Cheetos Chile Limon

Cheetos now comes in this new flavor, "Chile Limon".

Whatever happened to "Chili Lime"?

Note the bilingual text all over the packaging. It says both "New" and "Nuevo", and "Flavor" and "Sabor". Even the variety name is in Spanish.

This is not a variety sold only in Latin countries, it's targeted for the USA.

Chalk it up to our open borders policy.

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Barbie Rice Krispies Treats

Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats now come in this new, "Crispy Pink Marshmallow Squares" variety with the Barbie as The Island Princess stamped on the carton.


For those of you Barbie collectors that have to buy everything there is with Barbie on it, are now forced to buy up as many of these boxes as possible. I'm guessing that 20 years from now, we'll be seeing these unopened boxes at Barbie collectors shows, just like those cans of Billy Beer.

The package features some games on the back.

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Velveeta Bowls

Has anyone tried the new Velveeta Bowls yet?

So far, all the press I've read says these things are absolutely horrible, which makes it all the more intriguing to me. One person on a forum wrote that they tasted like feet.

Velveeta Bowls come in three varieties, "Cheese & Garlic Herb", "Cheese & Salsa" and "Cheese & Chili with Beef flavors".

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Pringles Honey Mustard

Pringles now has a new, limited edition flavor, Honey Mustard.

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NASCAR Summer Sausage

There's nothing better than sitting in the grand stands of a NASCAR race on a sunny day, watching your favorite driver, sipping down a tall Coke, and buying a big stick of beef from the summer sausage guy.

Except of course when he throws the sausage your way, and ends up wacking another guy in the face. That's when summer sausages start flying across the stands, with lots of expletives and spilled drinks. Not a good sight.

So to remedy this, NASCAR is getting rid of the walking summer sausage vendors, and selling these babies via retail. Now you just buy 'em before the race, and enjoy. No more black eyes!


NASCAR Summer Sausage is produced by Chandler, MN-based Monogram Meat Snacks, LLC, in partnership with NASCAR. They come in three sizes, 5oz, 9oz, and manly sized, 18oz.

They'll be sold at convenience stores.

Visit Monogram Meat Snacks, LLC at...
http://www.tastetheexcitement.com/

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Genisoy Tortilla Chips - New Flavors

The Genisoy brand of soybean-based tortilla chips is coming out with two new flavors, "Fiesta Ranch" and "Nacho Cheese".

These are made by GeniSoy Food Co., Inc. of Tulsa, OK, where soybean alternative snacking is all the rage.

Despite being based on soybeans, the ingredients list also shows white corn flour, and rice flour.

Genisoy claims these chips are baked, not fried, and are cholesterol free, trans fat free, with 110 calories per serving.

You can buy Genisoy products at Whole Foods markets, and on the company's website...
http://www.genisoy.com

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Tic Tac Chill

I'm being told that Ferrero USA is planning to introduce a new variety of Tic Tac called, "Tic Tac Chill".


It's being billed as a larger sized Tic Tac candy, to set up the marketing angle that it's longer-lasting, and keeps your breath fresh longer than traditional sized Tic Tacs.

It'll also be sweetened with Xylitol, making it sugar free.

The container also employs a "dual opening" system, with one end using the famous flip-top, and the other container a slider-opening.

Flavors will include, "Exotic Cherry" and "Paradise Mint".

It's supposed to come out sometime this year.

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EatRite BeFit - Candies

Sorbee International Limited, is launching a new line of sugar-free products called, "EatRite BeFit".

These consist of syrups, cookies, and chocolates, all sweetened with Splenda.


I've always been amazed at how companies can market junk food and convince you that you're doing something good for yourself. Imagine your mom handing you a bag of sugar-free chocolate and saying "Here junior, now you're eating right, and being fit".

Not that I want them to stop, I find humor in it. I understand that sugar-free candies have fewer calories than sugar candies, and are tolerable to diabetics. They do have their place. But do we need to be told that we're "eating right and being fit"?

I can't help seeing Jack-in-the-Box removing the cheese from their cheeseburger and calling it a healthy alternative for lactose-intolerant people.

Visit Sorbee International online...
http://www.sorbee.com

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Popcorn Indiana - New Flavors

I'm being told that Popcorn Indiana is coming out with some new flavors, not yet mentioned on their website...

• Aged White Cheddar


• A-Touch-of-Caramel


• Sea Salt


• Chili Con Queso

The Chili Con Queso sounds intriguing. Actually, the more I think about it, the more it sounds good. Imagine pouring some chili-n-cheese over a bowl of freshly popped popcorn. Or, maybe just dipping a popcorn into some chili.

Hey, it's corn, and corn is not that unfamiliar to a bowl of chili.

Visit Popcorn Indiana...
http://www.popcornindiana.com

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McDonald's Expands Coffee Business

Reuters reported today that McDonald's is looking to expand its coffee sales by offering cappuccinos, lattes and other drinks, hoping to cash in an additional $1 billion to its sales.

The fast-food chain is already offering espresso-based drinks in 800 of its stores across the USA. McDonald's has 14,000 locations in the USA, compared to 10,700 Starbucks locations in the USA, and 5,300 Dunkin' Donuts locations in the USA.

Dunkin' Donuts lays claim to the most coffee sales in the USA.

So certainly, McDonald's is in a position to lay some hurt on Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts.

However, Starbucks is pretty safe the way I see it. People go there for the in-store experience, their coffee is secondary.

Dunkin' Donuts, on the other hand, is a different story. People typically just drive up, get a coffee and a maple bar, and they're on their way. No one goes to a Dunkin' Donuts for the in-store experience.

The same holds true for McDonalds.

McDonalds is seeing its core-competency reduced to its Big Mac. It tried to reposition itself as a health-food chain with its Premium Salads line, but instead just farted. On top of that, their McGriddles lineup failed to generate any staying power in the fast-food breakfast phenomenon.

Even though the company is still making a lot of money from these products, they've lost branding power. Today, McDonald's is not known for much more than its Big Mac and Egg McMuffin. And if that's all the company has, it's going to get pushed out of the market.

The coffee market is a very cheap and easy way to create some new customers. If they're just going to sell the "garden variety" coffees, capuccinos, and lattes, they'll do really well. But they'll never compete against the Starbucks of the world. Even if they sell gourmet-quality stuff, people will still regard them as McDonald's and treat them as such.

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Krispy Kreme Now Trans-Fat Free

Krispy Kreme announced today that it has completed its transition to becoming trans-fat free. 100% of their menu is now politically correct.

The company has been slowly introducing trans-fat free doughnuts over the past several months.

In reality, the doughnuts are not really trans-fat free, rather they are "trans-fat free per serving", which is different. Under FDA guidelines, if a product has less than 0.5 grams of trans-fat per serving, then it can be rounded down to 0.0 grams on the labeling. But nonetheless, I'm sure they're more sophisticated than previous doughnuts.

The company claimed that it made this move because of demand from their closest fans...

Through the Friends of Krispy Kreme program, an online group of Krispy Kreme fans who receive special Krispy Kreme promotional offers and provide feedback on new Krispy Kreme products, the company knew that reducing trans fat from daily diets had been on their customers' minds. The initiative to transition the entire menu to zero grams trans fat demonstrates Krispy Kreme's commitment to its customers.

Awww, ain't that special?

But me thinks that there was something more to it than that.

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Baskin Robbins New Ice Cream Flavors

Baskin Robbins today announced four new limited edition flavors, as part of its new focus on the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday.

Here are the flavors (with descriptions written by Baskin Robbins)...

• Chocolate Covered Strawberry Sundae: A perfect combination of SuperFudge Truffle and Very Berry Strawberry ice creams layered with hot fudge and strawberry topping, topped with whipped cream and a cherry, and drizzled with dark dipping chocolate.



• Chocolate Chip Truffle Shake: An irresistible blend of SuperFudge Truffle and Chocolate Chip ice creams and chocolate syrup. Topped with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle.



• SuperFudge Truffle ice cream: A super indulgent Chocolate Fudge ice cream with chunks of chocolate ganache and toffee truffle pieces.



• Love Potion #31 ice cream: White Chocolate and Raspberry ice creams swirled with a raspberry ribbon and loaded with raspberry-filled cups and chocolate chips.

That last flavor is not new, the company releases that every Valentine's Day.

The limited edition flavors are also available as shakes and sundaes.

Learn more about Baskin Robbins new chocolate Valentine's Day offerings...
http://www.baskinrobbins.com/Spotlight/lovechocolate08.aspx

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Java Rush Coffee Tablets

Java Rush is a thin tablet with a coffee taste, infused with caffeine, that melts in your mouth.

So instead of drinking a cup of coffee, you just let it dissolve on your tongue, and get to working.

Java Rush also contains a couple of other energy boosters, taurine and inositol.

They're also sugar free, and come in two varieties, "Coffee & Cream", and "Vanilla Bean".

They're available now, at 7-Eleven stores, Flying J truck stops, Amazon.com, and a few other places.

Learn more about Java Rush online...
http://www.javarushmelts.com/

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Kazana Tonic Bars

It seems no matter how many new candy bars I come across, I continue to find some made from ingredients I've never heard of before.

Kazana Tonic Bars are made by a company called Komal Herbals, Inc. of Sewickley, PA. They make a product called, "Praas", which they describe as a tonic, but what appears to be more like a fruit jam.


The base of Praas is the Indian Gooseberry, which Komal Herbals says is dense with nutrients. The company then loads it up with more nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins, and sells it as a standalone jam, or uses it to make other products.

The Kazana Tonic Bars is made from this Praas, but with chunks of nuts and fruits thrown in.

The company makes five varities of Kazana Snack Bars, each with different spices and ingredients, "Chai", "Mango Coconut", "Pistachio", "Cocoa Chips", and "Cashew Curry".

I'm sure Komal Herbals will argue that this is not junk food but rather health food. I'm amused with their use of the word, "tonic bar" instead of "snack bar", or "candy bar". It's all the same thing. A Snickers bar contains antioxidants (in the chocolate), and protein in the peanuts. It's all about quantities, man.

Buy your Kazana Tonic Bars online here...
http://www.ayurbest.com/kazana.html

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Cocoa Mojo - with Cordyceps

Cocoa Mojo is a new brand of hot cocoa mix, that comes with the added benefit of Cordyceps and Ganoderma.

Cordyceps and Ganoderma are herbs used by the Chinese to fight colds and flus by boosting your immune system.

I'm not a big hot cocoa drinker, but I haven't heard of these botanicals being put into hot cocoa, or even using hot cocoa as a vehicle for delivering immune boosters.

The manufacturer, EnerHealth Botanicals, LLC, says they've sweetened this using Rapadura Sugar, a type of sugarcane from Brazil.

You can get a 12oz resealable bag from these guys for $10.99...
http://www.enerhealthbotanicals.com

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