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LANDOVER, Md. — Giant for the second year will serve as title sponsor of the 25th Annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle benefitting USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore. The award-winning Barbecue Battle, on June 24 and 25, is one of the largest and most popular food festivals in the country, welcoming more than 100,000 barbecue fans each year.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Online retailing is changing the game for pet parents.

Specifically, 40% of pet owners are opting to buy pet products online, up from 37% the previous year, and notably higher than results from 2014, according to U.S. Pet Market Outlook, 2017-2018. The report, from research firm Packaged Facts, highlights mergers and acquisitions, retail channel trends, and pet owner demographics and spending habits.

WASHINGTON — Fruit juice provides no nutritional benefit to children under age 1 and should not be included in their diet, according to a new policy statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This statement marks the Academy’s first change in recommendations on fruit juice since 2001.

Over past years, the Academy advised against offering fruit juice to children under the age of 6 months, but has now expanded that time frame to include the entire first year of life.
 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens and Huggies earlier this month partnered on a donation of one million diapers to the National Diaper Bank Network, to be distributed to diaper banks within the National Diaper Bank Network including Cradles to Crayons of Chicago to help babies in need.

INONG, Wis. — Jack Link’s is expanding two of its lines and bringing a morning snack to consumers. The company on Thursday announced the extension of its Extra tender and Hickory Smoked Bacon lines, as well as the retail availability of its new Jack Link’s AM.

The Jack Link’s AM products are designed as a morning snack for shoppers looking for more protein in their breakfasts. The line includes four varieties — original breakfast sausage and hot and spicy breakfast sausage, as well as applewood breakfast bacon and maple-flavored breakfast bacon.

Dreft rolls out 65% plant-based Dreft purtouch

CINCINNATI — Baby laundry detergent brand Dreft has announced the latest addition to its offerings. The company on Thursday launched Dreft purtouch, a 65% plant-based hypoallergenic baby detergent, which it says is made with naturally derived ingredients.

If IRI’s latest Pacesetters report on the biggest consumer packaged goods product launches in 2016 could be summed up in one message, it’s that consumers are looking for healthier options. The trend extends to consumables with 57% of food and beverage categories with healthier solutions growing faster than the sector average.