The National School Lunch Program serves approximately 4.9 billion meals a year to children nationwide, and for many recipients it is their only source of nutrition, and yet, according to a new book by Jennifer Gaddis, the program is chronically underfunded...
As older members of Generation Z begin to strike out on their own and those still at home gather more influence over household grocery purchases, food and beverage manufacturers increasingly are asking what do 7- to 20-year-olds want to eat and drink?
A significant decrease in obesity among 2- to 4-year-olds participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children between 2010 and 2016 suggests recent changes to the type of food and beverages covered by the program are helping...
Despite consumer demand for new eating experiences, we currently rely on only 1% of edible plants and a whopping 60% of our calories come from just four crops – a disjoint that experts say represents a missed marketing opportunity and a threat to the...
Junk food advertising on kids’ television channels has not decreased since 2012 despite uniform nutrition criteria introduced by the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) in 2013, according to CSPI’s analysis of 72 hours of kids...
At the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Philadelphia late last month, more than 10,000 registered dietitians, nutritionists and industry stakeholders joined to discuss emerging health and diet trends in America. The expo floor featured more...
While many manufacturers continue to grouse about updating their Nutrition Facts Panels to comply with Nutrition Label Reform, General Mills not only has rolled out the changes for its “Big G Cereals” ahead of the upcoming deadline, it also took the opportunity...
The already fast-growing, oat-based nutrition bar and bite company Bobo’s is hoping to turbo-charge its ecommerce sales 200-300% in the next year with help from insiders at Amazon as a participant in the online retailer’s exclusive, invitation-only Emerging...
West African foods from the ancient grain fonio to tigernuts and moringa; to refrigerated protein-packed snacks; chickpea butter; and more imaginative food for kids will all gain traction in 2020 according to buyers, product developers, category managers...
After almost five years of rescuing so-called ‘ugly’ produce from being wasted and instead selling it at a steep discount to consumers in a conveniently delivered subscription box, Imperfect Produce is ready to level up and sell a wider variety of food...
General Mills has finally prevailed in a false advertising lawsuit* over sugar levels in its cereals after three years of legal wrangling, with the judge concluding that the plaintiffs "cannot plausibly claim to be misled."
With a new look, logo and tagline debuting this month, San Francisco-based startup ReGrained hopes to add a little “whimsy” to its snack bars while also educating consumers about upcycling ingredients and creating a recognizable “calling card” for when...
How can you get kids to eat their veggies and whole grains without a battle? According to researchers, clearly communicating a food's nutrition benefits to children through affirming statements will help kids make healthy food decisions on their...
With a few notable exceptions (think oatmilk, and Grainful’s savory oat dishes) oats have not made significant inroads beyond the cereals and snacks aisles, say the entrepreneurs behind Pop Oats. But could novel processing techniques unlock completely...
A new look and tagline for the organic seeds, grains and food brand Beveri encourages consumers to “Take Charge of Your Well-Being!” while the company does the same for itself by streamlining its portfolio and better positioning its products for purchase...
Grain Millers - an industry supplier of oats in various forms from oat bran to whole oat flour - is evolving to meet the year-round demand for oats, which were once a seasonally driven crop, says Grain Millers' VP of product development, Roberto...
With the addition of an advisory board member who is a certified physician and chef, the better-for-you frozen meal company Luvo is creating new products that it hopes will help lay a foundation for packaged food to one day be considered a health management...
By Brazil's ANVISA wraps up whole grain labeling consultation
Brazilian food authority ANVISA's open consultation on whole grain labeling ended last month, prompting public health experts to reiterate calls for stricter criteria.
As consumers learn more about digestive health and all the implications that it has for the wellbeing of their bodies and minds, they are looking for products that go beyond probiotics – creating a booming digestive health category that is ripe for innovation....
On its quest to become more than a cereal company and reverse years of negative growth, Kellogg has expanded into new categories including snacks and has been revitalizing some of its core brands. But has it been a success?
Kashi has expanded its 'Kashi by Kids' line -- which launched with three kids' cereals last summer -- with soft baked snack bites made with a base combination of coconut flour, chickpeas, acai, and sweet potato.
A regulatory requirement that organic farmers must rotate their crops can be a significant financial hurdle for some producers, but it also is becoming an opportunity for economic development as some farmers team with innovative manufacturers to create...
Studies show the bio-availability of some nutrients is higher in sprouted grains. However, effects vary widely according to the grain, temperature, and sprouting period, while a lack of human clinical data makes it hard to make generic claims about whether...
Renewal Mill spent 2018 proving that its business model of upcycling tofu byproduct discarded by large food manufacturers was viable, according to COO Caroline Cotto. Now armed with a $2.5m seed round investment led by HG Ventures, the company is heading...
As the bar category becomes increasingly ‘engineered’ and functional, with brands touting keto or paleo credentials, high protein, high fat, low carb, collagen, and adaptogens, the success of Bobo’s – an oat bar that above all, just tastes really good...
For years kale dominated supreme as the top superfood sought by Americans, but the leafy green has finally fallen off the top 10 list – replaced by fermented foods in the top spot, followed by avocados and seeds in the second and third, according to the...
Fearful that the current approach to diet and food production globally could have ‘dire’ consequences for public health and the environment in the future as the population rapidly increases, a group of leading scientists from around the world recommend...
The rise of diets – paleo, plant-based, Whole 30, keto, even ‘lazy keto’ – has created a challenging environment for food and beverage marketers trying to establish and grow a strong consumer following.
An ongoing capital raise of $500,000 is helping Boulder, Colo.-based Rollin Greens “take on the freezer category” and give American comfort foods “a healthy twist,” by helping it expand its distribution, revamp its packaging to appeal to more mainstream...
From the “volatile government situation” to the “crazy acts of nature” across the nation and “senseless hate crimes,” many consumers in the US are feeling uneasy and looking for a way to “escape from some of the badness” by visiting hotels, restaurants...
Health advocacy groups have urged schools to reject a final rule from the Trump Administration that they claim reverses hard-won progress on sodium reduction and whole grain consumption, and “continue their commitment to serve healthier foods on our kids’...
Better-for-you frozen food maker Luvo is ready to graduate from startup to an emerging company as it approaches a break-even cash flow and pursues the promise of profitability in the New Year thanks in part to one last infusion of capital from Dugout...
Check out FoodNavigator-USA’s latest gallery of new products hitting US shelves, where healthy fats, high protein claims and pre- and probiotics feature heavily as we head into 2019…
Children's dietary patterns are strongly established by age two once the child is introduced to solid foods, so how can parents make the most of that crucial and brief time period to make sure their children are introduced to the right foods?
Under rules that came into force in 2014, schools have had to ensure that all grain foods they serve are ‘whole grain-rich’ (at least 50% of the grain is whole grain). But how challenging has this been to implement? Elaine Watson caught up with Brian...
If you didn't make it to Chicago last week for the FoodNavigator-USA FOOD FOR KIDS summit, you missed a truly awesome ensemble of academics, industry experts, health advocates, and our first parents’ panel, covering everything from the infant gut...
By tapping registered dietitians at retailers and in local communities, Freedom Foods has magnified the impact and reach of its recent launch in more than 2,000 stores in the US of nutritional bars and cereals featuring BarleyMax – a unique grain packed...
US retail sales of products referencing sprouted grains on pack decreased slightly (-2.1%) to $267.2m in the 52 weeks to October 7, according to new data* from SPINS, with the largest category - bread and baked goods - experiencing a 4.2% decline. However,...
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise us to make half of our grains whole… so how are we doing? FoodNavigator-USA headed to Seattle for the 2018 OIdways Whole Grains Council conference to find out…
Shortcuts, hacks, and time-saving workarounds to breakfast are on the rise with the emergence of on-the-go items such as Kellogg’s joyböl smoothie bowls designed for the busiest of consumers.
As US consumers continue to explore global flavors and become more familiar with international cuisine, a few regional favorites are rising to the top – including many from Africa.
At the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Washington, DC, manufacturers showcased a variety of new and recently launched products tailored for different diets ranging from plant-based and allergen-friendly to low-sugar and high-protein.
Bitsy’s is aiming to change the way the industry and consumers look at kids snacks, a still underdeveloped category with much potential for collaboration between the food industry and parents, according to co-founder Maggie Patton.
Once Upon a Farm – a fresh baby, toddler, and kids food brand on a mission to transform the category – has closed a $20m Series B financing round led by CAVU Venture Partners.
MUSH founders, Ashley Thompson and Kat Thomas, spotted the need for a fresh, on-the-go, clean label food option that wasn't a cold-pressed juice, Greek yogurt, or protein bar, and created a line of ready-to-eat, chilled overnight oats soaked in almond...
A voluntary decision by leading food and beverage manufacturers and restaurants to strengthen the nutritional requirements for products advertised to children in the US will require nearly half of the products currently marketed to kids to be reformulated...
The line between breakfast and dessert can be a bit blurry with options such as coffeecake on the menu, but superfood snack company Health Warrior wants to place muffins squarely on the side of better-for-you morning meals with the launch of its Protein...
Exposure on conventional farms to the more than 1.1 billion pounds of agricultural chemicals used annually in the US is associated with thousands of illnesses every year among farmers and farmworkers, according to new research from The Organic Center,...
In a letter sent yesterday to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessments, FDA argues that even though the process of roasting coffee can form acrylamide the beverage should be exempt from the state’s Proposition 65 requirement that...
As the White House pushes forward with its hardline approach to international trade deals, including a bilateral proposal announced yesterday with Mexico that could replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, it also is taking steps to provide financial...
