Slideshow: What's new in food

KANSAS CITY — Consumers are growing more conscious of world issues, and they want to turn that concern into action. Food manufacturers are offering that option with new product launches that bring awareness to these issues and help fund solutions.

To combat child malnutrition, the team of activists behind This Bar Saves Lives is introducing a new line of gourmet bars called This Kid Saves Lives. Each time a consumer buys a box for around $4.99, the company sends a child in need a packet of Plumpy’Nut, a high-energy therapeutic food developed for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition.  Available in wild berries and chocolate chip flavor, these snack bars contain 14 vitamins and minerals, fair-trade ingredients and are free of nuts, gluten and bioengineered ingredients.

Summoning awareness of sustainability, Annie’s is introducing Mac & Trees pasta, which features “Love Your Planet” pasta shapes, including trees, bicycles, recycle symbols, suns and Earths. A portion of the profits from Annie’s Mac & Trees sales is donated to help fund school gardens to help teach children about sustainability and put that knowledge to use. Available in Organic Mac & Trees and Mac & Trees (made with organic pasta) varieties, the shaped pasta provides 11 grams of protein and 8 grams of whole grains.