Filed under: New Product — Tags: totalprotein — @ March 26, 2004
General Mills has announced it will show off its new low-carb cereal at this
year’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios in Los Angeles. Total Protein has 8 grams of net carbs, and 13 grams of protein. The show kicks off on March 29th and runs through April 2nd.
You should be able to purchase Total Protein this month, though an exact date is not available (depends on local retailer).
Filed under: Business — Tags: challenges — @ March 25, 2004
Millions of low-carb dieters are making food retailers scramble to get ahold of the latest products:
bq. A vice president at online grocer Peapod, [Tony] Stallone already offers more than 300 low-carb products featured in a special “aisle” on the company’s Web site. But it’s not nearly enough.
“We’re out there fighting for every case of low-carb yogurt and low-carb tortillas we can get,” he said. “The demand has been through the roof.”
The article goes on to say that about 10 new products are announced every week, totaling up to more than 1,200 different products. Two stores that sell just low-carb related products open each day.
To keep up-to-date with what’s going on in the fast-moving world of low-carb, stick with CarbWire.
Filed under: Celebrity,Study — Tags: homer — @
Findings from a recent Rutgers University study on the fictional Homer Simpson diet–which is based on a staple of fats, sweets, alcohol, doughnuts and salty or fatty snacks–have Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, the study’s lead researcher, calling for an investigation into how health-related messages on TV impact children’s behavior.
“Television offers numerous opportunities to learn, but can contribute to a variety of public health concerns for youth,” said Byrd-Bredbenner. “Thus, it is vital for health professionals to become aware of the types of health-related messages broadcast on television.”
Stephanie Alloway, a nutrition researcher at the University of Alberta, says if people actually followed the Homer diet, it would wreak havoc on their health. “As you could guess, Homer is at risk for heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer–basically, he’s at risk for every disease related to lifestyle.”
Filed under: Traveling — Tags: Lufthansa — @ March 24, 2004
Lufthansa, a major international airline, announced that it will start to test low-carb meals on flights from Los Angeles to Germany. The test run will last 2 months, but could expand to other markets if the response is positive.
The meals will only be on the business class menu and will feature an appetizer, entree and dessert. According to the company, it will be the first to offer a complete low-carb meal.
Filed under: In The News — @
The FTC is going after television sales powerhouse QVC over deceptive claims about weight-loss products sold on the air.
bq. The complaint from the Federal Trade Commission accused QVC of false advertising of “For Women Only” weight-loss products such as zero-fat and zero-carb pills. It also alleged unsubstantiated claims about Lite Bites “fat fighting bars” and other weight loss or energy-boosting products.
The so called zero-carb pills were said to block the body from processing carbohydrates and sugars into fat. The FTC wants to see cold hard research that supports the claim.
Similar products are currently being advertised on “drive time” radio programs, such as the Phil Hendrie Show. We’ll keep you posted on the case, and their effect on other media outlets.
Filed under: In The News — Tags: pasta — @
MSNBC has a story about American Italian Pasta Co., the largest maker of dry pasta in North America, which has introduced new low-carb pastas in an attempt to stop eroding sales due to low-carb, high-protein diets such as the Atkins, South Beach and Zone diets. The company reached a deal with Atkins last year to produce a low-carb pasta sold under the Atkins label. In January, American Italian Pasta announced it was creating reduced carb pastas for its own seven regional brands: Mueller’s, Golden Grain, R&F, Ronco, Martha Gooch, Luxury and Anthony’s.
bq. The reduced carb pasta–rotini, elbows, penne, spaghetti and lasagna–sells for about $1.99 for a 12-ounce package, while regular pasta sells for about $1 and the Atkins pasta sells for $3.99, Webster said.
A serving size of the reduced carb pasta has 31 grams of carbohydrates, compared with 41 grams in a serving of normal pasta, but American Italian Pasta increased the amount of fiber to 12 grams, up from 2 grams, so that the pasta has 19 so-called “net carbs” per serving.
Filed under: In The News — @
Coors announced its ads for 2004, including the spot dedicated to Aspen Edge, the new low-carb beer:
bq. Title: “Bar” & “BBQ”
Tagline: So good, it doesn’t even know it’s low carb
Summary: A free-flowing trip through the world of Aspen Edge. In both spots, we open on 30-something Aspen Edge drinkers having a good time and enjoying Aspen Edge. We journey from one bottle of Aspen Edge to another, then into a bottle and the beer itself. Inside the beer, we are introduced to this remarkable and surprisingly great tasting, new low- carb lager from Coors Master Brewers. We pull out of the beer to reveal its beautiful golden color as seen in the pilsner glass into which it has been poured.
Filed under: In The News — @ March 23, 2004
While there are a lot of benefits of the low-carb lifestyle, there are some drawbacks too–at least if you’re in the snack business. With obesity quickly becoming an epidemic, vendors of our salty treats are at a loss, and are hoping the natural appeal will continue to create sales. There is however one niche that’s doing quite well:
bq. The folks who make pork rinds aren’t complaining, because sales of the no-carb snacks have been surging. Bags of pork rinds made by Dallas-based Rudolph Foods loudly declare “zero carbs” and the company says sales are up 22 percent.
Filed under: In The News — Tags: fad — @ March 22, 2004
CNN/Money reports that the explosive popularity of low-carb dieting could soon come to an end. The publication notes that nutritionists and industry watchers have a warning for foodmakers: “This is just a fad that will fizzle away in a couple of months. Stay committed to your fatty and sugary products. They taste better, consumers already like them.” Nutritionist Charles Platkin said the low-carb fad is a “food deja vu” that is reminiscent of the “low-fat” craze in the early 1990s.
Filed under: Study — Tags: Study — @
The New York Times has published an article questioning whether low-carb diets are really the way to go to drop those extra pounds. The paper cites a new study
Filed under: Business — Tags: entrepreneur — @
The April issue of Entrepreneur Magazine has an article on how quick-thinking businesses have been able to profit off of low-carb products. The article includes a brief background of Carbolite Food Inc., a company that should reach $150 million in sales this year.
Filed under: Atkins Diet,Celebrity — Tags: kevinsmith — @
Kevin Smith, the filmmaker/actor behind such movies as “Chasing Amy, “Clerks,” and “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back,” has dropped 50 pounds since starting the Atkins diet last April.
bq. “It’s psychosomatic,” he says as he wolfs down eggs and sausage at the Magnificent Mile’s Oak Tree restaurant. “You simply can’t eat that much meat, cheese and eggs and not get sick of it. In the beginning you’re like, ‘Great, I can eat all the meat, cheese and eggs I want.’ But then you’re like, ‘If I eat another egg or piece of cheese, I’m going to throw up.’ Therefore, you tend to not eat nearly as much.”
Editor’s Note: Please let us know when you hear or read about a celebrity joining the low-carb lifestyle. Hopefully, this will be a regular feature here at CarbWire.
Filed under: Low-carb Recipes — Tags: citrus, dessert — @ March 21, 2004
It’s now officially Spring, and there is no better way to kick it off than with a little low-carb key lime pie:
* 16-oz cream cheese, softened
* 1 large package Sugar-Free Lime Jell-O
* 2 packets Splenda
* 1/3 cup boiling water
* 1/3 cup cold water
* 1/2 cup heavy cream
* 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
Directions to make the pecan based crust are also included. About 4 grams of carbohydrates (depending on serving size) are in a serving.
Filed under: In The News,Study — @ March 19, 2004
A new report from Mintel touts an impressive fact: half of the US population has been on, is interested in or on a low-carb diet (Atkins, South Beach, Zone, etc). While great news for us, it also goes to show that low-carb is here to stay.
bq. Mintel’s report on low carb foods (which will be published in May 2004) finds that over 50% of Americans have tried the diet in the past, are currently on the diet or are cutting back carbs, or would try it in the future. The reach of low carb dieting affects all aspects of the food industry, from the declining sales of potatoes, refrigerated orange juice, and instant rice, to the repositioning of classics such as beef jerky, to the battle in the beer cooler over whose product is lowest in carbohydrates.
Filed under: Low-carb Recipes — @
Why are these chickens wings prefaced with heroin? They are that addictive, or so says the Toronto Star. Here’s the scoop:
* 24 chicken wing drumettes (about 2-1/2 lb/1 kg)
* 1 cup grated parmesan
* 2 tbsp dried parsley
* 1 tbsp dried leaf oregano
* 2 tsp paprika
* 1 tsp salt
* 1/2 tsp pepper
* About 1/3 cup melted butter
To make things easier (and to cut fat), these wings are baked. Most wings you get at a restaurant are deep fat fried. For the full directions, visit The Star.
Filed under: Study — Tags: fetus — @
New research out recently indicates that low-carb diets may be harmful to unborn babies. Howevever, the harm can be avoided by taking a daily mulitvitamin. We have covered the importance of taking a daily multivitamin before.
Filed under: Health,Study — @ March 18, 2004
The once defacto low-fat diet may increase levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol, commonly known as “the bad cholesterol.” Furthermore, the study found that levels of HDL, or “good cholesterol”, decreased. Look for more research to be done, but for now it seems low-carb is still the way to go.
bq. There is a plethora of evidence suggesting that low-fat diets, particularly those rich in fruits and vegetables are “healthy.” However, in a small study of women, a diet low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables caused an increase in the plasma levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol.
Filed under: In The News,Review — Tags: beverages — @
The San Francisco Chronicle has posted a plethora of information and insight on the marriage between low-carb diets and alcoholic beverages. The in-depth article also contains reactions from a panel of four beer drinkers on the latest low-carb beer offerings including:
* Coastal Light Lager (carbs – 3.9g, calories – 95, alcohol 3.5%)
* Coastal Light Pale Ale (carbs – 5.4g, calories – 99, alcohol – 3.5%)
* Rock Green Light (carbs – 2.6g, calories – 91.4, alcohol 4%)
* DAB Low Carb (carbs – 2g, calories – 92, alcohol – n/a)
* Michelob Ultra (carbs – 2.6g, calories – 95, alcohol – 4.2%)
Rock Green Light didn’t receive the greatest review:
bq. Tasting notes: “Odd plastic, candied aroma,” “cardboard smell.” Pale golden with slight head, but retained head longer than most. Flavor is “very sour, like yogurt, very little malt or hop character,” “metallic” with a “horrible aftertaste.”
Overall: “Skip this one and drink water instead.”
We have mentioned low-carb drinks before:
* Coors launches Aspen Edge low-carb light lager
* Anheuser-Busch strikes back against low-carb diets
Filed under: In The News — Tags: Hamptons_Diet — @
A new book titled The Hamptons Diet is slated to be published in early May. The author, Dr. Fred Pescatore, is calling for an “oil change”:
bq. At the top of his list is macadamia nut oil, a “secret ingredient” he said is key to the Hamptons Diet’s success.
Thirteen ounces of the pricey oil, which can be used in both cooking and cold recipes, sell for about 5 pounds in speciality grocers and on the Internet. The important thing is that it is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, with an even higher percentage than good-quality olive oil, Pescatore said.
We’ll let you know when it starts shipping, and will provide a review.
Filed under: Review — Tags: taste_test — @
The Boston Globe has published a comparison of 14 popular foods and their low-carb equivalents. The panel of tasters found “a few pleasant surprises but otherwise little to love.” The Globe said that in only a few cases were the tasters unable to determine the lower-carb version from the regular. The article also noted that in only one of the 14 pairs sampled was the low-carb version cheaper by weight.
bq. But there was some good news. Only two tasters, for instance, could tell which of Entenmann’s butter loaves had fewer carbs; many found the lower-carb one moister. Tasters had a similar reaction to two Ragu pasta sauces, finding them difficult to tell apart. Both Klondike ice cream bars were also well received.
On the other end of the spectrum, Danielle brand lower-carb pasta drew more than one comparison to cardboard, Hood’s low-carb “dairy beverage” was likened to watery chalk, and snack chips by Atkins, Trader Joe’s, and Robert’s American Gourmet were compared to packing materials. Most of the chips were faulted for off-putting aftertastes.
