Press Clips: Hood Launches Reduced-Calorie “Milk Beverage,” Mtn Dew Gets Crafty

mw_vanilla_650x720Milk + Water = Lower Calories

Hood, one of the largest branded dairy operators in the U.S., has introduced a new reduced-calorie, milk-based beverage called Milkwise, one designed to appeal to milk drinkers who are increasingly wary of the drink’s high fat and calorie content. Described by the company as “a proprietary blend of water, lowfat milk, sugar and other ingredients blended together to optimize taste while delivering lower sugar, fewer calories and more calcium than traditional dairy milk,” The Boston Globe recently spoke with Hood spokesperson Lynn Bohan, who explained that the new product is for those who love milk and its nutritional content, but are “not getting what they desire from their beverage.” Last week Hood began a promotional tour of Milkwise, which is now available in grocery stores throughout New England, spearheaded by Monica Potter of TV’s “Parenthood.”

Hey, Didn’t You Used to be Malt Liquor?

Taking a cue from the fast-growing category of artisanal soft drinks, PepsiCo launched a new line extension for its Mountain Dew brand called Mtn Dew Black Label. According to Foodbeast, it’s made with “crafted dark berry,” sugar and herbal bitters and packaged in a black-colored can. Distributed at select U.S. college campuses, PepsiCo, which described the product as one “’for those times when Dew Nation wants to unwind – but with a touch of class,” aims to have the product available at 600 campuses by the end of 2015. Black Label is slated for a national rollout next year.

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Lots of Kids Get Their Fruit from Juice

A new study report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) found that juice represents approximately one-third of all fruit consumption by U.S. children. In its report titled “Fruit Consumption by Youth in the United States,” AAP-affiliated researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which looked at consumption habits of 3,129 children aged 2 to 19 years from 2011-2012. They found that 34 percent among those surveyed came from 100 percent fruit juices. Moreover, apples, apple juice, citrus juice, and bananas were responsible for almost half of total fruit consumption, according to the report, which noted that “fruit choices varied according to age and race but did not vary for gender.”

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Coke Wants to be Clear

On the heels of a report which outed the Coca-Cola Co. as the financial backer of a “soda is not the reason you’re fat” think tank, the company committed to being more transparent in how it does business. That includes the release of companies and organizations to which Coca-Cola has donated money, including “$120 million in the past five years to pay for academic health research,” according to The New York Times. The newspaper noted that the list includes “partnerships with major medical groups and community fitness programs aimed at curbing the obesity epidemic,” as well as “a foundation for the National Institutes of Health.”