Beverages & Drinks – Page 21

Imposing Soda Tax: A Solution for The Ballooning Diabetes and Heart Disease Problems

in Beverages & Drinks, Food Business, Health & Nutrition, Kid's Health

Global diabetes and heart disease rates have ballooned over the last 25 years. Among the countries that have the highest rate of diabetes and heart diseases, Mexico tops the list according to Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo. She is a UCSF professor medicine and director of UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations. Another problem in the country is obesity. With the global obesity rate growing at 11% and 15%, respectively, for both men and women, Mexico harbors a lot of obese individuals in the world. It is strikingly alarming to take note that around 75% of adults in Mexico are obese.

To solve the problem, the Mexican government proposed a solution to address this chronic health issue by imposing a 10% excise tax on sugary drinks in 2014. This tax rate is designed to curb the consumption of sugary beverages. Thus, decreasing the number of people who have diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, this strategy allows the government to save about $1 billion in direct health care cost due to these conditions.

Is the Sugary Drink Tax Effective?

In a study published in PLOS Medicine, simulation models of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in Mexico was done. The simulation model was developed on the well-established model used in the United States in 1980.

Researchers from the Instituto Nacional Salud de Publica (INSP) in Cuernavaca in Mexico and from the UC San Francisco estimated that the sugary drink tax in the country will likely prevent 20,000 cases of heart attack, 190,000 cases of diabetes, and 19,000 deaths among adults from the age of 35 to 90 within the next ten years.

The sugary drink tax is not the only tool to turn around this health epidemic in Mexico, but it will also mean a lot of savings for the people and the government according to senior researcher, Simon Barquera. For instance, it will reduce healthcare spending such as clinic visits and hospitalization by as much as $983 billion. The health benefits will strongly be felt among young adults who are avid consumers of sugary drinks.

Backed by The World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a report that indicated that imposing sugary drinks could decrease Type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, and obesity. Increasing the retail price to 20% can trigger a reduction in consumption because people will have second thoughts about buying expensive drinks.

Obesity is a rising problem in many rich and developing countries. The problem started more than a decade ago, and it has affected mostly people from the middle-income and lower-income bracket.

The sugary drink tax imposed in Mexico in 2014, according to WHO spokesman Paul Garwood, was favorable wherein the agency observed a substantial drop in the consumption of not only sugar but also caffeine.

Inspired by www.ucsf.edu/

Misleading Labeling Claims Can Land Food Companies in a Lawsuit

in Beverages & Drinks, Consumer Packaged Goods, Food Business

In today’s modern society, most consumers are driven to purchase healthy foods. Customers take the time to read and compare food labels to decide which products are right for them. Food producers use labels as a marketing ploy. Food manufacturers love to claim different kinds of health benefits to boost their products’ sales. Unfortunately, many of these claims are misleading.

The Problem with Misleading Food Labels

Food and beverage brands come up with the latest buzzwords that are designed to boost product sales. Consumers expect the labels to be truthful so that they can make healthier choices. Moreover, they assume that the government is keeping a strict eye on the food manufacturers.

While there is some truth to this, what’s good to know though is the system is currently working to make companies accountable for their misleading food labeling. On August 12, 2016, the company Nature’s Way falsely labeled its coconut oil as healthy; thus, a California federal judge found that the firm’s advertising and labeling are misleading.

The company branded their products as a healthy alternative to shortening, margarine, butter and other cooking oils despite the fact that it is not much better than those products. Moreover, the company’s advertising and product labeling violated several state food regulations in Canada.

Food Labeling Laws

Food manufacturers are expected to evaluate their foods and make their nutrition labels. They are allowed to make a margin of error of plus or minus 10%. The Food and Drug Administration imposes that all food producers are straightforward when it comes to labeling their food products. For instance, products that are labeled as “natural” may contain surprisingly unnatural ingredients. Moreover, food manufacturers should also include the exact serving size and calories on the label as part of FDA regulations.

FDA Issues Public Warning

With the increasing trend of using misleading labels, the FDA strictly defines the term “natural” in food products, and it restricts many food manufacturers to abuse such claim. Those who do not comply with the agency often suffer repercussions.

For instance, the agency issued a public warning letter in 2014 to Premier Organics about its product named Arisana Coconut Butter Whole Coconut Flesh is not healthy because it contains high amounts of saturated fat per serving.

Another company that has found itself in hot water with the FDA was General Mills. The company experienced a lawsuit when it allegedly claimed that the product Cheerios Protein is a protein-rich version of the regular Cheerios when, in fact, it does not contain significant amounts of added protein.

The false advertising of many companies has led to the proposal of the Food Labeling Modernization Act to streamline food labeling and create a standard labeling requirement for all food products. With this proposal, food manufacturers will be more careful in using buzzwords like “natural” and “healthy.”

Source: legalnewsline.com

Packaged Facts Reports Stable Growth in the Natural Food Industry

in Beverages & Drinks, Consumer Packaged Goods, Food Business, Supplements & Nutraceuticals

Modern consumers are no longer driven only by the price and taste of food. With most consumers seeking healthy foods, their shopping behaviors have also changed. Today, American consumers consider safety, experience, social impact, transparency, as well as health and wellness when it comes to purchasing food. This is the reason why organic and natural foods are a growing niche in the food industry.

According to the report titled Natural and Organic Foods and Beverages in the US (5^th edition), most consumers value the transparency and eco-conscious models of how their foods are made. Opting for natural and organic foods fulfill the needs of the customers.

Research Director of Packaged Facts, David Sprinkle, noted that this new behavior of consumers resulted in the rise of the organic and natural foods market. Packaged Facts estimated that the industry would earn $69 billion by the end of this year. This is 11% higher than the sales from last year.

The Industry Shift to Organic And Natural Foods

The growth of the organic and natural products has outpaced the sales of conventional food items. It is forecasted that the growth will be up to 70% from 2016 to 2021. This is the reason why big food manufacturers are shifting towards the natural and organic food niche. They hope to achieve this by overhauling their products or creating a new portfolio in the hopes of attracting consumers who lean towards natural and organic foods.

But what most big companies do not realize is that integrating organic and natural foods to their established brand can be quite challenging. While the market for organic food products is rising, it still has big shoes to fill. Conventional companies might find it difficult to look for clean ingredients because the suppliers are not quite there yet.

Big Food Companies Making Changes

Although there are some challenges present, investing in the natural and organic food niche is worth it. In fact, many big companies have seen stark improvements in sales after jumping into the natural and organic bandwagon.

For instance, Campbell Soup Co. announced to remove all artificial flavors and colors in its products by the end of 2018. Other companies that have plans to remove its artificial colors and flavors include Mondelez, General Mills, Mars Inc., Kraft Heinz, and Hershey Co. On the other hand, companies like WhiteWave Foods have pledged to use only organic ingredients in their products.

The food manufacturing industry has come a long way from using artificial flavors and colors in the past to using only natural ingredients. As consumer behavior continues to lean towards clean ingredients and healthy foods, the other main food manufacturing companies will follow suit–an action that will not only benefit food manufacturers but consumers as well.

Inspired by prnewswire.com

Premium Packaging: The New Trend in Private Label

in Beverages & Drinks, Consumer Packaged Goods, Food Business, Supplements & Nutraceuticals

The food manufacturing industry is highly competitive right now, and private label brands are keeping big brands on their toes. Aside from using clean ingredients, another industry trend is premium packaging.

Packaging is considered by most the brand and forms the first impression of products at the shelf in stores and online. Private label is adopting premium packaging to increase the perceived quality of their products and increase brand loyalty.

What Is Premium Packaging?

Big retailers are relying on cutting-edge packaging to enhance their brands. Premium packaging is all about improving the presentation of the product to make it distinguishable from competitors. It reinforces the identity of the brand, thereby making the products more appealing to the consumers. But it is important to take note that premium packaging is not only about using heavy-duty and expensive materials, but it also considers convenience and sustainability.

The Elements of Premium Packaging

Creating premium packaging can be a challenging task. Companies need to consider many things in the design of the packaging to sell their product, identity, and brand. Certain things should be taken into consideration when creating premium packaging, and these include the following:

technical design innovation
the durability of packaging
convenience
consumer health and wellness
eco-friendly materials

For instance, thinking about the use of eco-friendly materials is necessary for creating premium packaging since so many people are now conscious of the green movement. Today, many manufacturers look into the sustainability of their packaging as they aim to produce less waste.

Convenience is also another factor especially if the product is designed for a particular target market. For instance, products that are created for the elderly should be convenient enough so that they can open the packaging without the help of others.

The Benefits of Premium Packaging in Private Label

The idea of presenting a product or brand as “luxurious” depends on the type of packaging used. People opt for luxury products to maintain a certain social standard. But more than social standards, luxury packaging can also improve the consumer experience. Private label companies are interested in premium packaging for this primary reason. They are already beating competitors on price, but they want to compete on experience now.

For instance, when the first microwavable meals became popular, demand increased because of the attractiveness of quick meals. Today, microwavable meals are no longer attractive and are commonplace. The use of ceramic pots to contain microwavable meals are used to create a better eating experience.

It is inevitable for companies to change their product packaging. It is one of the marketing strategies that companies should do to ensure success. With the constant evolution of product packaging, it will continue to push private label manufacturers to innovate and stand out from the crowd.

Inspired by http://digital.foodmanufacturing.com

World Health Organization Supports Taxing Sugary Beverages

in Beverages & Drinks, Health & Nutrition, Kid's Health

In 2013, global beverage volume sales reached 994.1 billion liters. The continuous rise of beverage drinks has consequently lead to a rise in the rate of obesity. According to Dr. Douglas Bettcher from the World Health Organization’s Department for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, consumption of free sugars from sugary drinks have contributed to the global obesity and diabetes pandemic.

Since 1980 the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled to 39% of people around the world in 2014. To make matters worse, there are an estimated 42 million children under the age of five who are suffering from obesity. Especially those in developing countries like Africa and Asia.

Do We Need Sugary Beverages?

Nutritionists argue that while most of us have a sweet tooth, we don’t necessarily need free sugar in our diet. In fact, WHO recommends that people should consume free sugar below 10% of their energy needs. This means that an average adult may consume a single serving of sugary drink per day or a total volume of 250mL.

Dr. Francesco Branca from the WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development noted that foods with free sugar have high caloric value. So instead of consuming free sugar, it should be avoided like the plague to improve health conditions.

Taxation Is the Solution

The alarming rise of obesity and diabetes all over the world is taking a toll on the global healthcare setting. The World Health Organization suggested that implementing higher taxation on sugary drinks to curb these two main health problems.

In the report released by the WHO titled Fiscal Policies for Diet and Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), reduction of the consumption of free sugars as well as calories are seen as the answer to the global obesity pandemic. Free sugars include simple sugars like fructose and glucose as well as disaccharides like table sugar and sucrose. These are added to food by the food manufacturers when creating their products.

But how to do we decrease the amount of sugary drink consumption? WHO recommend adding high taxes to these sugary beverages to discourage people from consuming too many sugary drinks. Thereby reducing their risk to obesity as well as other sugar-related diseases like tooth decay.

People who are affected by obesity and diabetes often fall into the low-income level. Moreover, sugary drinks are often consumed by people in the low-income levels too! Taxation of sugary drinks will most likely affect these people, but they will also be the ones to gain the highest health benefits.

Consumers Looking for More Plant-Based Proteins

in Beverages & Drinks, Consumer Packaged Goods, Food Business, Health & Nutrition, Supplements & Nutraceuticals

Where do you get your protein? The usual answer would be from meat and other animal products. Proteins are also found in plant sources, and they are gaining a lot of traction. In fact, 63% of Americans want to eat healthy by better understanding the ingredients found in their food. The preference of most consumers for natural and simple foods has led them to explore other food alternatives such as plant-based proteins.

Plant-Based Pulses: The New Meat

Although the sales of lean proteins in the United States have increased by 4.8% or $19.6 billion, many consumers are also buying pulses or grain legumes. Pulses are edible seeds made up of aggregates of peas, lentils, chickpeas, and other dried beans.

In a survey conducted by Nielsen, about 61% of the respondents opted for foods that have both high protein and fiber content where pulses are clearly spot on. And with the many health benefits attributed to eating pulses, it is no wonder why the United Nations declared this year (2016) as the International Year of Pulses.

Pulses are not only perfect for vegans and vegetarians. In fact, even carnivores can also take advantage of the many health benefits of pulses. But aside from nutritional and health benefits, people are now shifting to pulses because of its taste and eating convenience.

Why Are People Eating Pulses?

Health is becoming a priority for many American consumers these days. One of the most popular superfoods for health-conscious individuals is pulses.

There are different categories of consumers that consume pulses, and they vary in their income levels, dietary preferences, and life stages. However, the recent study conducted by Nielsen Homescan Consumer Moments indicated that most people who consume lentils are women who make up 70% of the respondents.

It is also important to take note that the manner of consumption of pulses indicated that consumers eat them at home. In the study, 86% of the respondents consume legumes at home, and more are preparing them not as side dishes but as the main entrée. This means that many consumers today are taking control of their personal health by making time to cook their meals.

The Future of Pulses

Although there has been a rapid increase in popularity, the overall sales of some legumes have dropped significantly this year. For instance, while lentils and chickpeas are still dominating the sales chart with 11.1% and 64% growth respectively, other lentils like red, black, and white beans are on a steady decline.

The market for pulses in the United States is still very young. While the market is still experiencing slow growth for some of the seeds, well-known seeds like lentils and chickpeas are dominating the market. As more and more people appreciate the benefits of eating lentils, this food trend will continue to persist for years to come. It’s up to manufacturers to develop new plant-based alternatives that are tasty and excite consumers.

Inspired by nielsen.com

8 Natural Food Trends Disrupting the Market

in Beverages & Drinks, Consumer Packaged Goods, Food Business

Natural food products are no longer a unique niche with a few followers. With the natural food movement growing across the industry, this niche has turned into a necessity for brands.

The New Hope Network conducted research that showed that people are consuming a lot of natural food products. Food manufacturers are prioritizing such opportunities to create products that meet the demands of many health-conscious consumers. Below are the natural food trends disrupting the market today.

Trend #1: Prebiotics

Our gut is our second brain. It is important to feed your gut bacteria with the right kinds of foods. Prebiotics are very popular right now, and many consumers buy them for health reasons. Modern prebiotic food manufacturers include Rainbow Light and Jica Chips. Products and supplements containing prebiotics have a high market prediction rate of 93% which means that the future of prebiotics will be huge.

Trend #2: Natural Food Products with a Mission

Products that are developed out of a mission is a popular food trend today. These products are not only geared towards health but also to the environment. For instance, the Marley Coffee EKOCups are recyclable pods that can help solve the problem of solid waste pollution caused by non-biodegradable coffee cups. Food companies that also support charities and communities are also appreciated by consumers.

Trend #3: Paleo Foods

The Paleolithic diet has caught on with a lot of people seeking a healthier lifestyle. This particular diet involves eating minimally processed foods that include no dairy, no refined sugar, and no grains.

Trend #4: Locally Sourced Foods

Gone are the days when people go crazy over imported food products. Today, many consumers want traceability through locally sourced foods. Many customers also want to source their foods locally because they want to support the local economy and the surrounding community.

Trend #5: Brain Food

Brain food is another trend that has become popular in the last few years. People want to protect their memory and brain function. Products that contain brain foods like hemp and green tea extract are becoming more popular. Moreover, foods that also contain omega-3 fatty acids vs. omega-6 are gaining traction for brain function benefits.

Trend #6: Hidden Veggies

With many children avoiding their vegetables, hidden vegetables in food products are a welcome addition to the natural food trends disrupting the market. Many food manufacturers are developing products to hide vegetables since 33% of consumers in the United States indicated that they would rather eat vegetables they cannot see in their foods. Examples of sneaky veggies include the Made Good Granola Mini Snack Poppers and Good Health Salty Snack products with natural vitamins from vegetables.

Trend #7: Grass-Fed Meat

Many consumers are also looking for grass-fed meats and free-range poultry products. Today, most meats are obtained from grain-fed livestock. Feeding grains to livestock does affect not only the quality of meats but also the nutritional value. With the popularity of naturally grown livestock, this trend has a prediction score of 99%.

Trend #8: Eco-Friendly Packaging

Many consumers want products that come in eco-friendly packaging. To answer the need of many consumers, food manufacturers are developing compostable packaging to reduce the waste produced from their products.

Inspired by fooddive.com

Innovative Food Brands Sneak Veggies on to Your Plate

in Beverages & Drinks, Consumer Packaged Goods, Food Business, Kid's Health

Clean eating is taking over as more people connect their health to the food they eat. Many consumers are moving away from eating artificial ingredients for better and healthier options. Food companies are taking advantage by adding fruits and veggies to a variety of convenient foods that consumers eat.

The Clean Eating Shift

This shift towards clean eating has not gone undetected by food manufacturers. As a result, many manufacturers have developed new products with one goal in mind and that is to create delicious products charged with clean ingredients.

In a study conducted by the Produce for Better Health Foundation in 2015, researchers noted that the per capita consumption of vegetable decreased to 7% in the years 2009 to 2014. This was attributed to people consuming fewer side dishes during their meals.

The US Department of Agriculture recommends eating at least five cups of fruits and vegetables every day, but Americans only average two cups daily. This dietary problem was acknowledged and seen as an incredible opportunity for food manufacturers to create food products that use fruits and vegetables creatively to fill the nutritional void in most Americans.

Innovative Hidden Veggies

Companies such as Archer Daniels Midland, Green Giant and B&G Foods are now rolling out new products that sneak fruits and vegetables in them. For instance, the Green Giant brand introduced a new line of frozen veggie products like mashed cauliflower, veggie tots, and roasted vegetables.

Vice president and general manager of Green Giant, Jordan Greenberg, noted that many consumers are looking for products that are not only convenient but also healthy. Many companies are seeking alternatives to starches as well as looking for ways on how to introduce vegetables to children in the most appealing ways.

While this trend is very popular today, many marketing analysts of food companies believe that the trend will not die down anytime soon. In the food prediction trend called The Pinterest 100, the website noted that people will still continue to follow the trend of cutting their calorie intake by swapping vegetables for their carbohydrate and meat comfort foods.

Aside from prepared foods and meals, food manufacturers have also created drinks that are based on fruits and vegetables. Unique combinations of fruit drinks like ginger-pumpkin-orange or cucumber-kiwi-spinach have already found their way onto store shelves.

With the increasing obesity rate in the United States, many Americans are trying to eat clean and better. The problem is that most consumers are not willing to give up their comfort foods, so they don’t bother doing clean eating at all. As a result, a large population of Americans remains overweight. To answer the need of consumers for satisfying yet clean and healthy foods, many food businesses have found a new niche and have innovative products that incorporate fruits, vegetables, and other natural ingredients to provide real nutrition and not just empty calories to consumers. This results in a win-win situation for both consumers and food manufacturers.

Inspired by fooddive.com/news/vegetable-food-innovation