Lifeway Foods Inc., Morton Grove, Ill., has created three new varieties of its dairy-based kefir "smoothie." The new veggie, oat-enriched and stevia-sweetened kefir lines are available in 10 flavors created specifically for the new formulations.

The new kefir products, that focus on specific health benefits, are:

• Veggie Kefir – A new blend of vegetables, juices and kefir delivers one full serving of vegetables in each 8-ounce serving. It comes in tomato, cucumber and beet varieties. There is no sugar or salt added. It's sold in 8-ounce individual bottles and 4-packs for a suggested retail price of $1.49 to $1.89 and $4.99 to $5.89, respectively.
   
• Kefir with Oats – It contains 11 grams of complete protein per serving, and is available in these breakfast-friendly flavors: blueberry maple, apple cinnamon and vanilla plum. It's being positioned as an on-the-go breakfast or midday snack. It's sold in 8-ounce individual bottles and 4-packs for a suggested retail price of $1.29 to $1.59 and $4.79 to $5.49, respectively.
   
• Lifeway Perfect 12 Kefir sweetened with stevia – It contains 12 probiotic cultures and 12 grams of carbohydrates, this line features all-natural sweetening with no-calorie stevia leaf extract and no added sugar, with 110 calories per serving. It’s available in four flavors inspired by dessert favorites: orange cream, apple pear cobbler, triple berry tart and Key lime pie. It’s sold in 32-ounce bottles for a suggested retail price of $3.49 to $4.39.

  

All the kefir products are 99% lactose-free and gluten-free. The new cultured dairy products were featured at the Natural Products Expo West trade show in March.

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