Sweeteners (intense, bulk, polyols)

Coca Cola EVP: Soda taxes ‘a complete disaster’

06-Sep-2017 By Elaine Watson

Soda taxes in Philadelphia and other cities have “materially reduced our business,” Coca Cola EVP and president, North America Sandy Douglas, told delegates at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference in Boston this week: “It’s a complete disaster.”

GMA: GMO labeling should apply to highly refined oils, sweeteners

01-Sep-2017 By Elaine Watson

If consumers are to believe that the food industry is serious about transparency, highly refined oils and sweeteners derived from GM crops must be included in the new bioengineered food standard (the federal GMO labeling law), even if they are indistinguishable...

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Sugar scare fails to sweeten US sugar-free candy sales

28-Aug-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Sugar-free chocolate and candy sales in the US have declined in the first half of 2017 despite consumers aiming to limit sugar in their diets.

Taxed beverage sales drop in Philadelphia, rise in its suburbs. Is it going as planned?

22-Aug-2017 By Adi Menayang

While sales of sweetened beverages dropped by more than half within Philadelphia’s city limits following the imposition of a soda tax, they also substantially increased just outside city limits. Tax naysayers say these numbers are proof that the legislation...

Jin+Ja projects revenues of $4.5m in 2017, unveils new Super Greens powder

15-Aug-2017 By Elaine Watson

Canada Enterprises LLC - the company behind spicy ginger beverage Jin + Ja - is on course to more than double revenues in 2017 to approach $4.5m as it explores new territory with the launch of Super Greens powder and ramps up its direct to consumer business.

Screw business as usual? RUNA co-founder on clean energy, social innovation, and staying focused

14-Aug-2017 By Elaine Watson

It’s hard to think of a company where mission and brand are more intertwined than RUNA, which was forged around an ingredient - guayusa - that created a powerful point of difference for an emerging beverage brand, but also generated income for small farmers...

Court filings indicate resurgence' in ‘all-natural’ litigation in 2017, but will appropriations bill spur the FDA into action?

10-Aug-2017 By Elaine Watson

There has been a resurgence in ‘all-natural’ litigation in 2017 as the industry has waited in vain for the FDA to provide a definition of the much-maligned term. However, a line item in an appropriations bill might spur the agency into action, say attorneys...

Sunrise Strategic Partners invests in sports recovery brand KILL CLIFF

10-Aug-2017 By Elaine Watson

Emerging brands accelerator Sunrise Strategic Partners has made a minority investment in Atlanta-based KILL CLIFF, a sports recovery beverage with added electrolytes, B vitamins, ginger root, ginseng root, and green tea, developed by former Navy Seal...

PepsiCo seeks to patent ‘biological method for preparing Reb M’

09-Aug-2017 By Elaine Watson

PepsiCo is seeking to patent a technique of producing the sugary-tasting steviol glycoside Reb M via an enzymatic method that delivers "higher purity at a lower cost.” 

Zola aims to expand the energy drink category with a product that offers hydration, natural flavors

07-Aug-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Consumers who begrudgingly endure the medicinal taste and multisyllabic, chemical-sounding ingredients in some energy drinks in exchange for the boost the beverages provide no longer need to make that trade off thanks to the launch of Zola’s purely plant-based...

Ethical Naturals uses extraction expertise on new monk fruit sweetener

01-Aug-2017 By Hank Schultz

Seeing a looming opportunity, dietary ingredients supplier Ethical Naturals has brought a new monk fruit sweetener ingredient to market that it says uses the same technology that it applies to its botanical extracts.

Protein2o raises $4m, attracts ex-Gatorade execs to support ‘explosive’ growth

25-Jul-2017 By Elaine Watson

Protein2o – a rapidly-growing brand of flavored waters infused with electrolytes and 15g of whey protein – has completed a $4m capital raise and attracted two high-profile ex-Gatorade executives as its president and chairwoman after a year of “explosive”...

Should soda with non-caloric sweeteners be taxed too? In Philadelphia and Cook County, that’s the case

24-Jul-2017 By Adi Menayang

Proponents of sin taxes say that putting a levy on sugar-sweetened drinks may play a pivotal role in fighting obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. But two of the eight US locations that have passed such a tax—Cook County (Chicago) and Philadelphia...

thinkThin continues double-digit growth, prepares to unveil ‘breakthrough protein snack’

17-Jul-2017 By Elaine Watson

Household penetration of protein bars has continued to increase as more retailers have moved them from the OTC/supplement aisles to the main snack bar fixtures, prompting shoppers to ‘trade up’ from sugary cereal bars to higher protein, lower sugar nutrition...

Sweetech flavor enhancers can help firms slash sugar by up to 50%

14-Jul-2017 By Elaine Watson

Sweetech, a new family of flavor enhancers from Bell Flavors and Fragrances, can help food and beverage manufacturers achieve significant (20-50%) reductions in sugar and retain a clean label, claims the Illinois-based company.

Huel jets across the Atlantic to take on Soylent, offering ‘complete nutrition’ and convenience

14-Jul-2017 By Elaine Watson

Food is fun. But not everyone has the time or energy to prepare three nutritionally-balanced meals every day, and brands that do all the hard work for you have big growth potential, claims UK-based Huel, which is making its US debut this summer with “perfectly...

How will added sugar labeling change the market? At IFT, companies weigh in

06-Jul-2017 By Adi Menayang

The controversial requirement to list added sugar on the nutrition facts panel has divided the industry. Though different parties may disagree on whether or not the move is good or bad for the industry, many agree that it will certainly change the landscape.

VIDEO: Cargill R&D VP talks ‘processed’ food: ‘All food is made of chemicals’

06-Jul-2017 By Elaine Watson

To many consumers, ‘processed food’ is just another term for ‘junk food.’ It’s hard to define, but we know it when we see it (Twinkies). But do we know a ‘highly processed’ ingredient when we see it, and how much processing is too much? Elaine Watson...

Glyphosate joins Prop 65 list, but what does this mean for packaged food manufacturers?

06-Jul-2017 By Elaine Watson

Glyphosate (the active ingredient in Monsanto’s herbicide RoundUp) will be added to California's Prop 65 list on July 7, 2017, meaning warning labels will be required from July 2018. But what, if anything, does this mean for packaged foods that might...

Nearly half of US consumers are trying to reduce the sugar they eat, according to survey

03-Jul-2017 By Adi Menayang

Nearly half of US consumers (48%) said they are trying to eat less sugar, according to a survey by Leatherhead Food Research.

Odwalla under fire: Is it safe to make 'no added sugar' claims on 100% juice products?

03-Jul-2017 By Elaine Watson

Can you make 'no added sugar' claims on 100% juice products? It all depends on how you interpret a line in the FDA regulations, says a California court, which has denied attempts by Odwalla to dismiss a lawsuit accusing it of misleading consumers...

COO: 'We’re in a stable financial position both from an operating point of view and a capital point of view'

Chobani moves beyond Greek with Smooth launch: 'We're a yogurt company, not a Greek yogurt company'

28-Jun-2017 By Elaine Watson

Chobani – which disrupted the US dairy category a decade ago with its Greek yogurt – is now aiming to do the same in the non-Greek segment with the launch of Chobani Smooth, a low fat, mild-tasting blended fruit yogurt with twice the protein, 25% less...

Castles made of bubble gum: PepsiCo JV hopes to bring edible sand to the US

21-Jun-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

PepsiCo's Mexican confectionery joint venture PISSA is looking for distributors to bring edible sand that becomes bubble gum to the US.

Attorney: ‘Slapping another undefined term on packages that could be attacked legally’ is risky

'GoCleanLabel certified' scheme rolls out, but what does it mean?

13-Jun-2017 By Elaine Watson

A new 'clean label' certification scheme has been launched in the US market as the concept of ‘clean’ eating continues to gain traction. But will CPG brands embrace the ‘Go Clean Label Certified’ logo, and are there risks to using a term that...

Steviana Bioscience aims to make a splash at IFT with next generation stevia sweeteners

09-Jun-2017 By Elaine Watson

A new player in the stevia market - Steviana Bioscience - is looking to carve a niche in the market for next generation stevia sweeteners, which utilize some of the minor glycosides in the stevia leaf, notably Reb D.

Sweets & Snacks Expo 2017

Russell Stover launches first sugar-free chocolate line sweetened with stevia extract

08-Jun-2017 By Douglas Yu

Russell Stover has unveiled a sugar-free chocolate line at the recent Sweets and Snacks Expo in Chicago. 

Seattle City Council passes soda tax

06-Jun-2017 By Rachel Arthur

Seattle City Council has voted to levy a tax on soda and sugar sweetened beverages, joining other US cities such as Philadelphia and Berkeley.

FDA guidance continues to be used as a 'roadmap for class action lawsuits'

A tale of two evaporated cane juice lawsuits: Steaz prevails thanks to website disclosure but Late July case will proceed

02-Jun-2017 By Elaine Watson

Very different outcomes in two near-identical lawsuits over evaporated cane juice labeling serve as a reminder that when it comes to food labeling, your website is every bit as important as your packaging label from a legal perspective. They also serve...

Delaying added-sugar labeling could hurt manufacturers in the long run, experts warn

22-May-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Industry efforts to delay added-sugar labeling and the new Nutrition Facts panel could damage manufacturers’ long-term sales by eroding consumer trust in them, and pushing shoppers to more transparent options, industry experts suggested at the Building...

The right dose: Are confectionery players misreading the sugar obesity debate?

18-May-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Confectionery companies should print teaspoon visualization of sugar doses front of pack instead of focusing on calories, says a consultant.

No Cow (D’s Naturals) to unveil new look, new products, in Jan 2018: ‘Our goal is to be a $100m+ brand’

17-May-2017 By Elaine Watson

D’s Naturals – the plant protein-fueled start up that recently caught the eye of investors at General Mills 301 INC and 2X Consumer Partners – will unveil a new brand (No Cow) and new products that take it beyond the bar category in January 2018, says...

Peeled Snacks and Redd Bar raise capital to expand their healthy snacks empires

17-May-2017 By Elaine Watson

Organic fruit and veggie snack maker Peeled Snacks has closed a private placement investment from Seurat Capital, while ‘superfood’ energy bar maker Redd Bar has raised early stage capital from a suite of high-profile investors, with Whipstitch Capital...

PepsiCo pledges less sugar, sodium in global product portfolio by 2025

15-May-2017 By Adi Menayang

Through a collaboration with non-profit Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), PepsiCo has unveiled plans to “transform its product portfolio and offer healthier options” by 2025.

Soup-to-Nuts Podcast: Confections hold steady in face of the war on sugar

12-May-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Despite significant headwinds generated by the escalating war on sugar and increasing consumer preferences for healthy products, the confectionery industry is holding its own with sales climbing 1.2% in the last year to reach a whopping $25 billion, according...

FlavorHealth CEO: We have to move away from this black and white view of 'natural,' when there are shades of gray… the important thing is complete transparency

04-May-2017 By Elaine Watson

How are the next generation of natural flavors being developed? Elaine Watson caught up with Christian Kopfli, CEO of New Jersey-based FlavorHealth, which is taking high-throughput cell-based screening to the next level to identify novel natural compounds...

Santa Fe rejects soda tax

03-May-2017 By Rachel Arthur

Santa Fe voters yesterday rejected a tax on sugar sweetened beverages in the city.

Spindrift raises $10m in funding round led by VMG Partners

03-May-2017 By Elaine Watson

Sparkling water brand Spindrift has raised $10 million in a funding round led by VMG Partners and supported by Prolog Ventures, Karp Reilly, and other existing investors. 

Ajinomoto’s Advantame sweetener approved in Canada

28-Apr-2017 By Adi Menayang

The zero calorie sweetener Advantame by Ajinomoto has been approved for use in Canada, the company announced this week.

Fruit juice does not warrant a ‘healthy’ food label, says CSPI

'Healthy' bones of contention: Stakeholders at odds over added sugar and saturated fat

28-Apr-2017 By Elaine Watson

There is significant disagreement between key stakeholders over how to define ‘healthy’ on food labels, with added sugar and saturated fat proving the biggest bones of contention, and heated debate over whether fruit juice deserves a ‘healthy’ label.

Think clean label just means no artificial ingredients? Think again

CLEAN LABEL 2.0: Natural flavors and preservatives, pesticide residues, and Non-GMO in the spotlight

27-Apr-2017 By Elaine Watson

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...

SPECIAL REPORT: Consumers and ‘clean’ food: Where is the clean label trend going next?

26-Apr-2017 By Elaine Watson

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...

What is healthy? Comments flood in as FDA docket closes

Oldways: ‘It’s time we stopped tying ‘healthy’ to a formula of nutrients divorced from actual foods’

25-Apr-2017 By Elaine Watson

“If we were looking for an easy answer and widespread agreement on the definition of ‘healthy,’ we didn’t find it [at a public meeting last month],”observed the FDA in a blog post this week. So could it seriously consider banning the word from food labels...

Greco has experience ‘in preparing and bringing companies to acquisition’

AquaBall maker True Drinks taps CPG veteran James Greco as CEO

18-Apr-2017 By Elaine Watson

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.

New insights reveal how stevia controls blood sugar levels

13-Apr-2017 By Will Chu

How stevia controls blood sugar levels has remained a mystery until now as researchers think they have unravelled the natural, no-calorie sweetener's action that results in its observed health benefits.

Arctic Zero’s new social media video campaign shows how ‘clean label’ is more than just ‘free-from’

12-Apr-2017 By Adi Menayang

With the launch of four new varieties, Arctic Zero produced a video to tell consumers the story of how the ingredients were sourced.

Spindrift CEO: 'We have all the makings of a brand that can be disruptive'

06-Apr-2017 By Elaine Watson

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...

Sugar... only sweeter? First products using DouxMatok sugar reduction technology to hit stores in 2018

05-Apr-2017 By Elaine Watson

Israeli start-up DouxMatok - which has developed patented technology which effectively makes sugar taste sweeter – has struck a series of joint development agreements with leading food manufacturers and says the first products containing its enhanced...

The big debate: Can sugar survive a public health crisis?

31-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

The world is getting fatter and unhealthier - are smaller portions and diet drinks really going to help when they sit next to full-sugar, supersized products? Is it time to tax or is industry doing enough? Catch the highlights from our live debate.

Misfit Juicery’s two-prong approach to addressing the anti-sugar trend’s threat to juice

29-Mar-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Startup Misfit Juicery is taking a two prong approach to the growing threat to the juice category posed by consumers’ increasing concern about sugar, and in doing so is setting itself apart from the competition.

Health advocates argue for a tax on sugary drinks in Canada to save lives and healthcare costs

29-Mar-2017 By Elizabeth Crawford

Twenty-four public health advocates and organizations are calling on the Canadian government to levy a significant tax on manufacturers of sugary drinks to discourage consumption and help fund healthy living initiatives.