Company: Interstate Bakeries Corp., Kansas City, Mo.

Web site: www.HostessCakes.com

Introduced: September

Distribution: Available at convenience stores nationwide

Suggested Retail: $1.19 for 5 oz.

Products Snapshot: Interstate has expanded its line of popular Hostess breakfast offerings with the rollout of new Danish in four varieties: cheese, apple, blueberry and bear claw. All are available at convenience stores, where the brand has a popular following among on-the-go consumers, especially men, according to company literature.

Ingredients: Filling [sugar, glucose, cream cheese, water, modified corn starch, salt, glucono delta lactone, titanium dioxide (color), lactid acid, FD&C yellow 5 and 6, partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening (Contains one of more of: soy, cottonseed and/or canola oil), potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate (to retain freshness), natural flavor], enriched wheat flour (flour, barley malt, ferrous sulfate (iron), B vitamins (niacin, thiamin mononitrate (B1), riboflavin (B2), folic acid), sugar, water, palm oil, dextrose. Contains 2% or less of: cornstarch, nonfat milk, salt, soy flour, leavenings (baking soda and sodium acid pyrophosphate), soybean oil, wheat starch, mono and diglycerides, polysorbate 60, whole eggs, yeast, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, agar, guar gum, sodium poyphostphate, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening (Contains one or more of the following: soybean, cottonseed, or palm kernel oil), soy lecithin, insulin, sodium stearoyl lactylate, enzymes, xanthan gum, extracts of annatto and turmeric (color), titanium dioxide (color), natural flavors (contains butter), calcium propionate (to retain freshness). Contains wheat, milk, soybeans and egg.

Company: Sara Lee Food & Beverage, Downers Grove, Ill.

Web site: www.SaraLee.com

Introduced: September

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail: $2.89 per 24-oz. loaf

Product Snapshot: Sara Lee introduces its first 100% all-natural breads in three tasty varieties: 100% Multi-Grain, 100% Whole Wheat and 100% Whole Wheat with Honey. Each hearty slice is made from whole wheat or whole grain flour, is free from high-fructose corn syrup and contains 22 gm. of whole grain — almost half of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recommended daily allowance. The trans fat-free bread also is a good source of fiber.

Ingredients (100% Whole Wheat variety): Stone-ground whole wheat flour, water, brown sugar, wheat gluten, yeast. Contains 2% or less of each of the following: vegetable oil (soybean and/or cottonseed oils), whole wheat, sunflower seeds, rye, cultured wheat flour, salt, raisin juice concentrate, oats, barley, corn, millet, triticale, distilled vinegar, guar gum, enzymes, enzyme-modified soy lecithin, wheat bran, soy flour.

Company: Rudi’s Organic Bakery, Boulder, Colo.

Web site: www.RudisBakery.com

Introduced: October

Distribution: Available at natural food stores and select grocery stores nationwide

Suggested Retail: $3.29-$3.49 per 12-oz. package

Product Snapshot: Rudi’s recently expanded its USDA-certified organic offerings to include English Muffins in three varieties: Whole Grain Wheat, Multigrain with Flax, and Spelt. All muffins are free of hydrogenated oils, trans fats, and artificial colors and preservatives. A 120-calorie Whole Grain Wheat English Muffin contains 5 g. of protein and 3 g. of fiber.

Ingredients (Whole Grain Wheat variety): Water, organic whole wheat flour, organic unbleached wheat flour, organic wheat sprouts, yeast, organic agave syrup, organic barley malt, organic vital wheat gluten, cultured wheat flour, organic high oleic sunflower oil, sea salt, organic oat flour, vinegar, natural enzymes, ascorbic acid.

Company: Kashi Co., La Jolla, Calif.

Web site: www.kashi.com

Introduced: August

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail: $3.59 for 8.5 oz.

Product Snapshot: Well-known for its healthful cereal, hot cereal, bars, shakes and waffles, Kashi, a subsidiary of Kellogg Co., has expanded its product portfolio with new TLC cookies, the first in the category to feature seven whole grains. In addition to providing natural ingredients, the new product is both tasty and indulgent. Varieties include Happy Trail Mix, Oatmeal Dark Chocolate and Oatmeal Raisin Flax.

Ingredients (Happy Trail Mix): Kashi Seven Whole Grains & Sesame Blend (Whole: Hard red winter wheat, oats, rye, triticale, long grain brown rice, barley, buckwheat, sesame seeds), whole rolled oats, evaporated cane juice crystals, expeller pressed canola oil, honey, brown rice syrup, raisins, coconut, chicory root fiber, peanuts, sunflower seeds, oat fiber, cranberries, vegetable glycerin, natural flavor, sodium bicarbonate, soy lecithin, cinnamon, salt, mixed tocopherols (natural Vitamin E) for freshness, monocalcium phosphate, walnuts, nonfat dry milk, eggs.

Company: Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

Web site: www.kelloggs.com

Introduced: June

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail: $3.39 per 6.7-oz. box

Product Snapshot: Kellogg’s has introduced Crunchy Nut Sweet & Salty Granola Bars. The new line, available in chocolatey peanut and chocolatey almond, combines nuts, granola and a chocolatey coating for the perfect sweet-meets-salty taste sensation. Each bar offers 5 gm of protein and is a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients (Chocolatey Almond variety):

Dry roasted almonds, 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 two percent or less of the 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, whole wheat flour, partially de-fatted peanut flour, Vitamin A palmitate, niacinamide, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate (Vitamin B1), riboflavin (Vitamin B2, pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), folic acid.

Company: The Hershey Co., Hershey, Pa.

Web site: www.hersheys.com

Introduced: August

Distribution: National

Product Snapshot: Hershey’s has expanded its cookies line to include new varieties such as Milk Chocolate Layered. The decadent treats combine crunchy cookie with real milk chocolate and cream filling. Shoppers can choose from portion-control and family-size packages.

Ingredients (Milk Chocolate Layered): Sugar, milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, milk, chocolate, soy lecithin and PGPR, emulsifiers, and vanillin, artificial flavor), wheat flour, palm oil, cocoa processed with alkali. Contains 2% of less of: nonfat milk, corn syrup, modified food starch, sodium bicarbonate, cornstarch, soy lecithin, salt, vanillin, artificial flavor monoglycerides, and TBHQ (preservative).

Company: Cape Cod Potato Chips, Hyannis, Mass.

Web site: www.CapeCodChips.com

Introduced: August

Suggested Retail: $2.99 for a 8.5-oz. bag

Product Snapshot: Cape Cod’s traditional kettle-cooked chips now are doing the wave. The East Coast company’s new Wavy Cut Potato Chips celebrate “the beauty of the ocean and these waves,” according to Cape Cod director of marketing Heidi Daly Ford. They also are ideal for dipping. The chips are made in canola oil, which has the lowest saturated fat content of all commercially used vegetable oils and is a good source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. It’s also rich in Vitamin E.

Ingredients: Potatoes, vegetable oil (Contains one or more of the following: corn oil, canola oil, sunflower oil) and salt.

Company: Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

Web site: www.kelloggs.com

Introduced: November

Distribution: National

Suggested Retail: $0.89-$1.29 for individual bars or $3.99-$5.99 for a box of six bars

Product Snapshot: Kellogg’s Special K brand is expanding beyond the cereal aisle with new protein meal and snack bars. Special K Protein Meal Bars have 10 gm. of protein and 190 calories, and are a good source of 13 other nutrients. They are available in chocolate peanut butter, double chocolate and strawberry varieties. The Protein Snack Bars — available in chocolate peanut and chocolate delight — contain 4 gm. of protein and 110 calories, and are a good source of nine other vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients (Strawberry Meal Bar variety): Coating (sugar, palm kernel oil, milk protein isolate, nonfat yogurt powder [cultured whey protein concentrate, cultured skim milk, yogurt cultures; heat-treated after culturing], soy lecithin, natural flavor), corn syrup, textured whey protein (whey protein concentrate, corn starch), strawberry flavored fruit pieces (sugar, cranberries, citric acid, natural strawberry flavor with other natural flavors, elderberry juice concentrate for color, sunflower oil), soy protein isolate, fructose, sugar, inulin from chicory root, dextrose, cereal (rice, wheat gluten, sugar, defatted wheat germ, salt, high-fructose corn syrup, malt flavoring), rice starch, vegetable oil (partially hydrogenated soybean, cottonseed and hydrogenated cottonseed oil with TBHQ and citric acid for freshness). Contains two percent or less of calcium carbonate, sorbitol, glycerin, salt, soy lecithin, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin E Acetate, niacinamide, zinc oxide, reduced iron, egg whites, pecans, almonds, partially defatted peanut flour, wheat flour, Vitamin A Palmitate, pyridoxine hydrocholoride (Vitamin B6), thiamin hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), riboflavin (Vitamin B2), BHT (preservative), folic acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D.