Sweeteners (intense, bulk, polyols)

Amai Proteins finalizing initial closing of $100m round as it gears up for launch of ‘designer’ sweet protein in 2023

02-Dec-2022 By Elaine Watson

Israeli food tech startup Amai Proteins is finalizing the initial closing of a $100m funding round as it gears up to launch its first product next year: a designer sweet protein up to 3,000 times sweeter than sugar with a clean taste and excellent heat...

Plant-based ‘honey without bees’ prepares to create a buzz in Europe

02-Dec-2022 By Flora Southey

US-based MeliBio is partnering with organic food producer Narayan Foods to bring its plant-based bee-free honey product to Europe under the Better Foodie brand.

Reinventing Oreos… with no added sugar: Sundays enters low-carb sandwich cookie space

29-Nov-2022 By Elaine Watson

British Columbia-based startup Sundays is on a mission to reinvent iconic chocolate sandwich cookie brand Oreos with a zero sugar positioning.

WATCH: Next-gen biomanufacturing… from lower-cost feedstocks for precision fermentation to ‘cell-free’ approaches

28-Nov-2022 By Elaine Watson

Biomanufacturing everything from ‘animal-free’ dairy and egg proteins and high-intensity natural sweeteners to heat-and pH-stable red pigments is a hot topic in food tech. But which microbes will be the production workhorses in future, will new cell-free...

From ube to gulab jamun... Gen Z and Millennials embrace 'diverse, unusual flavors' in desserts and confections

22-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Moving on from the comfort and nostalgic flavors that grounded consumers during the pandemic, consumer interest in more diverse and unexpected flavors within dessert categories is on the rise, according to consumer research from T. Hasegawa.

‘We want to move snacks from candy to food…’ Torr FoodTech raises $12m to form snack bars using compression and ultrasonic waves instead of sugary binders

21-Nov-2022 By Elaine Watson

Torr FoodTech - an Israeli startup deploying an intriguing new approach to creating snack bars by deploying pressure and ultrasonic energy instead of sugary binders to ‘weld’ natural ingredients together - has raised $12m in a series A round as it expands...

Futureproofing The Food System

Is the Western diet slowly killing us? Join us in conversation with Dr. Charles Platkin

21-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite “overwhelming evidence” demonstrating dietary health impacts, and growing consumer interest in nutrition as a wellness tool, widespread adoption of food as medicine in the West faces significant structural challenges that will require stakeholders...

Tate & Lyle adds ERYTESSE erythritol to sweeteners portfolio

18-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Tate & Lyle has expanded its sweeteners toolbox with ERYTESSE erythritol, which provides 70% of the sweetness of sucrose, a similar temporal profile, and zero calories.

Many US adults misjudge the quality of their diets, study finds

17-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

While most adults are aware of the importance of fruits and vegetables in their diets, many individuals overestimate the quality of their daily diets, new research from the American Heart Association has found.

Poppilu acquired by Juicy Juice and SUNNYD parent company to fuel growth of better-for-you kids lemonade category

15-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Chicago-based kids lemonade brand Poppilu has been acquired by American Beverage Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harvest Hill Beverage Company (makers of Juicy Juice and SUNNYD), to build upon the brand's success of establishing the kids...

Zevia gains household penetration while riding out temporary inventory management issues

14-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Zevia continues to gain new shoppers, increasing the brand's household penetration (+1.3 million households in Q3 2022 vs. Q3 2021) while the company sorts through temporary inventory management issues that have dented its full 2022 year outlook.

Monster takes share in energy drink segment while Bang Energy sees double-digit sales declines

07-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

As Bang Energy battles its way through costly bankruptcy proceedings, Monster Energy saw its share and sales increase as consumers embrace its portfolio of energy drink brands.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Fruit checks boxes for sweet and healthy, so why is consumption so stubbornly low?

07-Nov-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite efforts to brand fruit ‘as nature’s candy,’ celebrity endorsements by the likes of Jessica Alba designed to make vegetables ‘sexy,’ and many retailers selling fresh produce at a loss to improve access and drive foot traffic – the vast majority...

Better Juice opens full-scale manufacturing plant to tackle sugar content in fruit juice

02-Nov-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Food tech startup Better Juice has opened its first full-scale manufacturing plant to enable commercial production of its patented sugar reduction technology, which can reduce sugar content in juice products by 30-80%.

Measuring and communicating sustainability: ‘The biggest challenge right now is the pace of change,’ says Ingredion VP

27-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

Sustainability has rapidly evolved from a check box exercise for many food companies to something that impacts decision making throughout the supply chain. But how are firms measuring sustainability, how reliable is industry data in this respect, and...

If biomanufacturing is the next industrial revolution, what does that mean for food ingredients?

27-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

Will a large percentage of flavors, colors and sweeteners be made in bioreactors by 2050 or are the costs and challenges associated with precision fermentation technology such that it only makes sense to produce a handful of high-value ingredients in...

Rare sugars expert announces sweetener breakthrough

26-Oct-2022 By Oliver Morrison

European industrial biotechnology specialist BRAIN Biotech has teamed up with Bonumose to bring the rare sugars expert’s sweetener tagatose to market globally.

Coca-Cola prioritizes offering more value to consumers: ‘We're not chasing the competitors. We're chasing the consumers and the retailers,’ says CEO

26-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Still battling a challenging global economic environment, Coca-Cola said it is laser-focused on delivering increased value to its consumers by introducing products at more affordable price points, said chairman and CEO James Quincey on the company's...

Monk fruit finds premium, blend-friendly sweet spot in sugar reduction space

24-Oct-2022 By Asia Sherman

Monk fruit, a high-intensity sweetener, is gaining popularity across premium applications as a clean-label alternative that blends well with others. While it costs more than stevia, tech innovations may bring prices down.

Reinventing chocolate milk: Triple digit growth for Slate Milk, an 'all natural strength' brand

24-Oct-2022 By Asia Sherman

Three years after its “no deal” television appearance on Shark Tank, Slate Milk has raised over $5m in seed money and continues to expand its shelf-stable ultra-filtered, high-protein, lactose-free chocolate milk footprint.

What's next for Bang Energy? 'At least in the short term, Bang Energy will not be going out of business'

14-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

After filing for protection under the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Code earlier this week, Vital Pharmaceuticals, Inc (VPX Sports), the parent company of Bang Energy, has a challenging road ahead. But its most recent financial misfortune isn't the final...

How Givaudan is re-thinking sugar reduction: ‘Holistic profiling is not about replacing the sugar experience’

11-Oct-2022 By Katy Askew

Givaudan has developed a ‘radical approach’ that it says can assist efforts to reduce the amount of sugar in products: ‘holistic profiling’. FoodNavigator hears more about how this new technique represents a departure from conventional approaches to cutting...

Sweeteners from citrus? Researchers find sweetness-enhancing compounds from citrus cultivars

10-Oct-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have found eight new sweetness-enhancing compounds in 11 citrus cultivars that could offer improved palatability and lower sugar content in food and beverage...

SlimFast unveils new packaging, ads, intermittent fasting line, to ‘position the brand for a return to growth in 2023’

05-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

As the brand name suggests, none too subtly, SlimFast is a brand you tend to think of when you want to lose weight, fast. But in a food culture where ‘wellness’ is in, ‘dieting’ is out, and even the word ‘slimming’ can make you sound like an ‘80s throwback,...

Introducing the FoodNavigator-USA digital summit: Futureproofing the Food System Nov 15-17

01-Oct-2022 By Elaine Watson

The western diet – and the food system that underpins it – is becoming increasingly unsustainable, for the health of humans and the planet. So how do we futureproof the food system to deliver healthier, more sustainable products that nourish our bodies...

What is ‘healthy’? FDA proposes new definition as added sugar, not fat, becomes nutritional bogeyman

28-Sep-2022 By Elaine Watson

The FDA has issued a proposed rule updating the criteria for the ‘healthy’ nutrient content claim on food labels that for the first time restricts the amount of added sugar firms can include in products bearing the claim.

Dewey's Bakery takes its thin crispy cookies nationwide tapping into permissible indulgence trend

23-Sep-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

After years of a slow build, Dewey's Bakery is entering national retail accounts where it can reach consumers in search of permissibly indulgent snacks with its line of thin crispy cookies that deliver on taste without breaking the caloric bank.

SPECIAL REPORT: Bioengineered food labeling: ‘They kind of shot in the middle and missed every constituency’

23-Sep-2022 By Elaine Watson

Advocates arguing for greater transparency about the use of GMOs in food scored a minor victory this month after a district court told USDA to re-work the digital disclosure portions of the bioengineered food labeling law, which came into effect in January....

‘A critical milestone’ for stevia: HOWTIAN achieves up to 12% average Reb A yield this season

21-Sep-2022 By Elaine Watson

HOWTIAN has grown stevia plants with up to a 12% average Reb A yield this season, the “highest ever in the industry,” says the firm, which described the news as a “milestone not just for the company, but for the food and beverage industry at large, as...

Not all indulgent snacks contribute equally to obesity and not all strategies to reduce their consumption are effective

20-Sep-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Curbing consumption of sugary beverages and sweet baked goods could take center-stage in future obesity-fighting campaigns while chocolate and confections move to the wings after new research from Georgetown University reveals the former are more likely...

Sugar-sweetened beverages and cancer: There's a higher risk of colorectal and kidney cancers, even after adjusting for BMI, says researchers

16-Sep-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is associated with higher mortality from certain cancers, partially mediated through obesity, according to a study by researchers at the American Cancer Society.

Do artificial sweeteners increase risk of cardiovascular diseases?

15-Sep-2022 By Flora Southey

A ‘potential direct’ link between artificial sweetener intake and increased cardiovascular disease risk has been suggested by researchers, but industry is fighting back: “There is no causal evidence that low/no calorie sweeteners could increase the risk...

Elo to commercialize new high-intensity plant-based sweetener in 2025 with sweeter, cleaner taste than monk fruit extracts

09-Sep-2022 By Elaine Watson

North Carolina based Elo Life Systems aims to commercialize a new natural high-intensity sweetener “inspired by monk fruit” in 2025 that boasts a “cleaner” taste profile, more affordable price tag, and a higher sweetness intensity than monk fruit extracts...

Gatorade debuts Fast Twitch, the 'go-to energy drink option designed for athletes'

02-Sep-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Gatorade is preparing for a massive 2023 rollout of energy drink brand Fast Twitch, designed for athletic performance with 200mg of caffeine, B vitamins, and electrolytes.

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...

Coca-Cola names new president of North America operations

23-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Coca-Cola has named Jennifer Mann as the new president of the company's North America operating unit, replacing Alfredo Rivera, who will be stepping down on Dec. 31.

Non-nutritive sweeteners back in the spotlight as new study challenges notion they are inert and says they can impact glycemic tolerance

19-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

A new study – published a month after the World Health Organization (WHO) sounded a cautionary note about the long-term effects of zero-calorie sweeteners such as sucralose and saccharin – suggests some diet sweeteners are not inert and can alter the...

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...

News in brief

US honey consumption hits record highs as domestic production steadily drops, USDA report

17-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

US honey consumption reached record highs last year while domestic production dropped to its lowest since 1991, primarily due to lower yield per colony, according to USDA’s latest sugars and sweeteners outlook report, which notes that imports have surged...

Phyll enters evolving smoothie category to help fill void as big-name brands exit, shift

16-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

At a time when pushback against sugar is spurring large CPG players to exit the ready-to-drink smoothie and juice market by off-loading well-known brands, two best friends see an opening for a new line of produce-packed beverages positioned as having...

Zevia grows and diversifies consumer base: 'We're seeing very limited price sensitivity,' says CEO

12-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

In the face of an unrelenting inflationary environment, zero sugar soda brand Zevia is reporting continued growth and consumer adoption of its products, especially in the club channel.

Which Reb M production method is best for the environment? Ingredion LCA probes stevia sustainability metrics

10-Aug-2022 By Elaine Watson

What’s more sustainable? Using acres of land, water and energy to grow plants that produce minuscule quantities of natural sweeteners; or making them via a fermentation process using a microbe that’s been engineered to produce exactly the same molecules?

Study: Convincing consumers to ditch sports drinks for water ‘most difficult’ despite health risks

10-Aug-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

While sports drinks are often loaded with sugar and can pack a hefty caloric punch, convincing people to replace them with water or unsweetened options may be more difficult than persuading them to ditch other sugar-sweetened beverages, including soda,...

Seasonal candy

Hershey calms Halloween nerves after shortage of treats scare

08-Aug-2022 By Anthony Myers

Hershey has moved quickly to reassure consumers that there will be plenty of candy for this year’s Halloween celebrations.

Monster Energy CEO addresses stiff competition in the energy drink set, teases alcohol launch

05-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Monster Energy is fighting to grow its shelf space in the increasingly competitive energy drink category while also dealing with unrelenting inflationary cost pressures, said CEO Rodney Sacks on the company's Q2 2022 earnings call.

WATCH ON DEMAND: Low-and-No-Sugar-Beverages webinar, 'Sugar reduction is still overwhelmingly important to American consumers'

03-Aug-2022 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Sugar reduction is still top of mind for most US consumers, but their motivations for purchasing low- and no-sugar beverages have shifted from weight management and dieting pursuits to achieving a sense of general wellbeing, claims Howard Telford, head...

Capri Sun turns to monk fruit to cut sugar by 40%

01-Aug-2022 By Rachel Arthur

Capri Sun’s original juice drink pouches will now have an average of 40% less sugar, as the brand reformulates to use monk fruit concentrate in its drinks.

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.”

Dr Robert Lustig weighs in on WHO sweeteners guideline: ‘Diet sweeteners increase insulin…’ Not true, say International Sweeteners Association, Calorie Control Council

27-Jul-2022 By Elaine Watson

According to a new draft guideline from the World Health Organization (WHO), non-nutritive sweetener consumption is associated with metabolic syndrome, something proponents of diet sweeteners say shows correlation, not causation, and merely reflects the...

IFT First

Layn blazes digital trail with easily searchable online ingredient library for ‘synergistic’ exploration, product development

26-Jul-2022 By Elizabeth Crawford

Well-known for sugar alternatives, including stevia and monk fruit, Layn Natural Ingredients has steadily expanded its portfolio with a full line of functional botanicals that can now easily be explored through a just-launched online ingredient library...