Grain-based foods fight back  Bruised by the Atkins Diet, pasta,
breads and other foods are reformulating for lower carbohydrates
Share Print Related RSS  America's quest to lose weight is once
again proving to be fertile ground for new products,
ingredients, and technologies in the food industry. Disregarding
moderation, balance and exercise for health and wellness, the
latest quick fix embraces protein and fats and shuns
carbohydrates.  It apparently started with the Atkins Diet, a
high-protein, high-fat, and very low carbohydrate regimen. As a
result, consumption of foods such as eggs, bacon and sausage
reportedly are at their highest levels in a decade while those
of grain-based foods, especially bread and pasta, are declining.
The allure of rapid weight loss with seemingly less sacrifice
has spawned a new category, low-carbohydrate foods, that fetched
an estimated $2 billion in sales in 2003. Food companies are
banking on attracting consumers in droves.  While food marketers
and strategists debate whet