Fats & oils

Avocados and gut health: Study supports link between daily avocado consumption and increased gut microbiota diversity

06-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Eating avocado as part of a daily diet may help improve gut health by increasing the abundance and diversity of microbes in the human gut, according to recent research from the University of Illinois (U of I).

Lindt tackles coconut oil sustainability: ‘In the consumer’s mind, palm oil is still the bad guy’

05-Jan-2021 By Flora Southey

Despite coconut oil being just a minor ingredient in some of Lindt & Sprüngli’s products, a raw material risk assessment highlighting sustainability challenges has prompted the chocolate maker to act.

2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans 'miss the mark' on added sugar, suggest “shifts” in protein consumption to “add variety"

29-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines advise Americans to watch their sugar and alcohol consumption but fall short of recommending the drastic cuts recently suggested by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC).

Cultivated fat: a solution to the plant-based sensory gap?

15-Dec-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Cultivated or cultured fat could be the key to improving the taste and texture challenges of plant-based meat alternatives, according to one player in this market.

What's the difference between plant-based and vegan? Foodchain ID unveils new certification schemes

07-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

While the terms 'plant-based' and 'vegan' might appear to be interchangeable (they both exclude animal products), consumers do not view them in quite the same way, claims Foodchain ID, which has just launched separate 'vegan,'...

New research highlights opportunity to slash fat in Pringles-style potato chips

07-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

Research revealing how the starch structure of potato flakes impacts oil uptake during deep frying could enable snack makers to slash the fat content of Pringles-style potato chips by up to a third, say the authors of a new study.

GALLERY: Plant-based brands and innovations to watch in 2021

04-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based eggs, bacon, and everything inbetween… check out our gallery of plant-based brands and innovations to watch in 2021, from NotCo and Black Sheep Foods to Gold & Green. There are of course SCORES of exciting brands not covered here; this...

GALLERY: Food tech companies to watch in 2021

02-Dec-2020 By Elaine Watson

From a flurry of startups using microbes – instead of plants or animals – to produce proteins, to AI-driven platforms exploring ‘the dark matter of nutrition,’ and real honey produced without bees, check out our gallery of foodtech companies to watch...

Let There Be Hemp debuts with chips, explores intriguing array of novel hempseed products from extruded puffs to plant-based cheese

20-Nov-2020 By Elaine Watson

Hemp seeds are nutritional dynamite, but they’re still surprisingly under-utilized in foods and beverages, say the founders of Let There Be Hemp, a new brand hoping to make a splash in the chips category, and - down the road - to introduce Americans to...

Eclipse Foods moves into retail, raises $12m Series A: ‘We’re following the Beyond Meat playbook’

17-Nov-2020 By Elaine Watson

Many plant-based dairy brands are built around ‘hero’ ingredients such as almond or coconut. At Eclipse Foods, by contrast, the mission is to replicate the taste and functionality of real dairy, and the brand, which could span multiple dairy platforms,...

Webinar Tomorrow: Meeting Children’s Nutritional Needs from conception through the teenage years

17-Nov-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

Children’s dietary patterns are mostly set by the time they turn 2 years old, which doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room for indulging picky eaters if caregivers want their kids to grow up eating – and liking – a wide variety of healthy, nutrient-dense...

JM Smucker sells strong-performing Crisco for $550m to B&G Foods to focus on coffee, snacking & pet food

27-Oct-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

JM Smucker Co. is selling its iconic line of Crisco oils and shortening to B&G Foods for $550m cash in a deal that allows it to dedicate more resources to its “core growth platforms” while simultaneously strengthening B&G’s small but growing baking...

Velocity Snack Brands unveils new innovations under the popchips brand

26-Oct-2020 By Elaine Watson

Velocity Snack Brands (VSB) – a portfolio company of VMG Partners set up in October 2019 to buy, incubate and grow snack brands – has launched two new innovations under the popchips brand it believes could have broad mainstream appeal.

McDonald’s nudges more people to buy Happy Meals with fruit & veggies through creative marketing

21-Oct-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

By adding healthier sides that are more prominently featured in marketing alongside more nutritious beverages, McDonald’s is chipping away at its goals to offer – and sell – more balanced Happy Meals with simplified ingredients, and less saturated fat,...

Plant-based meat webinar highlights… from Impossible Foods’ global ambitions to those ‘frankly desperate’ Lightlife ads

17-Oct-2020 By Elaine Watson

Impossible Foods is gearing up for market entry in Europe, China and Brazil; Beyond Meat is looking at “any and all plant-based protein sources” as it expands its ingredient toolbox; Meati Foods is preparing to launch fungi-based steaks, and Planterra...