|
created over 2 years ago | Tagged: |
Byron
|
Wendy's will unveil Natural-Cut Sea Salt Fries — revamped french fries of 100% russet potatoes, cut with the skin on, sprinkled with sea salt.
The move comes as sea salt has set consumer hearts aflutter and invaded American pantries. In 2010, 1,350 new products with sea salt as an ingredient have been introduced, research giant Mintel says. The percentage of all foods and beverages with sea salt jumped from 5% in 2006 to more than 8% in 2010, Mintel says. "Sea salt has the potential to grow as fast as low-carb did," says Lynn Dornblaser, new products guru at Mintel. "Hopefully, it won't decline as fast."
Wendy's, which continues to lose share to McDonald's, is in the midst of a companywide move to stress the wholesomeness of its food. It opted to fix the fries by using better potatoes cut a new way — and sprinkled with sea salt.
Others in the sea salt fest: •Campbell. In 2006, it was among the first to begin using sea salt. It now sells 200 reduced-sodium products made with sea salt, spokesman John Faulkner says. •Whole Foods. In the past year, its 365 Everyday Value house brand launched a wave of products with sea salt — from nuts to potato chips. It also encourages suppliers to use sea salt because its customers prefer it, spokeswoman Liz Burkhart says. •Target. The discounter uses sea salt in its Archer Farms store brand's Sea Salt, Caramel & Almond Indulgent Granola Bites.
Nutritionist Marion Nestle is unimpressed, saying sea salt tastes the same as common table salt, costs more and has the same sodium. "The hype for sea salt is amazing. What a hoax." In Wendy's case, in fact, the new fries have more sodium: 270 milligrams per small order, up from 180. The large has 630, up from 460. "If Wendy's customers care," Nestle says, "they will have even more trouble reducing their sodium intake." But Calwell says the key point is that they taste better: "It's all about the food."
