. and 2 oz. bags, and in 6 oz. and 9.5 oz. boxes. The suggested retail prices are 25 cents, 70 cents, 99 cents and $1.49, respectively, per size.

Previous articles about Just Born, Inc. candies...

• Decorate Your Peeps - Jan 11, 2006


• Zours at the Theatres - Jan 11, 2006


• Sugar Free Peeps - Jun 7, 2006

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R.W. Garcia Flaxseed Tortilla Chips

R.W. Garcia has a new line of flaxseed tortilla chips available...

• Blue Corn & Flaxseed


• Spicy Soy & Flaxseed


• Soy & Flaxseed

The products are labeled as...

Made with organic flaxseed & corn - No trans fats - Rich in fiber - Gluten free - Essential Omega 3's.

These tortilla chips are also claimed to be made with GMO-free organic and conventional stone ground corn and/or masa, to have non-hydrogenated conventional and organic oils, to be low in saturated fats, and with no cholesterol.

They retail for $3.79 each.

Visit the company's store locator at: http://www.rwgarcia.com/about/retailermap.shtml

Previous articles about R.W. Garcia products...

• Lo's Whole Grain Tortilla Chips - May 8, 2006

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Seeds of Change Chocolate Bars

Seeds of Change is a Santa Fe, NM-based company that produces a line of foods made from plants grown from seeds that they produced and supplied to farmers. They recently announced a line of chocolate bars.

The bars were produced in Italy presumably from cacoa beans grown from their own seeds (or at least that's my presumption). There are five varieties...

• Veneto, a Dark Chocolate with Espresso Beans and Lemon Essence blend


• Narragansett, a Dark Chocolate with Candied Pecans, Cranberries and Orange Oil blend


• La Dominicana, a Dark Chocolate


• Santa Catarina, a Dark Chocolate with Mango, Toasted Coconut and Cashews blend


• Bayano, a Dark Chocolate with Cacao Nibs and Cinnamon Oil blend

The company claims the chocolate is certified organic, and 100 percent dark chocolate made exclusively from organically grown cacao from the Dominican Republic, along with organically grown fruits, nuts, and spices sourced from around the world.

All of the solid Bars are sold in 3.53 oz. paper wrappers depicting graphics of the represented country. The suggested retail price is $3.99 each.

Visit Seeds of Change at their website: http://www.seedsofchange.com/

Note: Their chocolate bars are not mentioned on the website as of this writing.

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Enjoy Life Not Nuts

Enjoy Life is a brand of allergen-free food products from Schiller Park, IL-based Enjoy Life Natural Brands, LLC.

They recently launched a Trail Mix called, "Not Nuts", claiming to be free of peanuts. The package text reads...

This unique trail mix is a blend of flavorful kid-friendly sunflower seeds, crunchy roasted pumpkin seeds, sweet raisins, dried bits of apples, Enjoy Life's own rich and creamy Chocolate Chips, and tangy dried cranberries. Enjoy Life's Not Nuts! Trail Mix is all natural, vegan, kosher parve and as with all Enjoy Life products, certified gluten free.

Even the chocolate chips are claimed to be "allergen free chips" with the same flavor of chocolate and none of the risk. Not Nuts is also wheat-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, fish-free, and even shellfish-free (for people with clam allergies)

The suggested retail price is $3.49 for a 6oz bag.

Visit Enjoy Life Natural Brands at: http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/

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Alden's Ice Cream

Alden's Ice Cream claims to have a range of gourmet ice cream products made from all natural and organic ingredients.

The Eugene, OR-based company goes on to say that its ice cream contains no pesticides, no artificial ingredients, no antibiotics, no genetically modified ingredients, and no hormones. But it does contains saturated fats ranging from 5g to 9g per serving, depending on the flavor.

Flavors include Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Strawberry, and Cookies 'n Cream.

The "organically farmed" and "certified USDA organic" ice cream is available in the USA in a 48 oz. resealable carton priced between $5.69 and $5.89.

The company's website doesn't provide a store locator. Probably available in stores around Oregon, however. Visit their website: http://www.aldensicecream.com/

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McRib Sandwich Makes a Brief Comeback

McDonald's today announced that its McRib Sandwich will be brought back for a limited time.

The company announced last year that it would discontinue the sandwich. But due to popular demand, they're bringing it back. The company has created a "McRib Farewell Tour II" campaign to accompany this limited time occasion.

The tour starts October 30, 2006, but only at select McDonald's restaurants throughout the USA. Once the tour is over, the McRib Sandwich will be retired forever, according to McDonalds. However, they also launched a special website containing a petition to prevent permanent retirement: http://www.mcrib.com

Apparently, the National Pork Board is getting in on this campaign. Jeff Pigott, director of foodservice marketing for NPB says...

The National Pork Board is pleased to be associated with McDonald's and in celebrating the return of the McRib. The McRib sandwich is a great way to get consumers excited about pork and all its benefits.

Oh come on now! A guy named Pigott working for the National Pork Board?

Extra: Check out McD's parody website: Boneless Pig Farmers of America

Previous articles about McDonald's...

• New Zealand McDonald's - Oct 18, 2005


• McDonald's New Shrimp Burger - Oct 14, 2005

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Hooters New "Pay at Table" System

Hooters Restaurants is testing a new "Pay at Table" system allowing customers to pay their tabs without having to hand their credit card to a waitress.

The move is looked upon as a way ease the growing fear of identity theft associated with trusting someone else with your credit card.

The system involves a small credit-card slider device placed at each table. Just slide your card and complete the transaction much like you would do at the grocery store. Hooters has partnered with Ingenico Pay@Table to supply the devices.

Right now, the only restaurant testing this is the Hooters in Downtown Atlanta, GA. Testing started last week. Throughout 2007, Hooters plans to roll this out to all of its restaurants.

I can forsee hundreds of these slider devices getting gooeyed up with sticky buffalo wing sauce.

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Junk Food Painting

"Junk Food" is the name of a new acrylic painting by German-born Manfred Hönig. The photo you see below is of the painting in an unfinished state. The painting is part of a "live" exhibition where you can see the painting evolve as Manfred works on it.

Click here to see the latest stage of his painting.



Here's what Manfred has to say about his new work...

After a longer absence i am back at work. Actually i spent some time in the mothercountry of junkfood, as well as in Central America. A landscapepainter has to travel from time to time... Junk food is about waste, industrial processing and the ever more hurried life of the modern homo sapiens. It invades everywhere. Travelling in the remotest areas in the states, in tiny desert villages, you will find some junkfood outlets. So my vision is that some day this might end. Fads come and go and life is always changing. Maybe knowledge about this special phenomenen and the advertising tricks used to push junkfood as something desirable into our consciousness will help. Whoever came up with the idea, that it is desirable to produce food that tastes the same all over the world? So this painting will be about the age of junkfood, from the 50ies till sometime in the future, when nobody will gorge himself on junk any longer. Awareness has to be created now, for a future generation.

I can respect his thoughts, though I have a different viewpoint...

Junk food is here because people want junk food. Manufacturers won't make this stuff unless they know people will buy it. Nobody is forcing us to buy it. There are still plenty of stores that sell fresh food, and plenty others that sell organically grown food. But when you let freedom reign, people vote with their money.

In that sense, the evolution of junk food is the product of a free society. The only societies where no one eats junk food are those that force their people to do so. And in governments that impose "big brother" type laws, who are the leaders to decide what's good for us? What makes their actions correct?

What makes a McDonald's hamburger "junky" anyways? It's just bread, meat, vegetables, mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard. Those ingredients used in any other dish might be considered healthy.

I suspect what Manfred is actually trying to express is the far-reaching tentacles of America's corporate empire. I suppose if you live in Germany and witness a McDonald's restaurant taking over a family-owned cafe, you might be angry. But don't blame America. Blame your fellow German citizens for voting with their money.

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Kettle Brand 3rd Annual People's Choice Campaign

Kettle Foods announced its 3rd Annual People's Choice campaign, making available five new flavors up for popular vote.

The new flavors are candidates to become Kettle's newest flavor. The public is invited to vote at a special website: http://www.passporttoflavor.com/

You can also have Kettle send you a Party Pack containing all five of the competing flavors, by following the link on the above website.

Here are the flavors (with descriptions from Kettle)...

• Island Jerk: This mash-up of fiery Jamaican jerk is the real deal with island spices like chili pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, allspice, cumin and thyme.



• Royal Indian Curry: Full-bodied and warm, this creamy curry chip will flood your senses with flavors of India including yellow turmeric, mildly sweet coconut, cayenne, cardamom, mustard, allspice, cinnamon, onion, ginger and garlic.



• Aztec Chocolate: Here is a chip both sweet and savory, with hits of red chili spice and the lightest kiss of cinnamon to accentuate the rich Dagoba Organic Chocolate flavor.



• Dragon 5 Spice: With a complex blend of signature Asian-style barbeque spices including anise, black pepper, cinnamon, fennel and ginger, this is a new dynasty of flavor.



• Twisted Chili Lime: Duck under the equator and revel in this zesty lime chip, heightened by the slow burn of jalapeño, with delicate hints of garlic, tomato and cumin.

See our previous article covering last year's People's Choice campaign.

More articles about Kettle brand of chips...

• Kettle Bakes Pita Chips - Oct 10, 2006

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