Food safety and labeling

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Unicorn brands are radically different, dedicated to design & ‘a little weird’

17-Jan-2020 By Elizabeth Crawford

The consumer-packaged goods industry is undergoing a “cataclysmic transformation,” according to one branding expert, who explained that a new crop of entrepreneurs who are unfettered by outdated taboos and not intimidated by industry giants are challenging...

New CEO at Label Insight: 'When people shop online today, they're searching attribute first, not product first'

07-Jan-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Former global president of Catalina, Todd Morris, has taken over as CEO of Chicago-based Label Insight seeking to fix the 'broken' online consumer shopping experience.

White Leaf Provisions seeks to give parents 'peace of mind' with regenerative agriculture commitment

03-Jan-2020 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Baby food made using biodynamic and regenerative agriculture practices is becoming increasingly important to US consumers as parents become more aware, and wary, of things that don't make it onto product labels such as glyphosate residue.

Can big brands survive the next 10 years? It depends on whether they can evolve with consumers

11-Dec-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

While iconic brands currently are losing the tug-of-war with niche startups for consumer engagement and spending, how they continue to play the game in the next ten years will dictate whether they regain ground or become obsolete, according to senior...

NEWS IN BRIEF

Nielsen: Which sustainability attributes matter most to consumers?

03-Dec-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Consumers are increasingly factoring in a product's sustainability attributes into their purchasing behavior and 73% of consumers surveyed by Nielsen say they are willing to change their consumption habits to reduce their environmental impact.

60-second Interview

Children’s products & plant-based foods primed for innovation, predicts Kraft Heinz sensory testing tech

26-Nov-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Given that the success of most food and beverage launches hinge on taste, but that consumer preferences for flavors, textures and overall experience are constantly shifting, sensory testing has become a lynch-pin in the innovation cycle.

Presence Marketing talks CBD and hemp: 'We need a few things to happen before CBD can realize its destiny'

25-Nov-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Presence Marketing, the largest independent natural and organic food broker in the US, sees CBD as a massive "bankable trend" for the broader CPG industry with products such as tinctures and supplements - which consumers perceive to be more...

FOOD FOR KIDS: From heavy metals to pesticide residues... What does clean label mean in food for babies and young children?

02-Nov-2019 By Elaine Watson

Clean label used to mean avoiding anything ‘artificial’ on your ingredients list. Today, many consumers want brands to address things that don’t appear on the label, from heavy metals to pesticide residues, especially in food for their kids.

Survey: A rising generation of food consumers embrace new food technologies

01-Nov-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

As new food technologies emerge, such as cell-cultured meat and new fermentation-based ingredients, younger generations such as Gen Z and millennials are more open and quicker to embrace these new advancements, according to a consumer perception survey...

The Real MEAT Act 2019: Plant-based brands should use term 'imitation' meat

29-Oct-2019 By Elaine Watson

A federal bill that would require plant-based and cell-cultured meat products to be labeled as ‘imitation’ meat has been welcomed by beef producers and slammed by plant-based meat advocates, as the row over terminology in the burgeoning space heats up.

Mississippi adds to regulatory tangle with warning on CBD products

28-Oct-2019 By Hank Schultz

Mississippi state officials have issued a blanket warning to consumers about the dangers of all CBD products sold in the state.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Is the low-FODMAP diet the next big trend?

25-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

More than 45 million Americans suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome – the same number who use online dating apps and have student loans – only unlike people looking for love or struggling with debt, those suffering from gastrointestinal discomfort predominately...

NPA says poll confirms consumers’ desire for CBD regulations

22-Oct-2019 By Hank Schultz

A new poll shows many consumers would stop using CBD products if they knew FDA has not yet set regulations around them. The poll was commissioned by the Natural Products Association.

ACSI: Customer satisfaction with food, soft drinks hold steady despite some headwinds

22-Oct-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Customer satisfaction in grocery food and beverages continues to outrank that of most other consumer good segments, but a slight reshuffling among the most trusted brands underscores a broader shift in shopper preferences from the once all-powerful national...

Plastic tea bags release microplastics into brew, says study

30-Sep-2019 By Rachel Arthur

Plastic tea bags can release billions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles into a cup of tea, according to Canadian researchers. But while the scientists say some brands have shifted to plastic tea bags instead of paper ones, the industry counters...

Promise Gluten Free brings healthier, fluffier and uniquely baked-in-store gluten-free bread to US

20-Sep-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the US launch of Promise Gluten Free, consumers looking for celiac-safe breads will no longer be restricted to the freezer aisle or required to choose between tasteless loaves without structural integrity or more flavorful and chewy options that...

Socati launches two CBD products 'that behave just like any other food ingredient' for the CPG market

27-Aug-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Socati Corp., a processor of broad spectrum hemp extracts, has launched two CBD products for the CPG industry containing a minimum of 80% CBD and 4% of the minor cannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG) with non-detectable levels of THC.

60-second interview: NSF International updates Non-GMO certification program

05-Aug-2019 By Elaine Watson

NSF International has just updated its Non-GMO certification scheme and logo. FoodNavigator-USA (FNU) caught up with Sarah Krol (SK), global managing director of food safety product certification to find out what this means... and whether firms are ready...

Farmhouse Culture rebrands to reach younger consumers, highlight organic

24-Jul-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

To attract a broader base of younger consumers and “get credit” for only using organic ingredients, the fermented food and beverage manufacturer Farmhouse Culture has overhauled its branding with brightly-colored, playful packaging and a prominent new...

‘Sales of aspartame should be suspended’: EFSA accused of bias in safety assessment

22-Jul-2019 By Katy Askew

EFSA’s decision-making process may have been biased by ‘conflicts of interest’ and the distribution and sale of aspartame in the EU should be suspended, says the author of a new research dossier calling the safety of the sweetener into question.

Cargill and Ecolab launch second year of Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator

18-Jul-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Cargill and Ecolab have announced the 2019 class of startups participating in its Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator 13-week program.

Industry pushes for 100% adoption of standard food date labeling by January 2020

25-Jun-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

By the end of 2019, 98% of food and beverage products will have adopted a standardized version of date labeling – ‘Best If Used By' – with complete adoption anticipated by January 2020, predict the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and the...

WATCH: Grain Millers works to keep up with year-round demand for oats

17-Jun-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Grain Millers - an industry supplier of oats in various forms from oat bran to whole oat flour - is evolving to meet the year-round demand for oats, which were once a seasonally driven crop, says Grain Millers' VP of product development, Roberto...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: CBD is growing fast, but several hurdles could slow progress

07-Jun-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

The CBD market is exploding with the ingredient popping up in everything from bars to beverages to confections and everything in between – driving up sales to more than $200 million in 2018 by conservative estimates and an expected $3.8 billion by 2025,...

New mouse study finds level of liver toxicity for CBD

24-May-2019 By Hank Schultz

A study published recently has found a level of liver toxicity for CBD, putting up a big caveat to the notion within the hemp/CBD world that its products have nothing in the way of safety concerns.

Better-for-you frozen food brand Luvo pushes forward the idea of food as medicine with new bundles

16-May-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the addition of an advisory board member who is a certified physician and chef, the better-for-you frozen meal company Luvo is creating new products that it hopes will help lay a foundation for packaged food to one day be considered a health management...

Investing in the Future of Food: RangeMe helps startups become shelf ready & business savvy

15-May-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Under pressure to beat the competition or secure returns for investors, most startups want to get on store shelf as fast as possible, but first they must checkoff a litany of minimum requirements that can turn into unexpected roadblocks if they don’t...

A La Mode follows ‘customer-oriented approach’ to create allergy-friendly, all natural ice cream

19-Apr-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Operating on the premise that the best way to get ahead in today’s competitive to market is to “utilize a customer-oriented approach,” the founders A La Mode are tweaking their allergy friendly ice cream and packaging to meet the growing demand for all...

Investing in the Future of Food: Effective branding challenges the competition – not the consumer

17-Apr-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

One of the main goals of effective branding and packaging is to set a product apart from the competition, but how this is achieved is fundamental to whether a product will be embraced or shunned by consumers.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: What will it take to create a sustainable food system to feed 10 billion people?

12-Apr-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

By 2050, the Earth’s population is predicted to reach upwards of 10 billion people who will require significantly more food than is produced today, which many predict is not feasible without drastic changes in the way food is produced, transported and...

FDA’s Nutrition Innovation Strategy pushes forward with updates to labeling, standards of identity

05-Apr-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

FDA will push forward with its Nutrition Innovation Strategy despite the departure this month of FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb who championed the initiative as a way to reduce the burden of chronic disease through improved nutrition, according to an...

Impossible Foods issues voluntary recall as it gears up for launch at 570 Red Robin locations

27-Mar-2019 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based meat start-up Impossible Foods has issued a voluntary recall of a single lot number of its product after a restaurant in California discovered a “food-safe, sealed, one-inch plastic object in a case of Impossible Burger bulk product.”

Natural and clean label trends 101: From malic acid and glyphosate residues to ‘clean protein’

22-Mar-2019 By Elaine Watson

Consumers want more natural, less processed, ‘clean’ foods. But do they give certain brands – and categories – a pass? And what cues are they looking for? Checkout what our consumer and legal experts had to say in the opening session of our Natural and...

Cancer institute head named acting FDA chief

12-Mar-2019 By Hank Schultz

Dr Ned Sharpless, MD, who is the current head of the National Cancer Institute, will be the interim head of the Food and Drug Administration when Dr Scott Gottlieb, MD, leaves next month.

The downside of exclusion diets: Survey shows consumers perceive dieting as a strain on their wallet and social life

12-Mar-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Over half (61%) of Americans following an exclusion diet (e.g. vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, keto) believe that following a restrictive diet means having to pay more for food and nearly half (47%) say that it takes a toll on their social life, according...

Natural and clean label trends 2019: Have you registered yet?

11-Mar-2019 By Elaine Watson

We clocked a number of brands using terms from 'clean candy' to 'clean protein' on the showfloor at Expo West, but what does 'clean eating' mean, is 'clean' a term that brands should use on product labels, and where...

NEWS IN BRIEF

Stress-blocking plant technology receives green light in California

05-Mar-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Plants undergo a lot of early environmental stressors pre- and post-harvest and a solution by AgroFresh can block the elements that take a toll on plants.

Class action litigation vs food & beverage brands ‘continued unabated’ in 2018, says Perkins Coie

05-Mar-2019 By Elaine Watson

The number of class action filings against food and beverage companies rose 9% to 158 in 2018, with firms vulnerable to legal action on a host of fronts, from slack fill to natural claims, says law firm Perkins Coie.

How to define clean label? 'There isn’t any one singular definition,' says Hartman Group

28-Feb-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The moving target of what qualifies as 'clean label' among consumers can throw food marketers for a dizzying loop, however there are a few general constants food brands and manufacturers can follow to appeal to consumers' clean label ideal....

Investing in the Future of Food: Unique technology can offer startups protection from competitors

27-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

As recently as a few years ago, the words food and tech were incongruous together, but today they signal a booming industry that is ripe for innovation, and according to the VP of business development at the Israel-based incubator The Kitchen, the combination...

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast: Demand for clean labels, increased sustainability are influencing package design

15-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

For many food and beverage brands, their product packaging is their first – if not only – touchpoint with consumers, and yet all too often companies treat it as an afterthought or as little more than a protective exterior for what is inside.

Investing in the Future of Food: Offering a solution to a problem – not just a product – can drive success

13-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

When seeking investor support or trying to woo customers, companies not only need to describe their product, but they also need to explain the problem that the product or brand solves, according to the CEO of SmartCatch.

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...

Investing in the Future of Food: Farmer’s Fridge CEO shares strategies for successfully raising funds

06-Feb-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Fundraising is different for every company, every time they do it, but according to Luke Saunders, the CEO and founder of Farmer’s Fridge, which recently closed a series C round, there are two common denominators that entrepreneurs must understand in...

Kroger CEO on the future of retail: 'People will always eat, but the way people will eat will always change'

16-Jan-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Kroger is shifting from a "grocery company to a growth company" (referred to as its 'Restock Kroger' initiative), CEO Rodney McMullen told delegates at the NRF show in New York this week, noting that it embarked on the move well before...

Capital raise helps Rollin Greens give American comfort foods & the freezer aisle ‘a healthy twist’

03-Jan-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

An ongoing capital raise of $500,000 is helping Boulder, Colo.-based Rollin Greens “take on the freezer category” and give American comfort foods “a healthy twist,” by helping it expand its distribution, revamp its packaging to appeal to more mainstream...

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...

Nestlé Waters North America Director of Sustainability on reducing PET waste: ‘It’s not just a lofty ambition’

14-Dec-2018 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Nestlé Waters North America has been working for the past seven years to increase the amount of recycled PET plastic in its bottled water, and according to director of sustainability, Valeria Orozco, it's confident it will achieve 25% recycled plastic...

Investing in the Future of Food: Chobani helps startups navigate food safety, picking partners and more

12-Dec-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

Earlier this week, Chobani put out an open call for “big-hearted food and beverage startups” that make delicious, nutritious, natural and affordable food to help it “take on the broken food system” by participating in the fifth cohort of its highly competitive...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How consumer confidence in the economy will shape retail in 2019

30-Nov-2018 By Elizabeth Crawford

It has been ten years since the last recession first shook Americans’ confidence and caused them to pull their purse strings tighter, but according to industry insiders, consumers finally are feeling more comfortable spending again – which is good news...