Kite Hill has defended its decision to use the term ‘almond milk yogurt’ on labels after being singled out by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) in a New Year salvo aimed at re-igniting the debate over the labeling of plant-based dairy alternatives....
Food manufacturers targeted in a recent wave of lawsuits over added sugar have urged the courts to dismiss the ‘absurd’ cases on the grounds that consumers are not being deceived, and that brands’ first amendment rights are being threatened – a new line...
Plant-based food manufacturer Tofurky’s stubborn status as an independent, family-owned company focused on “purpose over profits” could give it a competitive edge over other players in the space that were recently acquired by parent companies that might...
Vegetarian and vegan diets – actively recast in recent years by stakeholders as ‘plant-based’ in a bid to shake off negative baggage – are quickly gaining traction among America’s youngest consumers and are predicted to become a breakout trend in 2018,...
By going “beyond a typical licensing deal” that only places popular movie characters on packaging to include thematic custom shapes in the bag, shareable 4-ounce pouches of popchips’ Star Wars themed Galaxy Puffs’ are out-stripping the dollar velocity...
Bigelow has promised to vigorously defend itself against a “frivolous” lawsuit filed by The Richman Law Group on behalf of the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) alleging it misrepresented its green tea as ‘all natural’ owing to trace levels of glyphosate...
2017 has been a rollercoaster ride for the food industry, with Amazon coughing up a cool $13.7bn for Whole Foods, a flurry of M&A activity from Nestlé, Hershey, Campbell Soup and Kellogg, and an exodus from the industry’s biggest trade association,...
Bay area start-up Finless Foods – one of a new wave of cellular agriculture companies producing meat by culturing cells (without raising or slaughtering animals) – has slashed production costs by 50% since September and is aiming to achieve price parity...
What’s your brand story? And if you don’t have one, how can you find one?
Some foods and beverages are unique. But most are not the culinary equivalent of the iPhone or Tesla, which is why developing a brand story that goes beyond product attributes is essential. But how can start-ups build a narrative that really engages today’s...
From entrepreneurs pioneering new farming methods and food technologies, to big brands adjusting to the changing landscape, FOOD VISION USA 2017 brought together a wide cross-section of industry players to explore how the industry is facing the challenges...
To the “dismay” of the Organic Trade Association and against the vast majority of comments submitted by industry, the USDA proposes to withdraw a final rule outlining new animal welfare standards for organic producers that was passed in the 11th hour...
'Live cultures are not all probiotic, although all probiotics are live cultures...'
US consumers are increasingly interested in the relationship between intestinal bacteria and overall health, says CHR Hansen, but there is some confusion about which foods and beverages contain probiotics: live microorganisms that, when administered in...
The baby food aisle is undergoing a renaissance with new packaging, processing and flavor combinations aimed at presenting better-for-you options that promise to help children grow up healthy – and yet, childhood obesity remains a huge problem in the...
Ecommerce may account for only a small portion of food and beverage sales for now, but that is changing quickly and manufacturers and retailers need to develop a game plan now for how they will leverage the change to their advantage, suggests an analyst...
Increasingly savvy shoppers who are well-versed in food production and nutrition are turning the tables on the farm-to-fork marketing model that once educated them and influenced what they consumed to create a fork-to-farm model that requires producers,...
When Anne Laraway takes the reins of the fastest growing baby food brand in the country in January as the new CEO of Happy Family Organics, she plans to expand its reach into new markets with new products while remaining “laser focused on our mission...
Many of the tried-and-true tactics, contracts, marketing strategies and business decisions that fueled growth for most successful businesses to date, will not take companies to the next level or guarantee their survival in the next ten years, suggests...
Spice giant McCormick and Co. is getting a jump start on New Year’s resolutions with an aggressive line-up of goals for improving the livelihoods of its farmers, advancing environmental sustainability and fostering a more diverse and inclusive workforce....
The search for the best price on food, product variety, quality and convenience are prompting consumers to hop from retailer to retailer and in doing so conventional grocery stores are losing out, according to recent data from Acosta.
The reinvention and rising popularity of cauliflower over the past year illustrates how consumer grocery shopping styles are evolving along with their focus on specific ingredients, and the opportunities this change creates for manufacturers and retailers...
Every 21 seconds someone in the US discovers they have diabetes, setting a breakneck pace that is fueling a 6% annual increase in the number of Americans diagnosed with the chronic disease for which there is no cure, but which can be managed in part through...
Claims in high-profile false advertising case vs Dannon not plausible, court rules
A judge has granted Dannon’s motion to dismiss a high-profile false advertising lawsuit alleging shoppers were misled by its ‘all-natural’ claims on dairy products from cows that may have eaten GM feed.
Natural Grocers will slash the pace of new store openings to focus more on shoring up the performance of existing outlets, the company announced recently.
Consumers are looking for cues signaling ‘clean’ and ‘natural’, but they don’t necessarily expect to see those words on food labels, and may even be suspicious of brands that use them on pack, says Hartman Group.
There are multiple holes in a new proposed class action complaint filed vs Mondelez over sugar levels in its belVita range, say attorneys. However, the recent shift away from fat to sugar as public enemy #1 has clearly emboldened the plaintiff’s bar.
The days of pushing out a refined, tightly controlled marketing message without listening to what consumers want to know are long over, and brands that want to make it in the modern world must listen first, according to a top marketing professional with...
A lawsuit alleging that Forager Project is deceiving shoppers by failing to disclose on pack that its cold pressed juices are also high pressured processed (HPP) is “grasping at straws,” but reflects growing interest in HPP brands by the plaintiff’s bar,...
Bold new packaging, streamlined branding and even cleaner ingredient decks will boost the appeal of Enjoy Life’s snacks and baking mixes to its core allergy-suffering consumer-base as well as more mainstream shoppers, a company spokeswoman predicts.
The arrival of 2017 may have marked the end of the year of the pulse, but new products featuring lentils and legumes continue to flood the market and gain traction with consumers thanks to the many benefits they offer, including weight management, heart...
As the war on sugar gains momentum, plant-based beverage company Califia Farms is cutting back the sugar content across its product portfolio by 40% while still offering consumers who want something sweet options that are more in-line with World Health...
The FDA is proposing to revoke a health claim on the relationship between soy protein and reduced risk of heart disease, citing “inconsistent findings” from research published since the claim was authorized in 1999.
New research on the health benefits of pistachios to help manage gestational diabetes could open up a whole new consumer group for the nut and the products that contain it, according to researchers and nutritionists who spoke at the Food & Nutrition...
Pasta is often passed over by consumers who perceive it as having ‘too many carbs,’ or not being nutritionally dense or simply taking too long to prepare – but Barilla is making it a snap to make as part of a healthy meal with its new Ready Pasta pouches.
Los Angeles-based ‘ready-to-drink meal’ brand Soylent says it is working hard to a resolve a “categorization” issue that prohibits it from selling its beverages in Canada.
Over the past decade, beef consumption in the US has dropped due mainly to high prices and increased competition from chicken and other protein sources, but the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association hopes to resurrect sales by bringing back its 25-year-old...
The entrepreneurs behind the startup Revelé Gelato thought health-conscious consumers seeking to indulge in frozen dessert faced an unfair decision: choose between high quality, recognizable ingredients that typically come with a higher fat and calorie...
60-second interview: Stephen Cobbe, R&D director, dairy, Kerry
Less sugar, more protein, a cleaner label, savory flavors, and new formats from farmer’s cheese bars to ambient moon cheese… What’s keeping dairy formulators busy these days? FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Stephen Cobbe, R&D director, dairy, at...
Animal agriculture in the US is often criticized for its heavy environmental impact, but data from the National Dairy Council tells a very different story – one of farmers using technology to improve the sustainability of their lands and dairy production....
Fruit infused water brand Hint has until February 2, 2018, to conduct a settlement conference* to resolve a legal dispute with plaintiffs who have accused it of misleading shoppers with its ‘all natural’ claims.
A lawsuit taking issue with the way KeVita (now owned by PepsiCo) makes its kombucha makes some “confusing” arguments over 41 pages, but also reflects some of the conversations taking place in the industry over what ‘authentic’ kombucha is, and how it...
The judge handling a putative class action lawsuit* over ‘natural’ claims on Annie’s salad dressings, has stayed the case (put it on hold) on primary jurisdiction** grounds, and speculated that the FDA is likely to address the use of the term natural...
With vanilla bean prices skyrocketing in recent months, interest in alternatives with natural and clean label credentials is intensifying in mature markets in Western Europe and North America, although demand for artificial vanillin is still growing in...
The US team behind the coconut-based yogurt COYO hopes slashing its suggested retail price will help the brand jump from the natural to the conventional channel and that its creamy texture will keep it there by captivating mainstream shoppers who place...
Encouraged by positive early compliance rates with the ‘game-changing’ gluten-free labeling standard that went into effect in mid-2014, FDA could now focus its attention on reducing the risk of cross contact with gluten-containing foods and ingredients,...
As sugar continues to gain prominence as public enemy No. 1 in America for contributing to obesity and other chronic health problems, Berkeley-based biotech startup Sugarlogix has taken on the daunting task of teaching manufacturers and consumers that...
After 10 successful years focused on making unique wafer-thin savory and sweet crackers, snack company 34 Degrees is ready to try something new and thanks to a $3.4 million investment from its long-time supply chain manager Fresca Foods it has the means...
From the makers of the better-for-you snack subscription box Love With Food, which builds brand awareness and gathers consumer feedback for finished products, comes a new product testing and insights platform that promises to do what traditional focus...
High inflation in many Latin American countries is pushing consumers to shop based on value, but whether they define this as higher quality or larger quantity varies on their age, goals and specific country, according to recent research from Nielsen....
Creating a brand from the ground up can be a fun exercise, but it’s not all about choosing a catchy name, finding a pretty color theme, or coming up with a punny slogan.
Frito-Lay North America – which has already removed ‘made with all natural ingredients,’ claims on some corn-based foods – has agreed not to use this or other natural claims on the products in future unless the FDA officially gives companies the green...
