With over 300m obese adults worldwide, it is no wonder that the food industry is keen to offer tasty possibilities to consumers looking to lose weight, and keep it off. The trend is now becoming 'unstoppable', say industry executives.
Bell Flavors and Fragrances has developed a range of honey replacers to respond to uncertainties on the global honey market as colony collapse disorder (CCD) has diminished bee colonies around the world.
American consumers believe that a ‘natural’ label claim is a better indicator of an eco-friendly product than ‘organic’, according to a new survey from advertising firm the Shelton Group.
Cerilliant has introduced two new certified reference standards for assessing the purity of Reb A, the high intensity all-natural sweetener from the leaves of the stevia plant.
American obesity rates have increased in 23 states over the past year and decreased in none, according to a new report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
With the global population expected to reach nine billion by 2050, investment in both GM crops and organic farming could help to ensure a reliable food supply, says a new report from Deutsche Bank.
Researchers have linked high intake of fat from red meat and dairy products with increased risk of pancreatic cancer, in a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Researchers claim to have discovered a particular gene variant that could affect sweetness perception among different ethnic groups, raising the possibility of more targeted flavor profiling of foods.
Rice bran oil and soy protein concentrate could be used by mayonnaise manufacturers to cut fat levels while increasing consumer acceptability, according to a study on its sensory properties.
At the IFT trade show in Anaheim, Caroline Scott-Thomas followed the naturally sourced trend tour, and caught up with some of the companies highlighting natural products at the show.
Food technology is a profession under attack – and both industry and government need to invest to ensure its future, says former IFT president Dr John Floros.
The US and Canada have come to an agreement on organic equivalency standards, expanding organic trade opportunities, US Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced on Wednesday.
The US organic sector has become increasingly dependent on imported ingredients as a supply squeeze continues to limit the sector’s growth, according to a new report from the US Department of Agriculture.
Consumers who choose foods labeled ‘zero trans fats’ could still surpass their recommended daily limit due to FDA rules that allow up to 0.49g of trans fat per serving to be rounded to zero, says spread company Smart Balance.
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have approved a high oleic acid genetically modified (GM) soybean for cultivation and foods containing the oil could hit the market by 2010, says DuPont.
Sensient Flavors has added its flavor masking technology to the raft of products that companies are offering to deal with potential off-notes associated with stevia-derived sweeteners.
Major Reb A supplier PureCircle has disputed recent suggestions that stevia’s potential for use in organic foods could be limited, although it agrees that certification poses problems.
Wild Flavors has said it is aggressively working toward external safety assessment of its stevia extracts as it becomes the latest company to announce the launch of a stevia flavor solutions range.
US sales of organic food have surged despite dire predictions for its resilience as consumers look for ways to cut spending, according to a new survey on American organics.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the US Department of Agriculture will conduct its first ever large-scale survey of organic farming in the US this spring.
Major Reb A supplier PureCircle has quadrupled production capacity of stevia extracts at its Jiangxi plant in China as interest in stevia-derived sweeteners continues to grow.
There are now even more options for food manufacturers seeking to reformulate with stevia-derived sweeteners, as Cargill becomes the latest to launch a flavor range to deal with their potentially problematic aftertaste.
The potential of stevia-derived sweeteners for use in organic foods could be limited because of the plant’s diversified cultivation and Reb A’s processed nature, according to Euromonitor International.
Cargill has claimed that the market for its sucromalt sweetener will widen after acheiving FDA generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status last week, and as consumers increasingly demand healthier foods.
Stevia’s expense compared to other sweeteners is a major market limitation, according to a new paper on the stevia market, although industry players say they are working to bring its price down.
The US and Canada have agreed to finalize negotiations on organic equivalency standards between the countries by this summer, according to the Organic Trade Association.
The USDA has chosen not to change laws on genetically engineered sugarbeets in a lawsuit filed by the Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice requesting a review of deregulation for the beets last month.
Significant changes in the way foods are formulated and improved methods of ingredient analysis have led to the revision of dietary data regarding fats and oils in the American diet.
Granular, a European stevia producer, has entered into a joint partnership to build a refinery for the natural sweetener in South America which it said will be environmentally neutral.
Formulating cakes with sesame oil, hydrocolloids and emulsifiers could replace fat in cakes, leading to low-fat alternatives of family favourites, suggests a new study.
Sugar could be shedding its bad boy image to take a surprise spot on the public’s list of trusted ingredients, as manufacturers look to appeal to more savvy consumers.
Reb A is moving into the sports drink market as Dr Pepper Snapple becomes the first of the big three soft drinks manufacturers to release a zero-calorie sports drink sweetened with Reb A, the natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant.
Dr Pepper Snapple has released an all-natural version of its iced tea which uses high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of sugar, but has denied that it was driven by trends for natural ingredients or any consumer choice to avoid HFCS.
PureCircle has announced it has entered into a partnership with Cerilliant to develop and supply certified reference materials for its stevia-derived sweeteners, responding to demand for high quality Reb A.
The number of consumers buying environmentally friendly products has slowed with the economy but is still expected to increase over the next five years, according to new research from Mintel.
A new partnership between a stevia supplier and a flavors and ingredients firm will speed the process of bringing low-calorie stevia-sweetened products to market, the companies claim.
The Canadian government has released data showing that levels of trans fats have declined since the first results of its monitoring program were released in 2007 – but some food categories still have a way to go.
Givaudan has claimed it has discovered the bitter taste receptors triggered by Reb-A, the natural, high intensity sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant.
The price of organic food ingredients is expected to fall in 2009, as the recession reduces demand for organics back in line with available supply, according to predictions from a specialist organic research firm.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest has urged Pennsylvanian officials to ignore the advice of a task force on trans fat, which concluded that a mandatory ban “could be more harmful from a health perspective”.
Food manufacturers need to better understand consumer tactics for dealing with the economic crisis and employ palatable strategies to answer to a fresh set of values, according to a report from Packaged Facts.
Caravan Ingredients has claimed to have transformed the processing of shortenings and foods containing them, such as bakery products, with a new line of diglycerides.
GLG Life Tech has upgraded its stevia processing line at its plant in China to boost its output of rebiana that is of a higher purity, which associated with a better taste profile.
