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SaltWorks Inc. Warns Retailers of Influx of Lower Quality Himalayan Salt SaltWorks ® CEO Mark Zoske is warning retailers and wholesale buyers that an influx of lower cost, poorly processed, low-quality Himalayan pink salt has infiltrated the market, putting businesses and consumers at risk. Prized for its beautiful gradient of color, trace mineral content and de- licious flavor, Himalayan salt has exploded in popularity, especially as consumers seek all-natural salts that contain no artificial additives. Responding to the increased demand, commodity importers have in- troduced poorly processed mineral salt that may contain undesirable and potentially harmful insoluble materials, such as dust, dirt, clay, stone, rocks or even plastic and metal fragments. "Some larger retailers are pressuring suppliers to reduce costs. Using under-processed salt has become the only way to meet their price targets. This can have serious consequences," said Zoske. "Ultimately, we're concerned that this low-quality salt will trigger a recall. It will jeopardize consumers' perceptions of this incredible, flavorful and versatile salt, because it contains stuff that isn't salt, doesn't taste as good, or work as well in their shakers and grinders." SaltWorks is a leading supplier of high-quality all-natural Himalayan pink salt. The company produces its own Ancient Ocean ® and Artisan ® Salt Company brands for retail and wholesale customers, and supplies bulk Himalayan salt to manufacturers, food processors and private label customers. SaltWorks urges commercial buyers to ask their Himalayan salt suppliers about their quality benchmarks, processing facilities and exactly how the salt is processed. It is important for buyers and consumers to conduct simple visual and taste tests, according to the company. Correctly processed high-quality Himalayan salt will range in color from light white to shades of pink and red. Every crystal should be translucent. Salt grains that are opaque red, white, gray and brown are inedible clay, stone or other materials. The flavor should be salt-forward with a slight but distinct minerality. Gritty textures and a clay-like flavor indicate a lower-quality salt that includes impurities. SaltWorks has engineered a chemical-free salt processing system with built-in redundancies to ensure that the salts it produces and sells are among the cleanest, safest and highest quality available. This proprietary processing system includes sifters, aspira- tors, rare-earth magnets, metal detection and the company's own highly advanced Optically Clean ® color sorting technol- ogy. Unlike older technology commonly used in the salt indus- try, Optically Clean analyzes salt grains in free flow using the full color spectrum with advanced HD cameras. Each grain is compared to SaltWorks' stringent quality specifications. Optically Clean identifies materials that blend in with the salt but are inedible, like rock and clay particles. These materials, as well as grains that do not meet SaltWorks' strict standards, are removed with a burst of air. "We process all of our salts in our state-of-the-art facility in the United States. We've implemented multiple steps and QA checks along the way to ensure we are supplying the cleanest, safest, food-grade all-natural salt available," said Zoske. "We never cut corners on our supply chain, equipment, processes or packaging." Discover the SaltWorks' Himalayan salt processing difference and explore its all-natural salt selection online at www.seasalt.com/wholesale/best-himalayan-salt-processing. SaltWorks www.seasalt.com GOURMET NEWS MAY 2017 www.gourmetnews.com HOT PRODUCTS SPONSORED CONTENT SPONSORED CONTENT 2 1 Distinctive Flavors from Xochitl Xochitl brings a variety of traditional corn tortilla chips, as well as distinct flavors such as Picositos con Limon (spicy with lime), Cajun and Garlic, to name a few. Its Premium White and Blue Corn Tortilla Chips bring a fresh sensation to the palate, especially the Premium Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, which possess a sweeter taste. It also has an unsalted version for the sodium-conscious con- sumer. The company's salsas range from very mild flavors to habanero salsa with exceptional flavor and incredible spice. All of its products obtain a world of fla- vors and textures, which are sure to be a great addition to a variety of dishes. Xochitl's Totopos de Maíz (corn chips) are oven-baked and quickly fried to per- fection with non-hydrogenated oils to create deliciously thin and crispy chips. Most of its products are naturally choles- terol free with 0 grams trans-fat, certified gluten-free and Non-GMO Verified, as well as kosher certified. The product line is currently available in specialty, natural and major retailers throughout the United States, Canada and the U.K. Xochitl www.salsaxochitl.com Crunchy Cookies from Simple Mills Simple Mills Crunchy Cookies are among the latest additions to the company's top- selling lineup of grain-free, gluten-free, GMO-free, nothing-artificial-ever baking mixes, crackers and frostings. Simple Mills' new ready-to-eat Crunchy Cookies go easy on the sugar by using coconut sugar that limits the glycemic impact while also helping reduce sugar con- tent by 25 to 40 percent compared to most cookie brands. Other ingredients include a naturally gluten-free base-flour blend consisting of almonds, coconuts and high- fiber prebiotic root vegetables called tigernuts that were a cornerstone of Paleolithic diets, plus coconut oil, tapioca, arrowroot, vanilla extract and sea salt. The cookies are vegan, paleo-friendly, crisp to the bite (no mushy texture like many natural products), and available in Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, Cinnamon and Toasted Pecan varieties. Bonus: each cookie has just 40 calories. Simple Mills www.simplemills.com GloryBee Introduces Fermented Honey GloryBee's Fermented Honey is easy to use. It can be brushed onto vegetables and meats, drizzled over salads or enjoyed as a mildly sweet marinade. It's also perfect for adding a unique burst of flavor to teas or served cold over ice. This exotic blend is believed to contain nourishing benefits from antioxidants and pro- mote healthy digestion. The honey's flavor comes from the longan, or "dragon's eye" – a sweet and succulent fruit native to southern Asia. The honey is harvested from the bees, and after six months of natural fermentation in clay vats, the floral notes come through, creating the perfect culinary vinegar. GloryBee donates 1 percent of the retail sales of its fermented honey to its Save the Bee social initiative, which directly supports organizations dedicated to saving honey bees. GloryBee 800.456.7923 www.glorybee.com Award-Winning Double Rainbow Strawberry Lemon Frozen Custard Double Rainbow's Strawberry Lemon flavor of frozen custard has been named the Grand Champion at the World Dairy Expo. Beating out more than 170 frozen desserts to claim the Grand Champion title, the award-winning Strawberry Lemon blends perfectly tart lemons and summer-sweet strawberries together in a delicious fruit ice, which is then swirled with Double Rainbow's rich and creamy Original Vanilla Custard, a classic blend of egg, cream and Madagascar vanilla. Strawberry Lemon is one in a line of indulgent new flavors that also includes Chocolate and Vanilla Malt, Sea Salt Caramel, Original Vanilla, Vanilla and Blueberry Pomegranate, Mango Tangerine, Raspberry and Tart Cherry. The overall theme of the new line is that they combine twists on nostalgic flavor combinations and exciting new textures created by swirling rich and creamy custards together with refreshing fruit ices. Founded 40 years ago in the heart of San Francisco, Double Rainbow continues today to make award-winning super- premium ice creams, custards and non-dairy frozen desserts. Double Rainbow info@doublerainbow.com www.doublerainbow.com Red Duck Foods Delivers Surprising Twists on Familiar Favorites Red Duck Foods' organic product line has grown to 11 different offerings: four ketchups (Smoky, Curry, Spicy and Original), three BBQ Sauces (Smoked Apple- wood Molasses, Sweet Mustard Peppercorn and Hot Honey Chipotle), a cocktail sauce and its newest line of taco sauces (Approachably Mild, Actually Spicy and Uniquely Korean). Red Duck's products have distribution in most of the United States. All of the sauces are USDA-Organic, gluten-free, vegetarian and tend to have around 50 percent less sugar and sodium than their conventional coun- terparts. Red Duck's newest product line, organic taco sauces, just launched at Natural Products Expo West. With a keen eye on the Millennial consumer, these sauces will offer a quick and flavorful shortcut for weeknight meals and weekend fiestas alike. All Red Duck products come in cases of six and are available in most areas of the country. Suggested retail prices, depending on the product line, range from $4.99 to $6.99. Red Duck Foods www.redduckfoods.com Organic Pasta Sauces from Paesana Paesana Premium Organic Pasta Sauces are available in five flavors, including Tomato & Basil, Tuscan Pepper, Marinara, Vodka Sauce and Roasted Garlic. All flavors are made with 100 percent imported Italian tomatoes selected at the height of freshness. These new sauces are also organically certified by QAI and are gluten free. As is the case with all products from L&S Packing Company, Paesana Pre- mium Organic Pasta Sauces have undergone highly rigorous quality control processes and have also been taste-tested through every phase of product development. L&S Packing Company 631.845.1717 Once Again Organic Cashew Butter in New 12-Ounce Size Once Again Organic Cashew Butter is now available in 12-ounce jars along with all of the company's almond butters. These consumer price-friendly versions of some of the company's most favorite products provide impact at retail with their attractive price point. Cashew butter is excellent in a sandwich, and is a versatile ingredient for savory as well as sweet recipes, to make delicious sauces, spreads, smoothies and baked goods. All of the company's products are vegan, kosher certified, gluten-free certified and non- GMO verified. Its glass jars are superior for packaging, with excellent barrier properties that not only keep external contaminants and odors from the product but also prevent oxygen from entering and causing spoilage, giving Once Again nut butters a longer shelf life without preservatives. Unlike plastic, glass has the advantage of a minimal carbon footprint, as glass can be recycled endlessly, with minimal energy consumption to melt down and re-manufacture. Plus, the glass jars are handy for re-use in the kitchen, in the shop and for crafts and storage containers. Sustainability has been fundamental at Once Again since the company started in 1976. Once Again Nut Butter www.onceagainnutbutter.com