Food Latin Market Super

Please welcome Lindsey Nair as she resurrects the Front Burner column, which has been dormant since the end of December, when reporter Beth Macy took a new job in the newsroom. Lindsey, formerly a police and court reporter for the newspaper, is looking forward to writing about food.

Kraft cuts Dairylea fat and salt

Food giant Kraft has said its Dairylea snacks aimed at children have been made healthier by cutting the amount of fat and saturated fat in Lunchables.

Fats are being cut by about one third and the salt content is being reduced by about 9%.

Dairylea products had been criticised by health campaigners who complained about Lunchables' high salt content.

Kraft said revamped Lunchables had no artificial colours, flavours, or trans fats, and 113% more fibre than before.

The firm said in a statement: "New recipe Dairylea Lunchables is one example of how Kraft Foods is working with consumers to help them make healthy choices more easily."

Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash) welcomed the move but said a chicken sandwich without cheese would contain about 0.64g salt, which it said is about a third of the salt content of the Ham 'n' Cheese Sub Lunchable.

Low-fat dairy enhances weight loss in diabetics

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Research results suggest that a diet rich in low-fat dairy calcium boosts weight loss in overweight type 2 diabetics. "Such a diet should be tried in diabetic patients," researchers conclude, particularly in those individuals who have a tough time sticking to other weight loss diets.

Glycemic index is a measure of how quickly a food causes blood sugar, or "glucose," to rise. Generally, foods with refined sugars and simple starches, like candy and white bread, have a high glycemic index, while those with more complex carbohydrates and greater fiber content, such as vegetables and whole grains, have a low glycemic index.

Canada's new food guide a step in a new direction

Health Canada recently released the latest version of "Eating Well With Canada's Food Guide" in an effort to help guide Canadians to eating and feeling healthier.
Health Canada is aiming to promote better overall healthy living for Canadians including a healthy diet, exercise and disease prevention. Access to the guide has been made much more efficient by having an online component enabling the user to personalize their food guide.
Health Minister Tony Clement launched the new guide at the Real Canadian Superstore in Orleans, Ontario and was happy with the adjustments that were made.
"One important new feature of this Food Guide is that it now offers Canadians information on the amount and types of food recommended for their age and gender."
Chief Public Health Officer Dr.

Consumers Unable to Name Products Launched in 2006

Traditional media still dominates recognition and purchasing behaviour; Digital media is emerging as influencing factor with younger consumers and early adopters.

Boston, MA, USA, March 2, 2007 -- 81% of consumers are unable to name new products launched in 2006

Despite the fact that advertising spending was up from $271 billion in 2005 to $285 billion in 2006(a), 81 percent of consumers could not name one of the Top 50 new products launched in 2006, an all-time high for lack of recognition--up from 57 percent the previous year, according to the annual Schneider/Stagnito Communications/IRI Most Memorable New Product Launch Survey. "Relying on advertising alone for new product launches simply isn't working," said Joan Schneider, author of New Product Launch: 10 Proven Strategies.

Overall Globe South listings

The following activities are taking place in the area this week. Future events are included as space allows. To list your organization's event, send information three weeks before the event to Miele@globe.com or mail to Pamela Teehan Miele, Calendar, Globe South, The Boston Globe, 1165 Washington St., Hanover 02339.Concerts

Canton: Open Book Coffeehouse, Canton Public Library, 786 Washington St. Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m., Friends of the Library host City of Roses, a folk music group featuring Linda Picceri, Michelle Tanguay, and Stephen Gilligan. Doors open 6:45 p.m. Admission $8.

CORPORATE LINKS

* The Southern Food Corporation will spend VND140 billion to build a cluster of factories for husking rice and processing seafood in Tien Giang Province's Cai Be District, said Nguyen Ngoc Nam, director of Tien Giang Food Company, which is a subsidiary of the corporation. Construction work will start in end-March for completion in 2008.

Cat food recalled for contamination

Along with a warning to avoid giving pets possibly tainted peanut butter, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is issuing a warning about salmonella contamination in cat food.