NEW PRODUCT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT 7
during the day and nearly half say that the afternoon is In its report Salt and Health, the SACN notes that
their prime snacking time. Because Americans tend to high levels of salt habitually consumed by the population
snack on chips or candy during these times, nearly half raise the risk of high blood pressure, which increases the
believe afternoon snacks are a threat to their weight- risk of stroke and premature death from cardiovascular
managements. diseases. SACN confirmed that the population as a whole
Kellogg’s has provided a new solution to this with the would benefit from reducing their intake to 6g per day.
launch of its Special K Crackers. At 90 calories and 8g of SACN also set lower recommended maximum levels of
whole grains per 17 crackers, this is the brand’s first-ever salt intake for babies and children for the first time.
savoury snack In his preface to the report, chair of SACN Alan
The new crackers come in two flavours: Italian tomato Jackson states: “Meeting these targets would be of major
and herb, and multi-grain (Fig. 1). According to the benefit to public health. Even a small reduction in salt
company, both flavours pack a satisfying crunch, which intake could help to reduce the burden of high blood
is what 28 per cent of women said they crave most in an pressure on our population.”
afternoon snack. Both come in eight-ounce packs and
90-calorie packs with six pouches per pack.
Targeting athletes
“We know from talking with consumers that planning Meanwhile Nestlé has announced the launch of a new
snacks is important to assist in their weight-management research programme on the specific nutritional needs of
goals while they are at work or on the go,” says Kellogg’s athletes engaged in different kinds of sports. This it says,
Julie Salmen. “But with a crunchy snack like Special K will further strengthen the company’s commitment to
Crackers, women now have a savoury snack that provides promoting sporting integrity through nutrition.
8g of whole grain and 1g of fibre per 17 crackers to help The programme will provide data to help support a
them stay on track.” more personalised approach to sports nutrition in the
Kellogg’s is also launching a new breakfast product future which, in time, should lead to a new generation of
called Special K Blueberry personalised sports nutrition
Cereal. It is a blend of products for leading
crunchy rice, whole-wheat athletes.
and blueberry flavoured The announcement
flakes combined with oat and comes in the wake of
blueberry clusters. the 5th International
According to a review Nutrition Symposium on
published in the Nutrition food and performance
Bulletin in June 2007, people held at the Nestlé Research
who eat cereal for breakfast Centre, which explored the
daily maintain a healthier importance of nutrition in
weight. Kellogg points out elite physical performance.
that a serving its new cereal The key findings of the event,
with skimmed milk, fruit and black which were made public today in the presence of
coffee is less than 250 calories. Werner Bauer, Nestlé chief technology officer, and
For PepsiCo subsidiary Walkers, the focus is on salt. Richard Laube, Nestlé Nutrition chief executive officer,
The company says it will cut salt levels across all its crisps, include the fact that a good diet has a much greater
Baked and Sensations brands by 10 per cent this year. potential than previously recognised to improve physical
From June, a standard bag of Walkers crisps will performance.
contain less than half a gram of salt on average – about In his keynote speech, David Hemery, a former
8 per cent of the recommended daily intake for an adult. Olympic champion and founder of the 21st Century
With ten million packets of crisps sold each day in the Legacy Project, underlined the importance of athletes
UK, this will remove about 150t/y of salt from diet of achieving elite performances through talent, hard
people who eat them. work and determination as role models for youth. He
This latest move by Walkers comes on the back of acknowledged that “Nestlé is playing its part, with top
25 per cent reductions in the salt content of its standard quality products, adding nutritional integrity to the
crisps and Lights products, and a 45 per cent reduction health and well-being of young people”.
in its Sensations brand. In addition, two elite performers, Gunn-Rita Dahle,
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has set a target eight times world champion mountain biker, and
of reducing the average salt consumption of adults to 6g a Faris Al-Sultan, five times ironman winner and former
day by 2010. The Agency’s advice on salt intake for adults ironman world champion, conducted a landmark public
and children is underpinned by the recommendations of debate on the proper use of nutrition during training,
the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), performance and recovery, together with Samantha
is an independent expert committee that advises both the Stear, head of nutrition at the English Institute of
FSA and the UK Department of Health. Sport. p
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