Consumers actively seek out products with specific health claims on
their labels, according to the Natural Marketing Institute - a
factor that may encourage companies to solicit approvals from FDA
or cater to specialist diets.
A survey conducted at the University of Vermont suggests
legislation requiring restaurants to account for the nutritional
and caloric content of their food will be ineffective if it is not
accompanied by an education campaign.
Heart health is a preoccupation of almost half of adult Americans,
according to data from the Natural Marketing Institute that flags
up the considerable opportunities for healthy and functional
food-makers.
Family health and nutrition concerns are increasingly influencing
household food purchases in the US, according to a new study by the
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Prevention magazine.
A report published this month confirms that television is effective
in getting children to eat the foods advertised, driving up the
association between television viewing and childhood obesity.
It is time to admit that society is fighting a part-time battle
against the bulge, willingly lambasting soft drinks, burgers and
chocolate, while shuffling silently away from a fairly dismal
exercise rate.
The omega-3 market is one of the biggest trends in the supplement
market today, but it seems it is crossing from general wellness
towards products aimed at specific consumers and indications.
A new report says that the market for vitamin E supplements is in
turmoil as consumers become confused by conflicting media messages,
but despite this the cosmetics and toiletries industry is likely to
fuel future growth as it is...
Supplement-makers on both sides of the Atlantic, and in other parts
of the world, too, are tapping into consumer anxiety to become, or
remain the brightest button in the box, with the number of new
products aimed at cognitive function...
Foods with a low glycemic index and products containing
antioxidants will enjoy good growth this year as consumers continue
to "obsess over their health," according to a new study by
consumer tracker AC Nielsen.
Supplement marketers seem to be taking notice of the growing trend
towards vegetarianism, bringing more products to market that do not
contain animal-derived ingredients.
High fruit and vegetable prices may be linked to childhood obesity,
says the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), although it suggests
that further research is needed in order to confirm the "casual
relationship" identified...
Ask any child what's most important about Christmas and you're
almost sure to hear it's presents, or Santa Claus, or school
holidays. But certainly not food.
The Puritans described its rich ingredients as "unfit for
God-fearing people". The Quakers referred to it as "the invention
of the scarlet whore of Babylon ". Who would have thought that the
humble Christmas pudding...
Humble pie, stuffed peacock and sugar mice have left our Christmas
tables seemingly never to return. But what was it that forever
pushed such dishes from our hearts and feasting?
All those who still believe in Santa, stop reading here. For his
sledge-pulling reindeer, Dancer, Prancer, and Rudolph, have long
been consumed in a tasty stew.
A pamphlet distributed by the FDA is discouraging consumers from
continuing or recommending dietary supplements, reports a study
from the University of Connecticut.
If only they taught chemistry in schools as it happens at Christmas tables across Europe. For here lies the secret of delicious. Come next weekend, the centrepiece from north to south will be a roast. A British turkey, a German goose, a French roast beef:...
The mental health market for dietary supplements is emerging as a
new health platform, according to a report from Frost and Sullivan,
but it's not all about baby boomers wanting to ward off
Alzheimer's. Rather, stressed-out...
A change in attitudes towards branded ingredients amongst
manufacturers means that companies are devoting resources to
communicating directly with consumers. But do consumers really have
the stomach for ingredient brands, or do they...
Food marketers face a major challenge in convincing consumers of
the credibility of their products, as the second report in a month
highlights a lack of trust in the health benefits of functional
foods amongst both European and North...
Functional foods are failing to win the trust of consumers on both
sides of the Atlantic, according to a new report from market
analyst Datamonitor, as the food industry is not forgiven for
outlandish claims made in the past and communications...
Health is a key driver for sales of food bars, which look set for
an annual increase of around 9.9 percent over the next five years,
according to new market research from Packaged Facts.
A US company is appealing to students' desire to escape the study
rut with supplements called "Brain Boost" and "Enzyme Time",
products designed to give them an energy lift or prevent gas.
US sales of wholegrain cookies have skyrocketed 1,364 per cent in
the past year, marking them as the nation's fastest growing
wholegrain bakery product, according to market researcher AC
Nielsen.
Consumer attitudes to health and the role of food in achieving it
are changing, according to a new report, and food marketers should
reconsider how they go about wooing the American consumer.
As the most dynamic specialty tea, green tea is helping to fuel a
rapidly expanding market as consumers look for healthier
alternatives to coffee and soda, according to a new market report.
With the publication of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans
and MyPyramid, the US government is taking the nation's eating
habits seriously. Now the USDA's Agricultural Research Service
(ARS) has launched a free web-based...
Designing foods and beverages to meet the specific nutritional
needs of women could be a shrewd move for formulators, suggests a
new market report that predicts retail sales will grow 67 percent
by 2009. Jess Halliday reports on what...
A new survey reconfirms that elderly people are the most prolific
users of dietary supplements, but warns they may be exposed to
dangerous interactions with prescription drugs if they do not
discuss them with their doctor, writes...
The latest LOHAS consumer trends study suggests that a healthy spin
may no longer be enough to lure people to new food and beverage
products. Marketers may need to take another look at strategies for
capturing the attention of this...
According to Euromonitor, manufacturers of healthy foods, and in
particular those containing wholegrains, are likely to profit from
an upwards swing in sales thanks to publicity surrounding the new
Dietary Guidelines for Americans...
Staying young is more about health and less about looks, according
to a new market report which indicates that Americans spend more
than eight times as much on formulated anti-aging products for
health maintenance as they do on products...
Consumers trust nutritional information dished out at point of sale
over and above other sources, including qualified professionals,
according to a new FindSVP trend report. Some retailers are cashing
in with in-store educational...
The maker of a new functional beverage that claims to burn calories
by increasing metabolism says products with net negative calories
are the next step in the evolution of the diet drinks market. But
can consumers be assured that...
Good news for prepared meal manufacturers with a recent study
concluding consumption of convenient, nutritious frozen dinners
could help dieters control portion size, reports Lindsey
Partos.
A study showing that sweet drinks have overtaken white bread as the
leading source of calories in the American diet may mean that the
nutrition gap is even wider than previously thought, reports
Jess Halliday. But according to the...
Canada's new Food Guide to Healthy Eating will take into account
the country's multicultural community, reports Jess
Halliday, but supplements and fortified foods are not expected
to put in an appearance.
The message about the gut health benefit probiotics can deliver is
finally getting through to US consumers, according to a new report
on the state of the functional foods sub-category.
Functional foods may only make up one percent of the food industry,
but the category is growing by ten percent each year and the race
amongst companies to develop foods with health benefits that are
commercially successful is well...
Over-50s are bigger users of alternative medicine than other age
groups, with 71 percent saying they turned to at least one of six
forms (herbal medicine, acupuncture, chiropractor, massage therapy,
breathing exercises or meditation)...
Cereal makers have a major hold on the heart health foods market
but new ingredients will help other sectors tap into strong
consumer demand for these products, writes Dominique Patton.
The ingredients industry is, and always has been, driven by
science, but consumers' continuing mistrust of mainstream medicine
and the growing trend towards self care makes it more important
than ever for products to wear their...
Food manufacturers who are still not convinced that they need to
start taking a healthier approach should heed a recent survey by
the GMA, writes Philippa Nuttall.
Last week General Mills (GM) announced the launch of Wheaties and
Total multivitamins. Jess Halliday asks whether the cereal
brands are strong enough to secure a foothold in an already mature
marketplace. If so will they encourage...
A new report suggests that Americans are waking up to the health
benefits of cultured dairy products - and in particular probiotic
shots - as part of the wider trend towards functional foods,
reports Jess Halliday.