MADISON, Wis. – Oscar Mayer announced a new line of meats tailored to consumers who are looking for hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts free of artificial preservatives, flavors and colors.

The Oscar Mayer Selects line builds on the company’s successful Oscar Mayer Selects Hot Dogs, which were introduced in March 2010, the company said. The product represents Oscar Mayer’s initiative to have 50 percent of its new products made without artificial preservatives, the company said. The company is also making progress on sodium reduction across 20 percent of the entire Oscar Mayer portfolio by the end of 2012.

"Listening to our consumers, and finding better ways is just the way we do business," said Heather Buettner, senior director of new product development at Oscar Mayer. "Consumers today want simple, everyday ingredients they know and trust.

“They want food they can feel good about that is affordable and easy to find,” she said. “That's why we're bringing these new choices to the meat case and offering them at everyday prices in everyday stores.”

Oscar Mayer Selects Hot Dogs were among the top three new product introductions in 2011, according to Symphony IRI Group. Selects Hot Dogs also brought 20 percent incremental growth to the category, 70 percent incremental growth to the Oscar Mayer brand and brought non-users back to the category, the company said.