Proteins

Roquette America and World Food Processing strike pea protein partnership

19-Feb-2014 By Elaine WATSON

Ingredients giant Roquette has struck a deal with Iowa-based non-GMO corn and soybean specialist World Food Processing (WFP) under which WFP will manufacture Roquette’s pea protein in the US.

Plant egg entrepreneur raises $23m in latest funding round, led by Asia’s richest man, Li Ka-shing

18-Feb-2014 By Elaine WATSON

While most start-ups struggle to raise the funds to turn their dreams into reality, Hampton Creek Foods CEO Josh Tetrick has convinced some of the world’s wealthiest people that his plant-based egg replacers are worth a serious punt.

Special edition: Gluten-free

Culinary Tides: ‘Not only have we already hit the ceiling, the gluten-free bubble is already bursting’

17-Feb-2014 By Elaine WATSON

While market researchers predict continued healthy growth for the US gluten-free market*, not everyone is convinced that it is built on a solid foundation.  

Special edition: Gluten-free

What’s the size of the US gluten-free prize? $490m, $5bn, or $10bn?

17-Feb-2014 By Elaine WATSON

How big is the US gluten-free retail market? And how should we define it? Depends who you ask.  

Big interview: David Janow, co-founder and CEO, Axiom Foods

In conversation with plant-protein pioneer Axiom Foods: Rice, peas, and injecting ‘sanity’ into the heavy metals debate

13-Feb-2014 By Elaine WATSON

Protein is undergoing a renaissance in food marketing, with high-protein claims appearing on everything from snack foods and sports beverages to soups and frozen yogurt. And plant proteins - particularly pea and rice - are gaining momentum.

Process tweak yields a superior cricket protein, developer says

12-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

Biochemist Aaron Dossey has built a company around a new way to create a protein powder ingredient from crickets. The process yields a superior ingredient with less inputs in the form of heat and time, he said.

Corn-based protein targets veggie health boom, says Penford R&D head

12-Feb-2014 By Kacey Culliney

Penford Ingredients has developed a corn-based protein to tap into a surge in health and wellness, vegetarianism and gluten-free, its R&D head says.

Are 3D printed insect snacks the taste of the future?

11-Feb-2014 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Hurdles in food safety, taste and consumer acceptance await on the London South Bank University’s quest to join two big food innovations: 3D printing and insect-based ingredients.

Plant protein IP: Patent protection for Burcon's 'invisible' protein CLARISOY

07-Feb-2014 By Elaine WATSON

Canadian plant protein pioneer Burcon has received a notice of allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office that a composition of matter patent application over its CLARISOY soy-based protein - which is licensed to ADM - will proceed to grant as...

Alternative snack protein: “Hybrid” meat wins over insects, lentils and seaweed

04-Feb-2014 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Locusts, lentils, seaweed or “hybrid” meat? Researchers have found that consumers prefer the thought of non-specified meat substitute snacks over those containing insects or seaweed. 

Special Edition: Plant-based diets

Beyond meat substitutes: What’s hot in vegetarian food?

30-Jan-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Vegetarians aren’t necessarily looking for alternative proteins or meat analogues, and makers of meat-free meals are embracing a range of trendy flavours and ingredients, says Classic Cuisine’s new product development manager Paul Hunt.

Special edition: Plant-based diets

Step aside soy! We’re having neatballs for dinner…

28-Jan-2014 By Elaine WATSON

“This isn't meat,” said Phil Lapp’s nine-year-old daughter Morgan after wolfing down some home-made meat-free tacos one evening in 2011. “This is neat”.

Special edition: Plant-based diets

Quorn USA boss: We’re in the healthy proteins market, not the ‘lesser versions of meat’ market

27-Jan-2014 By Elaine WATSON

Quorn is a household name in the UK and Australia, where it is the biggest player in the meat-free segment. 

Euromonitor: All eyes now on Kellogg as Gen Mills and Post Foods throw down Non-GMO gauntlet

22-Jan-2014 By Elaine WATSON

Many big brands are “playing a waiting game” right now to see whether moves by General Mills and Post Foods to axe GMOs from iconic brands (Cheerios and Grape Nuts) will have a domino effect, say analysts at Euromonitor International.

Special edition: Plant-based diets

Feeding the planet in 2050: with or without animal products?

22-Jan-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

In order to feed a growing global population that’s on track to reach 9 billion people by 2050, some scientists argue that people will have to adopt a predominantly plant-based diet to sustain both the environment and humans’ well-being. As part of FoodNavigator-USA's...

Special edition: Plant-based diets

AIDP: Sprouted rice protein is giving whey a run for its money in ‘booming’ protein market

20-Jan-2014 By Elaine WATSON

If its ‘sprouted’ form, non-GMO, non-allergenic and vegan credentials give consumers a warm and fuzzy feeling; its low price, amino acid profile and smooth texture are also winning over formulators, claims one firm promoting the latest plant protein on...

Post unveils non-GMO verified Grape Nuts as Gen Mills says goodbye to GMOs in Original Cheerios

17-Jan-2014 By Elaine WATSON

Cereals giant Post Foods has unveiled non-GMO verified Original Grape Nuts, just days after General Mills announced it had reformulated Original Cheerios to remove GMOs.

RiceBran Tech inks deal to take its value-added rice ingredients to Canada

17-Jan-2014 By Elaine WATSON

Stabilized rice bran ingredients specialist RiceBran Technologies has struck a multi-year distribution and supply agreement with Hela Spice Canada Inc. to sell its products in Canada.

Target the curious: Bringing insect consumption to the mainstream

15-Jan-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Some people are repulsed by the idea of eating insects – but those aren’t the people to target when trying to introduce insect consumption to the mainstream, says edible insect expert Professor Arnold van Huis.

Special Edition: Plant-based diets

Honey, let’s have vegan tonight

15-Jan-2014 By Maggie Hennessy

Demand for meat alternative products is growing where it’s most expected on retail store shelves—in natural food markets. In traditional markets, awareness is growing as more consumers (including the carnivorous) are starting to think of “meatless” as...

Post keeps foot on acquisition pedal with purchases of Golden Boy and Dymatize

11-Dec-2013 By Hank Schultz

Post Holdings continues its aggressive push into the private label and active nutrition categories with the acquisition of Gold Boy Foods Ltd. and Dymatize Enterprises.

Live from #FIE2013 in Frankfurt, Germany

Irish firm offers (cheaper) heat resistant probiotics for infant formula

20-Nov-2013 By Shane STARLING

Irish biotech start-up AnaBio Technologies is in advanced negotiations with major infant formula makers interested in its encapsulation technologies that can blend probiotics and minerals into heat treated products at cost-effective prices.

Top 10 restaurant trends for 2014: From veg proteins and Korean kimchi to the comeback of carbs…

14-Nov-2013 By Elaine WATSON

What will we be eating in restaurants next year, and how will that impact what we buy at the supermarket?

Canola protein pioneer BioExx aims to sell to highest bidder by end of 2013

12-Nov-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Canola protein specialist BioExx says it hopes to close a deal to sell the business by the end of this year.

Monster is driving growth in the energy drinks category, says CEO, with new launches exceeding expectations

12-Nov-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Monster continues to outperform rivals in the energy drink sector; while recent launches Muscle Monster energy shakes, zero calorie Monster Ultra Blue, and the latest variant of 10-calorie line Monster Rehab (tea + pink lemonade + energy), have “exceeded...

WhiteWave Foods posts 60% sales growth in Q3 for almond milks as more shoppers seek dairy alternatives

11-Nov-2013 By Elaine WATSON

North American sales of WhiteWave Foods’ almond-based beverages under the Silk Pure Almond brand surged 60% in the third quarter as more shoppers sought alternatives to dairy.

Future Food Salons turn Westerners on to ‘ancient’ notion of insects as food

31-Oct-2013 By Maggie Hennessy

Never mind that insects have protein levels comparable chicken or beef, are low in cholesterol, high in omega-3s and essential minerals like iron; or that they require a fraction of the land, water and emissions to produce compared to traditional livestock:...

Protein source crucial to quality of gluten-free sweet baked goods: Study

29-Oct-2013 By Kacey Culliney

The proteins in a formulation can drastically impact the quality and texture of gluten-free baked goods and therefore must be selected wisely, suggest researchers.

Glanbia launches next generation flax protein powder for bars, cereals & beverages

23-Oct-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Glanbia Nutritionals has launched a new flax protein powder for protein fortification for use in a range of applications including bars, clusters, cereals and beverages.

Getting insects past the ick factor, into mass food production

18-Oct-2013 By Maggie Hennessy

Insects form part of the traditional diets of at least 2 billion people worldwide, and more than 1,900 species have reportedly been used as food, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization report “Edible Insects: Future Prospects for Food and...

Nasoya: Wouldn’t it be great if we could do for tofu what Chobani did for Greek yogurt?

11-Oct-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Could 2013 be the year that tofu (soy bean curd) finally starts to move from the niche to the mainstream? 

Canola protein pioneer BioExx files for bankruptcy protection

10-Oct-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Canadian canola protein specialist BioExx has filed for bankruptcy protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) for an initial period expiring on October 31.

FoodNavigator-USA's 10 hot topics in food and beverage development: Are you up to speed?

07-Oct-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Is there a natural ceiling to the gluten-free market? Is the party over for energy drinks? Are '100%-natural' claims worth the hassle? Find out in FoodNavigator-USA's round up of 10 of the hottest topics in US food and beverage development.Click...

IFIC 2013 functional foods consumer survey shows gulf between perception and reality on nutrient intakes

03-Oct-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Most Americans think they are eating enough fiber, potassium and vitamin D, according to the 2013 Functional Food Consumer Survey from the International Food Information Council (IFIC). However, the data suggests otherwise...

RiceBran Technologies buys natural products formulator/co-packer to tap potential of its fibers, proteins

27-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

There is huge, untapped, potential to incorporate fibers and proteins from rice bran into bars, powdered drink mixes, and other healthy products, says a natural products formulation expert that has just agreed to sell his business to rice bran ingredients...

NSF International reports surge in interest in gluten free certification scheme as FDA rubber stamps 20ppm rule

25-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

From August 5, 2014, manufacturers using the term ‘gluten-free’ on food labels must adhere to new FDA rules that set a gluten limit of 20 parts per million (ppm). But can consumers take their word for it, or will they still look for some kind of third...

ADM to set up new global HQ; Decatur to become North American HQ

23-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is scouting around for a location suitable for a new global headquarters and customer center.

Want a winning energy bar? Go heavy, go rough, and take a pass on the fruit pieces

23-Sep-2013 By Hank Schultz

Connecting subtle cues consumers use to judge the quality and taste of a food with the context in which they experience those cues can help companies more closely align their products with consumer expectations, new research shows.

GMA launches GMO Facts website: ‘Ingredients grown using GM technology require fewer pesticides, less water and keep production costs down’

19-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has created a new website designed to address questions about GMOs.

Special edition: Amino acids and protein

Axiom: Rice protein market growth ‘happening now’

18-Sep-2013 By Maggie Hennessy

Mounting interest in the benefits of rice protein from the technical and sports nutrition communities alike has turned to increased sales of Axiom Foods’ brown rice protein powder. 

ConAgra sells meat alternatives brand Lightlife to Brynwood Partners

17-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

ConAgra Foods has sold Lightlife - a manufacturer of frozen and refrigerated meat alternatives it acquired in summer 2000 - to private equity firm Brynwood Partners for an undisclosed sum. 

Packaged Facts: Non-GMO foods will account for 30% of US food and beverage retail sales by 2017

17-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

US retail sales of non-GMO foods and beverages are projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9% in the next five years, and could represent 30% of the market with a value of $264bn in 2017, predicts Packaged Facts.

Big interview: Sarah Wallace, co-founder, the good bean

Chickpeas are the new chia, says the boss of The Good Bean. Welcome to the next generation of high-protein snacking

16-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

After spending years marketing products from Luna Bars and PopChips to thinkThin bars, The Good Bean co-founder Sarah Wallace knew a thing or two about building healthy snacking brands before she decided to put her money where her mouth is and go it alone...

Big interview: Josh Tetrick, founder and CEO, Hampton Creek Foods

Plant egg entrepreneur: ‘We’re not in business just to sell products to vegans in Northern California’

13-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Egg replacers have been around for years, acknowledges the entrepreneur who has persuaded everyone from Bill Gates to the co-founder of PayPal to part with some serious cash to fund his plant-based egg alternatives. “But wait till you try ours.”

Special Edition: Amino Acids and Protein

Animal feed sector likely first target for commodity algal proteins, expert says

09-Sep-2013 By Hank Schultz

Algae is theoretically the most efficient way to produce protein, especially in terms of unit land area devoted to production. But the day when algal proteins make up a significant proportion of human nutrition requirements is still some years in the...

Special edition: Amino acids and protein

Will canola protein ever take off? BioExx still hopes to scale up in Europe, but hangs ‘for sale’ sign over front door

05-Sep-2013 By Elaine WATSON

Plant proteins are all the rage - at least that’s what the market researchers are all saying - from pea and soy to algae and rice. But what about protein from canola, the second largest oilseed crop in the world?

Eco-eating goes mainstream, says new report. From tofu and sustainable seafood to insect protein

23-Aug-2013 By Elaine WATSON

‘Eco-eating’, which encompasses everything from edible packaging trends to sustainable seafood, is moving from natural stores and fancy restaurants to the mainstream of food culture, according to a new report.

‘Weak gluten is a problem globally’, says DeutscheBack

23-Aug-2013 By Kacey Culliney

Bakers across the globe face the challenge of working with weak wheat glutens, but this can be addressed, says DeutscheBack.

Hybrid algae producer Heliae quietly approaches full scale production

22-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

Early stage algae company Heliae has taken a quiet approach to business development.  While the Arizona-based company is close to coming to market with a range of nutraceutical ingredients, not much has been said about them in the marketplace or the press,...

Startup debuts shelf stable meat replacement free of soy and gluten

21-Aug-2013 By Hank Schultz

A new entrant is set to stir up the long stagnant shelf stable meat replacement market. Neat Foods, a Lancaster, PA-based startup, will debut its line of vegan, gluten- and soy-free, non GMO meat replacements at the upcoming Expo East trade show in New...