Some New Ideas ‘as Good as Gold’

Richard Saunders International, an invention and consumer research company, issued Monday its annual “Pure Gold, Fools Gold Awards” for the best and worst new grocery products of the year.

Taking the top spot in Pure Gold was Pepsi’s Crystal Pepsi. “You don’t have to be told it’s clean, clear, crisp and different--you can see it,” said Doug Hall, Saunders president.

Taking second honors was Dryer Fresh, a fabric softener spray made by McLaughlin Inc. in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Third place was Bugchaser, a human flee collar, manufactured by Island Marketing Corp. in Garden City Park, N.Y.

The top Fools Gold spot went to the Barlee Farms Nutritional Soft Drink--which Hall said contains “emulsified bird seed”--manufactured by Birch Hill Beverage Co. in New Hartford, Conn.

Second was Crazy Blue Automobile Air Freshener that is added to windshield wiper fluid--manufactured by Aguinas Technologies Group Inc. in St. Louis. “When you turn on the defrost, the fragrance is vented into your car,” Hall said. “It makes the outside of your windshield smell great and bugs in heat love it!”

Finishing third was Cappio Iced Cappucino, brewed by Maxwell House Co. in White Plains, N.Y.