Think 'clean label' just means ditching ‘artificial’ ingredients and avoiding anything attracting negative press (warranted or otherwise)? Think again. Today, brands are also questioning whether ‘natural’ flavors, preservatives and sweeteners...
While SmartLabel is still in its relative infancy, manufacturers are flocking to the technology to help them provide the in-depth information that today’s consumers want as part of the clean label movement, but which might not fit on product packaging.
To the casual observer, ‘cleaning up’ our food sounds like an eminently sensible thing to do. But where is the clean label trend going, and is ditching every ingredient you can’t pronounce really the key to fixing the ‘broken’ food system (as Panera implies...
New research shows exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) in pregnant mice can disrupt the immune system and lead to multiple sclerosis in infancy, but experts say the chemical poses no risk to humans.
All eyes have been on Whole Foods since activist investors demanded radical action to address its recent “chronic underperformance." But is Albertsons – rumored to be courting the Austin-based retailer – the right suitor?
Hydroponic and aquaponic farms can keep their organic status – at least for now – following the National Organic Standards Board’s decision April 21 to defer a vote on whether the systems are eligible for USDA certification.
Viking Icelandic Yogurt – which hit the market in 2015 as grass-fed products started to gain traction in the dairy case - is launching nationally with Sprouts starting April 17, says brand owner Saga Dairy, which has also won listings in conventional...
For years kale has reigned supreme as the go-to superfood for many Americans thanks in part to its relatively low cost, nutrient density, broad accessibility and the plethora of ways to enjoy it from green smoothies to chips to raw salads and stir-fries.
Unilever has struck a deal to acquire New York-based condiment maker Sir Kensington’s, under which co-founders Mark Ramadan and Scott Norton will continue to run the business from their offices in Manhattan.
The volume of sugar sweetened beverages sold in Berkeley declined by 9.6% in the year following implementation of a soda tax, showing the tax is ‘working as intended’, according to the authors of a new study.
The results of the 2017 FoodNavigator-USA reader survey are in… and not surprisingly, given the breadth of our readership, they’re pretty mixed, with many readers excited about their company’s prospects and others feeling trapped in a race to the bottom...
Multiple US dairy groups have blasted Canada recently saying that the country is blatantly violating terms of the NAFTA trade agreement and that US dairy processors are suffering due to lost Canadian purchases of ultrafiltered (UF) milk.
Curating the National List of non-organic substances that are allowed in products certified as organic is a core responsibility of the National Organic Standards Board, and as such stakeholders will lobby the USDA advisory board to add and delete several...
To increase supply of organic and avoid the financially challenging three-year transition period necessary to convert conventional farm land, some producers are converting native ecosystems to organic farms – a practice that the National Organic Standards...
The Organic Trade Association wants to put the breaks on a proposal from the National Organic Standards Board to strengthen the requirements for use of organic seeds because “a few substantive changes are critical.”
Cottage cheese brand Muuna has rolled out to 4,000 retail locations nine months after its US launch, and is supporting its rapid growth with a multimedia marketing campaign and influencer program featuring dietitians and fitness professionals.
Greco has experience ‘in preparing and bringing companies to acquisition’
Former Sbarro CEO James Greco has taken the helm at True Drinks Holdings – the firm behind kids’ flavored water brand AquaBall – while Kevin Sherman (who has been in charge since Lance Leonard departed in December 2015) will stay on as president.
Organic stakeholders gathering in Denver this week for the National Organic Standards Board meeting will take another stab at defining the role of hydroponic production in organic, which documents suggest the advisory committee may prohibit.
FDA is “listening” to requests “on both ends of the spectrum” related to the upcoming deadline for changes to the Nutrition Facts Label currently slated to go into effect next July for large companies and in July 2019 for smaller firms, according to a...
Beyond Meat, manufacturer of the “first refrigerated plant-based burger to sit in the meat counter” in America, has chosen Hong Kong as its first international export destination.
A new report found that preparing a meal together and sharing a meal at home is important to Mexican consumers—so what does this mean for packaged food companies?
Ever since coconut water burst on to the US market several years ago, Americans have been enthralled with all things coconut, but while manufacturers are reaping the rewards of the ingredient’s sustained popularity, the farmers and suppliers are not.
As a percentage of the overall grocery retail market, Amazon’s $350m in Q1 grocery sales (annualized – that’s $1.4bn) is pretty small fry. But its mouthwatering 30% year-on year-growth suggests that CPG manufacturers that don’t have a clear strategy for...
Holiday celebrations call for candy, especially chocolate. But while celebratory times see peak chocolate product launches and sales, the category’s performance is quite flat year-round in developed markets.
While the nation’s biggest retailers, restaurants and food manufacturers have made commitments to use only cage-free eggs by 2025, they are not lining up to buy them right now, which is putting egg farmers – who need to start the costly conversion process...
It was a record-breaking year for in-store convenience store sales, which hit $233bn in calendar year 2016, data from the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) 2016 indicated. Among the top performers were non-alcoholic beverages and sweet...
Activist investors led by Jana Partners have acquired 8.3% of Whole Foods’ stock according to an SEC filing, which says Whole Foods must take radical action to address its recent “chronic underperformance."
Non-profit Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, backed by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and World Business Chicago, launched last week to establish the Midwestern city as a hub for food manufacturing innovation.
A slow decline is forecasted for total frozen food sales, which includes frozen dinners/entrees, pizzas, side dishes, and appetizers/snacks, according to Packaged Facts’ latest numbers.
Congressional pressure on federal agencies to back down from nutrition policies created under the Obama Administration continues to mount with the standards for school meals now in the cross-hairs.
As demand for local, fresh and healthy food increases community supported agricultural models are evolving to capture a larger share of consumer spend and could become a threat to more traditional retailers that rely on foot traffic generated by regular...
Whether you work in the food and beverage industry or not, by now you must’ve heard the uproar caused by Pepsi’s now taken-down ad featuring teen model (and ‘Kardashian’) Kendall Jenner.
The number of class action cases filed against food and beverage companies continues to surge with the number of cases brought last year alone reaching a staggering 170, compared to a mere 20 cases in 2008, according to new research released earlier this...
USDA encourages organic poultry farmers in areas where outbreaks of avian flu have been reported recently to bring their birds inside, and reassures them that doing so will not risk their organic status, according to a memo released this week.
The implementation deadline for the new Nutrition Facts label, which includes a new line indicating added sugars, could be pushed back several years if President Trump’s nominee for FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb is confirmed.
Multinationals are investing in – or snapping up - smaller, more entrepreneurial brands in the natural and organic food and beverage space faster than you can say ‘because that’s where the growth is’. So will Spindrift – which is on a mission to disrupt...
With the launch of 10 boldly and authentically flavored, ready-to-cook frozen whole fish fillets, premium seafood company High Liner Foods hopes to tear down several of the barriers that currently hold back many Americans from eating as much seafood as...
For those who enjoy the taste and ritual of drinking a hot cup of coffee in the morning or after dinner, but don’t want the caffeine jolt the beverage delivers, The Vegan Nest is launching an alternative that also is a superfood.
What do the most successful food and beverage brands in 2016 have in common? “Prevention, personalization, and pizzazz,” said Susan Viamari, vice president of Thought Leadership for market analytics firm IRI.
While President Trump’s nominee for USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue breezed through his Senate Agriculture Committee confirmation hearing late last month, he could face a long delay before the full Senate can consider his nomination. But that isn’t stopping...
An FDA-issued alert from frozen dessert brand Dream reiterating that some of its products contain traces of milk also warns other plant-based product manufacturers that they may need to go beyond legally mandated allergen warnings when it comes to dairy...
Known for its ancient grain and gluten-free granolas, Purely Elizabeth aims to expand distribution and will test the waters of mushroom-powered granola bars this summer, thanks in part to a minority investment of $3mn from General Mills’ 301 INC.
Virtually unheard of by many consumers as recently as just last spring, the bone broth category is “heating up” and there is “massive opportunity” for early movers in the space despite an early and mounting surge of competition, according to one player...
Working alongside members of Congress, hunger relief organizations and industry trade groups to package meals for the hungry and food insecure, executives at Kraft Heinz are not wasting any time in fulfilling the company’s recently expanded corporate...
Meat snacks have graduated from its road trip ‘gas station snack’ image, sales data imply. The $2.8 billion category had a compound annual sales growth of more than 7% over the past four years.
Despite declining market share, there is hope for soft drink manufacturers who can adapt to the highly-competitive beverage market by utilizing major health trends like reduced sugar and digestive benefits, GlobalData research found.