Ingredient innovators looking for inspiration from exotic fruits
may be able to cash in on an Agricultural Research Service project
which is looking into ways to bring even more tropical fruits to
the US.
'Kosher' was the most frequently used claim on new products
launched in the US during 2007, while 'All Natural' and 'No
Additives or Preservatives' were amongst the other most popular
claims used on new...
US consumers drank 990m litres of energy drinks during 2006, a 47
per cent increase over the previous year, making the
country the largest global market for the product, says a
report by Zenith International.
EU regulators and processors say they are examining the use of diacetyl for foods, following reports of hundreds of US workers falling ill from a deadly lung disease linked to the inhalation of the popcorn flavouring chemical.
Yoplait yogurt brand owner General Mills has conducted its own
research into the healthy profile of the dairy product and is using
the results to spread further consumer awareness.
The International Probiotics Association (IPA) is holding a global
conference on probiotics in 2008, thereby setting the stage for
discussion on standards and regulations for the so-called friendly
bacteria.
A chocolate emulsifier ingredient from Palsgaard can now be used by
US manufacturers to replace the commonly-used soy lecithin,
following its recent approval by the nation's regulator.
Reducing fat intake continues to be the main priority of consumers
looking to improve their diets, according to a new report from
market analyst Datamonitor.
IFT Expo is bridging the gap between dietary supplement ingredients
and mainstream food manufacturers, with companies who once focused
on nutrition in a capsule now looking to supply functional food
ingredients.
Agribusiness Monsanto has completed the divestiture of its US
branded cottonseed business, in a move required as part of its
takeover of the Delta and Pine Land Company (DPL).
Folic acid does not decrease the risk of benign colorectal tumours
and may increase the likelihood of contracting some types
of tumours, say researchers - but the supplements industry urges
caution in light of documented benefits.
Private label food and beverage products continue to grow in
popularity, opening up new opportunities for some manufacturers,
while presenting tougher competition for others.
Most national dietary guidelines put the emphasis on reducing
saturated and total fat to combat high blood cholesterol, shows a
new study, while the US alone sets a limit on cholesterol
consumption from food.
Innovation in fruit products has topped Datamonitor's list of most
original new product introductions last year, revealing an emerging
attempt to promote fruit consumption through fun.
Broad restrictions need to be implemented on the marketing of foods
and beverages to children, as the majority of these are high in
salt, fat and sugar, according to a report by the World Health
Organization (WHO).
US consumers are willing to use specific nanotechnology products -
even if there are health and safety risks - when the potential
benefits are high, according to a survey.
US scientists have identified a gene from wild wheat that could
increase protein and micronutrient content of its cultivated cousin
by 10 to 15 per cent, and could soon be used in food products with
enhanced nutritional value.
European member states have endorsed a draft EC decision to impose
compulsory tests on all US long grain rice imports in order to
prove the absence of illegal biotech strains.
A mature US yogurt market does not mean there is no room for
growth, according to a new report, which identifies huge expansion
possibilities particularly in the area of probiotic and prebiotic
yogurt products.
As this week marks the 60th anniversary of the nation's school
lunch program, a number of recent government, industry and health
body initiatives could finally lead to US children having better
access to nutritionally sound foods...
If the Chinese government gives in to mounting international
pressure to revalue its currency, it could spell the end of cheap
exports, a move that many anticipate would have a knock-on effect
on raw materials costs for the food industry....
US scientists think they may have found a natural alternative to
pesticides used by sugar beet growers to fend off their biggest
enemy - the sugar beet root maggot.
Europeans are more clued up than their American counterparts when
it comes to the benefits of dark chocolate, according to a US
company educating the market through their range of functional
health-boosting cocoa products.
Hispanic buying power in the US is forecast to top that of all
minority groups by next year, overtaking the African-American
population, according to a new report.
In contrast to their counterparts in Europe and Japan, US dairy
ingredient manufacturers are choosing dietary supplements over
functional foods as vehicles for bringing nutraceuticals to
consumers, according to a recent Landell Mills...
Frozen food manufacturers should focus on higher-quality,
better-for-you options in order to boost the performance of the
slow-growing category, which is increasingly threatened by fresh
foods, says a new report.
ReGen Therapeutics is poised for the first launch of its
Colostrinin neutraceutical for early stage cognitive decline, with
the signing of a licensing agreement with Metagenics in North
America.
A caramelized onion flavor is set to hit the US market, with
manufacturer DD Williamson announcing that it has started
commercial production of its new ingredient, designed for use in
soups and sauces.
By all accounts the US meat sector faces a mixed outlook, with
prices falling for domestic supplies of beef, the encroachment of
cheaper imports, a new case of mad cow disease in Canada and
worries about avian influenza.
A $5m project aimed at identifying and improving the genetic
make-up of barley could lead to higher yields and a better quality
crop, said the US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns on Friday.
Wholegrains, but not refined grains, could lower blood
triglycerides, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, say
researchers from the US Agricultural Research Service.
Scientific evidence says that consumption of soy from the diet or
as supplements should not cause alarm despite negative reports
about risks, a view that has been supported by a major US industry
group.
Leading agribusiness Syngenta could be set to introduce the world's
first genetically modified wheat seed by early next decade, a move
fully supported by American wheat industry organizations.
The US has found another case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE), a blow against the country's recent success at regaining its
international beef markets.
Leaders in the US food industry met this week at the Reuters Food
Summit to discuss the challenges that lie ahead and to outline
companies' responses to changes in the industry.
A US industry body has commended the WTO's ruling that the EU and
six member states broke trade rules by barring entry to GM crops
and foods, something that has had a significant impact on the
nation's food industry.
Another cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been
found in Canada, a second blow against the US' recent success at
regaining its international markets.
Insoluble fiber, from wholegrains, is currently enjoying more
attention from consumers and the food industry than soluble fiber,
but interest in the soluble variety is rising fast, according to
Frost and Sullivan.
In the wake of Japan's decision to re-open its market to North
American beef, the US will in turn allow processors to import whole
boneless cuts of the meat from that country.
