Little Dannons for little fingers

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.