TV’s ‘blood detective’ and zombie fan Dr Michael B. Wald has combined his interest in nutrition and er, zombies, to develop the Zombie Food Bar. But does it have what it takes to stand out in an increasingly crowded market? Elaine Watson caught up with...
An "unusual" class action lawsuit alleging that shoppers are being misled by 'zero fat' and 'zero calorie' claims on Parkay Spray because they are based on “artificially small serving sizes”, is unlikely to make much headway, predict...
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.
A large chunk of the growth in the beverage category in North America over the next decade will come from products in categories that do not even exist today, predicts Coca-Cola’s Venturing & Emerging Brands (VEB) team.
BIG INTERVIEW - CHEWING OVER SNACK CHALLENGES WITH THE SFA
The president of the Snack Food Association (SFA) acknowledged that there are concerns about the snack industry’s role in global obesity but said healthy product development and clear communication on nutrition is top of the agenda for manufacturers.
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
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...
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) must do more to foster coexistence of genetically modified and non-genetically modified crops, the Center for Science in the Public Interest says.
Special edition: New trends in heart healthy foods
A start-up called Pectacea is making "solid progress" on a pioneering project that could create a completely new category of heart-healthy foods based on the ability of natural pectins to inhibit a protein called galectin-3.
Special edition: New trends in heart healthy foods
While LDL cholesterol is one biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk everybody can name, the next generation of heart healthy foods will address a broader range of risk factors from galectin-3, C-Reactive protein (CRP), and oxidized LDL (OxLDL) levels...
Adding traffic light symbols as well as calories to menus is a more effective way of encouraging diners to choose lower-calorie foods than listing calories in isolation, according to a new study.
Food safety, quality and financial issues are considered the top three risks to business for most food companies, but sustainable supply is emerging as a growing area of concern, according to a new survey from DNV Business Assurance.
Coca-Cola says its much reported internal study suggesting that social media does not ‘pull its weight’ in business terms is true, but only when such digital campaigns are taken in isolation…
General Mills’ Yoplait Greek 100 yogurt is on track to deliver $100m in retail sales in its first year on the market, revealed CEO Ken Powell on the firm’s third quarter earnings call yesterday.
AquaBounty Technologies says it remains confident that there will still be a market for its genetically engineered (GE) AquAdvantage salmon if the FDA approves it, even though some leading food retailers now say they won’t stock it.
Hershey has called attacks on its text messaging tips for farmers program CocoaLink “disingenuous” after a group of NGOs questioned the effectiveness of the project.
Big Interview: Terry Howell, director of business development, Suntava
Purple is hot (well, so says Dr Oz). From purple carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and cauliflower to blackberries, grapes, blueberries and cabbage, a deep purple hue is usually a good sign that fruits and veg contain a healthy dose of beneficial phytonutrients.
Glanbia Nutritionals has launched a new ingredient to replace whole eggs in bakery applications as firms seek alternatives in the face of steep price increases in the egg market.
The Natural Products Association (NPA) has called for all foods containing GMOs to be “accurately labeled under a national uniform standard so consumers can make educated decisions about foods they purchase”.
Co-ordinating food safety between the different agencies and states is “the big challenge”, according to the chief of outbreak response and prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While there have been some standout successes - from PepsiCo’s Trop50 juice drinks to ThinkThin protein bars - growth in the overall weight management market is pretty sluggish, according to new research.
While the Cornucopia Institute is attempting to re-ignite the debate about the safety of carrageenan with the publication of a new report urging shoppers to avoid it, no new scientific evidence has been presented to support its arguments, say firms supplying...
Adding pea protein to gluten-free bread may enrich the nutritional content of the product, with a sensory panel rating it ‘most acceptable’, says a new study.
Foods produced with olive oil or olive oil aromas in place of other oils or fats could help consumers feel fuller for longer, according to new research.
Hain Celestial has unveiled a raft of new products utilizing hot ingredients from chia and quinoa to coconut pulp and almonds, including organic gluten-free chia seed corn tortilla chips under the Garden of Eatin' brand, and coconut almond butter...
The industry has pledged $10m in new funds since 2010 to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, but a newly released report says the job is far from over.
Network selling giant Amway has launched an integrated weight management program based on genetic testing. The program uses a simple test kit to help consumers determine which of several weight loss regimens will work best for them.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has welcomed the decision of the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund to pull investment from certain palm oil companies – but has disagreed with its divestment from firms that are on the path to RSPO certification.
Establishing some kind of intake recommendations for polyphenols and carotenoids will spur innovation and allow for rational synergies of phytochemicals with specific health outcomes, says Prof Jeffrey Blumberg from Tufts University.
The obesity dilemma is complex and offers multiple avenues of attack. Portion control experts boil it down to this: It’s a question of how much, not what we eat. But many experts say how food is formulated can play a role in limiting intake.
Seeing light at the end of the economic tunnel puts a spring in consumers’ steps and a little sizzle on their palates, too. Culinary trends expert Suzy Badaracco said we’re not in extreme consumption mode yet, but consumers are starting move beyond the...
Natural Taste Consulting (NTC) has developed a new natural fat enhancer that works by stimulating fat taste receptors, replicating the taste and aroma of fat.
The maker of a newly launched appetite suppressant gum claims to be the first to have self-affirmed GRAS status for hoodia in the US and hopes to overcome the negative image of the plant as a weight management ingredient.
A new range of yeast extracts can deliver up to a 50% sodium reduction without compromising the taste or functional integrity of the finished product, according to Sensient Bio-Ingredients.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today he will appeal a judge's ruling that struck down his attempt to limit the size of soft drinks sold in the city. Proponents of the ban were disappointed that the judge's decision focused on legal...
Soaring intakes of sugar-sweetened drinks are associated with increased calorie consumption of other foods such as sweets and pizza in children, warn researchers.
Why do pineapple and blue cheese taste so great together? Lots of reasons, but a key one is that they both contain the flavor component methyl hexanoate, say the founders of Belgian firm Foodpairing.com, which has built a business around identifying novel...
From non-entity to 15 retailers in 2.5 years is a rapid rise, and doing so by blending health, convenience and affordability to produce prepared foods that also taste ‘amazing’ is only the beginning, says the Founder and CEO of Lyfe Kitchen Grocery.
Convenience stores and value supermarkets are the fastest growing channels for confectionery in the US as cash strapped consumers down-trade and stores expand, according to the National Confectioners Association (NCA) and market analysts Nielsen.
Dispatches from the RCA annual conference & culinology expo
As moves to secure GMO labeling continue to gain momentum at a state level, Whole Foods Market has “put a stake in the ground” and made a commitment to label all products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in its US and Canadian stores by...
Almost a third (30%) of American adults say they are trying to reduce or exclude gluten from their diets, according to The NPD Group, which conducted a consumer survey in January 2013.
Oxfam has called on the three biggest chocolate manufacturers to conduct independent audits on conditions for women on cocoa farms supplying their factories after finding evidence of unequal pay, discrimination and hunger.
The shining star of Greek yogurt, Chobani, has figured out the ‘four screen world’ of teenagers and Millenials, giving food and beverage marketers a case study on how to connect with these key demographics, says a marketing expert.
