The evidence to support the potential of whole grains and cereal fibers to reduce the risk of obesity, type-2 diabetes and heart disease is ‘moderate’, says a new position paper from the American Society of Nutrition (ASN).
Brunswick Labs – the pioneer developer and service provider for ORAC antioxidant values – has launched a new database to ‘open up new dimensions of analysis and understanding’ for antioxidant substances.
Organic volumes in ConAgra Foods’ Consumer Foods segment rose 3% in the last quarter, marking an “important turning point” after more than two years of negative growth, said CEO Gary Rodkin yesterday.
Mexican American children who consumed peanuts and peanut butter are less likely to be overweight and obese, compared to non-peanut munching kids, says a new study that adds to the weight management potential of peanuts.
Sports nutrition formulations have a new option for products targeting exercise recovery as Kemin introduces a proprietary formula of polyphenols to help overcome soreness and fatigue.
Who is best qualified to provide nutritional counseling? A registered dietitian? A medical doctor? A nutritionist? A nutrition scientist? A sports scientist? You or me?
General Mills is launching a new version of Yoplait Greek yogurt after learning that “many consumers were not fully satisfied with the fruit on the bottom and aftertaste of its current Greek offering”, says the firm.
Californian algae expert Solazyme and French ingredients giant Roquette have dissolved their joint venture Solazyme Roquette Nutritionals (SRN), with Solazyme promising to accelerate commercialization of its suite of microalgal food ingredients.
USDA certified organic on a food label means something concrete. ‘Natural’ or ‘clean label’ mean something rather more fluid. But while the stream of lawsuits over ‘natural’ claims suggests more clarity is needed - particularly on GMOs - some general...
Chipotle has started adding a red ‘G’ for GMOs next to foods on its online menu that are made using ingredients that may come from genetically modified crops such as corn and soy.
60-second interview: Carol Locey and Gary Augustine, Kalsec
As part of FoodNavigator-USA’s probe into clean labels ahead of our June 26 Natural & Clean Label Trends 2013 online event, Elaine Watson caught up with Carol Locey, colors product director, and Gary Augustine, market development director, at Kalsec,...
PL Thomas claims to be taking the wholefood concept to a completely new level with the launch of whole food powders made using a novel process that can turn “pretty much anything that is a food into a powder”, from salmon to pumpkin.
If you’re looking for a natural red food color, carmine can deliver. It’s vibrant, but stable, and prices have recently returned from the stratosphere after hikes in 2010/11. The only problem is that it’s made from crushed insects, and once they find...
Gourmet nut butters, pea protein, purple corn, yogurt for men and more chewy drinks? Sterling-Rice Group identifies the top 10 natural and organic food trends that are starting to influence the mainstream grocery market.
Quinoa’s relatively high price compared to staple grains may restrict consumption to health-conscious consumers in high-income countries for now – but it could play an important role in food security in the long term, according to the FAO.
Jif peanut butter to Folgers coffee maker JM Smucker said sales of K-cups topped $290m in fiscal 2013 (ending April 30), compared with just under $180m in 2012, a 61% increase.
Back in 2008/9, Boulder Brands CEO Steve Hughes had a lot of sleepless nights. The struggling Smart Balance spreads business - which represented 90% of group revenues - was running “in fourth gear” - and the economy was in the doldrums.
If it sounds like a ‘chemical’, or isn’t in the kitchen cupboard, shoppers may regard it with suspicion. But which ingredients are 'acceptable' to today's consumers, which are to be avoided, and who decides?
Blast out of the starting blocks with your hot new product at high ACV distribution and pile in the promotional cash, and you’ve got a fighting chance of reaching that magic $100m in year one sales. You’re innovation dynamite: an IRI new product pacesetter.
America’s top food and beverage companies have exceeded their goal of reducing 1.5 trillion calories in the US marketplace, says the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF).
Consumers are becoming less interested in mid-market products, and are trading down for basic groceries and trading up for premium brands that matter most from an emotional and social perspective, says a new report from Rabobank.
Westin Foods has expanded its Health and Wellness division with the acquisition of a majority interest in Dominex and its vegan and vegetarian eggplant offerings.
From 2000 to 2007, around 34-36m Americans were classified by the government as ‘food insecure’. In 2008, that figure shot up to 49m, where it has stayed, stubbornly, ever since. And almost 17m of them are children.
KeHE Distributors is expanding its non-ambient US warehouse space to keep pace with ‘high double digit growth in frozen,’ and frozen gluten-free in particular, the company tells us.
Genetic modification of oil seed crops will form an important part of the future omega-3s supply picture, according to Adam Ismail, executive director of the Global Organization of EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED).
Avoiding saturated fat, meat and dairy, whilst increasing the intake of omega-3 may be linked to better preservation of memory functions, say researchers.
How can you get more bang for your R&D buck? How does Unilever gain deeper consumer insights online? Why don’t manufacturers share more information with key suppliers?
The price differential between Hain Celestial’s brands and mainstream grocery brands will close over time as the big guns in consumer packaged goods come under increasing pressure to source non-GMO ingredients, predict bosses at the organic and natural...
Growth rates of several individual label claims under the health & wellness umbrella have started to level off, according to new research from Symphony Consulting.
Cargill has launched a new initiative designed to help manufacturers improve the nutritional profile of foods marketed to children and meet a swathe of new guidelines from retailers, the government and other organizations setting nutrition criteria for...
Leading food manufacturers and retailers have joined forces to launch a consumer education campaign designed to change the way consumers think about frozen foods.
Being circumspect when you talk to suppliers is one thing. But being so afraid of giving away your innovation pipeline that you leave them in the dark about your goals is plain counterproductive, according to R&D bosses at Starbucks, Molson Coors...
Nestlé USA has launched a new initiative called ‘Balance Your Plate’ after data from NPD Group revealed that US consumers meet the dietary guidelines on average on just seven days out of 365 (less than 2% of the time).
Monsanto has joined forces with DSM to commercialize a genetically engineered soybean oil rich in the omega-3 fatty acid SDA (stearidonic acid) that can offer a more cost-effective means of adding omega-3s to foods without the flavor, stability and shelf-life...
Researchers and global media should better consider the validity of single scientific studies that report on supposed ‘miracle foods’ in addition to considering that people do not eat foods or nutrients in isolation, warn researchers.
Using salmon eggs as their inspiration, Brazilian food scientists have developed probiotic beads for use in an expanded range of foods, including oriental cuisine.
Probiotics and their benefits have wide recognition in Europe and Asia, and awareness is growing. This situation bodes well for growth in the US, while it will serve to buoy manufacturers and marketers of these products in difficult regulatory times...
Special Edition: New trends in heart-healthy foods
The health of the endothelium, that thin layer of cells lining the blood vessels, is the front line for cardiovascular health. And a variety of food and supplement ingredients are showing promise in supporting the function of this vital tissue.
Improving circulation is a hot new trend in heart health, while cardio-healthy foods and drinks for children represent an "explosive untapped functional foods opportunity", according to Elizabeth A. Sloan, PhD and Catherine Adams Hutt, PhD,...
Special edition: New trends in heart-healthy foods
The well-established heart health ingredients will remain kings of the castle for the foreseeable future, but there are some pretenders to the crown emerging, according to formulation experts at Fortitech.
Special edition: New trends in heart healthy foods
US sales of foods and beverages marketed on a cardiovascular health platform grew by 22% in the period 2007-2012 to top $3.1bn in 2012, according to Euromonitor International.
Dean Foods has launched a high-protein, long-life version of its popular TruMoo flavoured milk range in an attempt to meet increasing US consumer demand for protein-enriched beverages.
Special edition: New trends in heart healthy foods
All olive oils are not created equal, claims one firm hoping to shake up the ultra-traditional olive oil market with a new polyphenol-packed product. But it’s not just about the difference between extra-virgin and refined varieties.
Special edition: New trends in heart healthy foods
A growing body of science unraveling exactly why olives are so healthy - coupled with a new wave of olive-polyphenol ingredients targeting food and beverage makers - is prompting a resurgence of interest in one of the oldest ‘heart-friendly’ foods in...