Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!
Wallaby Organic Creamy Australian Style Yogurt Strawberry Banana Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
18 |
15 |
15 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 98 |
This product is a HIT!
This is a great new line of yogurts with a nice clean flavor, great mouth feel and no aftertaste at all. The strawberry banana flavor does not overpower the yogurt taste as so many of the flavored yogurts do. Don't expect any bright artificial colorings or flavorings here; this is truly all natural as yogurt should be. We love this product and we're also happy to see that they are saving wasteful packaging by not adding an extra plastic lid – the aluminum foil top is sufficient. If you like yogurt with active cultures that tastes like yogurt should, buy this one! Available in other flavors.
Retails for 99c for 6 oz.
Wallaby Yogurt Company, American Canyon, CA
707 553 1233
wallabyyogurt.com
Bossa Nova Acai Raspberry Juice
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
16 |
15 |
15 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 96 |
This product is a HIT!
This juice has a wonderful aroma, a nice clean taste and none of the aftertaste that you often find with many juice blends. We love that they are using organic agave instead of sugar, and the balance between the acai and raspberry is perfect as neither one overpowers the other. We love all the info on the bottle and that they actually describe what antioxidants do. And we ABSOLUTELY love that this company is working to preserve the rain forest (where these acai super-food berries are sourced) by donating the specific dollar amount needed save one tree for each bottle that is purchased to rain forest conservation (we wish however that more information about this process was readily available on their website). Available in other flavors.
Retails for $2.99 - $3.49 / 10 fl oz.
Bossa Nova Beverage Group, Inc, Los Angeles, CA
310 566 7851
www.bossanovausa.com
Fred
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 28 |
17 |
15 |
15 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 95 |
This product is a HIT!
What is Fred? Who is he? And why should we care? Well, in this case, Fred is a water, but don't be disappointed because he's got a lot going for him! We were first attracted to the simplicity of the package design, which reinforces what water should be: both the marketing concept and the packaging itself are "refreshing" – if you'll forgive the pun. The bottle closely resembles a half pint spirits bottle, and we can only expect refilled Fred bottles to be popping up at sports events and other parties, quickly becoming the new hip accessory. The "Natural Spring Water" in Fred is sourced from the Catskill Mountains in New York; some of the best tasting spring water you can find, with the specific spring source printed on the back of the bottle. We love it when consumers are given as much info as possible. Most people don't think there's much difference in the taste of water, but in fact the taste can widely vary based on the soil and mineral content around the source. This water is crisp, tasteless and odorless – as close to perfect spring water as you can buy. Also available in other sizes.
Retails for $1.59 / 20 oz bottle.
Fred, Brooklyn, NY
877 437 9283
fredspot.com
Naturally Nora Surprising Stars Cake Mix and Surprising Stars Frosting
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
20 |
11 |
13 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 94 |
These products are a HIT!
Retails for $3.29 / 21.3 oz cake mix and $3.29 / 10.9 oz frosting.
Naturally Nora, Inc, Princeton, NJ
888 868 NORA
www.naturallynora.com
Dove 63% Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 26 |
17 |
13 |
14 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 89 |
This product is a HIT!
We applaud Dove for moving into the dark chocolate arena – and 63% is a good transition for milk chocolate lovers who are ready to take their chocolate-y experience up a notch. The flavor is smooth, yet still intense enough for even the more refined dark-chocolate-loving palate – not bad coming from Mars. However, we do feel that the company misses an important opportunity to inform consumers: while stating that this product is a "Natural Source of Cocoa Flavanols" on the front of the wrapper and on the back where they tout their "process retains much of the occurring flavanols" they don't explain what flavanols do – linking to their website www.cocoapro.com isn’t enough! By the way, the benefits of flavanols is that they "improve blood vessel function and increase blood flow, reduce tendency of blood clots to form, reduce blood pressure in people with mild hypertension and increase blood flow to the brain, which could have important implications for learning and memory". They also explain their process which preserves them. Also available in other sizes.
Retails for $2.99 for 3.53 oz..
Mars, Inc, Hackettstown, NJ
800 551 0704
dovechocolate.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.
Can you believe it? Last week, the Bush administration urged a federal appeals court to stop Creekstone Farms, a Kansas meatpacker, and other companies from testing all of their animals for BSE. You probably are asking yourself why the federal government continues to fight attempts by independent meatpackers to test their products for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), better known as Mad Cow Disease. Certainly I do.
My obsession with Mad Cow began that day when I was one of the guests on Oprah, when Howard Lyman (the cattle rancher turned vegan) exposed the practices that could lead to a Mad Cow outbreak and shocked Oprah into saying she would never eat another cheeseburger again. Today, more than ten year later, less than one percent of all slaughtered cows are tested for BSE under current US guidelines.
The White House opposition to the Creekstone plan is based on the administration's belief that such independent tests not performed by federal agencies could result in "false positives" that could needlessly alarm consumers. Larger meatpackers also have objected to Creekstone's plans, saying that it could create unfair pressure on them to test all their animals for BSE, which could result in higher costs and, ultimately, higher consumer prices.
But what goes unsaid in the back and forth discussion is what we as the consumer want: a 100% safe food supply. No one wants to take a chance of biting into a burger and winding up in the hospital with BSE – or even eColi or any other harmful bacteria. Late yesterday yet another ground beef recall was announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service; this time it is 22,481 pounds of ground beef because the product might contain pieces of plastic. (For more information on this recall, visit the USDA Recall site )
Increased testing for BSE is a good thing, it gives both the industry and consumers more information – and will increase the amount of trust we have in our food supply. In the most recent SupermarketGuru.com Consumer Panel survey, twenty-seven percent of our panel said that our “food supply is not safe”.
The good news for consumers is that so far, at least, the courts seem to be siding with Creekstone; the company already has won this case in the lower courts, and, not a surprise, the Bush administration is trying to get that ruling reversed.
What do you think?
More from Phil Lempert
Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!
Hot Squeeze: Sweet Heat Chipotle Sauce
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
16 |
14 |
15 |
na 10 |
5 |
5 | 94 |
This product is a HIT!
Here’s a short, sweet and hot review. We’re prejudiced against any product that lists sugar as its first ingredient; however, in this case we are willing to make an exception. The flavor, mouth-feel, consistency and appearance of this product are exceptional!
Retails for $4.99 - $5.99 / 11 oz.
Hot Squeeze
Atlanta, GA
404 377 2987
thehotsqueeze.com
Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds: Dark Chocolate Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 27 |
18 |
12 |
14 |
na 10 |
5 |
4 | 91 |
This product is a HIT!
Here’s a surprisingly good new product with a schizophrenic ingredient profile: the cocoa almond aroma is very appealing and the cocoa flavor does not overpower the almonds at all. We think it’s great for people to snack on nutritious nuts instead of unhealthy alternatives, BUT we wish they would have used sugar or stevia as a sweetener instead of the chemical sweeteners on this ingredient list. That said, these nuts are a great alternative for people who are addicted to M&M’s or any chocolate bar with nuts. They’re just as satisfying and are better for you. Retails for $6.69 / 11 oz.
Diamond foods, Inc
Stockton, CA
209 467 6000
emeraldnuts.com
Zenergie Fizzing Beverage Tablets: Hydrate Lemon and Lime Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 29 |
16 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 87 |
This product is a HIT!
One of the aspects of hydration that companies like Propel are well aware of is the fact that for many people drinking plain water is just plain boring. Studies have shown that adding a little flavor increases consumption significantly. This product from Zenergie is addressing this trend and combining it with a selection of supplements tailored to modern life. For example, “Thrive”: women’s multi-vitamin boost, “Empower”: men’s multi-vitamin boost, “Chill”: natural relaxation blend, and the flavor we tasted, “Hydrate”: natural electrolyte replenishment. Each different flavor contains a specific blend of herbs and vitamins and minerals. We love that they used stevia to sweeten this product and that there is 600 mg of vitamin C in this flavor. However, we do wish the flavor was a little better, the tablets dissolved more easily and lastly – we’d like more fizz. Available in other flavors.
Retails for $6.99 / 10 tablet tube.
Bevology
San Francisco, CA
604 221 9679
ZenergieHealth.com
Vic Cherikoff Down Under: Barrier Reef Lemon, Lime & Chili Sauce
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 20 |
15 |
13 |
13 |
na 10 |
5 |
4 | 80 |
The label of this new product proclaims it to be “aromatic, citrus and spicy”. Well, there’s little doubt that there is a strong aroma to this product, we’re just not sure how pleasant it is. When water is the first ingredient in a product and sugar is the second we become wary. The ingredients list “Australian lime juice” and “herbs and spices”. If they are going to make a point of sourcing these particular ingredients why not go the whole way and source the sugar, chili, tomato and lime paste as well? Finally, it would be nice to see a perforated tab opening on the plastic wrap on the bottle. Available in other flavors.
Retails for $6.99 / 10 oz.
Essentially Oz Marketing (USA) Pty, Ltd
Manhattan Beach, CA
61 2 9554 9477
www.cherikoff.net
Nui Kid Water: Raging Red Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 10 |
16 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
3 |
5 | 64 |
This product is a MISS!
This new kid’s beverage claims to be “A Big Wave of Nutrition”. With antioxidants, vitamins, electrolytes and fiber, it sounds great, but we have to say that no parent should be fooled by the claim that it contains “1/2 the sugar of apple juice” (and with ingredients like potassium hydroxide, we will run to the apple juice shelf) as the product is only 40% juice it should really have 40% of the sugar content of apple juice, not 50%. There is an unappealing sediment in the bottle and even though we love that it is sweetened with fruit juice and doesn’t contain high fructose corn syrup, and that 50% of profits go to children’s charities, we’re afraid no kid is going to drink this more than once. Also available in Purple Power and Outrageous Orange flavors.
Retails for $1.39 / 10 fl oz.
NUI, LLC
Santa Monica
CA
866 504 6684
NUIWATER.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.
I am positive that you are well aware that the cost of food is rising, and quickly! According to recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the 2007 calendar year U.S. food prices increased by a whopping 4.9% - 8% higher than 2007 inflation rates and 2.8% higher than food prices increased in 2006. And most food folks would agree that we ain’t seen nothin' yet!
In the past, agricultural commodity prices tended to be volatile, with an overall decline trend, because they were supply-driven. Technology and productivity improvements in farming increased agricultural yields to meet supply, keeping prices down. Today, higher fuel prices are increasing the cost of transporting commodities, while various weather conditions and trade issues are currently contributing to lower supply. The result is higher prices across the board.
In the U.S., staples like milk, cheese and bread experienced especially marked hikes, with poultry, fruits and vegetables, cereal and meats following close behind. Internationally, increases in the prices of dairy and grains pushed the food price index used by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations up by almost 40% over the last year. By comparison, in the previous year period, the food price index was up only 9%.
With global commodity stocks at historic lows, a growing demand for food, feed and fuel, tight supply, and no plan for increased agricultural productivity, the phenomenon of higher prices is likely to continue. The International Food Policy Research Institute estimates that global cereal prices will rise 10 to 20% by the year 2015.
So what can you do?
Here are my 5 basic tips to keep on budget.
- Make a shopping list and stick to it.
Create the ultimate shopping list by taking receipts from the past month, list all the groceries you regularly buy by name on a spreadsheet. Then go thru the fridge, freezer and cupboards and look at what you have. Then cross what you don't need off the week's list. You'll cut your spending by 15 to 25 percent by not buying more of the same. - Use coupons.
Don't think you're above clipping coupons from the newspaper, magazines or even online. The average coupon value is almost one dollar! Also, put your kids in charge of coupon cutting and gathering, since it teaches valuable lessons about money, and be sure to give them a percentage of what you save as their allowance. - Sign up for frequent-shopper cards.
You will end up giving up brand loyalty because you'll be going for whatever is on sale. But there is no doubt you'll save money. - Buy the store’s own brand.
Most stores offer a 100%, money-back guarantee on their products and most of today's store brands are of the same quality or exceed the quality of name brands. This alone can save you 15% or more. - Buy produce in season or from local growers.
It’s tastier, more nutritious (as it had a longer growth cycle and was picked when ripe) and less expensive. For those fruits or veggies that are not in season, head to the frozen food case. Frozen and canned fruits and veggies are picked and processed at the height of flavor and can be up to 50% less than their out of season imported counterparts
Share your tips on how you can save $$ on your grocery bill and we will select 5 people at random and send them a SupermarketGuru canvas tote bag as a thank you!
Each week we will post the latest reviews and I hope you will log in to see what’s hot…and what’s not!
Liz Lovely: Ginger Snapdragons
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 30 |
16 |
14 |
15 |
na 10 |
5 |
4 | 94 |
This product is a HIT!
According to the package this company is “Baking with a difference” and they are telling the truth. The cookie is dairy-free, egg-free, low sodium and has no trans fats. It also contains mostly organic and some fair trade ingredients, which made us wonder “does it taste good?” The answer to that question is a resounding yes! In fact, this is one of the best cookies we’ve tasted in a long time. The flavors are well-balanced, no individual flavor is overpowering - very nice. This cookie is also certified vegan and proves that you don’t have to give up great taste by choosing a vegan product. The only thing we are not over the moon about is the packaging; with 2 big cookies in one bag we’d either like to see them individually wrapped or both in a re-sealable outer bag thereby eliminating the need for an inner bag. Available in other varieties.
Retails for $3.99 / 6.3 oz (2 large cookies).
Liz Lovely, Inc
Waitsfield, VT
802 496 6390
lizlovely.com
One Drop: Coffee BBQ sauce
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 28 |
17 |
13 |
14 |
na 10 |
5 |
4 | 91 |
This product is a HIT!
We love the idea of a coffee-flavored, spicy, all-natural BBQ sauce. We also love the idea that sugar is not the first or second ingredient. However, as with most BBQ sauces, the flavor that dominates is tomato. Our recommendation would be more coffee, less tomato! We also find it curious that the coffee they are using is instant decaf and wonder if the product might have a stronger coffee flavor and aroma with a different type of coffee. Finally we’d love to see a pop-top with a nice pouring spout instead of a screw top. Available in other flavors.
Retails for $4.59 - $4.99 / 18 oz.
Gourmet Foods and Products, Inc
Auburndale, FL
863 967 4284
onedrophotsauce.com
TruFresh Shrimp: Salsa Verde Flavor
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 29 |
16 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
5 |
5 | 87 |
This product is a HIT!
The makers of this new product have a secret: they mention their unique freezing process on the package directing you to their website for more info. On the website there are a lot of info and study results, but they’re not giving that secret away. Makes sense, although we are a bit disappointed, because it must be what makes this frozen shrimp taste like fresh shrimp and makes it nice and tender, as opposed to the usual rubbery consistency of frozen shrimp after it’s been cooked in the microwave. The downside to this product is that when you prepare shrimp at home it’s usually just cooked in olive oil; this has a lot of other ingredients; some of which aren’t so great and a high sodium content of 500mg per serving (the package contains 2 servings). Available in other flavors.
Retails for $5 / 6 oz.
TRUFRESH LLC,
Suffield, CT
800 894 1167
trufresh.com
Eat Whatever
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 20 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
na 10 |
5 |
1 | 75 |
Here’s an interesting new candy idea: the premise is that after eating any food that results in bad breath, Eat Whatever offers you just “2 steps to kissable breath”. By swallowing a variable number (according to what you’ve eaten) of the jellies in the pack and then sucking on a mint, odor is gone. Complicated? A little. Worth it? Well, that depends. If you really can go out and enjoy a garlic and onion laden meal and this product can “make your breath kissable and your tummy calm”, then yes it is worth it. We would like the company to elaborate more on just how this product works. The jellies are pleasant enough to swallow (but definitely need to be washed down with water) and the mint tastes minty and refreshing as mints usually do. The package is a little on the bulky side for a pocket or purse and doesn’t stay closed but the company also sells them in sample packs of 2 jellies and 1 mint – more handy for a night out.
Retails for $3.99 / 10 jellies and 10 mints package or $30 / 100 sample packs.
Jacquean Products
NYC, NY
212 627 7612
eat-whatever.com
Love Me Tenders: Fully Cooked Seasoned Chicken Breast filet
| Taste | Value | Health | Ingredients | Prep | Appearance | Packaging | Total |
| 15 |
18 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
4 |
2 | 69 |
For those people who are starved for time this new product is a great alternative to cooking or grilling chicken breast. However, the list of ingredients would keep us from using this on a regular basis, as would 720 mg of sodium for one breast. Unfortunately, all the added coloring, flavoring and spices don’t seem to be doing too much to help the chicken, either in tenderness or flavor. Even after all those additives the taste is a little bland. We love that the package is re-sealable, but it should be, because it’s a huge package. Available in other varieties.
Retails for $7.99 / 1.75 lb package.
America Loves BBQ
Chicago, IL
773 502 8000
ALBBQ.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.
