An editorial in an academic journal has reignited the debate over the extent to which a poor diet – and the marketing tactics employed by the food industry – is responsible for America’s obesity epidemic.
From dairy-free cheesecakes from Daiya Foods to almond milk horchatas from Califia Farms, more cold-pressed innovation from Evolution Fresh and fresh breath chews from Hershey, this month’s gallery is packed with innovative new food and beverage products.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group has invested $15m in a minority stake in Bai Brands, which has generated explosive growth in multiple retail channels with its 'antioxidant infusion' low-calorie Bai5 beverages.
From the purveyors of banana flour to chickpea pasta, barrel-aged tea, chilled nutrition bars, gourmet oatmeal and upmarket cottage cheese, here's FoodNavigator-USA's latest pick of entrepreneurs to watch in the US food and beverage market.
From obesity to malnutrition and water scarcity, the world is facing an ever-growing number of food-related problems. But how responsible is the food industry for fighting back against these issues?
Trans-fat bans, and limiting the availability of sugary and fatty foods are the best ways to battle obesity, while nutrition information fails to deliver benefits, says a new review of anti-obesity policies.
Food giant General Mills is tearing a page from the playbook of the start-ups and small brands with which it competes to change how it develops and markets new products.
As consumers’ understanding of food as a health management tool expands, retailers nationwide are changing how they stock and promote products to better drive sales and be considered a wellness destination, a recent survey reveals.
From all-day grazing to the 20% YoY growth in meat-based snacks, the merits of cricket flour, when and how to raise capital, nutrient density and guerrilla marketing, the FoodNavigator-USA Snacking Trends Forum covered a lot of ground. Here are some of...
BioNeutra’s VitaFiber, a soluble dietary fiber, prebiotic and low-calorie sweetener all rolled into one, is a triple-threat that can help manufacturers meet growing consumer demand for less sugar, more fiber and foods and beverages that promote gut health.
From watermelon juice with a dash of lemon; to artichoke water with ginger; maple water; coconut smoothies; caffeine water; protein-packed dairy and non-dairy beverages; and a new wave of turmeric-laced drinks, there was a wealth of beverage innovation...
While cricket flour is still something of a novelty, it’s creeping (and crawling) into more snacks as awareness – and the infrastructure to support its commercial-scale production – ramps up. Meanwhile, chia, fruit, peas, beans, ancient grains and protein...
The food industry has criticised the WHO’s recommendation to reduce the intake of added sugar for being backed by ‘moderate’ and ‘very low quality’ evidence.
'I wouldn’t say it’s out of the question that we could be a public company'
Multinationals are snapping up smaller, more entrepreneurial brands in the natural or organic food and beverage space faster than you can say ‘because that’s where the growth is’. So will Zevia – one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic brands in the...
Research showing that 99% of sales growth from packaged food from 2008 to 2012 came from lower calorie foods is inspiring major manufacturers to more aggressively promote and launch healthier options, according to company executives and a health policy...
Insights from the 13th Global Food Technology & Innovation Summit
Food and beverage manufacturers must focus research and development activities on creating more nutritious and sustainable food solutions, says Nestlé’s head of global R&D.
Academics have welcomed the WHO’s recommendation to slash added sugar intake to 5-10% of calories – but the food industry has said it is misleading and based on weak evidence.
The CEO of the startup The Healthy Pantry hopes Cooksimple, a healthier, modernized take on iconic meal kits will revitalize the center of the grocery store, which he compared to the “ghetto.”
Vegan, paleo, grass-fed, pasture-raised, ancient grains, and allergen friendly claims are gaining
According to Chicago-based market research firm SPINS, US retail (dollar) sales of foods & beverages rose 1.7% in 2014, while unit sales declined by 0.4%. By contrast, sales of natural and organic brands grew nearly 12%. But where are the opportunities...
Childhood obesity rates have “finally” stopped rising and now are falling among America’s youngest children, thanks in part to the food industry’s efforts to cut calories and offer healthier options, but more needs to be done, said First Lady Michelle...
From Post Foods' new breakfast biscuits to Häagen-Dazs's new Artisan Collection, this month’s gallery is packed with innovative new food and beverage products, many of which are making their debut at the Natural Products Expo West trade show...
Tate & Lyle is launching a new ultra-low-calorie sugar that is found naturally in jackfruit and raisins, but is being made in commercial quantities via the enzymatic conversion of corn using a proprietary process.
Mid-calorie soft drinks have the potential to gain ground on traditional full calorie drinks – and could eventually become the new mainstream choice, according to Zenith International.
PepsiCo’s 2015 launches will see an increased focus on products with health benefits, while it will push smaller packages to make the most of growth in its on-the-go business.
Added sugar in foods and drinks offers no nutritional benefits and contributes to the obesity epidemic by increasing consumption of empty calories, but it also can help children eat a balanced, nutrient-dense diet, according to the American Academy of...
DGAC’s criticism of high intensity sweeteners is “contradictory", says ABA
If the meat lobby isn’t happy with the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s (DGAC’s) recommendations on what constitutes a healthy diet, neither it seems, is the American Beverage Association (ABA), which also issued a statement claiming the expert...
The founder of Amara Beverage Company is on a bold mission to fight the obesity epidemic by “modernizing” the sports drink category, which he says is filled with beverages laden with sugar, empty calories and artificial ingredients.
DGAC: Public and private sectors must work together to achieve a population-wide culture of health
The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) – an panel of experts tasked with developing recommendations about what Americans should eat – has submitted its report to the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA),...
The J.M. Smucker Co. will roll out a wide variety of new products across categories and platforms under its Jif and Smucker’s in an effort to boost the iconic brands’ worth to $1 billion each, a company executive said.
General Mills is cutting sugar in its Yoplait Original yogurts by 25% and upping the protein, bosses told delegates at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference in Boca Raton, Florida, yesterday.
Before manufacturers reformulate food and beverages in response to consumers’ increasing claims about avoiding sweeteners, they should double check shoppers’ purchasing habits, which betray a different truth, according to new Nielsen and Mintel Consulting...
Meet the CEOs of KRAVE, Health Warrior, Fruigees, HUMAN and Barnana
With the percentage of energy derived from snacks in the American diet doubling since the late 1970s, the pressure is on to make those snacking calories count. But what is a healthy snack, and are the boundaries between snacks and meals blurring as consumers...
The founder of Tessemae’s All Natural, the maker of the No. 1 refrigerated salad dressing at Whole Foods and Safeway, originally took the road most traveled, but when that did not work out, he back-tracked and took the one least traveled, and that, he...
PepsiCo has met or exceeded its 2014 financial targets, and CEO Indra Nooyi says the company’s innovation pipeline is possibly its strongest ever, forecasting resilience to a volatile global macro environment.
Kara Goldin: Consumers have evolved faster than the beverage category has
While gaining significant distribution in the beverages market can be tough if you don’t have the might of a Coke or Pepsi behind you, Hint Inc CEO Kara Goldin is “not losing sleep at night wondering when they will call me”, she tells FoodNavigator-USA....
Fairlife CEO Steve Jones believes his company’s new premium milk distributed through the Coca-Cola system can contribute to the ‘rebirth of milk’ in America as consumption levels slide.
From the steady decline of carbonates to the dramatic rise of energy, the prospects for Keurig Cold and how 7-Eleven evaluates new products, our beverage trend-watching panel debate covered a lot of ground. Here are some of the highlights from the 40-minute...
Hear from the CEOs of Mamma Chia, HonestTea, KeVita, KonaRed, Vertical Water, and Reed's
From the impact of the Safeway Albertsons deal to dubious alcohol levels in kombucha, the CEOs in our beverage entrepreneurs debate on Feb 4 did not hold back. Here are some of the highlights from our 60-minute session, which is now available on demand as...
Authentic Foods’ latest gluten-free flour blend, Steve’s Blend, promises to “revolutionize” gluten-free baking by creating a fast-rising dough that can be kneaded for real-bread texture without using any binders.
Pure Circle is close to signing an agreement with the Kiambu County Government that will see them work together to boost stevia crop production in the Kenyan region.
Stevia First Corp, producer of a fermentation-based steviol glycoside ingredient, is moving its technology beyond its namesake high intensity sweetener into new ranges of functional ingredients that the company is billing as “geroprotectors.”
