Carbohydrates and fibers (sugar, starches)

Sorghum in focus: ‘The goal is to increase the use of sorghum in the US food supply,’ says Sorghum Checkoff

03-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Despite being a nutrient powerhouse with more fiber and protein per serving than quinoa and nearly twice the amount of iron as a 3-ounce sirloin steak, sorghum hasn’t quite crossed into mainstream territory with most consumers. But that could soon change,...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: What does ‘plant-based’ mean to consumers? FMI investigates

01-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As consumer interest in ‘plant-based’ products has grown in recent years, so too have products proudly proclaiming their status as such – but what does the term actually mean, and how influential is it really?

Capri Sun turns to monk fruit to cut sugar by 40%

01-Aug-2022 By Rachel Arthur

Capri Sun’s original juice drink pouches will now have an average of 40% less sugar, as the brand reformulates to use monk fruit concentrate in its drinks.

Trendspotting at IFT First 2022: From upcycled foods to plant-based meat and dairy innovation

27-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The IFT First 2022 show floor was abundant with companies touting their upcycled ingredients and other exhibitors highlighting plant-based meat and dairy innovation. Take a look at some of the trends highlighted at the show this year.

Dr Robert Lustig weighs in on WHO sweeteners guideline: ‘Diet sweeteners increase insulin…’ Not true, say International Sweeteners Association, Calorie Control Council

27-Jul-2022 By Elaine Watson

According to a new draft guideline from the World Health Organization (WHO), non-nutritive sweetener consumption is associated with metabolic syndrome, something proponents of diet sweeteners say shows correlation, not causation, and merely reflects the...

Gavan’s zero waste continuous extraction platform: ‘No part of the plant is left out’

26-Jul-2022 By Katy Askew

Israeli start-up Gavan Technologies has developed a novel continuous extraction method that utilises the entire plant. FoodNavigator caught up with CEO Itai Cohen to learn more.

Inflation is pushing consumers towards private label, says Catalina

22-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

As inflation pushes consumers to seek out more affordable products, retailers are seeing a surge in unit sales in certain private label categories, according to data and insights firm Catalina.

Mintel at IFT First: ‘We see fiber moving into the mainstream,’ but new messages, formats and categories are key'

20-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Fiber may be best known for improving regularity and most commonly associated with older consumers, but the multifunctional ingredient is getting a makeover thanks to a slew of new products touting its other benefits and targeting shoppers across generations...

Trendspotting at IFT First 2022: Sugar reduction... 'What consumers look at on the label in the US is calories, then sugar’

19-Jul-2022 By Elaine Watson

From more efficient production of rare sugars tagatose and allulose (and intriguing new possibilities with D-allose), to ‘enhanced’ sugars, and a mystery disaccharide that behaves like sugar, but is metabolized very differently, check out part one of...

WHO: Non nutritive sweeteners should ‘not be used as a means of achieving weight control or reducing risk of non-communicable diseases’

16-Jul-2022 By Elaine Watson

Non-nutritive sweeteners such as stevia and sucralose are not a panacea, but new recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) questioning their value do a “disservice to public health” by failing to recognize their role in sugar/energy reduction...

Plink! The effervescent future of functional beverages

15-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Once associated with refreshment and relaxation, the crack of a can or hiss of gas following the twist of bottle top is becoming a source of anxiety for some consumers who associate it with single-use plastic, broken recycling systems and unwanted litter.

IFT First: Bonumose gears up for commercial production of rare sugar tagatose this fall: ‘It really does stand apart in terms of its taste and its functionality’

14-Jul-2022 By Elaine Watson

Bonumose – a Virginia-based startup with patented technology it claims could enable the mass market adoption of rare sugars which have exciting benefits but currently come with a hefty price tag – is gearing up to start commercial production of tagatose...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Pasta sales rebounded during the pandemic, but will they stay?

11-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

After being demonized as high-carb and maligned with foggy grain-brains and gluten sensitivities, pasta consumption, which had been flat and declining for years pre-COVID, bounced back during the pandemic with unprecedented growth as consumers looked...

Summer Fancy Food Show

Sundial Foods leverages edible films, layers & novel processing to create more realistic plant-based meat

11-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

While homogenous plant-based patties, nuggets and sausages abound, few currently available meat alternatives recreate the multi-layered experience of biting though skin to release a juicy burst of flavor that is reinforced by a marbling of fat or the...

5 trends from Summer Fancy Food: From veggie-enhanced non-dairy cheese to convenient baking solutions to keto-friendly snacks and booze-fueled treats

08-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Invigorating sleepy segments, tackling persistent category challenges and balancing consumer desire for taste, convenience and experience, companies at the 66th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City late last month showcased innovative solutions to...

IFT First preview

Oat milk under the microscope: Research presented at IFT analyzes the popular beverage

07-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As consumers’ love affair with oat milk continues to drive high double-digit, year-over-year sales food scientists are exploring how they can further enhance the beverage’s most beloved attributes, including its health benefits, sustainability and shelf...

Could cell-free biomanufacturing unlock a new generation of rare HMOs for infant formula?

07-Jul-2022 By Elaine Watson

San Diego-based startup Debut Biotech has teamed up with Korean firm GeneChem to develop a series of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) – health-promoting carbohydrates found in human breastmilk – that have never been commercialized before, using a novel...

Mavericks Cookies ramps up distribution: 'We very strongly believe and designed this brand to be a mainstream proposition'

30-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Two years after launching at the height of the pandemic, Mavericks Cookies has established a strong foothold in the under-served better-for-you kids snacking category with new distribution at 1,250 Target stores and a streamlined portfolio focused exclusively...

General Mills warns of tumultuous year ahead, but remains confident it can deliver

30-Jun-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

While General Mills was able to roll with the punches, including spiking inflation and supply chain challenges, over the past year to deliver better than expected financial results in fiscal 2022, some wonder if the CPG giant, and its competitors, will...

Can sugary products be labeled as ‘nutritious’? And how much added sugar is too much? Clif Bar to settle lawsuit with $10.5m fund

29-Jun-2022 By Elaine Watson

Clif Bar – one of a series of CPG brands accused of adding ‘excessive’ amounts of sugar to products marketed as wholesome and nutritious – has agreed to remove the terms ‘nutritious’ and 'nourishing' from selected product labels, and set aside...

‘Eclipse’s ice cream is in a league of its own…’ Sozo Ventures leads $40m series B round at plant-based dairy co Eclipse Foods

28-Jun-2022 By Elaine Watson

While the meat alternatives category is suffering from some growing pains, investors’ enthusiasm for dairy alternatives continues unabated, with plant-based dairy specialist Eclipse Foods this week announcing a $40m series B round* led by Sozo Ventures,...

Mondelēz International CEO sees more growth and acceleration for snacking portfolio amid inflation

15-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mondelēz International has generated consistent growth across its portfolio of biscuits, chocolate, cakes, and pastries, and will keep its focus on these categories as the company navigates current economic volatility, says Mondelēz International CEO...

DouxMatok strikes deal with Batory Foods to distribute Incredo ‘enhanced’ sugar

15-Jun-2022 By Elaine Watson

DouxMatok, the Israeli firm behind patented technology that makes sucrose taste sweeter, has teamed up with Batory Foods to distribute its Incredo enhanced sugar in North America.

Tim Tebow joins NuSkool Snacks as low-sugar, plant-based bar category gains steam

14-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

NFL free agent player and ESPN broadcaster Tim Tebow is joining the ranks of low-sugar, plant-based nutrition bar company NuSkool Snacks, a move founder and CEO Joe Christensen believes will help the brand secure new accounts and distribution.

Soylent projects sales of $100m in 2022: ‘We're growing by consumption increases versus a discounting and distribution game’

06-Jun-2022 By Elaine Watson

Soylent is projecting sales of $100m this year on a run rate basis driven by solid double-digit growth and margins holding steady, ensuring it remains cash-flow positive without having to raise prices, despite the challenging inflationary environment,...

'Fresher, cleaner granola bar'... Mooski enters refrigerated bar space with chilled oat bar line

03-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

San Diego-based Mooski is carving out a niche spot for itself in the emerging refrigerated bar space with a chilled oat bar line which offers consumers a fresher, cleaner version of the traditional granola bar, says founder Robert Broome.

USDA investments to ‘transform’ food system could shift power between large, established players and small, mid-sized challengers

02-Jun-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Announcing the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars across the supply chain, the US Department of Agriculture says it hopes to rebalance the food system’s historic focus on efficiency with much-needed resiliency so that the country is better...

High-fiber flour gains traction as firms tap into keto trend, interest in gut microbiome

01-Jun-2022 By Elaine Watson

While most Americans are not short of protein, 90%+ of women and 97% of men fail to meet recommended* intakes of fiber. However, growing awareness of the relationship between fiber, the gut, and immunity, coupled with a wave of keto product formulations,...

Bobo's CEO on supply chain woes: 'It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better'

01-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Oat bar company Bobo's is continuing its growth streak, predicting 45% growth for the full year 2022 vs. 2021 even as challenging supply chain conditions linger, says CEO TJ McIntyre.

Lidl rolls out price cuts across 100+ grocery items

01-Jun-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

While many retailers are raising prices on grocery items, German discount retailer Lidl is reducing the cost on over 100 items in all of its US-based stores for the summer months.

Hershey eyes opportunities in snacking: 'We have ambitions to become a snacking powerhouse'

31-May-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

While its legacy may be in chocolate, The Hershey Company's portfolio of snacks has grown by leaps and bounds over the last several years, positioning the company as a growing snacking powerhouse, says Todd M. Scott, manager, corporate brand &...

New BODYARMOR CEO on J-Lo, taking on 800lb gorillas, and the ‘separate but connected’ strategy with Coca-Cola

24-May-2022 By Elaine Watson

Gatorade is the undisputed leader in sports drinks, says the new CEO of BODYARMOR, which recently overtook Powerade to capture the #2 slot in the category. But after four years at Chobani, challenger brand extraordinaire, Federico Muyshondt knows a thing...

ADM bets big on nutrition to drive profit as it amps up capacity in high-growth areas

24-May-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

ADM’s nutrition business may represent only 15% of its operating profit currently, but executives expect that to double in the next three years and to drive a majority of the company’s operating growth thanks to its “systems” approach to business development,...

FDA denies request to exempt tagatose from added sugar labeling in decision slammed as ‘contradictory and illogical’

20-May-2022 By Elaine Watson

The FDA has denied a request to exempt rare sugar tagatose from the total and added sugars declaration on the Nutrition Facts panel, three years after granting the same request for rare sugar allulose, a decision petitioner Bonumose has slammed as “contradictory...

Kellogg exec presents three ways to improve the food system

18-May-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

With the global food system under significant pressure to keep up with the world's growing population, The Kellogg Company's SVP of global R&D and innovation Dr. Nigel Hughes presents how international food and beverage companies can take...

Good Good closes $20m Series B funding round to fuel next chapter of growth

16-May-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Good Good, an Icelandic breakfast brand of no-sugar-added products, has closed a $20m Series B funding round which will help support new low-sugar product innovation and future US product distribution.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Collaborative spirit, sustainable mission help Pipsnacks reach 10-year anniversary

16-May-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Being an entrepreneur can feel desperately lonely – especially in the early days when budgets are tight, days are long and challenges crop up constantly – but as romantic as the idea of buckling down and becoming ‘self-made’ may be, few founders actually...

Rising food costs outpace those for all goods, suggesting more inflation to come

13-May-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Food prices likely will remain stubbornly high as the cost of key ingredients, packaging materials, transportation and warehousing paid by producers continues to rise, albeit at a slightly slower pace – sparking optimism among some that high inflation...

Study finds 'substantial' differences in health effects between types of dietary fibers

10-May-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Researchers from the Stanford School of Medicine have found that not all dietary fibers are equal in their health impact, especially when it comes to the gut microbiome.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Voyage Foods lands $36m Series A funding, first product launch planned for Q2 2022

05-May-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Oakland, California-based food tech company Voyage Foods has raised $36m in a Series A funding as it prepares to launch its first product in Q2 2022.

Keto in focus, part six: ‘The second coming’ of keto – low-sugar, high-protein launches bet big on the diet

28-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Undeterred by a drop in Internet searches in North America for ‘keto’ and ‘ketogenic’ that might suggest declining interest in the high-fat, moderate-protein and ultra-low-carb diet, many packaged food manufacturers appear to be doubling down on the claim...

Coca-Cola Co. considers additional price increases ahead of potential recession

26-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Bracing for an “asynchronous” recovery in 2022 with “many new chapters and challenges,” The Coca-Cola Co. is prepared to quickly respond to local market conditions with a mix of price adjustments, package differentiation and “ever-sharper” promotional...

‘The world now turns to Brazil and the US for corn, and prices will rise…’ so what does this mean for corn-derived sweeteners?

22-Apr-2022 By Elaine Watson

With supplies from Ukraine and Russia – which together accounted for 15.3% of global corn exports in 2020/21 - in jeopardy, “the world now turns to Brazil and the US for corn, and prices will rise,” says Rabobank, which notes that prices are already trading...

Potential review of ‘ultra-processed food’ by dietary guideline committee could portend trouble for packaged food industry

22-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Undefined and increasingly under fire for allegedly delivering low nutrition but high calories, so-called ultra-processed food could be under the microscope during the next review of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, slated for publication in 2025.

Keto in focus, part four: ‘It's the latest incarnation of low carb…’

20-Apr-2022 By Elaine Watson

In part four of our series on the high-fat, moderate protein, ultra-low-carb keto diet, FoodNavigator-USA checked in with experts at consumer insights specialist Hartman Group, and product innovation company Mattson to get their take on whether it is...

IFIC: More Americans seek pro- and prebiotics, but confusion about sources abounds

20-Apr-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

More Americans are trying to consume probiotics and prebiotics than a year ago, but many are confused about the best sources for each and the relationship between them, fermentation and strain-specificity – hindering their goals, according to new data...

General Mills: 'Regenerative agriculture is the most promising solution to reach our climate goals'

20-Apr-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

As the largest natural and organic packaged food company in the US*, General Mills has the scale and resources to drive positive change in the food system through its work in regenerative agriculture, sustainable ingredient sourcing, and nutrition access....

Keto in focus, part two: The evolution of keto… ‘We’re seeing people eating more of a higher protein ketogenic diet’

19-Apr-2022 By Elaine Watson

In part two of our new series on the high-fat, moderate protein, ultra-low-carb keto diet, FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Dr Ryan Lowery, CEO at Ketogenic.com, which also owns the ketogenic certified scheme used by brands including Quest Nutrition and...

Keto in focus part three: Catalina Snacks CEO... 'The majority of our audience just want to eat less sugar and fewer carbs'

19-Apr-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Fast-growing keto snacks company Catalina Snacks is proving that 'keto' is no longer reserved for the low-carb, moderate protein diet's devotees but has a broader consumer scope and appeal.

Keto in focus, part 1: From hardcore keto dieters to the ‘carb-conscious’

18-Apr-2022 By Elaine Watson

The high-fat, moderate protein, ultra-low carb ketogenic diet has its devotees and detractors. But what kind of impact is it having on the CPG industry, how big is the addressable market for keto or keto-friendly products, and is this a fad or a lasting...