Sweets and snacks new product development thrives on adventure and bite-size trends

With one in four global consumers increasing their consumption of confectionery over the past year because there is more variety & novelty available, the food industry is responding. New data from Innova Market Insights finds a 15 percent average annual growth in global confectionery launches with a “discovery” claim (CAGR 2013-2017). Consumer curiosity to discover something new and different is leading to more unusual and often bolder flavours and blends, surprise textures and a greater focus on visual appeal in the sweets and snacks arena. Heightened sensory delivery is also being increasingly combined with an element of the unexpected. As such, we are seeing activity in areas such as unusual colours, popping candy, hot & spicy options, cooling effects and more interactive, personalized packaging.

Nutrients from food, not supplements, linked to lower risks of death, cancer

Adequate intake of certain nutrients is associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality when the nutrient source is foods, but not supplements, according to a new study. There was no association between dietary supplement use and a lower risk of death.

Food additive may influence how well the flu vaccines work

Michigan State University scientists have linked a common food preservative to an altered immune response that possibly hinders flu vaccines.

A ‘bran’ new way to preserve healthy food with natural ingredients

A natural antioxidant found in grain bran could preserve food longer and replace synthetic antioxidants currently used by the food industry, according to researchers at Penn State.

Anti-inflammatory plant-based diet helps reduce gingivitis

A plant-based whole food diet reduced gingivitis in a recent randomized trial.

New pathways for sustainable agriculture

Diversity beats monotony: a colourful patchwork of small, differently used plots can bring advantages to agriculture and nature. This is the result of a new study by the University of Würzburg.

Inaugural sports nutrition awards launched by European association

The inaugural European Specialist Sports Nutrition Awards, the ESSNawards, designed to honour the best and brightest from the sports nutrition industry across Europe and celebrate the sector’s expansion and prosperity, was launched on July 2, 2019.

Europe’s most comprehensive platform for natural solutions and organic ingredients now bigger than ever

This year’s Food ingredients Europe & Natural ingredients, Europe’s leading trade show for food and beverage ingredients, will reflect the “green” consumer trend even stronger than before. As more and more companies focus on natural ingredients and organic provenance, exhibition organizer Informa Markets has more than doubled the size of the event’s Organic Pavilion. In addition, the natural ingredients zone has grown by more than 50 percent. Fi Europe & Ni 2019 will take place from 3 to 5 December in Paris.

Zero alcohol drinks growing 10% a year in Europe

A question of balance for clean and clear label

Clean and clear labeling concerns are now well established in the food and beverage industry. The term ‘clear labeling’ has now fully entered industry parlance, being used in several company marketing campaigns, with new commitments on a clean or clear platform regularly. Its increasingly mainstream status is illustrated in the fact that nearly 28% of global food and beverage launches recorded by Innova Market Insights in 2018 used one or more clean label claims (natural, organic, no additives/preservatives and GMO-free), rising to nearly 39% in the US.