At the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Philadelphia late last month, more than 10,000 registered dietitians, nutritionists and industry stakeholders joined to discuss emerging health and diet trends in America. The expo floor featured more than 330 exhibitors showcasing everything from creative twists on plant-based beverages, the nutritional value of dairy milk, products formulated for women’s health and old-favorites made with new, functional ingredients.
At the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Philadelphia late last month, more than 10,000 registered dietitians, nutritionists and industry stakeholders joined to discuss emerging health and diet trends in America. The expo floor featured more than 330 exhibitors showcasing everything from creative twists on plant-based beverages, the nutritional value of dairy milk, products formulated for women’s health and old-favorites made with new, functional ingredients.
With the Plant Based Foods Association estimating sales of plant-based milks are up 6% in the past year to capture a whopping 13% of the entire milk category, the prevalence of new options in the category at FNCE comes as no surprise. Some standouts on the show floor include Three Trees' Black Sesame and almond milk and its Pistachio milk, which generated rave reviews from attendees who liked the first’s not-too-sweet but still decadent flavor and feel. The Swedish entrepreneurs behind Sproud sampled their pea-based eponymous beverage at the show ahead of its US launch. Danone also showcased several new Silk products, including two almond & oat coffee lattes and a sugar-free version of Oat Yeah. Lifeway Foods takes plant-based beverages up a notch with the addition of probiotics in its dairy- and soy-free Plantiful line, which it sampled in mixed berry and coconut vanilla.
Not to be outdone by plant-based beverages, Horizon and Fairlife debuted innovations in their dairy milk lines. Horizon introduced Growing Years Milk, which is an organic whole dairy milk designed with pediatricians for 1- to 5-year-olds. It offers an extra helping of DHA Omega-3, choline, prebiotics and is high in vitamin D all while retaining the classic flavor and texture of plain whole milk. Fairlife introduced four new creamers, all of which are lactose free but made with real milk. They have 40% less sugar than regular creamer, and come in four flavors: vanilla, caramel, sweet cream and hazelnut
Many booths, including the National Chicken Council and the American Egg Board’s Egg Nutrition Center, provided up-to-date information on what expecting women and new mothers should eat for their and their baby’s health. Nestle Health Sciences also introduced a new Boost nutritional drink formulated for women to support thyroid, bone, hair and skin health all while also packing 15g protein and 24 vitamins & minerals. Supplement manufacturer and personalized nutrition leader Life Extension also introduced its Prenatal Advantage dietary supplements, which stand out from the crowd by containing a higher level than most of choline, in addition to folic acid and DHA.
Grain and hot cereal manufacturer Bob’s Red Mill enters the nutrition bar category with a line of whole grain oat bars that offer 7 grams of protein and 3 to 4 grams of fiber per bar. All the bars star peanut butter and oats, which are combined with either jelly, coconut, apple spice, banana or chocolate. Go Macro also showcased two new flavors: Pure Promise Maple Sea Salt and Heartwarming Retreat oatmeal chocolate chip.
The gluten-free trend may not be growing as fast as it once was, but exhibitors with updated kitchen staples that comply with the diet show there is still room for innovation in the space. Potapas gluten-free tortillas made from potatoes earned accolades from attendees for flawlessly mimicking the soft pliable texture of traditional flour tortillas while also being free from grains, soy, dairy and nuts. The tortillas, which also include cassava and garbanzo flour, had a slight savory potato flavor and come in original, veggie medley and sweet potato. Ronzoni introduced a gluten-free pasta made with cauliflower, fava beans and rice flour and which is free of the top eight allergens. With a tagline of a ‘eat for a better tomorrow, today,’ Longeve showcased two new pea protein breadless crumbs that are gluten-free and come in plain and panko varieties. RW Garcia also showcased its new gluten-free cheesy crackers made with stone-ground corn and cassava and its expanded line-up of better-for-you corn chips, which come in organic yellow, organic blue corn, organic Bar-B-Q and Organic Chili Cheese.
