iVillage - Supermarket Guru

New Product Reviews

2008-07-03T15:34:53Z

With over 40,000 products in the average supermarket, people don't have time (or the money) to test every product on the shelves – so we do it for you! (Points system explained below the products!)

Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!

Yog Active: Crunchy Wheat Flakes with Probiotic Yogurt and Real Raspberries and Strawberries

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
30	17	14	13	n/a 10	5	5	94

This product is a HIT!

This new cereal has a nice appearance and once I got past the thought of eating a breakfast cereal that was made in Germany I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor and real pieces of fruit. Unlike so many other cereals on the shelves today which contain unappetizing dehydrated fruit, these pieces actually look and taste like the real thing, even before being reconstituted with milk. This is a cereal that both kids and adults will enjoy and with the high fiber content and lower than usual sodium and sugar content, it seems that the journey from Europe was worth it after all! One last note on the packaging: the aluminum interior bag will really keep the cereal fresher and is much better for the environment. Available in other flavors.

Retails for $4.99 / 350 g.

Belgo & Bellas
Quebec,
Canada
888 863 4918
yogactive.com

Bissinger’s Naturals: Pomegranate White Tea Gummy Pandas

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
30	17	14	13	n/a 10	5	5	94

This product is a HIT!

These gummy pandas are nicely formed and even have eyes – very nicely designed with a very good flavor. I love that they’re organic, not overly sweet and colored with black carrot juice. They have a good mouth feel and no aftertaste unlike most gummy candy. The package states that the ingredients of pomegranate and white tea are sources of natural antioxidants. I’d love to see the actual amounts of antioxidants per serving included on the package. Besides that one criticism this great product is the kind of candy a mother could give to her child (and herself) without feeling too guilty!

Retails for $13.50 / 1 lb.

Bissinger’s
St Louis, MO
800 325 8881
www.bissingers.com

True North: Peanut Crisps

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
28	17	13	13	n/a 10	5	5	91

This product is a HIT!

This new product from True North introduces an interesting new category that combines a “cracker” with nuts. These “nut crackers” have a good flavor and are nice and crunchy. I like that there are no preservatives and nothing artificial and love that they come in a re-sealable bag. The only negative thing about this product is that it is a little overly cute in terms of marketing. I like the idea of this product, but I’m not looking for a snack to guide my life. Available in other varieties.

Retails for $3.29 / 4.5 oz.

TrueNorth c/o Frito-Lay, Inc.
Plano, TX
877 422 8493
truenorthsnacks.com/

Utz Multigrain Sunflower Chips: Cheddar Cheese Flavor

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
25	18	12	11	n/a 10	5	5	86

This product is a HIT!

Utz is a great potato chip company – love them! When I first looked at the description of these chips I was dreading the taste, but have no fear: each element is nicely balanced and the cheddar cheese flavor is not overpowering. It’s great that they are made with a significant amount of whole grains ensuring 16g per serving. They have an ingredient profile that’s not perfect, but is better than a lot of chips. I just wonder if these chips are cheesy enough to deliver enough cheddar flavor for cheese lovers. Available in other flavors.

Retails for $2.99 / 10 oz bag.

Utz Quality Foods, Inc.
Hanover, PA
800 FOR SNAX
utzsnacks.com

Twist Organic Juice Water: Mango Acai Flavor

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
15	18	11	11	n/a 10	4	5	74

I like this idea – a splash of flavor in bottled water to stave off the boredom of your daily water intake. However, the splash of flavor in this product results in 5 grams of sugar per bottle which is not such a welcome addition. Add to that the confusing label which touts the organic heritage (of course the use of organic agave and organic mango and acai flavors is to be applauded), but the “Ultra Premium Water” leaves me scratching my head, and is followed by an artificial and unappealing flavor which thankfully dissipates quickly. A lot of thought was put into the design of the bottle, but alas that’s not enough to save this particular flavor of this new product.Available in other flavors.

Retails for $1.69 / 19 fl oz.

Talking Rain Beverage Co
Preston, WA
800 734 0748
www.talkingrain.com

Points System:

Each product is judged and taste-tested based on the following seven criteria:

1. (30 points) Taste: The most important attribute of any food

2. (20 points) Value: Is it worth it?

3. (15 points) Health: Based off the nutritional information, is it nutritionally balanced?

4. (15 points) Ingredients: What's in it, how natural is it?

5. (10 points) Preparation: When applicable, how accurate or good are the directions?*

6. (5 points) Appearance: Is it appetizing and does it resemble its photo or description?

7. (5 points) Packaging: Is it appropriate for the product and does it have any benefits such as reseal ability, added freshness, better storage, etc?

*Products that do not require any preparation will have the full value of these points included in their total score.

More from Phil Lempert:

More new product reviews
Get more tips and information on Today Show on iVillage

What do we want on the 4th of July?

2008-07-01T17:19:13Z

Just about all of us would agree that summertime kicks off with our 4th of July celebrations. But while many of us will head to the beaches, parks and parades, we wanted to know just what was the most important part of this joyous celebration!

So along with the Food Marketing Institute’s Research Department we queried almost 500 people nationwide earlier this week – and what we found was surprising! It wasn’t about the day off or even the food.

Our consumer panel reports that the number one favorite part of Independence Day is spending the day with family and friends – which comes as no surprise as the sputtering economy is keeping people at home, looking for comforting experiences and searching out those soothing comfort foods like hamburgers and hot dogs. Fireworks displays are a close second with one-quarter looking forward to the brilliant colors filling the skies. Having the day off, the history and the food close out the top five panel favorites for this year’s July 4th.

What is your favorite part of Independence Day?
Being with family	32%
The fireworks	25%
The history	15%
Having the day off	10%
The food	9%
Family traditions	8%
Parades	2%
Live music	1%

Source:
FMI/SupermarketGuru.com Consumer Panel

Methodology:
The Food Marketing Institute Research team and the SupermarketGuru.com editorial team jointly developed a series of questions surrounding consumer favorites. The survey is fielded through the quick poll section of the SupermarketGuru.com website for the readership to participate. In total, 478 people participated in the survey.

What’s your favorite part of 4th of July?

How to Save Money at the Supermarket: Tip #5

2008-06-30T11:10:35Z

One of the best ways to save money at the supermarket is to be aware of marketing strategies used to encourage you to buy more and spend more. Every week for the next couple months, I’ll be posting a new tactic you should look out for the next time you’re at the grocery store.

Tip #5: Fresh Deli. Employees lavishly preparing deli meats or trays right before your eyes creates excitement and sales, especially if a free taste is part of the strategy. BUT check the prices, very often you can find the same foods already packaged and less expensive in the dairy case

More in this series from Phil Lempert

Get more information at Today on iVillage.

We NEED A New Food Label!

2008-06-26T17:15:36Z

Food labels may not always be effective communication tools for consumers and could likely stand to be improved, according to research conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) and other global organizations. The research, presented at the World Congress on Public Health Nutrition, conveyed the difficulties in expressing health messages to consumers through labels.

The goal of nutrition labeling is to help consumers make more healthful food choices. Labels are used in all countries, but worldwide labeling differs slightly. In the US, labels are required and listed in a Nutrition Facts Panel or NFP.

In the EU, labeling is not mandatory unless a nutrition claim is made. They label foods according to what they call “nutrient declaration” groups. Group 1 refers to energy value, amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fat, while group 2 refers to sugars, saturated fat, fiber and sodium. A voluntary nutrition labeling system called Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) is currently in the works.

As an informational tool, food labels represent an important source for nutritional facts. Among Canadian and US customers, food labels can be influential in encouraging dietary changes. Self-reported label users in Canada and the EU tend to be older consumers, parents and women. EU and US consumers are the most likely to look at food labels when buying food or beverage items for the first time.

Studies suggest, however, that actual food label use is lower than self-reported use. And consumer understanding in this area ranges considerably. US consumers have a difficult time factoring caloric information into their overall daily diet. In fact, 89% of US consumers incorrectly estimate their daily calorie needs, even as 75% of them say they use caloric information most often when reading the Nutrition Facts Panel.

When it comes to serving size, consumers are unclear on what a “serving” actually is. US consumers in particular have difficulty making the connection between metric units, like grams, and “visual portions,” like slices or cups. In terms of nutrient recommendations, the majority of Americans check labels for fat content and serving size, paying less attention to vitamin content or daily values (DVs). Indeed, US consumers are actually quite unclear on how to relate percent DV to their overall daily diet.

Perceptions of health claims fluctuate as well. Asian consumers prefer health claims that come from a third-party endorsement, but they are inclined to lump together health claims from both modern nutrition science and traditional medicine.

US consumers use labels to learn more about the connection between diet and disease, but they are unaware of the regulatory process involved in actually getting nutrition claims on a label. It’s also possible that label language may be overly complex for many consumers to absorb, and this is true regardless of country.

In some instances, front-of-the-pack labeling is literally taking information from the Nutrition Facts Panel and pulling it to the front of the pack. In this way, manufacturers can choose certain nutrients and/or note which products are “better for you” with symbols. The Keystone Center, a non-profit organization that looks at scientific dilemmas, is currently bringing together influential groups to look at the benefits of this type of labeling with the goal of establishing criteria and a symbol identifying healthful selections that multiple stakeholders could implement across numerous food categories.

Ultimately, the research from IFIC and others suggests that improvements in nutrition labeling could help facilitate a consumer’s ability to make more healthful decisions. Since different consumers view labels in different ways, cultural and lifestyle drivers will have to be taken into consideration when developing nutrition education for various populations.

An overview from the FDA on how to use the US NFP is available here.

Get more tips and information on Today Show on iVillage.

New Product Reviews

2008-06-25T20:19:58Z

With over 40,000 products in the average supermarket, people don't have time (or the money) to test every product on the shelves – so we do it for you! (Points system explained below the products!)

Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!

Amano Artisan Chocolate: Madagascar Premium Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
30	13	15	15	n/a 10	5	5	93

This product is a HIT!

This is what chocolate is supposed to taste like! The heady aroma, beautiful (shiny) finish and melt-in-your-mouth texture all create a winning combination. We love that each package shares the heritage and origin of each particular cacao bean and we love the package design that makes each bar seem like a treasure from another time. At $6.95 for a 2 oz. bar this luxury product is for chocolate connoisseurs who will revel in tasting the differences between each bean, developing their chocolate palate. If you have ever considered a wine and chocolate pairing tasting, we would recommend this excellently executed product. Available in other flavors.

Retails for $6.95 / 2 oz.

Amano Chocolate
Orem
UT
801 655 1996
amanochocolate.com

Wish-Bone Bountifuls Dressing: Berry Delight Flavor

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
29	15	15	15	n/a 10	3	2	92

This product is a HIT!

Not being huge fans of raspberry vinaigrette we must confess we approached this tasting crinkling our noses, only to be happily surprised by Wish-Bone. Unlike the typically sickeningly sweet raspberry dressings, Berry Delight strikes a good balance between all the raspberries, blueberries, cranberries and cherries (that you can actually see). This new product might even get some people eating more salads! There’s no fat and while we wish they would reformulate and get rid of the gum in the ingredients, overall this dressing looks, smells and tastes much better than most of those on the market. Available in other flavors.

Retails for $3.43 / 9.5 fl oz.

Unilever
Englewood Cliffs
NJ
800 343 9024
wish-bone.com

South Beach Living: Sugar Free Dark Chocolate Vanilla Marble Reduced Calorie Pudding

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
28	19	11	10	n/a 10	5	5	88

This product is a HIT!

Here’s the good news: if you like the flavor of chocolate and are looking to eat less sugar, this product is going to be a winner for you. It contains a really good chocolate taste, but as far as the vanilla flavor, we hunted around the whitish swirl, hoping to find it but it we couldn’t. Maybe you’ll have more luck. We do understand that the South Beach Living brand is designed to meet the criteria of the South Beach Diet, however we wish that this product didn’t contain 4 different types of sweeteners and inulin (although this is one of the few products in which the inulin was undetectable). A quick glance at the ingredient list and you’ll see it’s far from being “natural”, but it's surprisingly good nonetheless and a sugar-free product without any kind of an aftertaste is quite an accomplishment in our book.

Kraft Foods Global, Inc
Northfield, IL
800 932 7800
southbeachlivingfoods.com

La Cense Beef: Steak Burger

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
20	15	15	15	8	5	5	83

We’re huge fans of grass-fed beef and were really looking forward to this Steak Burger. It was cooked on an outdoor gas grill and knowing that grass-fed beef has about 1/3 of the fat we adjusted the cooking time accordingly. While the product is higher in omega 3s, vitamin E and beta-carotene and lower in calories we just found we had to sacrifice too much flavor in return. A burger, especially hot off the grill in summer, needs to be chock full of flavor! Available in other cuts.

Retails for approximately $3.37 / 6 oz burger.

La Cense Beef, LLC
Dillon
MT
866 255 4985
lacensebeef.com

Pogos Potato Cheese Sticks: Jalapeño cheddar Flavor

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
10	15	10	10	n/a 10	5	5	65

This product is a MISS!

On the package the brand name of “Medora” snacks is defined as “a Mother’s gift”. We beg to differ: there’s nothing maternal or comforting about the aroma that assaults your senses as you open this bag, that actually stops you in your tracks. Pogos seems to be a product in search of its identity – is it a potato cheese stick, or is it a potato pellet as the ingredients list describes? As far as taste goes it seems more like a wheat cracker than either a potato stick or a pellet while the jalapeño seasoning overpowers any hint of cheese flavor. The label touts that these Pogos are baked with 100% real cheese, while in the ingredients list cheese only gets a mention as part of the “Seasoning”. Available in other flavors.

Retails for $1.49 / 2 oz.

Medora Snacks, LLC
Rockville Centre
New York
877 633 6721
medorasnacks.com

Points System:

Each product is judged and taste-tested based on the following seven criteria:

1. (30 points) Taste: The most important attribute of any food

2. (20 points) Value: Is it worth it?

3. (15 points) Health: Based off the nutritional information, is it nutritionally balanced?

4. (15 points) Ingredients: What's in it, how natural is it?

5. (10 points) Preparation: When applicable, how accurate or good are the directions?*

6. (5 points) Appearance: Is it appetizing and does it resemble its photo or description?

7. (5 points) Packaging: Is it appropriate for the product and does it have any benefits such as reseal ability, added freshness, better storage, etc?

*Products that do not require any preparation will have the full value of these points included in their total score.

More from Phil Lempert:

More new product reviews
Get more tips and information on Today Show on iVillage

How to Save Money at the Supermarket: Tip #4

2008-06-23T11:57:24Z

One of the best ways to save money at the supermarket is to be aware of marketing strategies used to encourage you to buy more and spend more. Every week for the next couple months, I’ll be posting a new tactic you should look out for the next time you’re at the grocery store.

Tip #4: Shelves change constantly. Supermarkets will often rearrange shelves, making shoppers search for their regular staple items (typically ketchup, mayonnaise, etc) and we then wind up discovering (and buying) new products in the old, familiar locations.

More in this series from Phil Lempert

Get more information at Today on iVillage.

New Product Reviews

2008-06-18T20:41:43Z

With over 40,000 products in the average supermarket, people don't have time (or the money) to test every product on the shelves – so we do it for you! (Points system explained below the products!)

Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!

Bertolli Premium Champignon & Portobello Mushroom Pasta Sauce

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
30	19	14	15	n/a 10	5	5	98

This product is a HIT!

Here's a new product that is just phenomenal, and we realize it's a shock, but this sauce contains mushroom pieces that are actually identifiable as mushrooms! The aroma, the taste - fresh and flavorful – and, unlike a lot of ready-made pasta sauces, there is no sugar added. The consistency is thick and inviting, not watery at all. The pouch cooks in the microwave with a warning on the package about the crackling sound it makes – it is disconcerting as you expect to open the door of the oven to find a tomato-splattered cleaning nightmare, but in fact the sauce has cooked perfectly in the pouch in just 90 seconds! Available in other flavors.

Retails for $2.89 / 13.5 oz.

Bertolli USA , Englewood Cliffs, NJ
800 450 8699
villabertolli.com/

La Famiglia Del Grosso Uncle Jim’s Late Night Puttanesca

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
24	14	13	14	n/a 10	4	5	84

This pasta sauce is on the watery side, but it has a nice, fresh-tasting flavor and we like it. Oddly, we didn't get a strong input flavor-wise from the olives, capers, mushrooms or artichoke hearts; although we can clearly see them, and they give the sauce a nice texture; the flavor leans more towards a simple, but good, marinara. We suspect the ingredients must have been cooked separately and added later. We love that this company is family-owned and that the personality that radiates through each different sauce makes us wish we were a close cousin of the Del Grosso's who gets invited to all the family meals! Available in other flavors.

Retails for $7.99 / 26 oz.

DelGrosso Foods Inc., Tipton, PA
800 521 5880
delgrossosauce.com

Chocolatea Ginger Tea fine Milk Chocolate Hand Blended with Crushed Tea

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
20	12	14	12	n/a 10	3	5	76

We love the look of this new product: the package design is enticing and inviting, but we were surprised to find this "Fine Milk Chocolate" didn't have the sheen and appearance that gourmet upscale chocolate usually has, opting for smaller squares, giving the bar itself a more generic look. We know by the name we should expect a combination of tea and chocolate, but strangely, the flavor was not strong on either tea or chocolate – and we were thinking ginger tea would be an herbal concoction and were confused to see black tea on the ingredients - and cranberries – which explained the mystery gritty texture. There are many different flavors available and perhaps we were just unlucky with this one.

Retails for $4.50 - $6.00 / 3 oz.

Smile Chocolatiers , Malibu, CA
Smilechocolatiers.com

Brothers-All-Natural Potato Crisps With a Hint of Fresh Onion and Garlic

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
10	10	13	15	n/a 10	1	5	64

This product is a MISS!

We love this new trend of crisps that started with fruit, but sadly, when it comes to potatoes this process just doesn't succeed. The taste, the crunch – both are disappointing even if you have never tasted a conventional chip to compare it to. We applaud the idea of a chip that is better for you than its baked or fried rivals, but we question this product being manufactured in China. This is a case where good health is not going to be enough to sell a product that doesn't deliver. There is no satiety whatsoever. Available in other flavors and in fruit varieties.

Retails for $0.75 - $1.19 / 0.42 oz.

Brothers International Food Corp , Batavia, NY
585 343 3007
brothersallnatural.com

Natural Ovens Bakery Chocolate Raspberry Cookies

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
15	16	7	10	n/a 10	3	3	64

This product is a MISS!

Natural Ovens Bakery should market these "cookies" as muffin top cookies and then consumers won't be disappointed by their mushy consistency and lack of crisp cookie crunch. Even as a soft cookie these are lacking in luster, and due to the lack of chemical preservatives the package warns you to "Freeze promptly after purchase – for best results". Maybe that's where we went wrong, but this package doesn't lend itself to freezing, as the thin cellophane will make it a candidate for freezer burn in no time. The package claims 210 mg of Omega 3s. In each package? Each cookie? It's not clear. The second ingredient is Crystalline Corn Fructose – a cousin of our dreaded foe High Fructose Corn Syrup!

Retails for $3.89 / 11.4 oz.

Natural Ovens Bakery , Manitowoc, WI
800 558 3535
naturalovens.com

Points System:

Each product is judged and taste-tested based on the following seven criteria:

1. (30 points) Taste: The most important attribute of any food

2. (20 points) Value: Is it worth it?

3. (15 points) Health: Based off the nutritional information, is it nutritionally balanced?

4. (15 points) Ingredients: What's in it, how natural is it?

5. (10 points) Preparation: When applicable, how accurate or good are the directions?*

6. (5 points) Appearance: Is it appetizing and does it resemble its photo or description?

7. (5 points) Packaging: Is it appropriate for the product and does it have any benefits such as reseal ability, added freshness, better storage, etc?

*Products that do not require any preparation will have the full value of these points included in their total score.

More from Phil Lempert:

More new product reviews
Get more tips and information on Today Show on iVillage

How to Save Money at the Supermarket: Tip #3

2008-06-16T12:02:02Z

One of the best ways to save money at the supermarket is to be aware of marketing strategies used to encourage you to buy more and spend more. Every week for the next couple months, I’ll be posting a new tactic you should look out for the next time you’re at the grocery store.

Tip #3: Kids' cereals.

The most expensive children's breakfast cereals are often placed at their eye level (not adults'). As you shop the aisle, you don't even realize what's causing your kids to want to put just about every cereal box imaginable in the cart. Look for the plastic bagged cereals – these are typically 30 percent less expensive.

More in this series from Phil Lempert

New Product Reviews

2008-06-12T15:31:42Z

With over 40,000 products in the average supermarket, people don't have time (or the money) to test every product on the shelves – so we do it for you! (Points system explained below the products!)

Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!

Tostitos Pinch of Salt 100% White Corn Crispy Rounds

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
30	20	15	15	n/a 10	5	4	99

This product is a HIT!

The people at Frito Lay have done it again. We love that this company has made such a commitment to healthy snacking, at least when it comes to chips. One look at the ingredient list "Whole White Corn, Vegetable Oil and Salt" says it all. And now their new "Pinch of Salt" line is one of the smartest things to hit the snack aisle in decades. With just 75 grams of Sodium this is the perfect snack for those aging baby boomers with their hypertension! And most importantly they taste great, which goes to prove we don't need tons of sodium in our foods for flavor; just good ingredients are enough.

Frito-Lay Inc, Plano, TX
800 352 4477
fritolay.com

Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt Honey Flavor

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
29	15	15	15	n/a 10	3	2	92

This product is a HIT!

There's little doubt that 2008 is the year of Greek Yogurt. At the recent National Products Expo West convention there seemed to be authentic Greek yogurt everywhere. Stonyfield is one of our favorite yogurt brands and is leading the trend with their new Oikos Organic Yogurt. This is what yogurt is supposed to taste like, although we found the honey flavor a little intense and somewhat overpowering the flavor of the yogurt itself. Makes us question the need to add sugar to a honey yogurt. But after all it is Greek and Greeks love their honey! Stonyfield also clearly identifies the fact that this product contains live cultures and names them. Hey, you "other" brands: are you paying attention?

Stonyfield Farm, Londonderry, NH
800 776 2697
oikosorganic.com

Baji’s Indian Lentil Biryani Authentic Basmati Rice

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
25	17	11	15	7	3	5	83

Typically, Basmati Rice has a unique, aromatic quality; however in this Lentil Biryani product from Baji's the spice actually overwhelms the delicate taste, resulting in a fiery, spicy heat rather than a well-balanced Indian flavor. For those of you who like your food extra hot, you'll probably enjoy this as a side dish for two or a vegetarian entrée for one. The package proclaims that this is a 90-second meal, but when cooked for this amount of time the dish was still clumpy. Available in other flavors.

Retails for $2.41 - $3.09 / 9 0z.

Passion Foods, Inc., Sudbury, MA
978 443 6225
www.bajispassion.com

Phil's Fresh Foods Shredded Beef New Mexico Style Burrito

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
22	15	12	15	8	2	5	79

Now you might think the name of this new product would make us biased, but we're not – and no, we didn't start a burrito company! Having said that, Phil's Shredded Beef Burrito is pretty tasty, not bad at all. Our only criticism is that the tortilla is very chewy and doughy, but that might have something to do with the cooking time. We cooked this burrito for two minutes in the microwave as per instructions, but thought it could do with more cooking. We noticed from the website that the cooking time has now been upped to four minutes, so maybe that would have helped. Wish they would have told us! Available in other flavors.

Retails for $2.79 - $2.99 / 8 oz.

Phil’s Fresh Foods, Boulder, CO
303 554 7000
philsfreshfoods.com

Primo Purified Water

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
20	13	15	5	n/a 10	5	3	71

This company is trying to make a statement on the environment, which is great. Of course we want everyone to be socially responsible; we are just not convinced that Primo, with their "American Grown Bottle", is going about it the right way. They are packaging their "Purified Water" which has been "Perfected with Minerals" (mystery minerals that are not listed) in bottles made from corn instead of oil. Is this really the way to save the planet? Wouldn't a glass or recycled bottle be more green? And wait a minute, what about the trend of moving away from individual bottled water bottles anyway? And as far as the label proclaiming you can "taste perfection", that just sadly isn't true. There are a lot of bottled waters that taste way better than this one.

Primo Water Corp
Salem, MA
Phone: 877 266 5370
primowater.com

Points System:

Each product is judged and taste-tested based on the following seven criteria:

1. (30 points) Taste: The most important attribute of any food

2. (20 points) Value: Is it worth it?

3. (15 points) Health: Based off the nutritional information, is it nutritionally balanced?

4. (15 points) Ingredients: What's in it, how natural is it?

5. (10 points) Preparation: When applicable, how accurate or good are the directions?*

6. (5 points) Appearance: Is it appetizing and does it resemble its photo or description?

7. (5 points) Packaging: Is it appropriate for the product and does it have any benefits such as reseal ability, added freshness, better storage, etc?

*Products that do not require any preparation will have the full value of these points included in their total score.

More from Phil Lempert:

More new product reviews
Get more tips and information on Today Show on iVillage

The summer tomato crop: a food safety disaster

2008-06-11T15:28:15Z

Unless you are one of the few people who doesn’t look forward to the summer tomato crop all year, the events over the past week have you as upset as I am.

I love tomatoes. All kinds of tomatoes. I struggle through eating tasteless tomatoes most of the year with the promise that come summer that great flavor will return. But maybe not this year?

Many fast food restaurants have signs posted that their signature burgers, including Big Macs and Whoppers are still available, but without the tomatoes. No tomato on a Whopper? That, my friends, is sacrilegious.

Federal food safety officials have reported that at least 167 people in 17 states appear to have been affected by salmonella poisoning is related to the consumption of raw tomatoes. Over the weekend the agency warned consumers to avoid certain raw red plum, red Roma and red round tomatoes and products containing them. Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes and those sold with the vine still attached are not associated with the outbreak. As of late yesterday, Florida's latest tomato crop has been cleared and reported as safe to eat.

But what is the most upsetting (and we’ve said it many times before) is that the time that it takes for the government to release food safety information makes the entire process a joke. This investigation started in mid-April. Almost two months ago. Are we really to believe that these contaminated fresh tomatoes are still on supermarket shelves? All that is accomplished by this outdated process is to further denigrate our confidence in our food supply. In 2008 we can find out information about celebrity drug problems or who’s having whose baby in nano-seconds – but when it comes to the safety of our foods it takes months…usually well after the foods have been consumed.

This is unacceptable.

And by the way, just for the record. I am eating fresh tomatoes – and they taste delicious.

For more information on this recall visit the Centers for Disease Control’s webpage.

How to Save Money at the Supermarket: Tip #2

2008-06-09T12:00:00Z

More in this series from Phil Lempert

Tip #1: The eye-level trick

New Product Reviews

2008-06-05T15:11:18Z

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
30	18	13	15	10	5	5	96

This product is a HIT!

We found this product at the National Grocers Association annual convention when we were blown away by the aroma of sauces as we walked by. Clearly this company is “on trend” by using the microwave steaming technology to ensure the fish and rice are properly cooked. Our complaint is that they are so on trend that the label is far too busy with 8 different logos, each with a different proponent. We love that this product has all these attributes: “Wild Caught Certified”, “Proudly Made in the USA”, “Low Carbon Footprint” and more; we just wonder if the label is saying so much that it’s hard to actually see what it is saying. We found the plastic seal on the packaging hard to remove after cooking, but appreciate the benefits of a strong seal: no freezer burn, no leakage and perfect cooking. Available in other flavors.

Retails for $7.99 / 12 oz.

Pucci Foods
Hayward, CA
800 427 8224
freshlywholesomegourmet.com

Rocks and Rolls French Munching Cookies: Raspberry Chocolate Chip Flavor

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
30	18	15	15	n/a 10	5	3	96

This product is a HIT!

What first attracted us to this unique-looking cookie was its petite size and shape. One bite of these “French Munching Cookies” and you immediately taste raspberry, not sugar or the artificial flavors typical in other cookies, a pleasant surprise for your palate and also a pleasant surprise to see that these cookies are low fat, low sugar and no cholesterol or dairy. Our only complaint is that once you open the package there’s no way re-seal it - although we doubt there will be many of these original mini cookies left once you open the package! Available in other flavors.

Retails for $3.99 for 10oz.

St Amour
Stanton, CA
714 903 5366
frenchcookies.com

Miss Vickie’s Kettle Cooked Potato Chips: Hand Picked Jalapeno

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
29	19	14	13	n/a 10	5	5	95

This product is a HIT!

We love kettle chips … we love natural chips … we love jalapenos and we even love the taste of these chips. We would, however, love to see an explanation of how Miss Vickie makes the “Jalapeno Powder” listed on the ingredients, while on the front and back of the package the jalapenos are cited as being “Hand-Picked”. We need more details. Lastly, this is another instance where we would love to see a re-sealable bag to keep all that great flavor and crispness. Available in other flavors.

Retails for $2.49 / 5 oz.

Miss Vickie’s Brand
C/O Frito Lay, Inc.
Plano, TX
877 984 2543
missvickies.com

Virgil’s Diet Rootbeer

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
30	16	14	15	n/a 10	5	5	95

This product is a HIT!

There’s no caffeine in this product, which is great. The flavor’s great too! Americans just love their soda and it’s unfortunate that major soda companies are so far off track from meeting consumers’ taste and health needs. Virgil’s Diet Rootbeer contains no artificial sweeteners (they use Xylitol and Stevia) and does contain a perfectly tasty variety of herbs and spices. Our only concern is that the intense flavor might interfere with the flavors of some foods that you may be eating at the same time. No question that this particular soda would make the perfect rootbeer float! Different flavors available.

Retails for $4.99 - $5.99 / 4 bottles of 12 fl oz.

Reed
LA, CA
800 99 REEDS
www.virgils.com

Think 5: Red Berry Flavor

Taste	Value	Health	Ingredients	Prep	Appearance	Packaging	Total
15	10	10	14	n/a 10	3	5	67

On the plus side this nutrition bar is rich in fiber and dense and, therefore, filling, but unfortunately the taste leaves a lot to be desired. We find a few things about this product confusing: the illustration on the front depicts three veggies and two fruits and suggests to us that that is what is contained in the bar, but the ingredient list is much more complicated and we have to wonder about the relevance and/or implication of the description of the founder of the company: CEO, mother of two, former model. Available in other flavors.

Retails for $2.79 - $3.29 / 72 g..

Think Products
Ventura, CA
866 988 4465
thinkproducts.com

Points System:

Each product is judged and taste-tested based on the following seven criteria:

1. (30 points) Taste: The most important attribute of any food

2. (20 points) Value: Is it worth it?

3. (15 points) Health: Based off the nutritional information, is it nutritionally balanced?

4. (15 points) Ingredients: What's in it, how natural is it?

5. (10 points) Preparation: When applicable, how accurate or good are the directions?*

6. (5 points) Appearance: Is it appetizing and does it resemble its photo or description?

7. (5 points) Packaging: Is it appropriate for the product and does it have any benefits such as reseal ability, added freshness, better storage, etc?

*Products that do not require any preparation will have the full value of these points included in their total score.

More from Phil Lempert:

More new product reviews
Get more tips and information on Today Show on iVillage

How to Save Money at the Supermarket: Tip #1

2008-06-03T14:40:57Z

One of the best ways to save money at the supermarket is to be aware of marketing strategies used to encourage you to buy more and spend more. Every week for the next couple months, I’ll be posting a new tactic you should look out for the next time you’re at the grocery store.

Tip #1: The eye-level trick.

A recent survey of shampoo products in Northern California supermarkets showed that in almost all of the 20 stores visited, the higher-priced shampoos were at eye level. This is true for other products throughout the supermarket.

BBQ Season is here, and so are high prices!

2008-05-28T14:35:40Z

So read those labels!

The original standards for beef were created in 1916 and provided a framework for quality standards based on the age of the animal, the marbling [amount of fat interspersed with the lean meat throughout the cut] and its firmness, color, and texture. Since that time, grade specifications have been constantly changed and improved, with the most recent change made in 1997. And with this summer's higher-than-ever prices, it might be the time to look carefully at just which grade of beef is best for you.

There are eight grades of beef, but for the average consumer the choices in the supermarket are just three: Prime, Choice and Select. According to the USDA, the breakdown of what we consume is approximately 53% of Choice, 35% of Select and 3% of Prime beef with the other cuts making up the difference.

The standards are complex - but a rule of thumb to follow is that the younger the beef with a "slightly abundant" degree of marbling is graded as Prime; and the most expensive at retail. The older the beef - with the least amount of marbling is the least expensive.

Choosing which grade is right for you does not have to be complicated, but you need to develop your own decision-making matrix.

How are you cooking the beef? If it's on the BBQ, you may want to buy a more marbled piece to be the juiciest.
How much does it cost? Look at the prices carefully and think about the recipe usage (obviously, the taste of the meat when just grilling a steak is different than when making a glazed or marinated pot roast). You may be able to use a less expensive grade without much flavor difference.
Check out that nutritional panel! While marbling does make meat taste better - it also means the fat content is higher.
Ask the butcher! Whether you are buying your meat in an Albertson's, Whole Foods or Costco - most stores have on-staff butchers who do have extensive training and can make recommendations based on your recipe, budget and nutritional desires. Do not hesitate to ask questions - or ask for special cuts.

From now until September beef consumption rises - check out those ads to get the best buy - but remember to read the fine print to see which grade is on sale and then decide which is best for you.

Get more information and tips on Today Show on iVillage!

More from Phil Lempert:

Artificial Sweeteners: It’s NOT The Package, Stupid!

2008-05-19T19:53:38Z

Whether it’s yellow, pink or blue it won’t make a difference!

The legendary success of Bill Clinton’s first election as president was all about focus. James Carville, who kept the campaign on target, and coined the phrase “it’s about the economy, stupid” knew that the key to the election was understanding was voters wanted. And it’s the same when it comes to our foods.

NutraSweet, an ingredient in many packaged foods and beverages, has decided that in order to grow their business they will now offer the products in yellow, pink and blue packages as a way of…shall we be the first to say it?...confusing consumers.

NutraSweet is aspartame, wait a minute... Equal is aspartame. And wasn’t Equal supposed to be the all successful consumer packaged product for NutraSweet? By the way, it’s the number three brand with 12% of sales, behind Splenda which has about 70% of the sales and Sweet’n Low with 13%.

It will take a lot more than just a confusing package redesign. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has received more complaints about adverse reactions to aspartame than on any other food ingredient in the FDA’s history. There are also over 90 registered side effects to aspartame. Perhaps the reason that Equal hasn’t sold more is that shoppers have read these reports and don’t want to consume the product.

The timing of this announcement is as odd as the ill-conceived concept. Just last week, Coca-Cola and Cargill published a series of scientific health-based studies on their sweetener, Truvia. Truvia is their brand name of Stevia, which I am a huge proponent for. Imagine no calories, great taste and a natural product.

While the FDA hasn’t yet approved it as a sweetener, health focused shoppers have been buying Stevia in packets in the dietary supplement aisles since the mid 1990s. But there is little doubt that now with Coke’s interest (and investments) that we should soon see yet another “new” Coke – this time sweetened naturally without either high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners.

And no doubt, Truvia will also enter the individual packets war, probably in a white or beige package…and no doubt will be the winner as more of us seek out less processed, less confusing and all natural foods; regardless of the package color.

What’s your favorite sweetener?