Proteins

Florida consumer drops false advertising lawsuit v Hampton Creek over Just Mayo

23-Jun-2015 By Elaine Watson

A Florida consumer accusing Hampton Creek Foods of falsely advertising its Just Mayo spread has dropped her lawsuit against the company, her attorney has confirmed.

Egg replacement ingredients help manufacturers reformulate in avian flu wake

19-Jun-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

The spread of avian flu among hens in the U.S. may be slowing, but the resulting egg shortage could take up to two years to rebound – prompting some worried manufacturers to permanently reformulate their products with egg replacement ingredients, industry...

YumButter: We're on a mission to disrupt nut butter category one pouch at a time

18-Jun-2015 By Elaine Watson

If Justin’s made consumers think differently about nut butter with its novel flavor combos and single-serve sachets, YumButter is on a mission to disrupt the category all over again with its YumButter GO pouches, promising an even more convenient way...

Bakers hail new egg supplies from The Netherlands, but warn that avian flu crisis is ‘far from over’

05-Jun-2015 By Elaine Watson

The arrival of egg products from The Netherlands “may make up for about 10% of the supply that’s been lost due to the impact of the avian influenza” in the US, says the American Bakers Association. 

Smucker’s will launch more “clean” & “healthy” products in fiscal 2016, executives say

05-Jun-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Peanut butter and jelly maker J.M. Smucker Company plans to introduce more than 100 new products in the coming year – most of which will be “clean” and “healthy,” according to company executives.

5 emerging multicultural ingredients with cross-generational appeal

04-Jun-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Multicultural wellness ingredients are emerging as a tie that binds the diverse desires of multiple generations together, according to the latest Packaged Facts’ Culinary Trend Tracking Series report. 

Hemp is ready for prime time, says Evo Hemp co-founder: We’re growing at 300% year over year

04-Jun-2015 By Elaine Watson

It may not have hit prime time yet, but it’s only a matter of time before hemp is as big as chia in the US food and beverage market, predicts the co-founder of one snacking company determined to put the protein-packed seed on the map.

Mushroom mycelium could breathe new life into declining cereals category, claims MycoTechnology

04-Jun-2015 By Elaine Watson

Grain companies are working with Denver-based MycoTechnology to explore how mushrooms’ filament-like roots or ‘mycelium’ could help create new value-added opportunities in the cereals market by transforming the nutritional profile of wheat and other grains.

NurturMe angles for pole-position in quinoa-based baby food category

03-Jun-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

A $1.5 million investment from EcoEnterprises Fund will enable NurturMe to expand its line of quinoa-based children's food as well as its social mission as a B-Corporation to improve sustainable agriculture in South America, a company executive said. 

Allegations of misleading baby food labels spurs changes in market

03-Jun-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Beech-Nut Nutrition Company is going above and beyond the legal labeling requirements of ingredients to reassure parents following allegations that other baby food companies’ labeling misleads consumers about the quality and quantities of ingredients...

Israeli start-up has novel approach for grasshopper shakes

03-Jun-2015 By Niamh Michail

Israeli insect start-up, Steak TzarTzar, aims to target the Western sports nutrition market with its grasshopper protein powder - competitively priced thanks to grasshopper sales in Africa.

Major companies are driving soy sustainability, says RTRS

02-Jun-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Sustainability in the soy sector is being driven by food companies aiming to mitigate brand risk, according to Europe Outreach Manager for the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS) Lieven Callewaert.

Online meal delivery services are “next big wave of food companies,” Veestro CMO says

02-Jun-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

California startup Veestro is bringing to consumers’ doors healthy, plant-based frozen meals and with them the next evolution in the burgeoning direct-to-consumer meal kit and grocery delivery movement.

The future of tofu: pressed, baked and vacuum-packed

01-Jun-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Vitasoy USA Inc., the maker of Nasoya products, hopes its new vacuum-packed and ready-to-eat baked tofu products will bring new consumers into the category by making tofu easier to prepare and showcasing its versatility. 

Booming meat snack market grows with new flavors, formats & packaging

29-May-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Consumer demand for high protein, on-the-go food is helping drive sales of jerky, which climbed 12.8% last year, and other dried meat snacks, which increased 14.3% last year, according to data analysis by IRI Worldwide. Meat snack manufacturers hoping...

Mars appeals to health-conscious consumer with goodnessknows national launch

29-May-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

The inclusion of dried fruit in Mars Chocolate North America’s goodnessknows snack squares helps deliver the sweetness consumers seek from confections, while also helping the candy-giant deliver on its commitment to offer options with limited added sugar. 

Five modern twists on brittle

28-May-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Five startups showcasing at the Sweets and Snacks Expo in Chicago hope to rekindle Americans’ love affair with the iconic sugar candy brittle by updating the old fashioned confection with bold new flavors and textures that will appeal to a broader audience.

Avian flu prompting strategic rethink at US food companies, claims Hampton Creek boss: 'It's not just about price'

26-May-2015 By Elaine Watson

The latest outbreak of avian flu has, predictably, prompted a surge in demand for egg replacers. But some industrial egg users are now considering making permanent changes to recipes and menus rather than just making tactical substitutions whenever egg...

New data reveals winners in the US snacks aisle: RTE popcorn, bean chips & dried meat snacks

26-May-2015 By Elaine Watson

Potato chips, tortilla chips and cheese snacks are performing strongly in the US retail market, despite growing demand for healthier snacking options. However, the big winners in the snacks aisle this year have been ready-to-eat popcorn, meat snacks,...

Egg supplies decreasing at ‘alarming rate’ due to avian flu, warn bakers

26-May-2015 By Elaine Watson

Bakers and other big users of eggs could face major supply shortages if the government does not act quickly to allow temporary imports from more egg-producing countries, claims the American Bakers Association (ABA), which says “25% of industrial egg product...

Culinary trend spotting

Millennials are driving snack sales growth & reshaping how Americans eat, Euromonitor says

22-May-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Sales of snacks account for a whopping 40% of the $370 billion U.S. packaged food market and are set to grow 2% annually through 2019, thanks in large part to millennials who eat more snacks than any other group, according to analysis by Euromonitor. 

Packaged Facts: Almond and coconut milk on fire; soy milk on the skids; skim milk losing share

21-May-2015 By Elaine Watson

Packaged Facts is predicting continued double-digit growth for almond milk in the next five years, and reckons it could increase its dollar share of the US retail dairy and dairy alternative beverages market from 5% in 2014 to 19% in 2019. 

Biena dry roasted chickpea snacks are about to roll out nationally at Target

Biena nails crunchy, salty, satisfying and healthy: ‘So many healthy snacks leave you feeling unsatisfied’

20-May-2015 By Elaine Watson

When Poorvi Patodia first started pitching roasted chickpeas to retail buyers in 2012, not everyone was convinced they could be a mainstream hit. Today, they are gracing shelves in 3,000+ stores from Sprouts to Stop & Shop and are about to go into...

Just scaling up alone without fundamental changes to farming practices could decrease costs by 25-50%

All Things Bugs: We’re having conversations with a lot of mainstream food manufacturers

20-May-2015 By Elaine Watson

While cost is a barrier – and regulatory issues need ironing out – mainstream food manufacturers “have been way more open to this [using edible insects in their products] than you would probably think”, says the founder of the world’s largest insect-based...

Experts untangle GMO developments and impact on firms at FoodNavigator-USA’s Going Non-GMO forum May 20

19-May-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Pressure on food manufacturers to label genetically modified food and provide non-GMO alternatives is mounting as consumer concern and confusion about the technology increases in response to a deluge of negative messaging about it. 

Peanut milk concept with 'smooth, slightly creamy mouthfeel' is under development, says National Peanut Board

14-May-2015 By Elaine Watson

Almond milk sales continue to grow in the double digits, while cashew milk is gaining momentum, but what about peanut milk? There’s no major commercial product out yet, but a concept is being developed, says the National Peanut Board (NPB). 

‘Consumers are more than ready for pulse bread’, says supplier

12-May-2015 By Kacey Culliney

Consumers are familiar enough with pulses for bakers to seriously consider incorporating the ingredient into industrial breads, says Best Cooking Pulses.

WhiteWave Foods raises outlook on strength of strong sales, innovative launches

12-May-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Premium organic packaged food manufacturer WhiteWave Foods raised its guidance for 2015 following strong first quarter sales driven by innovative line extensions and recent product launches. 

Scientists develop low-allergen soybean

06-May-2015 By Niamh Michail

A new low-allergen variety of soy bean has been developed using conventional methods.

Nutritional drink marketing linked to music, sports & politics may be most effective, study reveals

06-May-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Manufacturers of high-end juices, nutritional shakes and smoothies likely will get more bang from their advertising buck in marketing associated with music, sports, technology and politics, according to consumer research conducted by CivicScience.

Row intensifies over 'Eat less red & processed meat’ message in dietary guidelines report

05-May-2015 By Elaine Watson

The row over the health and sustainability of meat consumption prompted by the recent Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) report has intensified this week as stakeholders rushed to submit comments on the report ahead of a May 8 deadline.

Attorney: This case could end up in the Supreme Court

What does the ruling in Vermont mean for GMO labeling?

30-Apr-2015 By Elaine Watson

While opponents of Vermont’s GMO labeling Act 120 suffered a major setback this week after a federal judge rejected many of their arguments, some attorneys predict the case could ultimately end up in the Supreme Court to settle a long-running debate over...

Meat is made from plants, says Lightlife in new plant-based protein campaign: So cut out the middleman

30-Apr-2015 By Elaine Watson

How do you market plant protein? Until recently, it was all about ‘vegetarian’ options, ‘meat analogs’ or ‘meat-alternatives’, says Lightlife Foods, but today, marketers are presenting their plant-based wares as the first – and best - choice for what...

CleverFoodies gains distribution fast for category-creating product with co-branding

29-Apr-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Startup CleverFoodies secured national distribution at major retailers with enviable speed for the launch of Scramble natural mix-ins for eggs by creating a new category and partnering with well-established brands to generate visibility.

Jeremy Rifkin: Meat is ‘the most inefficient way of feeding the human race’

27-Apr-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Europe needs to talk about moving down the food chain to feed people more efficiently and beat climate change, says renowned US economist and social theorist Jeremy Rifkin.

Edible insect potential hinges on identifying optimal diet, say researchers

24-Apr-2015 By Elaine Watson

If edible insects such as crickets are to deliver on their promise of providing a more environmentally-friendly source of protein, they may need to be put on a different diet, suggests a new study.

Health experts debate the role of exercise, food and marketing in the obesity epidemic

23-Apr-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

An editorial in an academic journal has reignited the debate over the extent to which a poor diet – and the marketing tactics employed by the food industry – is responsible for America’s obesity epidemic.

Hampton Creek CEO: People told me foodservice was a high-volume, low-margin play with no branding opportunities; they were wrong

22-Apr-2015 By Elaine Watson

From a standing start in late 2013 – when it hit shelves in Whole Foods - Hampton Creek’s egg-free spread Just Mayo is now in 21,000 retail locations. But its progress in foodservice has been even more meteoric, says CEO Josh Tetrick, who says a deal...

FDA’s list of food priorities include finalizing rules for GRAS & gluten-free labeling for fermented foods

21-Apr-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

FDA is considering adding pre- and post-market enforcement “enhancements” to the final rule for the process of determining food substances are GRAS – or generally recognized as safe, according to a top agency official. 

And now the lawsuits… FDA warning letter to KIND triggers wave of consumer litigation

20-Apr-2015 By Elaine Watson

As widely predicted, multiple class action lawsuits were filed against KIND on Friday following the publication of a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warning letter citing a long list of concerns over label claims on its bars and its website.

FDA: KIND bars do not meet the requirements for use of the nutrient content claim ‘healthy'

KIND LLC working with FDA over string of labeling errors; consumer litigation could follow, predict attorneys

16-Apr-2015 By Elaine Watson

KIND LLC says it is working closely with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address a long list of concerns raised by the agency in a warning letter over label claims on its bars and its website.

3 firms expand into new territory with protein-packed snack launches

16-Apr-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Several well-established manufacturers are stepping out of their comfort zones and expanding into new categories or updating iconic brands to meet consumers’ ostensibly insatiable desire for protein-packed snacks. 

Surging interest in edible insects prompts safety review

13-Apr-2015 By Niamh Michail

A pan-European list outlining the pros and cons of different insect species, their nutritional content and environmental impact is needed says ANSES.

Sunwarrior increased sales, lowered costs and improved sustainability by switching to square tubs

13-Apr-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Turns out being square isn’t such a bad thing, protein powder company Sunwarrior discovered when it ditched cylinder tubs for ones with four corners.

60-second interview: Mark Singleton, outgoing chairman of the Snack Food Association; vice president of sales & marketing, Rudolph Foods

SFA outgoing chairman: The lines between meals & snacks are blurring; we’ve seen remarkable changes in consumption patterns

13-Apr-2015 By Elaine Watson

According to the March 2015 report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, most Americans now consume two or three snacks a day - news that came as no surprise to the outgoing chairman of the Snack Food Association, Mark Singleton. Elaine Watson...

Lentein has more essential and branch chain amino acids than any other plant protein

Could the water lentil be the next big thing in plant-based protein?

13-Apr-2015 By Elaine Watson

A new form of non-GMO plant-based protein boasting an amino acid profile comparable to whey, plus high levels of calcium and other nutrients, is now available in commercial quantities from Parabel Ltd, which has developed a proprietary process for producing...

Artisan Bistro updates frozen entrée ingredients, packaging to attract consumers

10-Apr-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Artisan Bistro hopes to coax back to the frozen food aisle consumers who have given the category the cold shoulder by raising the culinary and ingredient bars with its boldly flavored meals that are healthy for consumers and the earth. 

Will 2015 be the year of tempeh?

10-Apr-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

Manufacturers are cautiously reinvesting in tempeh, which is well-positioned to capitalize on multiple growing consumer trends, but they realize that before it can take-off it must clear a major hurdle: Most consumers have never heard of it. 

Competition heats up as new frozen desserts launch

09-Apr-2015 By Elizabeth Crawford

With the arrival of Spring, the weather is heating up and so is the competition in the frozen dessert aisle as firms launch new ice creams, gelatos and frozen novelty treats. Here are a few of the new desserts hitting store shelves with the goal of keeping...

Rice Bran Technologies' protein will compete with clean source, 'made in USA' message, CEO says

08-Apr-2015 By Hank Schultz

Rice Bran Technologies (RIBT) is close to market with a new rice protein offering that will benefit from a ‘made in USA’ clean sourcing message.  The protein’s debut awaited modifications to the company’s Montana production facility, work that was completed...