Restaurant chains in the US have made little progress in recent years in improving the nutritional profile of their children’s menus according to a new report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The report found that 97% of the nearly 3,500...
Natural Food Certifiers (NFC) is offering an alternative to the non-GMO Project verified seal with the launch of a new product verification program called GMO Guard.
Improving circulation is a hot new trend in heart health, while cardio-healthy foods and drinks for children represent an "explosive untapped functional foods opportunity", according to Elizabeth A. Sloan, PhD and Catherine Adams Hutt, PhD,...
An "unusual" class action lawsuit alleging that shoppers are being misled by 'zero fat' and 'zero calorie' claims on Parkay Spray because they are based on “artificially small serving sizes”, is unlikely to make much headway, predict...
Special edition: New trends in heart healthy foods
While LDL cholesterol is one biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk everybody can name, the next generation of heart healthy foods will address a broader range of risk factors from galectin-3, C-Reactive protein (CRP), and oxidized LDL (OxLDL) levels...
Adding traffic light symbols as well as calories to menus is a more effective way of encouraging diners to choose lower-calorie foods than listing calories in isolation, according to a new study.
Coca-Cola says its much reported internal study suggesting that social media does not ‘pull its weight’ in business terms is true, but only when such digital campaigns are taken in isolation…
The Natural Products Association (NPA) has called for all foods containing GMOs to be “accurately labeled under a national uniform standard so consumers can make educated decisions about foods they purchase”.
Seeing light at the end of the economic tunnel puts a spring in consumers’ steps and a little sizzle on their palates, too. Culinary trends expert Suzy Badaracco said we’re not in extreme consumption mode yet, but consumers are starting move beyond the...
From non-entity to 15 retailers in 2.5 years is a rapid rise, and doing so by blending health, convenience and affordability to produce prepared foods that also taste ‘amazing’ is only the beginning, says the Founder and CEO of Lyfe Kitchen Grocery.
The shining star of Greek yogurt, Chobani, has figured out the ‘four screen world’ of teenagers and Millenials, giving food and beverage marketers a case study on how to connect with these key demographics, says a marketing expert.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Organic Voices, the group behind the Just Label It campaign, have announced a new collaboration to advocate for the labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients and to highlight the benefits of...
Health Canada has approved Ingredion’s NUTRAFLORA prebiotic fiber as a source of dietary fiber under its revised Fiber Policy for Labeling and Advertising of Dietary Fiber-Containing Food Products, introduced in February 2012.
COKE: MINUTE MAID AND SIMPLY ORANGE LABELING COMPLIES WITH FDA RULES
The Coca-Cola Company has failed in its attempt to strike out 13 consolidated lawsuits alleging that Simply Orange Juice and Minute Maid products were falsely advertised as natural, but says it will fight what it claims is a 'meritless case'.
EnWave Corp. the developer of a microwave/vacuum drying technique, has formed a 70/30 partnership with Lucid Capital Management to use the technology to manufacture and market a line of dried cheese snacks for sale in US markets.
Organic Valley recently announced a plan to distribute more than $1 million in grants to fund research, education and advocacy on the production of organic foods. The grants have long term goals and a near term objective, with one of the biggest individual...
“Public policy proposals to ban, tax or restrict consumer access to certain foods or beverages will not solve the obesity problem”, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has insisted, following the publication of a book by New York Times investigative...
Food has gone through a technological revolution in the US in the last 50 years. Food is available in more variety, in more forms and in more combinations than ever before. The key word in that previous sentence, according to one food psychology expert,...
With its flair for sound bites -‘soda is a slow-acting but ruthlessly efficient bioweapon’ - and its undisputed PR skills (remember those diabetic bears?), the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has a knack for getting its name in the papers.
As food marketers focus more on positive nutrition than ‘food minus’ concepts, the boundaries between ‘diet’ foods and ‘regular’ foods are becoming increasingly blurred, says Euromonitor International.
Calorie labels are misleading consumers by underestimating the energy content of processed foods and exaggerating that of raw ingredients, experts have warned.
Food consultant Ben England is urging food producers and importers to comment on two proposed rules issued by FDA under FSMA, and the agency has just made that easier by extending the comment period deadline.
A new position statement from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) which can be paraphrased as 'there is no such thing as good and bad foods, only good and bad diets' is eminently sensible, but will play into the hands of 'junk'...
The FDA has issued a consent decree against a Puerto Rican beverage manufacturer that requires the company to retain a team of experts, including a food labeling expert, to ensure compliance with FDA regulations.
General Mills has agreed to pay $8.5m to settle a lawsuit that alleged it launched a national marketing campaign for its Yoplait YoPlus probiotic yogurt products in the US based on misleading digestive health claims.
Now that the US economy is limping back to somewhere close to where it was before the financial debacle of 2008, consumers are feeling a bit more flush and are returning to eating in restaurants more. This has hurt the retailer meal solutions (RMS) market,...
Supporters of a New Mexico Senate bill proposing mandatory labeling for genetically engineered food and feed say they are disappointed it died on the Senate floor last week, but remain confident that other states’ GMO labeling initiatives will succeed.
Big Interview: Sean Kelly, CEO, H.U.M.A.N. Healthy Vending
Ever eaten a grab-bag of chips or a 20oz bottle of Mountain Dew only to discover you’ve just wolfed down twice the calories you thought because these products - which are typically eaten in one sitting - contain two or more servings per container?
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Draws Advocacy Fire
The Coca-Cola Company tells BeverageDaily.com it is fully committed to improving US health by partnering groups such as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), after an advocacy report claimed undue big beverage influence on the body.
Sales of upmarket ice cream brand Magnum have almost doubled to more than €1billion in the four years since Paul Polman took the helm at Unilever, making it “one of the greatest success stories… in the history of consumer goods”, he said yesterday.
A Washington D.C. area organic food store chain has pulled all products from its shelves that are marketed directly to children via the inclusion of images of cartoon characters from children’s books, films and TV.
PepsiCo and Kellogg lead the global snacks market with Frito-Lay and Pringles, but who fares better in the realms of Facebook and why does this matter?
While cynics might not be persuaded by Coke’s new ads promoting the role it is playing in tackling obesity, the soft drinks industry is increasing efforts to help consumers make ‘informed choices’ through calorie labeling and more no or low sugar options.
Pharrell Williams claims he created Q Qream liqueur “to celebrate the beautiful, independent and sophisticated women of today”. However, the dream went sour after partner Diageo did not keep to its part of the bargain to make the product a success, alleges...
A proliferation of eco-labels could have adverse consequences, as food manufacturers question the value of certification schemes in light of a fragmented market and multiple fees, according to Organic Monitor.
General Mills has taken a ‘step in the right direction’ as it agrees to improve its Fruit Roll-Up labeling in light of a class action lawsuit, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has said.
While there were small nutritional improvements in most foods marketed to children from 2006 to 2009, snacks promoted to kids “showed minimal or no improvements” while cereals targeting young people remained the “least nutritious” in the category, says...
Big interview: Ryan Black, founder and CEO, Sambazon
Want a dictionary definition of 'high-achiever'? Meet Ryan Black, a former NFL player and surfer who went on holiday to Brazil in his early 20s in search of waves and came back with the germ of a business idea that is now worth more than $100m...
First it was scheduled for late 2011, then we were told it would be early 2012, and now it's going to be 2013. But at some point in the near future, the FDA will publish a proposed rule to reform the Nutrition Facts Panel.
Monster Beverage Corporation CEO Rodney Sacks has faced down critics of energy drinks and his firm, and said attacks mirrored those on mounted on Coca-Cola and addressed to a ‘gullible public’ a century ago.
A lawsuit alleging that Hansen’s Diet Sodas with ‘all natural flavors’ are misbranded because they contain artificial sweeteners, highlights the lengths to which opportunistic plaintiffs’ attorneys are now going to try and cash in on the legal ambiguity...
Do firms need at least two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to convince regulators that they have ‘competent and reliable scientific evidence’ to support advertising claims about the health benefits of foods and supplements?
The Hispanic food and beverage market is “expected to embark on a more aggressive growth pattern from now through 2017” as firms pump more dollars into innovation and marketing, predicts market researcher Packaged Facts.
A California judge has partially certified a class action lawsuit over ‘natural' claims made on AriZona Iced Teas - which contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and citric acid - but suggested the plaintiffs appear to be motivated primarily by the...
Muscle and protein will be hot trends across every age group in 2013 as more US shoppers look to maintain lean muscle mass and stay healthy and active as they age, predict trend spotters.
Special edition: Free-from foods (gluten-free, dairy-free)
Gluten-free marketers have a habit of drawing a series of concentric circles when they are trying to describe their target market - and the potential size of the prize.