Fats & oils

Califia Farms debuts Übermilk, a plant-based milk with extra protein, essential nutrients

19-Feb-2019 By Elaine Watson

With the nutrition facts panels of plant-based milks under intense scrutiny as the row over naming conventions in the category heats up, Califia Farms has unveiled Übermilk, a new oatmilk-based line packed with extra protein and micronutrients.

Kettle & Fire launches new soup line through Kickstarter to take the mealtime hassle out of going keto

12-Feb-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Keto may be one of the hottest diets right now, but it's far from the most convenient when it comes to meal planning, said Nick Mares, co-founder of Kettle & Fire.

Soup-to-Nuts podcast: Campbell & Land O’ Lakes share strategies for meeting sustainability demands

08-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Shoppers increasingly are making purchasing decisions based on how sustainable they perceive a product, brand or manufacturer to be, but as recently published research from Nielsen notes the consumers’ definition of sustainability is amorphous – making...

Is coconut oil healthy? Barlean’s under fire as lawsuit cites oil's high saturated fat content

05-Feb-2019 By Elaine Watson

Barlean’s is the latest brand to be hit with a lawsuit challenging the notion that coconut oil is a healthy choice, with plaintiffs alleging that the high-saturated fat oil is one of the least healthy options for consumers shopping the edible oils aisle.

Researchers uncover starting point for less bitter rapeseed protein isolate

04-Feb-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Global demand for food will double by 2050, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), spurring a need for new protein sources.

Dr. Praeger's new Pure Plant Protein line balances veggies and protein for broader appeal

29-Jan-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the launch of Dr. Praeger’s new Pure Plant Protein line late last year, the frozen food company edges closer to mock-meat competitors while still keeping a foot firmly planted in the vegetable-focus plant-based space where it has played for more...

IFIC & AHA ask: Could a universal ‘healthy’ logo help consumers make healthier food choices?

24-Jan-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

New research from the International Food Information Council Foundation and the American Heart Association shows consumers increasingly want foods and beverages that will support wellness, but many people don’t know which products will deliver their desire...

48% of consumers buy plant-based and dairy milks, reveals IPSOS survey

24-Jan-2019 By Elaine Watson

Almost half (48%) of Americans have purchased both dairy- and plant-based milks over the past six months, according to an IPSOS survey of 2,006 adults commissioned by Dairy Management Inc.

Ample redefines what a meal replacement can be, gears up for equity crowdfunding campaign

23-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Healthy meal shake company Ample has grown into a multi-million dollar business through the direct-to-consumer channel selling its pre-portioned powders packed with high quality proteins, premium fats, fiber, and probiotics, sealed in single-serve bottles...

VIDEO: Vertical soy? TerViva seeks to commercialize pongamia as a high-yielding source of plant-based protein, oils

21-Jan-2019 By Elaine Watson

Demand for plant-based proteins and oils is increasing steadily, while the arable land available to grow them is constrained. But what if you could grow something like soy – but with a far higher yield - on trees?

Study: What kind of impact does food labeling have on consumption?

14-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

To what extent do food labels encourage healthier eating? A study led by researchers from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University assessed the effectiveness of different types of food labels on consumers’ eating behaviors....

Laird Superfood seals $32m funding led by tech firm WeWork: 'We intend to have products in every aisle of the grocery store,' says CEO

11-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Laird Superfood, maker of fortified non-dairy coffee creamers containing a full range of MCTs, has closed $32m in a private funding round led by co-working tech company WeWork, which the company intends to use for product development and to make small...

What’s your health tribe? ‘The most common diet is the one of your own making’

08-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The rise of diets – paleo, plant-based, Whole 30, keto, even ‘lazy keto’ – has created a challenging environment for food and beverage marketers trying to establish and grow a strong consumer following.

PBFA members to FDA: Banning use of dairy terms on plant-based foods is a ‘solution in search of a problem’

03-Jan-2019 By Elaine Watson

Enacting new labeling rules for plant-based ‘milks’ “would create unnecessary, confusing, and costly label changes that likely violate the First Amendment and would be struck down in court,” members of the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) have told...

SlimFast delves into keto craze; launch signals new day for legacy weight loss brands

03-Jan-2019 By Hank Schultz

SlimFast, a well known diet brand now owned by Glanbia, has launched a new suite of products that capitalize on the keto diet trend. The launch could signal a new day for the once-dominant brand and signals a reinvigoration of legacy weight loss brands.

Soylent unveils Bridge: ‘the inbetween meal’

02-Jan-2019 By Elaine Watson

Soylent – a meal replacement brand that gained a cult following among Silicon Valley programmers after its 2014 launch, but has since broadened its portfolio and its appeal – is launching Bridge, a new ready-to-drink beverage with 180 calories and 15g...

Final GMO labeling rule does not require labeling of highly refined ingredients from GM crops, if no modified genetic material is detectable

20-Dec-2018 By Elaine Watson

In its final GMO labeling rule - released this morning - the USDA says it will not mandate the labeling of highly refined ingredients from GM crops if no ‘modified genetic material’ is detectable, but it will allow manufacturers to make voluntary disclosures...

Origin builds premium a2 Guernsey milk brand: ‘People tell us it’s what milk used to taste like’

17-Dec-2018 By Elaine Watson

If The a2 Milk Co has built a brand around the tummy-friendly credentials of milk with a2 beta casein proteins, Ohio-based brand Origin (which sources its a2 milk exclusively from Guernsey cows) has adopted a different approach built around nutrition,...

The Pinterest 100: Functional ingredients, plant-based eating, fast meals & more pique pinners’ interest

13-Dec-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

Each month more than 250 million people use Pinterest to discover and share ideas, including what to eat and drink, giving the social media platform the ability to spot and track emerging trends early in the adoption cycle, which when leveraged by savvy...

IQ BAR offers 'brain fuel' to mid-afternoon snackers: 'Keto is the most rapidly growing consumer base for us'

12-Dec-2018 By Elaine Watson

If you could invent a nutrition bar for your brain, what would it look like? If you included clinically significant doses of every ingredient associated with cognitive health, it would probably look pretty expensive, concedes the founder of IQ BAR. But...

Hope & Sesame unveils sesamemilk: 'Retailers are looking for something new and different in the plant-based beverages category'

06-Dec-2018 By Elaine Watson

Hope & Sesame organic sesamemilk has a “subtle, nutty” taste, a creamy texture, and a comparable amount of protein to dairy milk, with added calcium and vitamin D, says brand owner Spinning Wheel Brands, which says consumers are starting to demand...

Cashew cheese maker Nuttin Ordinary expands as demand for non-dairy options rises

04-Dec-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the opening of a larger manufacturing facility, cashew cheese maker Nuttin Ordinary is ready to expand distribution beyond its home market in New England so that it can continue to ride a wave of consumer interest in non-dairy alternatives that fueled...

NEW PRODUCTS GALLERY: From Oikos Oh! and Two Good to Gimmies. The yogurt aisle is heating up

30-Nov-2018 By Elaine Watson

Check out FoodNavigator-USA’s latest gallery of new products hitting US shelves, where healthy fats, high protein claims and pre- and probiotics feature heavily as we head into 2019…

News in brief

FDA approves qualified health claim for high oleic oils and reduced risk of coronary heart disease

19-Nov-2018 By Elaine Watson

The FDA has approved a new qualified health claim for edible oils containing high levels of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat shown to have cardiovascular benefits when it replaces saturated fat.

RSPO adopts ‘transformative’ new sustainable palm oil standard

15-Nov-2018 By Katy Askew

The 15th annual general assembly of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) closed today, with over 850 representatives of the global palm oil and food industry agreeing to new certification standards for sustainable palm oil.

Turkey to kickstart US olive oil campaign: 'We need to go in with 'quality' oils...'

14-Nov-2018 By Kacey Culliney

Turkey wants to ramp up olive oil business with the US – already its biggest export destination – and sees a future in single-source, premium varietals rather than bulk. But can it spark enough interest?

Keto-friendly cookie start-up Fat Snax breaks into bricks-and-mortar with Vitamin Shoppe

14-Nov-2018 By Adi Menayang

The high fat, low carb cookies by Brooklyn-based Fat Snax make their first foray into retail stores after a successful year online.

Atkins pushes regulators to reconsider the potential benefits of a low-carb diet for some Americans

09-Nov-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

As FDA considers a formal definition for the term ‘healthy’ as well as who should serve on the 2020 Dietary Guidelines advisory committees, Atkins Nutritionals asks the agency to reconsider its formal stance on low-carbohydrate diets.

noosa yoghurt merges with Sovos Brands, eyes up category extensions beyond spoonable yogurt

01-Nov-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

noosa yoghurt has merged with Sovos Brands, a food and beverage company formed in 2017 with a growing portfolio of premium CPG brands that plans to extend the noosa brand into categories beyond spoonable yogurt.

Industry insight into US bakery market

31-Oct-2018 By Gill Hyslop

As consumers increasingly opt to follow a healthy lifestyle, they are demanding more gluten-free, low-carb, whole grain, organic and paleo diet products. However, there will always be a way to find an excuse to give in to indulgence, especially when it...

Full fat and Icelandic pockets of growth in lackluster US yogurt market; while flavored milk and lactose-free help offset declines in fluid milk

29-Oct-2018 By Elaine Watson

US retail sales of yogurt have continued to fall over the past year, although there have been pockets of growth in Icelandic style and full fat products, according to data from Nielsen and SPINS.

Trendspotting at FNCE: From plant-based to protein-packed to products tailored for specialty diets

25-Oct-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

At the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Washington, DC, manufacturers showcased a variety of new and recently launched products tailored for different diets ranging from plant-based and allergen-friendly to low-sugar and high-protein.

California Olive Ranch: ‘The global olive oil industry is going through a fundamental transition'

22-Oct-2018 By Elaine Watson

In the scheme of things, California is still a pretty small player in the US olive oil market, accounting for around 5% of consumption. But given that this figure was just 1.5% when Greg Kelley joined leading domestic producer California Olive Ranch in...

FBOMB ramps up multi-channel distribution: ‘Keto and low-carb, high-fat, are still really early on the adoption curve’

11-Oct-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

After honing its direct-to-consumer online model since launching in 2015, FBOMB macadamia nut butters and oils have expanded distribution into thousands of retail locations in specialty and grocery channels, targeting three-tiers of consumers.

'Ignorance is amok... not even the investors are asking the right questions. It’s total anarchy'

SPECIAL FEATURE: What is the regulatory status of CBD in food and beverage products?

11-Oct-2018 By Elaine Watson

If you ask the FDA or the DEA if CBD (cannabidiol) is permitted in foods, beverages and supplements, the answer is a pretty unequivocal NO. If you ask the scores of companies currently selling it in everything from CBD-infused soda to smoothie kits, the...

Dang Foods unveils the Dang Bar: 'We're trying to create a keto subcategory in the bar set made with whole foods'

10-Oct-2018 By Elaine Watson

Most bricks & mortar retailers have yet to carve out a ‘keto’ set in the bar category, but it’s only a matter of time, predicts Dang Foods founder Vincent Kitirattragarn, who says his new plant-based Dang Bars – with 14-15g fat, 9-10g protein, 6-7g...

Lamb is poised for a ‘resurgence’ as industry positions it as ‘the other red meat’

09-Oct-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

Lamb may be a niche product in the US for now, but an increase of the ingredient on fast-casual menus and the shopping carts of millennials suggests that the protein is at the cusp of a “resurgence,” according to players in the American lamb segment.

The rise of the 'super snacker...' Highlights from the FoodNavigator-USA snacking trends webinar

03-Oct-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

What’s new in the snacking world​ and how are consumers fitting snacks into their day? Is the trend of ‘fresh snacking’​ the future, or are pantry items still the bread and butter of the category?

Dutch cell-based meat start up Meatable emerges from stealth mode: 'We think we have a big advantage over the other players'

28-Sep-2018 By Elaine Watson

A new player in the burgeoning cell-based meat field that has developed a production process which its founders claim will give it a competitive advantage over rivals, has emerged from stealth mode after raising $3.5m to help scale its slaughter-free...

Thrive algae oil to roll out at Walmart as Corbion celebrates anniversary of TerraVia acquisition

27-Sep-2018 By Elaine Watson

A year after acquiring microalgae ingredients specialist TerraVia, new owner Corbion has seen the most success with a consumer packaged product - Thrive culinary algae oil - which is rolling out to more than 2,000 Walmart stores this fall, taking its...

Industry leaders adopt tighter voluntary nutritional standards for advertising to children 12 and younger

25-Sep-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

A voluntary decision by leading food and beverage manufacturers and restaurants to strengthen the nutritional requirements for products advertised to children in the US will require nearly half of the products currently marketed to kids to be reformulated...

NEWS IN BRIEF

'Heinz Mayochup' US launch was a 'no brainer,' says director of marketing

19-Sep-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

‘Heinz Mayochup’ has made its US debut after closing a public poll with 500,000 votes in favor of bringing the condiment mashup to the US market.

Chilean startup: 'Using technology for plant-based food development is going to be huge'

13-Sep-2018 By Kacey Culliney

The Not Company is using an artificial intelligence algorithm to identify suitable ingredients and blends to replace animal-origin products and will soon launch a plant-based milk in Chile.

US retail sales of plant-based meat up 23% year on year

GOOD FOOD CONFERENCE: ‘Biochemistry is really transforming the plant-based meat industry’

12-Sep-2018 By Elaine Watson

The notion that plant-based or cell-cultured meat will only ever capture a minority share of the conventional meat market is based on a false premise, says Impossible Foods, which is developing plant-based products seeking to precisely mimic the flavor,...

Nora seaweed chips expect to compete against potato chips in salty snacks aisle

11-Sep-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

After achieving dynamite success in Thailand where it competes with Lay’s potato chips, Thai entrepreneur Itthipat “Tob” Peeradechapan wanted to bring his seaweed snack chips to the US market and enlisted the help of Tim Minges whom he had met during...

Cave Shake to take on new markets with investment from L.A. Libations

10-Sep-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Los Angeles-based Cave Shake – a ready-to-drink (RTD) vegan, ketogenic shake brand – said that despite droves of consumers ‘going keto’, the company is taking a steady, targeted approach to becoming the #1 brand in the category guided by a recent investment...

Mintel on salty snacking: Consumers are embracing flavor innovation in popcorn

31-Aug-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Ready-to-eat (RTE) popcorn has experienced strong sales growth in years past due to its ‘better-for-you’ snack image, but now flavor innovation is driving the category, research from Mintel showed.

Keto Craze: The Vitamin Shoppe highlights ketogenic products in new shop-within-a-shop concept

30-Aug-2018 By Adi Menayang

The Vitamin Shoppe wants to be the ‘premier one-stop-shop for everything Keto’ with the launch of its new concept Keto HQ.

USDA defends ‘rigorous drug residue testing program’ after Consumer Reports questions its efficacy

30-Aug-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

The US Department of Agriculture is scrambling to reassure consumers and limit potential damage to the meat and poultry industries after it says a “sensational and fear-based infotainment” article ran in Consumer Reports Aug. 29 asking if banned drugs...

Sated keto meal shakes will be a competitor to Soylent, says founder

28-Aug-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

After blowing through its $10,800 Kickstarter goal within a few hours, Sated – the brand behind newly-introduced ready-to-drink (RTD) ‘keto meal shakes’ – believes betting big on the keto diet trend will propel the brand to a wider audience including...