NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With chocolate milk and the proposed USDA school meal nutrition standards on the minds of school nutrition directors, Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) today introduced TruMoo®, the company's new chocolate milk made with 10-15 percent fewer calories, 15-20 percent less sugar, and no high fructose corn syrup. Together with its local and regional family of dairies across the country, the company announced the debut of TruMoo for schools nationally from Nashville, the site of the School Nutrition Association (SNA) annual conference.
"We recognize that school nutrition directors need a solution. On one hand, chocolate milk is preferred by children and provides important nutrients that are hard to replace elsewhere on cafeteria trays. On the other hand, we understand the concerns about added sugars," said Andrea Carrothers, MS, RD, registered dietitian and Nutrition Communications Manager for Dean Foods. "That's why TruMoo, with the right blend of fresh, local white milk, pure cocoa and sugar, is a great solution. Over half the sugar in TruMoo is lactose, the same natural sugar found in all milk."
Dean Foods successfully reduced up to 6 grams of sugar, or 1.5 teaspoons, per serving compared to its previous varieties nationally. TruMoo contains just 10 grams of added sugar, compared with up to 28 grams in soft drinks and other sweetened beverages. Find more information on TruMoo at www.TruMoo.com or on Facebook and Twitter.
Doug Davis, Director of Food Service for the city of Burlington, Vermont public schools and President-Elect of the School Nutrition Association of Vermont, knows TruMoo well. His district, located in TruMoo's pilot region of New England, served the new milk through the entire 2010-2011 school year. "The bottom line for us was that it tastes great, the kids love it, and we're able to provide more nutritional balance on our cafeteria trays with TruMoo. It's been a real win-win for Burlington schools."
The Cobb County school district outside Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the largest in the state. School Foodservice Director Cynthia Downs is switching to the fat-free TruMoo formula under the Mayfield brand to start the school year. "With the concerns about childhood obesity today, we look at all our options to improve student nutrition and health. For us, switching to a reformulated, fat-free chocolate milk leaves the nutrients in the milk while reducing fat and added sugar."
Earlier this year, Fairfax County Public Schools gained national attention by reversing a chocolate milk ban to partner with Dean Foods' local Shenandoah's Pride brand to bring a better-for-you chocolate milk back into the cafeteria. The Shenandoah's Pride milk served in Fairfax mirrors the TruMoo formula and will be converted to the TruMoo branding in August.
Other notable districts already committing to serve TruMoo when the school year begins include Boston, Fitchburg, Lynn, and New Bedford schools in Massachusetts; Concord and Nashua school districts in New Hampshire; Davis School District in Utah; Broward County schools in Florida; Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools in North Carolina; and several school districts around Nashville, Tennessee. The company will also convert its other existing school milk contracts to TruMoo this fall.
The Dean Foods family of brands making TruMoo locally with fresh white milk include:
•Alta Dena®
•Barber's®
•Berkeley Farms®
•Broughton™
•Brown's Dairy®
•Country Fresh®
•Creamland™
•Dean's®
•Gandy's™
•Garelick Farms®
•Hygeia®
•Jilbert™
•Knudsen®
•LAND O LAKES®
•Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms®
•Louis Trauth Dairy Inc.®
•Mayfield®
•McArthur®
•Morning Glory®
•Meadow Brook®
•Meadow Gold®
•Model Dairy®
•Oak Farms®
•Pet®
•Price's™
•Purity Dairies
•Reiter™
•Shenandoah's Pride®
•Swiss Premium™
•T.G. Lee®
•Tuscan®
TruMoo in California will differ slightly in nutrition composition due to different regulatory requirements for dairy in that state.
School nutrition or food service directors interested in learning about TruMoo or confirming availability in a particular region can call Dean Foods at 214-721-7766 or email TruMooInfo@deanfoods.com.
ABOUT DEAN FOODS
Dean Foods is one of the leading food and beverage companies in the United States and a European leader in branded soy foods and beverages. The Company's Fresh Dairy Direct-Morningstar segment is the largest U.S. processor and distributor of milk, creamer, and cultured dairy products. These offerings are marketed under more than 50 local and regional dairy brands, as well as through private labels. The WhiteWave-Alpro segment produces and sells an array of branded dairy, soy and plant-based beverages and foods. WhiteWave brands, including Silk® soy and almond milk, Horizon Organic® milk and dairy products, International Delight® coffee creamers, and LAND O LAKES® creamers, are category leaders and consumer favorites. Alpro is the pan-European leader in branded soy food products.
Source: Dean Foods