Pharmacy

The most popular fair on earth began with the wedding of Prince Ludwig and Princess Theresa of Bavaria in 1810. The royal nuptials just happened to coincide with the harvest and the tapping of the new brew, so the celebration was on -- ever after, as it turned out. Since 1818, Oktoberfest has been an official celebration in the beer capital of the world -- and what a celebration it is!

The latest açai-flavored offering from San Clemente, Calif.-based Sambazon is Antioxidant Elixir, a organic “revitalizing” beverage packed with powerful antioxidants and 600 percent of the Daily Value of vitamin C while containing fewer calories, less sugar and no fat.

Market research firms Packaged Facts and The Hartman Group have teamed up to publish a series of reports tracking current consumer attitudes and shopping behaviors in relation to “sustainable” consumer packaged goods.

The recent winner of a 2009 Beverage Innovation award in the category of Best Labeling or Decorative Finish at the Drinktec trade show in Munich, Germany, Borojo Organic Energy Drink is naturally high in the vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids found in the rainforest superfruit borojo, according to the Boca Raton, Fla.-based producer, Borojo Beverages, LLC.

A great example of how Guayaki is driving yerba mate into the mainstream via new packages and formats is the Sebastopol, Calif.-based company’s ready-to-drink Lemon Elation Yerba Mate.

Supraliminal Labs Red Stuff Energy with LuraLean is a hybrid sports drink combining energy, appetite control, calorie burners and 100 percent natural GRAS (generally recognized as safe) fiber under the emerging segment of weight management nutritional supplements, according to the manufacturer, Tomball, Texas-based Funktional Beverages, Inc.

The only relaxation beverage with a formulation for daytime use that doesn’t contain melatonin, which can cause sleepiness, Tranquila shots from New York-based Vitila Brands, LLC offer a quick, effective way to refresh body and mind.

At a time when the food industry is awash in programs aimed at helping shoppers make healthier choices at the shelf, including such well-publicized initiatives as Hannaford’s Guiding Stars, Supervalu’s NutritionIQ, Topco’s NuVal and the just launched – and already controversial – Smart Choices, developed with the input of a coalition of consumer packaged goods companies including Kraft and Kellogg, it would seem that there wouldn’t be room for yet another system.