As the battle rages around further taxing sugary drinks to stanch the state budget”™s red ink, Greenburgh-based Dannon Company Inc. last month unveiled its latest nongovernment assault on empty calories: Dan-o-nino.
The preschool-targeted product has already endured test marketing and is expected to see national distribution by January.
“Recommended for children ages 2 to 4, this creamy and smooth dairy snack comes in a 1.76-ounce serving and delivers ounce per ounce two times the amount of calcium of milk and contains three grams of protein ”“ 19 percent of the recommended daily value,” the company reports.
Said Inger Hustrulid, founder of the nonprofit Massachusetts-based Foundations Family Nutrition Inc. “Dan-o-nino helps build a strong foundation for healthful snacking among children when it is consumed as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.”
Dan-o-nino, according to Dannon, is a suitable choice for children ages 2 to 4 as they learn to feed themselves and develop motor skills. It contains no high-fructose corn syrup or artificial colors or flavors.
“Dan-o-nino is a power-packed snack that contains essential nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D1and protein,” said Dr. Miguel Freitas, Health Affairs Director at The Dannon Co. “With Dan-o-nino available nationally in January, parents can get their preschooler off to a nutritious start this new year.”
Dannon already markets about 100 dairy products.
