Company: Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

Introduced: July

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail: $4.35 for a 9.5-oz. bag of about 40 cookies

Product Snapshot: Ernie the Elf is at it again, creating a melt-in-your-mouth cookie made with rich shortbread and a touch of creamy, chocolate sweetness that makes every delicious bite “uncommonly good.”

Ingredients: Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate [Vitamin B1], riboflavin [Vitamin B2], folic acid), sugar, vegetable oils (partially hydrogenated soybean, cottonseed and hydrogenated cottonseed oil with TBHQ and citric acid for freshness and hydrogenated palm kernel, coconut and palm oils), butter (cream, salt), contains 2% of less of cocoa treated with alkali, whey, salt, emulsifiers (soy lecithin, polysorbate 60, sorbitan monostearate), aritificial flavor, baking soda.

Company: Dr. Kracker, Dallas

Introduced: July

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail: $1.59 for a 2-oz. bag

Product Snapshot: Everyone will be “krunching” with new single-serve bags of Dr. Kracker Snacker Krackers. The popular line of organic flatbread crackers are made with 100% whole grain spelt or white wheat flour and can be enjoyed while on-the-go for a delicious, nutritious munch. Each variety — Seeded Spelt, Klassic 3 Seed, Sunflower Cheese, Seedlander and Pumpkin Cheese — packs 4 gm. of fiber, 5 gm. of protein and only 100 calories. The new snackers follow the recent launch of Dr. Kracker’s organic children’s snacks, which include Veggie Spelt Krackers and Krispy Graham Krackers.

Ingredients: (Pumpkin Cheese): Organic whole wheat flour, organic wheat flour, filtered water, organic Cheddar cheese (organic pasteurized milk, hannilase enzyme, salt, cultures), organic pumpkin seeds, organic oats, organic sunflower seeds, organic flaxseeds, sea salt, organic sesame seeds, yeast, organic barley malt syrup.

Company: Kraft Foods, Northfield, Ill.

Introduced: June

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail: $3.39 for a 15.5-oz. box containing four stay-fresh sleeves

Product Snapshot: That buttery, flaky, signature Ritz cracker taste has gotten an upgrade, with the savory flavor of vegetables roasted right into each bite. Made with tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, onions, parsley and carrots, the robust snacks are hearty enough to serve with your favorite dips and soups.

Ingredients: Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate [Vitamin B1], riboflavin [Vitamin B2], folic acid), soybean oil, sugar, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, dehydrated vegetable blend (contains carrots, onions, green bell peppers), high-fructose corn syrup, salt, leavening (baking soda, calcium phosphate), dried garlic, onion powder, soy lecithin (emulsifier), cornstarch.

Company: John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc., Elk Grove Village, Ill.

Introduced: July

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail: $3.50 for a 4- to 6-oz. stand-up, resealable pouch

Product Snapshot: Consumers are nuts for nuts. As such, John B. Sanfilippo & Son is launching Fisher Fusions, seven new nut and fruit mixes with a different taste in every bite. The new line of snack mixes offers consumers a destination-oriented snack, including Asian Spice, Cheddar Crunch, Country Honey and Sweet Harvest, and has exciting ingredients such as wasabi peas, chocolate pieces and even sliced green olives. A 24-32-oz. version of the Tropical Twist, Cheddar Crunch and Trail Blazer mixes will be available in August.

Ingredients: (Trail Blazer): Peanuts, cashews, raisins (lightly coated with partially hydrogenated cottonseed and soybean or canola oil), milk chocolate candies [milk chocolate (sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, skim milk, milkfat, lactose, soy lecithin, salt, artificial flavors), sugar, cornstarch, less than 1% of the following: corn syrup, gum acacia, coloring (including titanium dioxide, red 40 lake, yellow 6, yellow 5, blue 2 lake, red 40, blue 1 lake, blue 1, blue 2, yellow 5 lake, yellow 6 lake), tapioca dextrin and carnauba wax], vegetable oil (peanut, cottonseed, soybean and/or sunflower seed) and salt.

Company: Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

Introduced: July

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail: $4.09 for a 13.5-oz. box

Product Snapshot: Keebler Townhouse Toppers are crackers that are built for topping, dipping or just munching straight out of the box. Raised edges help tasty nibbles stay put, and a crisp, strong ergonomic construction allows the crackers to hold heavy dips or scoop up hefty toppings. Available in Original and Garlic & Herb varieties, these light, buttery crackers with fresh-baked taste will keep snackers coming back for more.

Ingredients: (Garlic & Herb): Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate [Vitamin B1], riboflavin [Vitamin B2], folic acid), vegetable oil (soybean oil, partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil with TBHQ for freshness), sugar, cornstarch, contains 2% or less of salt, leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, baking soda, monocalcium phosphate), corn syrup, natural flavor, high-fructose corn syrup, parsley, garlic, soy lecithin.

Company: Benzel’s Bretzel Bakery, Altoona, Pa. 

Introduced: July

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail: $1.69 for a 5-oz. bag and $5.99 for a 44-oz. jug

Product Snapshot: If you’re looking for a snack that packs a healthful boost, try Pennysticks brand Whole Wheat pretzel nuggets. Each serving contains only 1 gm. of fat, and 0 gm. of saturated fat, trans fat and contains 0 mg. cholesterol.

Ingredients: Unbleached enriched wheat flour (flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate-B1, riboflavin-B2, folic acid), whole wheat flour, soybean oil, oat bran, sesame seed, soy flour, yellow corn meal, malt, barley, rye, salt and yeast.

Company: Barbara’s Bakery, Petaluma, Calif.

Introduced: August

Distribution: National natural supermarkets, national mainstream channels September 2006

Suggested Retail: $4.69-$4.95 for a 7.4-oz. box of 10 bars in five two-bar pouches

Product Snapshot: Barbara’s Bakery is making waves in natural and organic foods with its all-natural organic wheat-free granola bars. Available in Cinnamon Crisp, Oats & Honey, Peanut Butter and Toasted Almond flavors, Barbara’s Crunchy Organic Granola Bars are considered an “excellent source” of whole grains by the Whole Grains Council. In addition, all varieties contain no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, cholesterol, hydrogenated oils or trans fats.

Ingredients: (Peanut Butter): Organic whole grain rolled oats, organic dehydrated cane juice, organic expeller pressed canola oil, organic peanut butter (dry roasted organic peanuts, organic palm oil, organic dehydrated cane juice, sea salt), organic molasses, organic honey, organic oat fiber, salt, soy lecithin.

Company: Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

Introduced: June

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail: $3.39 for a 6.7-oz. box of six 1.12-oz. bars

Product Snapshot: This is a sophisticated snack that delivers a complex mix of sweet and salty flavors in bar form. Boasting an irresistible taste and texture, the bars feature unique layers of nuts and chewy granola, delivering amazing crunch and a touch of chocolate indulgence. Available in two varieties, chocolatey peanut and chocolatey almond, the bars are a good source of eight vitamins and minerals, including calcium.

Ingredients: (Chocolatey Peanut): Dry roasted peanuts, whole grain rolled oats, sugar, fructose, soy protein isolate, partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil with sorbitan tristearate and sunflower oil with citric acid for freshness, rice cereal (rice, sugar, salt, high-fructose corn syrup, malt flavoring), corn syrup solids, toasted coconut, dextrose, contains 2% or less of cocoa processed with alkali, calcium carbonate, nonfat dry milk, tapioca starch, salt, whey, glycerin, soy lecithin, artificial flavor, disodium phosphate, acetylated monoglycerides, carrageenan, xanthan gum, BHT to preserve freshness, almond flour, whole wheat flour, Vitamin A palmitate, niacinamide, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B1), riboflavin (Vitamin B2), pyroxidoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), folic acid.