Health and nutritional ingredients

When does it make sense to make natural ingredients in a fermentation tank vs a field? Kalsec teams up with Infinome Biosciences

30-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

Kalsec - a global producer of spice and herb extracts – has just teamed up with Infinome Biosciences to develop multiple ingredients via precision fermentation. FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Kalsec EVP of global R&D and chief innovation officer...

Study finds link between ultra-processed foods and mental health

29-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

A study exploring the connection between ultra-processed foods (UPF) consumption and reported adverse mental health symptoms found that participants who had a diet high in UPF were more likely to report instances of 'mentally unhealthy' and...

Hain Celestial CEO reflects on difficult fiscal year but points to stronger performance ahead

26-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Hain Celestial had a tough fiscal 2022 year but has a positive outlook on its North American business as supply chain disruptions abate and consumers remain loyal to the natural and organic segment.

Frank Jaksch joins Ayana Bio as CEO: ‘I’m really excited about being back in the exploration mode’

24-Aug-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Plant cell technology company and Ginkgo Bioworks spin off Ayana Bio has appointed ChromaDex founder and former CEO Frank Jaksch as its new CEO.

‘We saw huge potential to disrupt the market’: biotech firm creates ‘world-first’ cultivated bovine lactoferrin

24-Aug-2022 By Teodora Lyubomirova

TurtleTree says it can produce the protein up to a 100 times faster and at a larger scale to make the hard-to-get ingredient more accessible to food manufacturers.

Fish oil may blunt inflammatory response to high fat/high sugar diet

23-Aug-2022 By Hank Schultz

Omega-3s can blunt the worst of the chronic inflammation caused by diets high in sugar and fat, a new study in mice has suggested.

Dairy grown in lettuce? Meet the start-up triggering protein, pigment, and aroma production in a greenhouse

23-Aug-2022 By Flora Southey

Israeli start-up Pigmentum is producing biomolecules for the food industry in transgenic plants. Co-founder Tal Lutzky explains how the technology works, which hurdles stand in the way of commercialisation, and whether consumers are willing to drink ‘lettuce...

Inflation disproportionately impacts lower-priced items, finds Euromonitor

23-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

While inflation has impacted the entire food and beverage industry, recent data from Euromonitor shows that in certain categories the price of lower-priced items has increased exponentially compared to more modest price increases on higher-priced premium...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Where will plant-based go next as it pushes past a sales dip in select segments?

22-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

While sales of refrigerated plant-based meat may be slowing, shares of some plant-based milk brands are slipping and consumer response to a handful of new products are tepid at best, industry leaders argue the party is far from over for the overall plant-based...

Target cuts overloaded inventory levels to refocus on high-growth categories

19-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Target has cut its inventory levels by 20% in the last two months in a conscious effort to streamline its business and set the company up for improved long-term growth, shared chairman and CEO Brian Cornell.

Fazer investigates cellular agriculture for sustainable cocoa

19-Aug-2022 By Katy Askew

Finnish confectioner Fazer is working to secure a sustainable future cocoa supply. The company believes cellular agriculture could be part of that vision.

Vetting suppliers becomes ever more crucial as US-China tensions rise

18-Aug-2022 By Hank Schultz

Heightened US-China tensions have caused planners in all industrial sectors to reevaluate their sourcing arrangements. Stakeholders in the dietary supplement industry say having firm relationships with well-vetted suppliers is the best way to manage...

Lavva CEO and founder talk mainstream potential of plant-based yogurt: 'The growth is very analogous to Greek yogurt'

18-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Still a niche segment within the plant-based food category, plant-based yogurt is poised to become a much larger piece of the chilled dairy set as consumers find products that can closely mimic the taste and mouthfeel of its conventional dairy counterparts,...

Ashwagandha root extract may boost testosterone levels, sexual function in men

18-Aug-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with the branded ashwagandha root extract KSM-66 may significantly increase testosterone levels and boost sexual function in men with lower sexual desire, says a new study.

Laird Superfood receives takeover offer

18-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Health and wellness company Laird Superfood has confirmed its receipt of an unsolicited offer from EF Hutton SPV I LLC to acquire the company's outstanding common stock for $3.00 per share in cash.

Botanical yields fall as climate change affects harvests

17-Aug-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Extreme weather events from heat waves and droughts to ‘hundred-year storms’ happening every two years, the impact of climate change is obvious. And few industries are witnessing the impact as much as botanical supply chain.

Broccoli compound may boost cognitive function and mood in older adults: RCT

16-Aug-2022 By Stephen Daniells

Sulforaphane, a compound derived from broccoli, may boost processing speed and mood in healthy older adults, says a new study from Japan.

'The coffee, tea, and beverage company for Gen Z,' Chamberlain Coffee closes $7m funding round

16-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Chamberlain Coffee, a DTC-focused brand created by YouTube star Emma Chamberlain, has sealed a $7m Series A funding round led by Blazar Capital and a stacked roster of DTC, retail, and beverage industry investors.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Mintel shares areas ripe for innovation that balance post-pandemic and tighter financial needs

15-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As Americans continue to adjust to post-pandemic life and mounting economic uncertainty, consumer research from Mintel shows that many believe there is no going ‘back to normal’ and as such are changing the way they think about, budget and shop for, and...

Why are food prices continuing to go up while inflation eases in other categories?

15-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Notoriously thin operating margins in the food supply chain will likely keep manufacturers and retailers from incrementally lowering prices even as input costs begin to come down – preferring instead to wait until the economic landscape stabilizes and...

'Plant cell culture is now emerging from a very cold winter...' Cell-cultured chocolate startup California Cultured turns attention to coffee

12-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

Microbes can produce a host of ingredients traditionally made by plants or animals more sustainably and efficiently. But if you want to make complex plant-based ingredients such as coffee or cocoa, single-celled microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria...

Majority of immune supplements bought on Amazon found to have labels that don’t match contents

11-Aug-2022 By Hank Schultz

A study published yesterday by a group that included researchers from the University of Mississippi found that fewer than half of 30 immune supplements bought on Amazon had labels that accurately reflected their contents.

ADM to commercialize Benson Hill ultra-high protein soy ingredients with first products to launch in early 2023

11-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

ADM will soon begin processing ultra-high protein (UHP) soybeans from farm tech company Benson Hill with the first commercialized products expected to hit the market in early 2023.

Plant-based yogurt brand Lavva acquired by Next in Natural, appoints new CEO

10-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Plant-based yogurt brand, Lavva, has been acquired by Brooklyn-based venture firm Next in Natural and has appointed a new CEO, Jeff Lichtenstein, to help the brand keep up with consumer demand and produce additional innovation.

Paragon Pure unveils OléPBM vegan fat targeting plant-based meat applications

09-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Fresh off closing a $3.9m seed funding round* led by Unovis Asset Management, Paragon Pure is debuting its OléPBM alternative fat technology made from rice bran oil, which it claims outperforms palm and coconut oils in plant-based meat products.

Rao's Homemade sauces 'well on track' to become a $1bn brand, says Sovos Brands CEO

08-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Well represented in key at-home eating categories of sauces (Rao's Homemade), yogurt (Noosa Yoghurt), and frozen entrees (Michael Angelo's and Rao's), Sovos Brands highlighted the performance of the company's largest brand Rao's...

New CEO at Motif FoodWorks after recent round of layoffs

04-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

Boston-based food tech firm Motif FoodWorks has promoted its CTO Dr Michael Leonard to the role of CEO, effective immediately, as current CEO Jonathan McIntyre moves to an advisory role in the company.

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,...

Amazon brick-and-mortar sales up double digits, 'We continue to improve the customer experience,' says CEO

01-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Net sales in Amazon's physical stores - Whole Foods Market, Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go - grew 12.5% year-on-year to $4.72bn in Q2 2022 and grew 2.8% vs Q1, 2022.

CRN disputes wide ranging conclusions drawn from Vitamin D bone health analysis

29-Jul-2022 By Hank Schultz

The Council for Responsible Nutrition says Vitamin D remains an important bone health nutrient despite a recent null study that spurred an article in The New York Times.

Plant-based milk for kids: Kiki Milk taps into unmet market need

28-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

When it comes to plant-based milks for kids, the options are few and far between, say Alex and Lauren Abelin, founders of Kiki Milk, which is made with organic oats, hemp seeds, sprouted pumpkin seeds, coconut, and other “whole food ingredients.”

Kraft Heinz will ‘redeploy’ more promotions as supply chains, inflation slowly improve

28-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As supply chains slowly recover and some commodity prices recede, Kraft Heinz says it will offer more “mutually beneficial” promotions with retailers, coupons and other deals to soften the impact of recent price hikes on increasingly budget-conscious...

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.

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.

Lifeway Foods sees positive uptick in sales across portfolio: 'Kefir remains the backbone of our business'

25-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Illinois-based kefir company Lifeway Foods, which has been the subject of inner family feuding related to its leadership*, reported +16.7% net sales growth for the full year ending December 31, 2021 compared to 2020.

Merit unveils 'grit-free' pea protein for RTD protein beverages

25-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Canada-based Merit Functional Foods says it has overcome one of the biggest hurdles facing plant-based protein in ready-to-drink protein beverages: sediment and grittiness.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Riff turns coffee’s ‘not so little dirty secret’ into energetic success

25-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Something is rotten in the coffee industry, and it is holding back the crop from reaching its full potential and contributing to the climate change that threatens future production of the popular beverage and the economic livelihoods of the farmers who...

Trendspotting at IFT First 2022: Alt proteins… is it time to under promise and over-deliver?

22-Jul-2022 By Elaine Watson

So-called ‘alternative proteins’ – from upcycled barley and canola protein to animal-free whey made in fermentation tanks using genetically engineered microbes – were a hot topic at IFT First in Chicago. But with US retail sales of some meat alternatives...

Home Chef opens new facility to support growing customer base

20-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Kroger-owned meal kit company Home Chef is expanding its southeast footprint with a new dedicated 181,000-square-foot production facility in Georgia to support its growing customer base.

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...

IFT First NASA panel: To boldly go… What will astronauts eat on a mission to Mars?

19-Jul-2022 By Elaine Watson

“The NASA food system used on the International Space Station is more than adequate,” delegates at IFT First were told in a packed education session last Tuesday. “But a mission to Mars won't allow the resupplying of food and the crew won't...

Yumi enters retail at Target stores nationwide: 'It was always part of the plan to go omnichannel'

19-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Baby and toddler food brand Yumi is making its retail debut at Target stores nationwide with a new line of products addressing a market void for nutritious toddler-focused snacks.

Online grocery sales up +6% year-over-year while consumer price sensitivity and ongoing COVID concerns set in

18-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Online grocery sales totaled $7.2bn for June 2022, tracking ahead of the same month last year (+6%) and slightly above May 2022 figures (+1%), according to the latest data from Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey.

Summer Fancy Food Show

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: ‘We’ve gone past the optional phase’ -- sustainability is mandatory

18-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

As noted in the opening session of the IFT FIRST conference in Chicago last week, the food that brought us together during the pandemic and which fuels us everyday is in a crisis as climate change intensifies – pushing companies to weave sustainability...

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.

‘Our first sparkling product has been an absolute hit…’ Wize Tea: from hunch to sparkling coffee leaf tea

14-Jul-2022 By Asia Sherman

Wize Tea is not an iced tea in the traditional sense but a ready-to-drink answer to coffee jitters and crashes that extends the growing season for coffee farmers in Nicaragua.

IFT First: Benson Hill targets plant-based meat sector with ultra-high protein soy ingredients

13-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Benson Hill is seeing surging demand for its non-GMO ultra-high protein soy flour, which is now in full-scale commercialization mode thanks to a new industrial facility and partnerships with major food manufacturers including Kellogg.

PepsiCo makes progress on regenerative agriculture and nutrition commitments

11-Jul-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

PepsiCo has made progress in a number of areas of its business around regenerative agriculture and nutrition targets under its PepsiCo Positive (pep+) plan, the company's ESG program launched last year.

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...