Amid mounting false advertising lawsuits and increased pressure from consumer advocacy groups, the future of the historically vague marketing term "natural" is in question.
From maple water to ‘brogurt’, posh jerky, seaweed chips, purple corn, gourmet popcorn and non-GMO labels; what were the hottest trends of 2013, and what’s on the menu for 2014?
As the FDA prepares to conduct consumer research into whole grain labeling statements before it issues finalized guidance for industry, the debate over precisely what should constitute a ‘whole grain’, as well as how the amount of whole grain should be...
Jatropha protein concentrate can be used to fortify bread without adverse textural impact and bakers should consider using the ingredient more, researchers say.
The quality and range of natural colors has increased significantly in recent years, but getting a vibrant natural red shade in some bakery, meat and dairy applications - especially if you want to avoid carmine - remains a big challenge, according to...
Food manufacturers have urged the FDA to give them more time to consider its proposal to revoke the GRAS status of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in a bid to eradicate artificial trans fats from the American diet.
While private label penetration rates in the US “pale in comparison” to those in Europe, the way US retailers regard their store brands has changed dramatically in recent years, according to the CEO of one leading manufacturer.
Why is your business using social media? To sell more products? Raise your profile? Change your image? Find out what key ‘influencers’ really think about your brands? Identify and target a new customer base? Or because everyone else is on Twitter and...
A major new player in the flour milling industry will not now emerge until early next year, as regulators continue to scrutinize the proposed merger of ConAgra Mills and Horizon Milling (a joint venture between Cargill and CHS) to create Ardent Mills.
Special Edition: Super grains! From chia to quinoa
HSBC has said that despite challenges market tides deciding the sustainability of the palm oil industry are changing - although an environmental group has published a damning report of the bank’s investment practices.
The percentage of new US food product launches featuring ancient grains or seeds has almost tripled since 2008, according to Datamonitor. But the bulk of activity is focused around just two ingredients: Chia and quinoa.
Campbell Soup has posted a 30% slide in first quarter profits to $172m and downgraded its guidance for the full year. Revenue declined 1.8% to $2.17bn.
The US Food and Drug Administration has no questions for DuPont (Danisco) and the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status of its Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strains HN019, Bi-07, B1-04, and B420 (B. animalis subsp. lactis strains).
While quinoa and chia have stolen much of the limelight, one of the most interesting ‘ancient grains’ to watch is freekeh - wheat that has been harvested early while it is still green and then roasted and cracked - according to one leading supplier of...
Tate & Lyle has reassured consumers that sucralose is a safe ingredient following the publication of a review alleging that the high intensity sweetener is “not biologically inert" and that more research is needed to determine what happens to...
Long the victim of an outdated image problem—canned beef and barley soup anyone?—barley has the nutritional profile, cost and versatility that should catapult into the realm of super grains like quinoa and kamut. And yet, barley often ends up buried on...
Penford Food Ingredients has developed a corn-based fiber that it says has a cleaner flavor than other corn fibers – opening up broader application opportunities.
Cereal giant General Mills is still working to undo the impact of poor waste disposal over 50 years ago at an old R&D center in Minneapolis as a new investigation is launched.
There will be pressure from some corners to give the food industry several years to phase out partially hydrogenated oils, but from a technical perspective, viable alternatives are already out there for pretty much every application, according to one...
Unilever and Ferrero both said they would strengthen their commitments to sustainable palm oil this week – a sign of an industry in transformation, according to Catapult, an organisation working to end trade in commodities linked to deforestation.
Annies Inc. has announced the $6 million acquisition of a cracker and cookie plant in Joplin, MO that will more than triple the company’s volume in the important snacks segment.
Rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants and vitamins, gluten-free, allergen-averse, low in fat, price competitive and sustainably grown, it’s no surprise that pulses are working their way beyond soups and dips and into mainstream food production in the US.
While many grocery brands are struggling to generate any growth right now, top gluten-free brands Udi's and Glutino notched up combined net sales growth of 53% in the latest quarter, bosses at brand owner Boulder Brands have revealed.
Demonization of ingredients and a lack of consumer understanding has fueled clean label, but it remains niche among a small group of consumers, DuPont Nutrition & Health says.
Food manufacturers are likely to ask for an extension to the 60-day comment period set by the FDA to consider its proposal to revoke the GRAS status of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), a food law attorney has predicted.
News that the FDA is considering revoking the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in a bid to eradicate artificial trans fats from the US food supply has been broadly welcomed. But how long should the agency...
Despite a growing pile of research linking lycopene to benefits ranging from heart, cardiovascular, prostate and bone health to prevention of certain cancers, the market share for this carotenoid remains relatively small.
Increasing numbers of products with superfoods like chia will see this favorite of the Aztecs joining the mainstream functional food/beverage ranks, says a leading marketing expert.
The proteins in a formulation can drastically impact the quality and texture of gluten-free baked goods and therefore must be selected wisely, suggest researchers.
Products to manage blood sugar levels have ‘huge potential’, says Pharmachem Laboratories, but communicating the benefits with consumers continues to be a challenge.
60-second interview: Dr. Sandy Chien, VP Innovative Products, HORN Nutraceuticals
As part of our special edition on blood sugar, Elaine Watson caught up with Dr. Sandy Chien, VP Innovative Products at California-based HORN Nutraceuticals, which is introducing a new cinnamon-based blood sugar control ingredient called MealShape to the...
Special edition: Tackling diabetes. Formulating for healthy blood sugar
Given that one in three American adults is expected to develop type 2 diabetes by 2050, and poor diet and lack of exercise may be largely to blame, what can food and beverage manufacturers do to tackle this epidemic?
Looking for a new challenge in your career? Check out food and drink’s most powerful global recruitment network from the publisher of FoodNavigator-USA and FoodNavigator.
Special Edition: Tackling diabetes: Formulating for healthy blood sugar
The overall topic of blood sugar management is becoming increasingly important beyond the population with type 2 diabetes, as mainstream media has made consumers more aware of the health needs of blood sugar management—known more colloquially as “energy...
If the first generation of gluten-free products was short on flavor and nutrients; the next generation - ‘gluten-free 2.0’ - is all about taste, health and convenience, and is infiltrating every food category and channel, delegates at the Food & Nutrition...
Glanbia Nutritionals has launched a new flax protein powder for protein fortification for use in a range of applications including bars, clusters, cereals and beverages.
From the risks and rewards of energy drinks to what Americans eat for breakfast, strategies to tackle mindless eating and the next generation of gluten-free foods, Houston was the place to be this week as 8,000+ nutrition professionals gathered for the...
Removing negative ingredients like trans fats from bakery is still important for consumers but they are also looking for positive nutrition, says the research director of Packaged Facts.
The bread sector has experienced a riches to rags story and is now in a state of decline with white bread demonized but industry has hope in whole grains, says ConAgra Mills.
In new developments in the highly charged debate over GMOs, General Mills has been targeted in a report blasted by a plant geneticist as “a collection of discredited studies and half-truths”, while the GMA has been slapped with a lawsuit alleging it concealed...
The Ontario Food Cluster is encouraging global food and beverage buyers and suppliers to join the likes of General Mills Canada, Maple Leaf Foods and Unilever by investing and becoming part of Ontario’s $39 billion, 3,200-company food and beverage processing...
A new Mintel report provides further evidence that the gluten-free market is being propelled by consumers avoiding gluten for perceived health benefits or as a weight management strategy rather than those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Big interview: Ben F. Pierce Gore, Pratt & Associates
When you think of plaintiff's lawyers, two images probably come to mind: Consumer crusaders like Erin Brockovich or grubby ambulance-chasers in John Grisham novels. But where in this spectrum should we insert the top attorneys representing plaintiffs...