Eckrich Introduces Lower Sodium Smoked Sausage

LISLE, Ill., Aug. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Eckrich® has introduced NEW Lower Sodium Smoked Sausage, a unique product delivering 33 percent less sodium as compared to USDA data for smoked sausage.  This new product enables consumers who are watching their sodium intake to continue to enjoy the same great taste of Eckrich smoked sausage they've always loved.

Eckrich is able to make this delicious smoked sausage by using a breakthrough all-natural sodium alternative, providing full flavor with one-third less sodium as compared with other smoked sausage products. The patented salt replacement tastes and functions just like salt without delivering the same sodium levels.

"We looked at a great deal of research showing that there's a group of consumers who are looking for food options with less sodium," said Charles Gitkin, vice president, marketing, innovation and R&D for the John Morrell Food Group.  "We are now able to deliver a product that has the same great taste of Eckrich with less of the sodium they are trying to avoid."

Eckrich Lower Sodium Smoked Sausage is the first of its kind in the smoked sausage category and extends Eckrich's smoked sausage product line to provide greater choice to consumers.  The new offering is the latest item launched as part of an initiative to offer lower-sodium alternatives by parent company John Morrell Food Group, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods.  The company also offers items such as John Morrell 50% Less Sodium Bacon, Armour Lower Sodium Pepperoni, with 50 percent less sodium versus its regular pepperoni, and Eckrich Lower Sodium Hard Salami.  Each item is a unique offering in its respective product category.

Research shows that 66 percent of U.S. consumers say sodium is their top concern when looking at food labels, and more than half actively seek out food items with lower sodium.¹  Eckrich Lower Sodium Smoked Sausage was developed with this group of consumers in mind. 

"Some companies create reduced-sodium products just by taking salt out, and they wind up taking flavor out in the process," Gitkin said.  "But our natural sodium alternative allows for a one-to-one replacement of salt, so you never know it's missing.  You still have full flavor."

The new offering will be available in 13-ounce packages in stores this fall alongside other Eckrich smoked sausage offerings and at similar pricing.

For more information, retailers should contact their local sales representative. For a product locator, nutritional information and recipe ideas, visit www.eckrich.com.

¹ The Healthy Eating Consumer Trend Report, Technomic Inc., 2010

About John Morrell Food Group
With over a century and a half of experience, John Morrell Food Group brands have become respected and well known for providing premium-quality meat products to families across the United States. With products ranging from lunchmeat and franks to smoked sausage, bacon and pepperoni, the John Morrell Food Group is an important part of consumers' mealtimes. The John Morrell Food Group offers several national and regional brands including Armour^®, Eckrich^®, John Morrell^®, Curly's^®, Patrick Cudahy^®, Carando^®, Healthy Ones^®, Margherita^® Kretschmar^® and LunchMakers^®.

About Eckrich
Founded by Peter Eckrich in 1894, Eckrich has a rich heritage starting from a small meat market in Fort Wayne, Ind. Through it all, Eckrich meats have been recognized for their great taste and supreme quality, craftsmanship, care and pride. For more information, visit www.eckrich.com.

SOURCE Eckrich