The festive season was the ideal excuse for manufacturers to introduce new confectionery items and other indulgent products. In France, Acdis brought out a 90% cocoa content chocolate under its Thuries brand. This chocolate bar has the highest percentage of cocoa on the market. Acdis has selected the finest cocoa beans in order to produce a quality chocolate, which it claims does not show a high level of bitterness. While Thuries offers an almost pure chocolate, Nestlé is treating its consumers with a new concept of chocolate bar. Crunch, Eclat Noir, Noir Eclats Noisettes and Lait Eclats Noisettes come in chocolate sticks and are available in four varieties using the same recipes as the famous chocolate bars. They are positioned as a snack food. Swiss consumers, however, saw the introduction of a new kind of pastille. Swiss Cannabis Pastilles, launched by Swiss company ST Star Trade, contain hemp essence, which is said to be good for sore and dry throats. They are also sugar-free. There are only minute traces of hemp in the sweets and it has no lasting effect on the body. The dairy sector has seen two interesting launches over the past month. In the US, General Mills has launched Expresse under the Yoplait brand. This tube-style, spoon-free yogurt for adults is along the same lines as the Go-Gurt tube for children. It can be eaten chilled, frozen, or thawed for 'on-the-go' snacking. It comes in a pack of eight 2.25-ounce tubes in four flavours ­ Strawberry, Harvest Peach/Peaches & Cream, Raspberry/ Mixed Berry and Lemon Burst/Key Lime. In Finland, Valio has added a new cultured milk drink to its functional dairy range. Evolus, which is bilberry-flavoured, contains a Lactobacillus strain capable of producing peptides in milk. It is claimed to be the first available product in Europe to lower blood pressure. While Procter & Gamble has designed a limited edition of Crispy Raclette Pringles for the winter season in Germany, McCain has added flavour to the French frozen chips sector. It has invented a new concept of flavoured frozen chips. These Crazy Frites are available in three varieties: Herbs and Garlic, Paprika, and Bacon. {{P&P }}