Proteins

Litigation to resume in plant-based ‘meat’ battle in Missouri as settlement talks reach impasse

05-Jul-2019 By Elaine Watson

Hopes of a settlement in a high-profile lawsuit over Missouri’s controversial new law banning ‘meaty’ terms on plant-based and cell-cultured meat are fading, after talks have reached an impasse and the parties are set to move forward with the litigation.

Hear from Chobani, Freeli Foods, Mondelez, Kraft Heinz, Ocean Spray, SPINS, Euromonitor, Raised Real, Mattson, AccelFoods, Brainiac Kids, Yummy Spoonfils, Serenity Kids, Peekaboo, Fresh Bellies, KRa, Beansprouts Cafe, The Clean Label Project

How is the plant-based trend impacting the kids’ food market? New topics, speakers, announced at the 2019 FoodNavigator-USA FOOD FOR KIDS summit

05-Jul-2019 By Elaine Watson

How is the plant-based trend impacting the kids’ food market? When and how are children’s flavor preferences developed (and can we really train kids to love broccoli)? And what’s the sweet spot for sugar levels in beverages that kids enjoy and parents...

PBFA and Upton’s Naturals challenge Mississippi law restricting plant-based and cell-cultured ‘meat’ labeling

02-Jul-2019 By Elaine Watson

The Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) and member company Upton’s Naturals have filed a lawsuit in Mississippi challenging a new labeling law that could make using ‘meaty’ terms to describe plant-based and cell-cultured meat subject to criminal penalties....

BRAMI undergoes brand revamp unlocking further growth in 'great-for-you' snacking

02-Jul-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Since launching three years ago, lupini bean snacking company BRAMI is at the precipice of its next wave of brand growth bolstered by refreshed packaging and a new partnership with a lupini bean manufacturer based in Italy.

Tyson Foods talks seasonal eating trends: 'Blended burgers and nuggets will be the new hot kids’ menu items'

27-Jun-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Consumers' eating patterns tend to shift during the summer months, becoming more experimental and experiential with new items taking center plate such as meat-less burgers, blended proteins, ‘standalone’ side dishes, and all-day snacking, says Tyson...

Diversifying plant protein sources for the meat analogues of the future: Roquette plans 2020 fava launch

27-Jun-2019 By Katy Askew

Demand for meat analogues is booming as ever more sophisticated plant-protein products are developed. Future growth of the sector will benefit from diversified protein sources, ingredients specialist Roquette predicts.

‘Real’ cheese… without cows? New Culture makes mozzarella with milk proteins via microbial fermentation

24-Jun-2019 By Elaine Watson

Startup New Culture is seeking to raise $2.8m to develop ‘real’ cheese with casein proteins made from microbial fermentation (instead of cow’s milk) that its founder claims can deliver taste, functionality and nutrition that plant-based cheeses simply...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: How ingredient suppliers and distributors are stepping up to fill an innovation void

21-Jun-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

When large food companies began cutting back on in-house R&D in favor of investing in startups’ with promising ideas, some either didn’t factor in or miscalculated the resources and time needed to scale-up their acquisitions before seeing returns...

Perfect Snacks sells majority stake to Mondelēz: 'This is a big play for Mondelēz, to jump into the fridge'

20-Jun-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Mondelēz has acquired a majority interest in refrigerated nutrition bar brand Perfect Snacks, known for its Original Refrigerated Protein Bar, giving the CPG giant a play in the fast-growing refrigerated snacking category.

Brave positions itself as a 'morning solution company' gearing up for first commercial production run

20-Jun-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Founders of Brooklyn-based startup Brave have created a line of quick-to-prepare overnight breakfast products (containing a base blend of oats, chia seeds, and hemp hearts), helping to alleviate the morning time rush when many consumers find themselves...

Caulipower’s New Chick On The Block gives ‘category-busting nutritional makeover’ to frozen chicken tenders

20-Jun-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

After disrupting the frozen pizza category and bumping several iconic brands out the category’s top 10 with its better-for-you cauliflower-based crust, Caulipower and Vegolution Foods are trying their luck again on another iconic American comfort food...

'This product appeals to anyone watching their sugar and carbs': SimplyProtein expands US presence aiming to strike mainstream appeal

18-Jun-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Canadian snack brand SimplyProtein is expanding its reach across the US market, rolling out into 235 Target stores in April and launching into Kroger stores this fall.

AB InBev’s investment arm ZX Ventures seeks ideas the world ‘hasn’t yet even imagined’

18-Jun-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Anheuser-Busch InBev may be on a mission to be the “best beer company bringing people together for a better world,” but its innovation, incubation and investment arm, ZX Ventures, wants more: It wants to “make products, services and technologies that...

WATCH: Edible insect cos that survived 'ruthless winnowing' process, have made 'significant progress,' says Aspire Food Group

17-Jun-2019 By Elaine Watson

Despite the ubiquity of bug consumption in some parts of the world, the tools and techniques to raise and process insects as human food on an industrial scale are still evolving, and there are still no globally agreed standards about how to do it in the...

Vital Proteins shares strategies for building consumer relationships with DTC before going to retail

17-Jun-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

By building a strong direct-to-consumer market before launching into retail, Vital Proteins was able to connect with fans, discover how they use its collagen-based products and expand its portfolio with demand-based options so that when it entered brick-and-mortar...

Victory Hemp Foods’ expanded portfolio hints at the full potential of the crop across categories

17-Jun-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

CBD and THC are not the only buzz-worthy ingredients derived from hemp, according to Chad Rosen, founder of Victory Hemp Foods, who touts the plant’s seeds, which are packed with high quality protein and healthy fats, as an equally important “profit center”...

Super legume? Five Sun Foods prepares for nationwide US launch of Andean Lupin

14-Jun-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Andean Lupin, a nutritionally-dense legume native to the Andes Mountain region of South America, could be the next big superfood ingredient since quinoa, says Stephen Goldman CEO and founder of Five Sun Foods.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Which functional claims in beverage resonate with consumers?

14-Jun-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

As the line begins to blur between food and beverage, consumers are looking for more than just hydration from their drinks – they also want function, but according to market research firm Mintel figuring out which benefits resonate with which consumers...

Tyson unveils blended burgers, pea protein-based nuggets: ‘Alternative protein could someday be a billion-dollar business for our company’

13-Jun-2019 By Elaine Watson

Alternative protein could “someday be a billion dollar business for our company,” predicted Tyson Foods CEO Noel White as the company unveiled the first products under its new Raised & Rooted brand, and a new line of blended products under its aidells...

WATCH: Highly functional chickpea proteins are heading to the plant-based milk and meat categories, says Nutriati

13-Jun-2019 By Elaine Watson

High profile brands such as Ripple and Beyond Meat have raised the profile of yellow peas in the meat and dairy alternative categories. But chickpea protein can give peas and other plant-based proteins a serious run for their money in both of these segments,...

Chicken + plants = Chicken Plus… Perdue taps into plant-based trend with blended nuggets, tenders, patties

12-Jun-2019 By Elaine Watson

Poultry giant Perdue is dipping its toes into the plant-based trend with a new line of dinosaur-shaped nuggets, rice tenders and panko patties blended with cauliflower, chickpeas and plant proteins hitting the market in September.

Impossible Foods unveils 2019 impact report, defends GM soy: ‘Cows aren’t getting any better at making meat. We are’

12-Jun-2019 By Elaine Watson

As ingredient choices made by ‘next-generation’ plant-based meat brands attract more scrutiny, with some making a virtue of using peas over soy, and others promoting their use of non-GMO soybeans, Impossible Foods has defended its use of GM soy on sustainability...

Toddler drink features MFGM for brain development: ‘It’s the next best ingredient since DHA’

11-Jun-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The key to supplementing a young child's diet with the necessary nutrients to foster brain and behavioral development could lie in the MFGM (milk fat globule membrane), found naturally in every drop of breast milk, according to Dr Christina J Valentine,...

Nestlé gears up to launch the plant-based Awesome Burger under the Sweet Earth brand

10-Jun-2019 By Elaine Watson

Nestlé’s new ‘cook from raw’ plant-based Awesome Burger (launching in the fall under the Sweet Earth brand in retail and foodservice) has similar levels of sodium and saturated fat to the Impossible Burger and the Beyond Burger, but has significantly...

Plant-based chicken nugget maker Seattle Food Tech rebrands to Rebellyous as it scales up production

10-Jun-2019 By Elaine Watson

Seattle Food Tech – a start-up seeking to carve a distinct niche in the burgeoning plant-based meat market by targeting schools, hospitals, universities, and the military with plant-based chicken nuggets, patties and tenders – has changed its name to...

Beyond Meat Q1 revenues slightly ahead of guidance

07-Jun-2019 By Elaine Watson

Revenues at plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat tripled in Q1 2019 vs Q1 2018, surging 215% to $40.2m, slightly ahead of guidance provided in its IPO filings, primarily driven by growth of the ‘cook from raw’ Beyond Burger in foodservice and retail channels....

Trendspotting at IFT 2019 part 1: From novel fat- and egg-replacers to CBD and plant-based innovation

06-Jun-2019 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based meat, dairy and egg alternatives got top billing at the IFT annual meeting and expo in New Orleans this year, while hemp-derived CBD also made its debut, regulatory uncertainty notwithstanding... Check out part 1 of our gallery of highlights...

Plant-based start-up Before the Butcher gears up for retail launch in the meat case with Uncut brand

31-May-2019 By Elaine Watson

California based start-up Before the Butcher – which launched its plant-based burgers, grounds and chunks in the foodservice sector last year - is looking to make a big splash in retail in 2019 as it gears up to launch in three of the nation’s biggest...

Water lentil milk… a new option in the plant-based dairy case?

29-May-2019 By Elaine Watson

A new option could soon be available in the burgeoning plant-based milk category utilizing the protein-packed ‘water lentil,’ a free-floating seed-producing micro aquatic plant (also known as duckweed and Lemna/Lemnaceae).

Plant-based and cell-cultured 'meat' labeling under attack in 25 states

29-May-2019 By Elaine Watson

Bills to prevent plant-based and/or cell-cultured products from being labeled as ‘meat’ or ‘beef’ have been introduced in 25 US states, and have already passed in states including Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina, North...

Burcon: There is ‘genuine demand’ for canola protein

29-May-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Following the announcement of new JV to build a new facility and the launch of new protein blends, Canada’s Burcon says there’s “a lot of pent-up interest and demand” in canola protein.

Investing in the Future of Food: Patient capital can give entrepreneurs a leg-up when seeking VC funds

29-May-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Routine headlines about multi-million – or billion – dollar venture capital investments into food and beverage startups may give the impression that VC funding is the best way to scale a business, but according to one insider the model is far from perfect...

Soy protein reduces LDL by 3-4%, says meta-analysis... but will it convince the FDA not to revoke its health claim?

28-May-2019 By Elaine Watson

25g of soy protein a day reduces LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) by approximately 3–4% in adults, according to a new meta-analysis. But will it be enough to convince the FDA not to revoke its health claim on the relationship between soy protein and reduced risk...

Puris’ Texturized Pea Protein recreates ‘bouncy’ mouthfeel of animal-based meat in plant-based alternatives

28-May-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Ingredient supplier Puris’ Texturized Pea Protein can help manufacturers meet the rising consumer demand for plant-based meat that rivals the mouthfeel and taste of animal-based options, but without compromising clean-label and non-GMO or organic standards.

Burcon launches new plant protein blends, forms JV to build new production plant

24-May-2019 By Stephen Daniells

Plant protein is hot, but while pea and rice are booming, protein from canola is yet to take off. That may change as Canada’s Burcon NutraScience Corporation launches new pea and canola protein blends, and announces a new joint venture to build a C$65...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Trendspotting with Symrise focuses on visuals, florals and Asian food

24-May-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite what your parents told you growing up – looks matter – especially for food and beverage products in the current era of Instagram where more than 500 million people around the world check their photo feeds daily and 68% of Millennials photograph...

Tyson Foods leverages external partnerships to tackle ambitious sustainability, hunger relief goals

23-May-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

As one of the largest food companies in the world, Tyson Foods recognizes that it must help create a stable and sustainable food system at a time when a growing population and climate change are straining already limited resources.

Investing in the Future of Food: Founding partner of VC Fifty Years shares 3 areas ripe for investment

22-May-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

In the past decade, venture capitalists have emerged as a primary gatekeeper for innovation in the food and beverage industry as the amount of money they are pouring into startups in the space continues to rise exponentially, and so-called big-food continues...

Kashi drops ‘LEAN’ and plays up ‘GO’ in rebranding of its cereal line to inspire positivity

21-May-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

Recognizing that ‘dieting’ and weight-management have fallen out of style among health-conscious consumers, the natural and organic cereal company Kashi is rebranding its top-selling GOLEAN cereal line as Kashi GO to better align with consumers’ expanding...

Spero Foods seeks capital to ramp up manufacturing for plant-based eggs, cheese

17-May-2019 By Elaine Watson

Plant-based meat, eggs and dairy products that precisely replicate their animal-based counterparts might be more sustainable, but they’re not always more nutritious, and often come with a lengthy ingredients list and a high degree of ‘processing,’ says...

Euromonitor: What's the driving force behind plant-based eating?

17-May-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

The bulk of the plant-based eating trend is being driven by consumers who are trying to do their part to help the environment by cutting down their meat intake, as opposed to completely eliminating meat products by following a vegetarian or vegan diet,...

Lawsuit vs Miyoko's Kitchen challenging plant-based 'butter' is voluntarily dismissed

17-May-2019 By Elaine Watson

A high-profile lawsuit against Miyoko’s Kitchen taking issue with its use of the term ‘butter’ on a plant-based product, has been voluntarily dismissed with prejudice.

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Symrise shares 4 ways that plant-based eating is becoming more sophisticated

17-May-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

While the rapid growth of the plant-based market in the US initially may have been fueled by demand for alternatives to animal-protein and -dairy, the trend is quickly evolving as consumers’ tastes become more sophisticated and they begin to embrace plants...

Better-for-you frozen food brand Luvo pushes forward the idea of food as medicine with new bundles

16-May-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the addition of an advisory board member who is a certified physician and chef, the better-for-you frozen meal company Luvo is creating new products that it hopes will help lay a foundation for packaged food to one day be considered a health management...

Cargill invests in cultured meat business

14-May-2019 By Aidan Fortune

US processor Cargill is to expand its presence in the alternative proteins market with an investment in cultured meat business Aleph Farms.

Food, politics, and the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

13-May-2019 By Elaine Watson

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines prompted a heated debate over the influence of industry lobby groups and the extent to which environmental factors should impact dietary advice, with some stakeholders insisting that sustainability has nothing to do with nutrition,...

Most of $300m Series E to go on meat scale up, but Impossible Foods also has an 'entire dairy platform'

13-May-2019 By Elaine Watson

The bulk of Impossible Foods’ $300m series E funding round will go into aggressively scaling up production of its plant-based burgers to meet 'unprecedented' demand, but the company is also working on a suite of other meat products, and has...

The Good Food Institute: Plant-based food investment tops $17bn since 2009 as over one-third of Americans embrace animal-free products

10-May-2019 By Mary Ellen Shoup

From 2009 to 2018, $17.1bn ($13bn within the past two years) has been poured into the plant-based food industry from 229 unique investors and 233 completed deals, according to an annual report published by the Good Food Institute, which foresees even...

Raised Real passes half a million meals mark, adds Twilight star Nikki Reed to advisory board

10-May-2019 By Elaine Watson

Direct-to-consumer baby and toddler food brand Raised Real has delivered more than half a million meals since launching in January 2018, and added Twilight actress Nikki Reed onto its advisory board as it expands its product range and explores new ways...

Soup-To-Nuts Podcast: Are nutrient-dense plant-based beverages the future for the non-dairy category?

10-May-2019 By Elizabeth Crawford

The exponential growth of non-dairy milk sales and variety in the US, in many ways has been a harbinger for the overall plant-based movement, but as demand for the beverages continues to rise – so too are consumers’ standards, which could prompt a shake-out...