Archive for category: Supplements & Nutraceuticals

Personalized Nutrition Is Trying to Reach The Masses

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Personalized nutrition is one of the newest ideas catching the eyes of consumers and the big food companies. In theory, it seems like the next big thing to overtake the healthy eating marketplace. However, there are a few hurdles that innovators are battling for this concept to reach the mainstream. Consumer knowledge about their personalized nutrition needs, food manufacturing, and distribution are going to need to change to make this a reality.

Habit: The Startup Company Leading Personalized Nutrition

Habit, a San Francisco-based company, is offering personalized nutrition through genetic testing. The big food company, Campbell’s Soup, has been following closely and recently invested in the startup.

Habit is structuring itself as a personalized nutrition meal delivery startup. They take information gathered from an at-home test kit to create specific meals to meet customers’ needs. At the moment, Habit’s business model is a little expensive for the average consumer. It costs $249 to receive the personalized test kit, results, and advice from nutrition coaches. On top of the $249, each meal will cost you $8.99 for breakfast and $13.50 for lunch and dinner meals. Without a significant technological change to food development and distribution, personalized nutrition appears to be a luxury in the short term.

3-D Food Printing Could Be The Solution

As mentioned earlier, consumer knowledge on food development and distribution would need to change in a significant way for personalized nutrition to reach the masses. 3-D food printing could be the groundbreaking technology to make it possible. If 3-D printers could become as regular as microwaves, they could completely change the way consumers prepare food at home.

Big food companies like PepsiCo are already testing 3D printing to create prototypes of different shaped and colored chips. Other firms like Barilla have used 3-D food printing to make pasta that is shaped like a rose. The number of obstacles facing the industry are still there, but the future looks bright for personalized nutrition.

Inspired by www.fooddive.com

Functional Ingredients and Label Claims Continue to Lure Consumers

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According to the latest numbers from Packaged Facts market research, 49% of all U.S. consumers buy nutritional bars, beverages, or both. Food and beverage products using functional ingredients with functions like nutritional support, weight loss, increased energy, and meal replacement were included in their analysis. However, energy drinks, sports drinks, milkshakes, granola bars, and snack bars with no nutritional purpose were excluded from their analysis. The Packaged Facts’ National Online Survey consisted of 2,000 U.S. consumers aged 18 and over.

Convenience is Key to Category Growth

Brands have been positioning their nutritional drinks and bars as convenient, healthy, on-the-go options for the busy American. As a result, sales have skyrocketed over the past five years. The market has hit $8.8 billion in 2016 with an annual growth rate of 9.5% over the past five years. Packaged Facts predicts a bullish future for the two categories with combined sales reaching $13.1 billion by 2021.

Younger generations are key purchasers with highest use rates. Many of the Millennials and Gen-Xers see being busy as a “badge of honor” so these products are essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Packaged Facts found that 57% of all U.S. consumers are drinking nutritional beverages as a meal replacement.

Functional Ingredients: Superfoods and Protein

 

Functional ingredients are booming, and nutritional drinks and bars are using them to enter the market with a unique value proposition. The barriers to entry are low, but gaining significant market share is a different story. High protein content is expected from consumers at this point with 72% saying they look for that feature when purchasing nutritional drinks.

Some nutritional bars and drinks are turning to innovative superfood solutions to increase nutrient support claims. Brands are using products like GrandFusion to enhance their bars and drinks with natural vitamins from up to twelve fruits and vegetables without impacting flavor or texture. Interested in learning more? Click your industry in the navigation and learn more about how GrandFusion could benefit your products.

Inspired by www.nutraingredients-usa.com

Food Scientists Say Clean Labels Have Trade-Offs in Food Safety

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To no surprise, two food safety and nutrition professors at Iowa State University believe there are significant trade-offs in cost and food safety for clean labels. The clean label is one of the most significant trends hitting the food and beverage industry. While there is no clear-cut definition, it is understood that clean label products do not contain additives or preservatives and typically have easy to read ingredients.

Why do Clean Labels Present Issues in Food Safety?

The two food scientists believe that not all food additives and preservatives are bad. Many of those hard-to-pronounce names are used to guard against pathogens and spoiling. While market demand is driving food companies to get rid of these additives, the scientists believe there should be a measured consideration for keeping some of these ingredients. The professors mentioned taking nitrates out of Hotdogs and deli meat as an example since their presence can help prevent clostridium botulinum bacteria.

Professors Ruth MacDonald, Ph.D. and Ruth Litchfield, Ph.D. believes that social media can take a lot of the blame for this hysteria around additives and preservatives. They insist consumers not to believe everything they read on social media and to take a deep dive into any research mentioned in posts.

 

How are Clean Labels Costing us More?

Label-readers have become fascinated with the “no high fructose corn syrup”  claim, but they are not looking closely at one is being replaced to sweeten the product. Many times companies are using tapioca syrup which is made from cassava, and typically more expensive. The professors say that the industry is developing all of these “cleaner” syrups like beet syrup, etc. and they are all sugar. They are no better than high-fructose corn syrup.

There seems to be a clear issue with what consumers expect and the reality of ingredients. Consumers want ingredients they understand, they want them cheap, they want them nutritious, they want them safe, and they want them to be beneficial. However, it is almost an impossible feat for food scientists. Consumers are more willing to accept technology in other aspects of their life but have now wholly shifted when it comes to food. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out as consumers become more educated about the science of food.

Inspired by www.fooddive.com

Whole Foods Releases Top 10 Trends to Watch in 2018

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Whole Foods Market, one of leading natural grocery retailers, teamed up with experts to forecast what they believe will be the top 10 trends food in 2018. The seasoned-trend spotters were purchased by Amazon earlier this year, and now have over 100 years of combined experience in product sourcing and studying consumer preferences.

Whole Foods Top Ten Trends in 2018

1. Super Powders

The superfood powders have been gaining traction and will reach new heights next year. They gained market share because they are easy to incorporate into smoothies, nutrition bars, soups, and baked goods. Popular superfood powders include maca root, cacao, ground turmeric, kale, herbs, collagen, and more. Even nutritionally dense powders like GrandFusion are being used to add natural vitamins and minerals to new products.

2. Floral Flavors

Infusing botanical flavors into drinks and snacks will be a huge trend to watch this year. Look for things like lavender lattes and rose-flavored everything. Teas will continue to be huge category using botanicals but be on the lookout for granolas, cocktails, frozen pops, and mineral water.

3. Functional Mushrooms

This could be the hottest trend in 2018, but only time will tell with shoppers. Typically found in dietary supplements, mushrooms use is growing amongst a variety of food and beverage categories. Bottled drinks, coffees, smoothies, teas, and broths will lead the way in 2018.

4. Transparency 2.0

Product transparency is not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, in 2018, consumers only expect more. They want to know the story of their food from the source to the store. Responsible production and animal welfare will continue to drive a lot of purchases with GMO transparency being important as well.

5. All Plant-Based Everything

The tech world has now met the plant-based world and they have some cool ideas brewing. They are using science to manipulate ingredients and proteins to create crazy dishes like “bleeding” vegan burgers and sushi-grade “not-tuna” from tomatoes. Dairy-free desserts will be a huge trend in 2018 with vegan frosting, brownies, and ice cream making their way to the shelf.

6. Puffed and Popped Snacks

New extrusion methods are paving the way for unique crunch and popped snacks like popped cassava chips and puffed pasta bow ties. Better-for-you snacks will get an upgrade with snacks like lentil crisps, unique veggie straws, and rice crisps joining the snack aisle.

7. Middle East Feast

It’s interesting to see Middle Eastern culinary influences start to catch fire in 2018. Hummus and Pita were taste entry points, but consumers are hungry for more like shakshuka, grilled halloumi, and lamb. Pomegranate, eggplant, chickpeas, and tomato jam will start to pick up more steam in 2018 as well.

8. Tacos Leave Their Shell

Tacos are not only meant for lunch and dinner. In 2018, you will start to see them more at breakfast and in desserts. New kinds of wrappers are showing up like seaweed and grain free options. But don’t worry, classic tacos aren’t going anywhere.

9. Root-to-Stem

Root-to-stem cooking will be one of the leading trends in 2018 as reducing food waste drives the style. The cooking style uses the entire fruit or vegetable including the steams and leaves which are less commonly eating. Recipes including beet-green pesto, broccoli-stem slaw, and pickled watermelon rinds.

10. Cheers to the Other Bubbly

Sparkling beverages are the hot drinks on the block with LaCroix leading the way. But, please don’t call them SODA! New sparkling waters are going plant-based with maple and birch as well as mocktail flavors of grapefruit, lemon, lime, and orange.

Check out Whole Foods in 2018 to try a variety of products hitting on these trends in 2018!

Inspired by media.wholefoodsmarket.com

Consumers are Confused about “non-GMO” and “organic” Labels

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The Meatingplace reported on a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. They found more results pointing to confusion amongst consumers when evaluating “non-GMO” and “organic” labels.

How the Study Worked

Researchers based their findings on a national survey of 1,132 respondents. These people were specifically asked about their willingness to pay more for food labeled as non-GMO or genetically modified. The two products that the researched focused on were a 12-pack of granola bars versus fresh apples. The evaluated how much more respondents would pay for either of these items labeled as “Non-GMO Project Verified” or “USDA Organic.”

Their Findings Showcase Confused Consumers

The team of researchers found that consumers will pay $0.35 more for a 12-pack of granola bars with the “Non-GMO Project Verified” label on the packaging. However, the “USDA Organic” label did not hold as much weight, as consumers would only pay $0.09 more for the granola bars.

When consumers looked at fresh apples, things changed. Consumers were willing to pay $0.35 more for a pound of fresh apples labeled as “Non-GMO Project Verified” while they were willing to pay $0.40 more for the same pound of fresh apples labeled as “USDA Organic.” It seems that the “USDA Organic” label carries more weight in fresh produce than processed foods based on this study.

Why are Consumers Confused?

Consumers have almost done this to themselves as they have demanded more product transparency from brands over the past few years. Food companies are scrambling to add claims that stick out and show their food is “real.” Label Insight showcased last year that consumers find it difficult to understand if a product meets their needs by looking at the package.

What’s interesting about this new study from the University of Florida is how consumers are confused about “organic” and “non-GMO.” According to the USDA, the use of GMOs is prohibited in “organic” foods. So in reality, all organic foods are “non-GMO.” However, not all “non-GMO” foods are organic. Which makes it even more interesting that consumers are willing to pay more for packaged products with the non-GMO project verified logo.

The bottom line is education is needed on this subject. As food manufacturers invest in more organic foods and certifications, they expect consumers to be willing to pay more. This could spell trouble for brand betting big on organic in 2018 and beyond.

Inspired by www.fooddive.com

The Evolution of Nutrition Facts Labeling

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According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the nutrition facts panel is one of the most widely recognized graphics in the world. Food Dive recently published an article on the origins and evolution of nutrition facts labeling. Our post hopes to detail some of the key points from their report.

The History of the Nutrition Facts Label

FDA Historian, Suzanne Junod, told Food Dive that the nutrition panel has been appearing on food packages since 1994, but mandatory labeling dates back more than 100 years. Junod says,”The modern U.S. food-package label has evolved steadily throughout the 20th century, and its content and format are regularly revised to reflect and apply new knowledge in the fields of medical, nutritional and regulatory science.”

However, minimal changes have taken place within the past 20 years except for the addition of Trans Fat in 2006. If you looked back 100+ years ago, the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 established the FDA and was the first significant consumer protection law passed in the 20th century. The law intended to stop adultered and mislabeled products to improve consumer trust in the food and drug industries. Packaged foods started to grow at the turn of the 20th century as these goods were more convenient that bulk or boxed products.

 

From there, low-cost competitors jumped in to sell short-weight packaging meaning they put less food in packages and sold them for less. In 1913, Congress passed the first mandatory food labeling law with the Gould Net Weight Amendment. The amendment required all packaged foods to have the quantity of their contents marked on the package regarding weight, measure or numerical count.

The next significant change took place in 1938 in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act which required all artificial flavoring, coloring, or chemical preservatives to be listed on the product label.

“We didn’t know that much about vitamins until the ’20s. A lot of them weren’t even discovered until then. And no one was really clear about the role they played in human nutrition,” Junod said. “But scientific studies began. That was pretty much when [the FDA] started getting into the nutrition business and taking a really hard scientific look at nutrients and what role they play in the diet.”
Suzanne Junod
FDA Historian

In 1940, the FDA accepted a standard for enriched flour that established the levels for enrichment with vitamins and minerals. The formula was adopted for white bread and later standardized for other food products. Nutrition facts labels would not change for decades.

Nutrition Labeling Activity From the 1970s to the 1990s

In 1973, the FDA published the first regulations that required nutrition labeling for foods. The foods included those with added nutrients for which a claim was made on the package or in advertising.

“Then in 1977, a Senate committee came out with a report called Dietary Goals for the United States. That was a landmark report. [It] said that Americans should be cutting down dramatically on sugar, salt, and saturated fat, and eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, and healthful foods”
Michael Jacobson
Sr. Scientist at CSPI

The Department of Agriculture, would soon after published the first Dietary Guidelines for American which agreed with Senate findings: eat more fruits and veggies, eat less salt and sugar.

Mandatory nutrition labeling and the first nutrition facts label were introduced in the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990. The FDA spent a lot of time developing the nutrition facts label with an outside branding firm to be flexible for scientific advances in nutrition.

Where the Nutrition Facts Label is Going…

The new nutrition facts label is undergoing its first significant overhaul in almost 20 years. In the new version, the FDA requires added sugars, essential nutrients like vitamin D, potassium, calcium, and iron. The label was initially set to be active in 2018 but has now been pushed back to 2020. Many believe they are trying to line this up with the Department of Agriculture’s Non-GMO labeling law. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out over the next few years.

Inspired by www.fooddive.com/

27% of People in the U.K. Use Sports Nutrition Products

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Sports drinks were once reserved for bodybuilders and athletes, but the recent Mintel report on sports nutrition revealed a different story in the U.K. Published in the Attitudes Towards Sports Nutrition 2017 report, results showed that 3 out of 10 or 27% of Brits use sports nutrition products. The report also noted that 2 out of 5 (39%) of the UK’s population exercise more than once a week.

Men Are the Main Users of Sports Nutrition Products

Young men in Britain have the strongest affinity to sports nutrition products. Around 61% of men between 16 and 34 confessed that they use sports nutrition products and also follow a rigid exercise program. In fact, 35% of this demographic say they exercise four times a week.

While men showed a high propensity for sports nutrition products, there is also a growing demand from the females.  The study indicated that 40% of women between 16 and 34 years old consume sports nutrition products. There is also an increase of intake of protein powders among young women from 7% in 2015 to 18% in 2017.

Popular Sports Nutrition Products in the United Kingdom

The top three products according to the reports include protein bars at 11%, protein powders at 10%, and energy bars at 9%. According to Anita Winther, research analyst at Mintel, the sports nutrition industry is proliferating.  The reason for this is that people are changing their perception of beauty. In fact, even the fashion industry is embracing the mantra “strong is the new skinny” thus models are often required to have athletic and toned bodies.

The embrace of these nutrition products among Brits is good news for manufacturers. But while the demand is high for these products, 63% of consumers find it difficult to determine whether a particular product is right for them or not. 72% of the customers demand industry-wide certification to ensure the quality of the ingredients used.

 

Consumers are more critical with the types of foods that they consume, and this scrutinizing behavior extends to sports nutrition. Around 64% of the users read the ingredients list before deciding to buy a particular product while 46% avoid those that contain sugar. With this consumer behavior, the industry can benefit by revamping their products to include more natural and sugar-free products to meet the demands of people.

Current Problem

While the sports nutrition industry is growing, it is facing fierce competition from mainstream food companies that are also embracing the high-protein trend. It seems that there is an overlap between the two and that mainstream food companies are providing products that have more competitive prices and more beneficial ingredients.

The thing is that there is a booming interest in health and sports products in the United Kingdom and the broad aspect of healthy living. The trend gives manufacturers opportunities to develop new products to cater to different types of consumers.

Inspired by www.mintel.com

CPG Brands Experiencing Growth in New Retail Platforms

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The primary theme of the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry is growing sales. In the IRI Channel Performance Report, growth is present but limited. According to Vice President of Thought Leadership for IRI, Susan Viamiri, the reason for this is that shoppers are now more demanding and are spending their money on products that can deliver on their needs and expectations.

In the previous year, the industry amassed total sales of $760 billion where 41% was accounted for in the grocery channel. Another platform where consumer packaged goods are doing well is online. Most people still purchase the items that they need in grocery stores. The reason why grocery stores accounted for higher sales than any other platforms is that many people make quick trips to purchase their items. In 2016 alone, the number of grocery trips rose by 1.3%.

Strategies to Stay Ahead of Competition

As a result, many grocery stores have experimented with their store format to increase margins and survive the stiff competition with other retailers. Other strategies that they are using include subscription-based programs and promoting their CPG brands to millennials. The new formats embraced by CPG retailers will continue to transform the retail market for years to come.

As mentioned previously, e-commerce stores are also instrumental in driving the sales today. E-commerce is responsible for 8% of all CPG revenue. Market analysts are forecasting that the sale is faster because of the convenience it provides to consumers. This has many brick-and-mortar retailers scrambling to become more competitive.

The consumer packaged goods industry is eyeing different types of shoppers. The generational shoppers include the Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers. These kinds of generational shoppers have different shopping attitudes. For instance, both millennials and generation Xs shop in mass markets and look into the price of goods more than anything else. Baby boomers, on the other hand, spend on convenience while seniors often pay more in bulk for drugstore purchases.

Social Media: How it Helps CPG Brands and Retailers

Too much competition is one of the biggest problems right now. Even big retailers find it hard to infiltrate densely-populated areas, so they create a downsized version of their retail stores. To be able to attract more people, they use loyalty programs and technology to let their customers know about their different offerings. They go to social media to interact with their customers and attract more potential clients.

The consumer packaged goods industry is fast-paced, and personalization is essential in breaking through the tough marketplace. By offering customization, customers feel important as they know that retailers can deliver their needs using the best solution possible.

Inspired by www.iriworldwide.com