Shop Talk

Check Out Line: Watch those health claims, FDA tells green tea sellers

Check out federal regulator’s warning to green tea sellers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Unilever over their use of health claims to sell green tea products.

The agency, which regularly sends warning letters to companies that have violating manufacturing, marketing and testing requirements, took issue with Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s claim that its Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale is “enhanced with 200 mg of antioxidants from green tea and Vitamin C”. FDA said the statement did not comply with rules governing nutrient content claims.

In its letter to Unilever, FDA said the company violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act with claims that consuming green tea, like its Lipton decaffeinated green tea, can help lower cholesterol.

“The therapeutic claims on your website establish that the product is a drug because it is intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. Your Lipton Green Tea 100% Natural Naturally Decaffeinated product is not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above referenced uses and, therefore, the product is a ‘new drug’ … New drugs may not be legally marketed in the U.S. without prior approval from FDA,” the agency said.

FDA also took issue with the claim that the Lipton tea is a “rich source of” and “packed with” antioxidants — because no recommended daily intake has been established for flavonoid antioxidants.

Check Out Line: For Unilever, P.F. Chang’s in a box

Check Out Unilever’s agreement with P.F. Chang’s.

Europe-based Unilever, one of the world’s largest consumer products companies, said on Monday that it has inked an exclusive licensing deal with Asian-themed restaurant chain P.F. Chang’s China Bistro to come up with a line of frozen entrees.

Unilever is already known to have products like Knorr soup and the Bertolli range of Italian frozen meals in its portfolio.

Now the company is diving into the Asian food arena, saying “the opportunity is significant.”

As for P.F. Chang’s, this could be a blessing at the right time, as the company struggles with consumer who are eating less at sit-down restaurants, and a looming federal minimum wage increase.

“This represents a fantastic growth opportunity for our company and allows our brand to reach more people more often,” said Rich Federico, chairman and co-chief executive of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed and there is no word on when the new products will be ready.

Frappuccino freeze redux

Starbucks is back in the ice cream case with new partner Unilever, the parent of brands like Ben & Jerry’s and Breyers.

Starbucks, which built its business selling $3 and $4 coffee drinks, is fighting to reignite growth in a tough recession and working to convince consumers that its products are a value and not a expensive indulgence.

Starbucks and Unilever say they tapped the talent from brands like Ben & Jerry’s and Breyers to reformulate the coffee chain’s ice cream, which is now packaged in pints that mimic the appearance of the well-known Starbucks coffee cups.

The new flavors hitting U.S. grocery store freezers now are Caramel Macchiato, Mocha Frappuccino, Java Chip Frappuccino and Coffee. The partners are also selling two flavors of milk chocolate-coated ice cream bars — Mocha and Coffee – at convenience stores.  

Ice cream pints sell for around $3.99 and the bars are priced at about $2.49.  Java Chip is also available in a single-serve cup for about $1.29.

The coffee chain changed partners last year, ending a collaboration with Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream that produced flavors like Java Chip and Classic Coffee as well as Frappuccino-flavored ice cream bars.