The Healthy 1990s
With regard to food trends in Australia the 1990s is characterised by a huge demand for healthier options including low fat and low salt foods, foods with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and no added sugar.

In the 1990s the benefits of anti-oxidants to combat free radicals and omega fatty acids were discovered, an understanding of the association with foods and allergies was made and many people started using alternative therapies to treat ailments. In many regards, we are far healthier now than we have ever been.

However, children in the 1990s have a greater tendency towards obesity than in the past, explained by an increase in the consumption of high fat, high sugar foods and a decrease in exercise. Children spend more hours inactive on computer games, videos and television.

Supermarket Trends
Convenience is still a major factor in the development of new supermarket foods: individually packaged, ready-made meals and snacks with an explanation of preparation (microwave or conventional cooking) where necessary and often a serving suggestion.

The information supplied on labels is a far cry from the labels at the start of the century and gives consumers a chance to make the best choices for their health. In most cases, foods carry a complete list of ingredients as well as nutrition information such as energy (expressed in kilojoules and calories), protein, fat, carbohydrate and salt (sodium and potassium). Labels indicate which flavours, preservatives and colours have been used, if any. Fresh foods carry a 'sell by' or 'use by' date. In response to a demand for recycled and recyclable packaging, many plastic products carry a triangular symbol to indicate the type of plastic used so consumers can recycle the product where possible. Many labels also show whether the product was made in Australia.

Supermarkets in the 1990s are offering an increasingly diverse range of foods. It is possible to cook Mexican, Indian, Japanese, Malaysian, Chinese and Thai dishes at home with the right canned, packet and fresh ingredients, and utensils.

Fast Foods
Fast food restaurants appear to be firmly established. Most families eat out or have take-away (many home delivered) at least once a week. When they first arrived, fast food restaurants served a clientele of young adults. The clientele in the 1990s is broader. The availability of play areas, high chairs and baby change facilities has attracted young families - the teenagers of 1970s are bringing their children. Fast food restaurants are more widely available in smaller towns, in food courts in shopping centres and also at petrol stations. Popularity is explained in part by their low prices and accessibility. The range of fast foods has also increased with noodle bars, sushi bars, Tex-Mex and Indian food available in shopping centre food courts.

In Australia's major cities it is possible to eat at restaurants serving typical cuisine of thirty or more different countries. Given the size of the population, Australia has a huge range of cuisines.

• 1990 HARD ROCK CAFE and PLANET HOLLYWOOD opened.
  
• 1991 KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN was renamed KFC.

Kraft News

Time For Coffee?
In 1993 Kraft General Foods and Jacobs Suchard, manufacturer of chocolate and coffee, were combined to form Kraft Jacobs Suchard. In 1995 Kraft Jacobs Suchard Australia was formed.

Disney On Ice Sponsorship
Kraft began its sponsorship of the Australian tour of Disney on Ice in 1994. Over that time the Company has helped Disney on Ice bring seven spectacular ice shows to Australian families including Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Aladdin and 101 Dalmatians.

Kraft has also given away many hundreds of tickets to children from Children's Hospitals around Australia and as prizes.

DaisyMaths
DaisyMaths is a unique Australian Internet-based program that helps Australian kids to become more proficient in mathematics.

Kraft's support of DaisyMaths allows the creator, Professor Myles Harding, to make the program freely accessible to everyone on the Internet and allow FREE downloading of the program. Kraft's funding will enable DaisyMaths to remain up-to-date so that kids will not get bored and older children will be able to use it. Kraft's sponsorship will assist by providing a tool that parents can use to help their children to learn maths. Kraft can lead the way as a company which holds the families of our consumers as a high priority.

Kraft Cares
In 1998 Kraft Cares was born as a way of formalising the company's commitment to the community. Foodbanks to 'help feed the needy' was an obvious choice but Kraft Foods, through Kraft Cares, is also involved in health, education and children, sponsoring Heartwell for children with physical impairments, Red Cross trailers and Special Kids Christmas parties, as well as local charities. Casual day fundraisers are organised and the company has pledged to match any sum raised by employees.

Not only does Kraft Cares help Kraft Foods support the community, it has the added bonus of involving employees in issues close to their hearts and instilling in them a sense of pride in their company.

Product Launches In The 1990s
Kraft responded quickly to the demand for lower fat and greater variety and nutritional snack food options. Some of the product launches this decade include:
1990 Coon Light.
1991 Vegemite Singles
1992 Extra Light Singles, Cracker Barrel Light Block.
1993 Fromais was introduced in response to a demand for snacking and 'grazing' foods, especially for children.
1995 DiG its were launched in response to research that indicates children like food that is a combination of fun, variety and involvement.
1996 Quick Pasta.
1997 Greek and Tzatziki salad dressings are launched. Also Free Singles, which are 97% fat free.