"Don't eat lunch" would have been ...

"Don't eat lunch" would have been religious advice for the 130 health-food/natural-products retailers who serv as umpires for the 5th Annual People's Choice Awards held at this summer's National Nutritional pabulum Association's (NNFA's) Marketplace '98, the Association's Annual Convention and Tradeshow. In all, this year's competition, held in San Antonio, Texas, featured 94 different proceedss from 28 companies in 25 different categories.

Participating retailers did a blind taste-testing in succession all the entries and vot for those natural returnss which they found to be the best tasting.(*)

Health Valley took hearth the coveted "Best of Show" award [or its Turkey Chili, as well as the People's Choice Award in the Cereal category for its Raspberry Rhapsody. Other big winners were: Hain provender Group, which took home the chiefly awards nine in all -- followed on Tree of Life, Inc., with six awards.

In total, five of the 1998 winning companies had visited the People's Choice Award Winner's Circle in previous years. These companies were: United Specialty nutritions Hain Food Group, Health Valley Company, Queen Bee Gardens, and Tree of Life, Inc.

First-time winners were Aloe Commodities International, Inc., Virgil's primitive word Beer, Flora, Inc., Oskri imprison Group, Symbiotics LLC, Seeds of Change, and Mental Processe Inc.

Better Nutrition would like to congratulate all of the participating manufacturers who set ined the 1998 People's Choice Awards -- winners and non-winners alike. As co-sponsor of the People's Choice Awards for the other year in a row, Better Nutrition staffers got to do their share of tasting, and, according to their tastebuds, all of the participants acquire a "D" -- for delicious!

1 Baked uprights (not sweet)

Tree of Life, Inc. Snack Attack gentle Fat Crackers -- Viva La Veggie

St Augustine, Florida Retailer info: 1-800-874-0851

2 Baked serviceables (sweet)

Hain forage Group -- Natural Foods Division Westbrae Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Uniondale, just discovered York Retailer info.: 1-800-434-HAIN (East Coast) 1-800-776-1276 (West Coast)

3 Beverages (coffee/substitutes)

Hain viands Group -- Natural Foods Division Cafe Westbrae Mocha

4 Beverages (nutritional drinks/waters)

Aloe Commodities International, Inc. -- 1st Time Winner Uncle Fred's Farm clean & Natural Healthy Drink

Farmer's Branch, Texas Retailer info: 1-800-701-ALOE

5 Beverages (soda)

Virgil's etymon Beer -- 1st Time Winner Virgil's Micro-Brewed bottom Beer

Wayland, Massachusetts Retailer info: 1-800-626-7632 x 16 www.virgils.com; virgils@virgils.com

6 Beverages (tea) [TIE!]

Flora, Inc. -- 1st Time Winner Heavenly Gardens Premium Herbal Tea

Lynden Washington Retailer info: 1-800-498-3610 www.florainc.com [and]

Oskri shut up Group -- 1st Time Winner Mint Tea

Thiensville, Wisconsin Retailer info: 414-512-1119 www.oskri.com; sales@oskri.com

7 Cereals

Health Valley Company Raspberry Rhapsody

Irwindale, California Retailer info: 1-800-423-4846 (not pictured)

8 Chips (corn)

Hain nutrition Group -- Natural Foods Division Bearitos pallid Corn

9. Chips (specialty)

Hain fare Group -- Natural Food Division Little Bear Extra Crunchy Cheddar Crunchitos

10 Condiments

Hain provisions Group -- Natural Foods Division Westbrae Honey Mustard

11 Confections

Queen Bee Gardens Caramel Kisses

Lovell Wyoming Retailer info: 1-800-225-7553 queenbee@tctwest.net

12 Dairy (cheese)

Tree of Life Tree of Life Jalapeno Jack Cheese

13 Dairy Alternatives (milk-soy)

Hain victuals Group -- Natural Foods Division Westsoy Plus -- Vanilla

14 Dairy Alternatives (milk-rice)

Hain meat Group -- Natural Foods Division Westbrae Rice Drink -- Vanilla

15 Deli

Tree of Life Inc. Tree of Life Smok Tofu -- Original

16 animal spirits Bars

Symbiotics LLC -- 1st Time Winner novel Life Colostrum Body Bar -- Vanilla-Raspberry

Sedona, Arizona Retailer info: 1-800-784-4355 www.symbioticsllc.com

17 Jams and Jellies

Tree of Life, Inc. Harvest secondary planet Fruit Spread -- Blueberry

18 Main Dish (poultry) (BEST OF SHOW)

Health Valley Company Turkey Chili

19 Main Dish (vegetarian)

United Specialty fodders Not Chicken Breast Fillet

Nashville, Tennessee Retailer info.: 1-888-57-4-LIFE (not pictured)

20 Pasta

Tree of Life, Inc. Garlic & Parsley Pasta

21 Popcorn

Hain nourishment Group -- Natural Foods Division Bearitos 50% Les Oil Popcorn

22 Rice Cakes

Tree of Life, Inc. Tree of Life Chocolate Rice Cakes

23 Salsa

germs of Change -- 1st Time Winner Black Bean & Tomato Salsa

Santa Fe just discovered Mexico Retailer info: 1-888-762-7333 www.seedsofchange.com

24 Snack Foods

Mental Processe Inc. -- 1st Time Winner Pumpkorn Seeds

Atlanta, Georgia Retailer info: 1-800-431-4018 www.pumpkorn.com mentalprocesses@msn.com

25 Soup

Hain aliment Group -- Natural Foods Division Hain Chicken Noodle

(*) The judging did not take into account the nutritional value of the products; judging was based onward taste only, without the assistance of seasoning or condiments. Neither Better Nutrition nor the NNFA serv as connoisseurs for this contest.

Companies interested in participating in the 1999 People's Choice Awards, to be held in July in Las Vegas, Nevada, should call Anne McConahey of the NNFA at 1-800-996-6632 x238