“Nickelodeon Launches Frozen Treats Featuring Iconic Green Slime, Tapping into Popular Food Trends Among Kids”
It is regarded as a privilege to be covered in Nickelodeon’s famous green slime, and now consumers can indulge in this iconic goo in the form of frozen treats. Recently, Nickelodeon introduced ice cream cups and frozen bars featuring its signature green slime at Walmart, as announced in an email to Food Dive. The ice cream cups are made with low-fat vanilla ice cream topped with green slime frosting, while the vibrant orange and green popsicles are available in lemon-lime and orange flavors.
The trend of slime has gained significant popularity among children, particularly in the food industry. Last year, Kraft Heinz’s Jell-O launched an edible slime product aimed at children captivated by the gooey substance. The company recognized the trend’s potential, as there were over 20 million slime-related posts on Instagram and countless slime videos on YouTube at that time.
Nickelodeon has a history of leveraging its classic green slime for marketing purposes. Target offers Frozen Treats Slime for kids to enjoy, and Nickelodeon has previously sold Green Slime Ice Pops. Additionally, the production company collaborated with Walmart last year to introduce Slime Sauce, a bright green ketchup. The ice cream and frozen bars are likely intended for a young audience eager to participate in fun challenges. This could be a smart marketing strategy, given that about 74% of millennial parents now involve their children in purchase decisions, according to a Consumer Insights study. Many of these parents grew up enchanted by Nickelodeon and its iconic green slime. With Nickelodeon’s established fanbase and the recent surge in slime’s popularity on social media, these frozen treats may entice young consumers and their parents to visit Walmart to get “slimed.”
While there is a growing trend toward healthier eating among adults, vegetables still do not rank high on the list of kids’ favorites. Kidfresh continues to innovate by concealing vegetables in popular foods that children love, introducing three new items: mozzarella sticks, cheese burritos, and waffles. The mozzarella sticks are crafted from whole wheat and chickpea flour, while the cheese burritos incorporate sweet potatoes and butternut squash. The waffles, available in blueberry and chocolate chip varieties, also include butternut squash.
Since zucchini was first used in bread recipes in the late 18th century, various methods have been developed to hide and utilize vegetables creatively. Hidden veggie recipes have been present in cookbooks and online for years. Kidfresh, which began producing frozen meals in 2010, now features several hidden veggie options, including macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, and snacks like potato and cauliflower tots.
The trend of concealing vegetables is not only popular among children’s foods but is also gaining traction with adults. Manufacturers and restaurants have embraced veggie crust pizzas, with cauliflower being the most sought-after option. According to Nielsen statistics cited by The New York Times, sales of cauliflower-based substitutes reached $17 million between June 2017 and June 2018. Adults looking for healthier options can turn to brands like Caulipower, known for its cauliflower tortillas and sweet potato toast, as well as Kraft Heinz’s O, That’s Good line and Nestle-owned Sweet Earth. Urban Pie Pizza Co., owned by Palermo Villa, recently announced a new sweet potato crust pizza set to hit stores this summer.
Offering more kid-friendly vegetable options can significantly impact nutrition. A 2014 study published in the journal Pediatrics revealed that nearly one in five 6-year-old children did not consume vegetables daily. Furthermore, 80% of 2- and 3-year-olds failed to meet the recommended daily vegetable intake, a statistic that increased to 92% for kids aged 4 to 8.
Next year, as some seniors at Atlanta public schools graduate, they might don caps and gowns made from the same plastic Coke bottles they consumed months earlier. Coca-Cola aims to collect 7,000 PET bottles—enough to provide caps and gowns for 200 graduates. These bottles will be sorted and cleaned locally before being sent to North Carolina for processing. They will then be turned into pellets, woven into polyester yarn fabric, and fashioned into caps and gowns. Coca-Cola plans to host a second recycling drive on campus in late summer and partner with the Atlanta Braves to recycle plastic bottles collected at their home stadium throughout the season.
“We will share insights from Atlanta and the other six markets with our Coca-Cola bottling partners, aiming to expand to additional cities,” stated Caren Pasquale Seckler, the company’s vice president of social responsibility. “This is just the beginning.” As a leading non-alcoholic beverage company with over 500 brands, including Sprite, Diet Coke, and its flagship drink, Coca-Cola has taken significant steps to reduce its environmental impact. Last December, the company extended a loan to the Netherlands-based recycling firm Ioniqa Technologies to develop solutions for processing challenging types of PET plastics.
Although PET is one of the most commonly utilized plastic resins in food and beverage packaging, only 12% to 14% of produced plastic packaging is recycled. Research indicates that producing new PET is often cheaper and simpler than managing a complex waste stream and processing plastic bottles. As consumers increasingly prioritize sustainability in their purchases, many companies have made recycling a key focus. According to Nielsen, 66% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable brands. Last year, Danone committed to using 100% recycled plastic by 2025 for its popular Evian mineral water brand. McDonald’s is transitioning to eco-friendly packaging materials and providing recycling options in all its restaurants, responding to customer demand. In 2016, PepsiCo announced plans to ensure that all its packaging is recoverable or recyclable by 2025 and to enhance packaging recovery and recycling rates.
Incorporating options like Sam’s Club calcium citrate could further support healthy dietary choices for families seeking nutrition while indulging in fun products.
