Follow these tips to keep your groceries safe from contamination
Here are a few safety precautions to reduce your risk of exposure to deadly germs beyond social distancing.
ProblemSolved, USA TODAY
Changes have come to one of the country’s most colorful, iconic desserts.
Meanwhile, new ready-to-drink cocktails are hitting grocery store shelves just in time for summer soirees.
These new items await shoppers in Indiana markets.
Better for you Jell-O?
Jell-O now has versions of desserts without artificial sweeteners or synthetically produced dyes.
The new Jell-O Simply ready-to-eat gelatin, which contains less sugar than the original, is available now nationwide for $3.99 per four-pack. Flavors include Orange, Raspberry Lemonade and Blueberry.
Jell-O Simply gelatin and instant pudding mixes will be available nationally beginning August 2026 in four flavors – Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana and Strawberry – for $2.24 per box.
The changes are part of Jell-O brand owner Kraft Heinz’s commitment to eliminating artificial colors across its U.S. portfolio by the end of 2027.
New Crystal Light cocktail flavors
Crystal Light has extended its lightly-carbonated Vodka Refresher line with two new flavors and taking the products to more states.
Fruit Punch and Raspberry Lemonade join the Lemonade and Wild Strawberry ready-to-drink 3.8% ABV Vodka Refreshers that were introduced last year.
The 77-calorie, zero-sugar and zero-carbs drinks are made with triple-filtered vodka and are sold in four- and eight-packs of 12-ounce cans ($9.99-$18.99).
As part of a partnership with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the Vodka Refreshers have expanded their availability from 15 states to 46 states this spring.
Indy 500-themed Indiana-exclusive Bourbon
There’s still time to get a racing-themed collector’s edition bottle of whiskey.
Blue Run Spirits has an Indiana-exclusive, limited-edition release of its Kentucky Straight High Rye Bourbon Whiskey made in collaboration with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
In a collectable French cut glass bottle featuring Blue Run’s hand-applied Viceroy butterfly medallion, a bold checkered flag pattern, a neck-label with the official wing-and-wheel insignia of IMS and tax strip over the cork closure, the bourbon is available exclusively at select retailers throughout Indiana.
It’s bottled at 111 proof.
Vodka-spiked drinks
New Holland Distilling Co. launched Lake Life Day Drinks, 100-calorie, 4% ABV vodka beverages.
The zero-added-sugar, low-carbonation, vodka-spiked drinks are gluten-free and available in select grocery and convenience stores in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio.
Contact Midwest Connect reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cjackson@usatodayco.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com: @cherylvjackson or Bluesky: @cherylvjackson.bsky.social.
