Probiotics have had a rapid rise to public prominence in North America since Danone launched probiotic drinkable and spoonable yogurts on the US market in 2005, but probiotic cheeses have won little favor, according to Euromonitor research.
Over half of the sack lunches taken to school by US children were found to be deficient in vitamin A, calcium, zinc and fiber, reinforcing the opportunity for food manufacturers in the country to develop targeted products that fill this nutritional gap.
Mexicans are becoming more interested in healthy foods and dietary fiber, opening up new opportunities for food and beverage companies to launch high fiber products, according to research from Tate & Lyle.
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.
Gilroy Foods & Flavors has added its voice to the many that are forecasting South American flavored snacks to be the next big trend for the year ahead.
Researchers at the University of Georgia (UGA) report that elderly people across the state are largely deficient in vitamin D, calcium and B12, and should consider dietary supplementation.
A USDA paper examining the implications of proposed changes to the Food Stamp Program (FSP) has concluded that they may force prices higher for healthy foods, and discourage participation in the program.
Mood foods are emerging as the latest niche in the functional foods market, and are expected to experience continued growth, according to a new market report.
The Mexican market for health foods is set for steady growth, which presents good export opportunities for US manufacturers, according to a government report.
Functional foods are more likely to be successful if they meet a consumer perception of the types of foods suitable for fortification, according to a new report.
Fish-derived omega-3s are set to overtake plant-based sources as the preferred forms of the essential fatty acids used in food and beverage fortification, according to a new report.
A new survey which offers an estimate on the number of vegetarian children in the US highlights a potential emerging market for those on an ‘ethical diet’ needing alternative sources of protein.
While there is little doubt that the food and beverage industry’s preoccupation with functional foods will not lose steam, consumer reaction could well be set for a shift, according to a US market researcher.
One of the key trends in product development for 2009 will be natural additives able to keep consumers active, leading to searches for alternatives to caffeine and sugar, according to market research.
Omega-3s, glucosamine, echinacea and ginseng are the most commonly consumed supplements as part of alternative therapy regimes, according to a new US government survey.
Manufacturers need to explore new product developments in health and wellness and functional categories in order to tap into the US baby boomer market, according to a report.
Food and beverage manufacturers looking to succeed in the functional category should base their products on ingredients already well-recognized for their health benefits, according to a new report.
McCormick’s annual flavor fusion forecast for the coming year takes a multi-cultural approach and sticks with the sweet and savory theme that was a growing trend in 2008.
More than 50 per cent of consumers polled in a recent survey admit they know very little about soy with less than one in five consuming soy products on a weekly basis, according to a new survey.
The Obama effect and concerns about food safety could help boost US brands overseas which appear to be falling out of favor, according to a new report from Euromonitor International.
Sleep, mood and digestive health are the areas attracting most interest this year from manufacturers in the food and beverage industries, according to nutritional premix supplier Fortitech.
The number of US consumers buying natural products is still increasing across the majority of categories, indicating “continued opportunities for product and shelf expansion”, according to a new report.
Food manufacturers will find it harder to pass on rising costs to consumers next year and, in a shaky economy, competition will remain intense, according to a new report.
Food and beverage companies need to institutionalize innovation with a dedicated budget and executives in place to drive growth, according to a new report.
Food manufacturers are confusing consumers by overdoing the number of claims they make on products and need to go back to a simpler style of labeling, according to a new report.
Tate & Lyle research has found more than half of Americans want more than regularity from their fiber intake – they want higher levels and better taste.
One of the first functional foods was a digestive health product – Yakult – a probiotic drink a Japanese scientist began selling in his home country in the 1930s.
Wheat flour consumption is increasing in the US following a dip that was driven by a trend for low-carbohydrate diets, according to the USDA, as demand for higher fiber, protein and whole grains rises.
Half of US supplement users said that the economic squeeze is unlikely to change their purchasing habits, although price could become an issue, according to a survey released last week.
Food manufacturers need to work with retailers to make it easier for parents to choose more nutritious food and tackle childhood obesity, according to a new study.
The health and wellness trend in food is expected to endure tough economic times but there is a danger that food manufacturers could over medicalize their products, according to a research specialist.
Foods and beverages marketed for digestive health have crept to the top of the list of new functional product launches so far this year, according to statistics provided by Mintel.
Consumers in the US are increasingly turning to soy as a healthy choice as they constantly change their eating habits to improve nutrition, according to a study from the United Soybean Board.
A survey conducted last month has found that the vast majority of Americans know nothing about probiotics, suggesting more education efforts could help boost an industry still in its infancy.
The dietary supplements industry has been boosted by a Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) survey results that show 79 per cent of physicians and health care professionals recommend dietary supplements to their patients.
More consumers in the US are becoming aware of fiber and are trying to increase their consumption of whole grains as part of a healthy diet, according to a new survey.
Natural products retail market analyst, SPINS, has jumped the border to include the Canadian industry in a move the company says will benefit “retailers and suppliers alike.”
Food manufacturers are avoiding using the term natural because consumers have lost trust in the claim due to a lack of clear regulation in the US, according to a Packaged Facts report.
Global launches of products containing the joint health ingredient glucosamine are seeing a slow but steady increase, with North America and Asia Pacific currently reporting the most new launches, according to Mintel.
NutraIngredients examines the omega-3 marketplace in the final instalment of a series that has scanned the scientific, regulatory and supply issues surrounding an ingredient that would appear to have everything.
Innovation in the use of functional ingredients and packaging is expected to dominate worldwide growth in the confectionery market, according to a new report.
Datamontinor’s Productscan database last month recorded a number of new probiotic and omega-3 product launches in the US, which it says continues to demonstrate that “no stone has been left unturned in the quest for consumer business in the health sphere”.
Shoppers in the US are continuing to buy natural and organic foods despite difficult economic times, according to research, but experts question how long it can last.
