Three Cheese, Four Cheese, Five Cheese More

"Trend No. 10: Cheese Blends -- If one cheese is good, three or four must be better, right? A quick glance through the supermarket cheese case or your local pizzeria's menu proves that blends of three, four or even more cheeses are hot. What's behind the trend? You guessed it: flavor. Bolder, more interesting flavors are easily achieved by blending different varieties of cheese, and manufacturers have made it easy for us to tap the trend by providing a myriad of ready-to-use natural cheese blends." So reports the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board's (WMMB) 2003 list of 12 cheese trends. And, indeed, the trend also can be seen in a broad range of new product categories.

Late last spring, Kraft Foods North America, Glenview, Ill., introduced a four-cheese snack cracker (cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, romano) with "Real Kraft Cheese." The ingredient legend lists cheese and cheese powders in several places including "cheese powders (cheddar, parmesan, bleu, American and romano made from cultured milk, salt and enzymes)." Introduced initially in a box, a 2.5-oz. multi-laminated bag line extension was added in late fall.

Also around October of 2002, Nestle USA's Stouffer's Foods, Solon, Ohio, introduced a newer version of its Lean Cuisine Family Style Recipes Classic Five-Cheese Lasagna that serves up to 12 people. The 96-oz. carton retails for $9.95. An earlier single serving version is shown here. This version sports romano, parmesan, lowfat ricotta and mozzarella cheese, and reduced fat provolone on the ingredient list. Additionally, cheese flavors, including an enzyme modified parmesan cheese, increase the perception of cheese without adding significant amounts of fat.

This ability of full-fat cheese and cheese flavorings to be used in reduced-fat products can be seen in Luigino Inc.'s, Duluth, Minn., new Michelina's Shrimp & Vegetables Alfredo bowl with 8g fat per serving.

www.wisdairy.com/cheesetrends03 - WMMB

12 Cheese Trends list

www.kraftfoods.com

www.stouffers.com

Only One Sniff

Some 90% of Americans (presumably single) would turn away a potential date who didn't care for their pets, according to an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) survey. Some 83% refer to themselves as their pet's mom or dad, 70% give gifts to their dog on holidays, 38% leave messages on the answering machine for their pets, and 19% choose restaurant meals that will have leftovers their pets will enjoy.