Upcycled foods – made from food supply chain byproducts that would otherwise go to landfills – are rapidly growing in popularity and bringing about innovation in consumer packaged goods.
Consumers and retailers concerned about sustainability and food waste are helping drive the trend through snacks and ready-to-eat products, according to a Precedence Research report from November that pegged the global upcycled food products market at $63.80 billion in 2025 and projected to reach $124.39 billion by 2034.
The trend is most prevalent in North America, where upcycled food products maintained 39% share of the market in 2024.
“The snacks and ready-to-eat products segment led the upcycled food products market in 2024 due to the convenience offered by the segment to save the time and effort of consumers with hectic lifestyles. Recycled snacks and ready-to-eat food options allow consumers to munch on them wherever and whenever, which is helpful to save time and effort,” according to the report.
Here are a few recent product releases in the upcycled foods market.
Roots Farm Fresh
Roots Farm Fresh expanded its frozen potato portfolio in March into the breakfast and snacking category with the launch of its Organic Sweet Potato Hash Browns, Organic Sweet Potato Tots and Organic White Potato Hash Browns.
“Crafted from organic ingredients sourced from regenerative farms, the breakfast and snacking lineup is designed to meet the strictest standards in the frozen food industry. Each Roots product is made exclusively with organic, non-GMO, upcycled potatoes and organic avocado oil, offering a nutrient-dense alternative to conventional options while eliminating added sugars, fillers, color additives and industrial seed oils,” the company said.
Roots Farm Fresh sources imperfect or “ugly” potatoes in an effort to “combat food waste while boosting farm economics,” the company said.
Seven Sundays
Seven Sundays also expanded its cereal product lineup in April with its PB Puffs cereal in two varieties: Peanut Butter and Chocolate Peanut Butter.
Promising the “crave-worthy crunch of beloved puffed cereals without the junk,” the protein-packed (10 grams per serving) better-for-you cereals are made with upcycled oat protein and upcycled GMO-free corn flour.
The cereal ups the ante in clean label, using dates and maple syrup as natural sweeteners.
Blue Stripes
Blue Stripes got a boost in the first quarter of 2026 with limited-time distribution of its new upcycled Superfruit Gummies at select Costco locations in the Southeast and Northwest regions.
The food and beverage company uses the entire cacao pod in its snacks that include nine essential vitamins and minerals and no added sugar.
“Blue Stripes is dedicated to combating the global cacao crisis and transforming the chocolate industry with its range of delicious, sustainable whole cacao products, which is paving the way for innovation in the snacking industry,” the company said.
Salt and Straw
Ice Cream chain Salt and Straw is celebrating Earth Month in April with the launch of a line of upcycled ice cream flavors that are Upcycled Certified by the Upcycled Food Association (UFA).
“To help craft this menu, we’ve partnered with five thoughtful brands that are dedicated to reducing food waste in the US. Each ice cream flavor uses groundbreaking recipe development tactics and tells a unique story about different ways brands and people alike can rescue wasted food,” the company said.
The partners include Urban Gleaners Chocolate Caramel Potato Chip Banana Bread, The Spare Food Co. Passionfruit Yuzu Mochi Donuts & Whey Curd, EverGrain Malted Chocolate Barley Milk and Renewal Mill Salted Caramel Chocolate Brownies.
“With 229 million tons of food going unsold or uneaten each year, we’ve been able to rescue over 45,000 pounds since we first launched this series to use in the creation of these special flavors,” Salt and Straw said.
