Follow the Discovery Tours at HiE 2014

I can’t believe it has been a year already since Food Ingredients Europe 2013 (FiE)! This time, the Leatherhead Food Research Team are heading out to support the Health ingredients Europe (HiE) exhibition and conference in Amsterdam. For those of you, and I am sure there are many, who were in Frankfurt, Germany, (or at […]

I can’t believe it has been a year already since Food Ingredients Europe 2013 (FiE)! This time, the Leatherhead Food Research Team are heading out to support the Health ingredients Europe (HiE) exhibition and conference in Amsterdam. For those of you, and I am sure there are many, who were in Frankfurt, Germany, (or at the Fi Global events in India, China and Istanbul for that matter), you may well have taken the time to follow one or more of the ‘Discovery Tours’ compiled and hosted by Leatherhead.

These tours have been well received and we are delighted to have been asked to provide them at HiE 2014. The themes have been selected based on some of the macro-trends that the pre-registered delegates have indicated are their core reasons for attending, and again are designed to be self-guided routes as laid out in the exhibition guide taking in a number of exhibitors who are active within that arena.

This year the following tours will be available at HiE 2014:

• Functional dairy ingredients – including bone health and dairy proteins
• Food for well-being – including some of the cognitive and mental function aspects
• Sugar reduction
• ‘Natural’ and ‘clean label’

Dairy and dairy-derived ingredients are the cornerstone of the human diet, and the availability of functional ingredients from a dairy source is ever increasing. It was once said that whey was a by-product of the cheese industry, but with the increase in demand for whey proteins with increasingly broad and specific functionality, it could be argued that cheese is actually a by-product of the functional dairy ingredients market! Dairy products have a great dual benefit in that not only do they deliver a wide range of functionality but they also deliver on ‘clean label’ credentials, a win-win for functional food producers.

Nutrition is defined as the relationship between food and health, and the role of food in general well-being is increasingly a focus for the food and drink industry. The extent of this activity goes far beyond areas previously considered and the contribution of the diet to eye health, joint health, and cognitive function to name a few, are becoming important areas of research to respond to increasing consumer demand for mainstream products that deliver a holistic benefit. This tour tries to showcase some of the solutions becoming available in this growing arena.

Whilst undefined from a regulatory standpoint, ‘clean label’ and ‘natural’ are philosophies that have been embraced by the consumer and in turn, the food and drink industry has responded. The essence of ‘clean label’ is that the ingredients used are recognisable, non-chemical and could be identified and taken from a typical kitchen store cupboard. It is underpinned by the desires of ‘additive-free’ and ‘natural’ demands, and many functional ingredients are available to meet that brief.  As you take this tour it will be worth considering how such ‘clean label’ ingredients will fit into the growing trend towards more transparent and open labelling.

One of the grand challenges for the food industry over the last 10 years has been making food healthier. Regardless of whether that is fat or sugar reduction, the fundamental desire is to deliver sensorial parity with lower calorific intake. This always presents formulation challenges, but the food and drink industry will always rise to a challenge like this with fascinating science, technology and innovation, some of which you will see as you navigate this tour.

Leatherhead’s Discovery Tours at HiE 2014 are informative rather than definitive, and we hope you will utilise them to maximise the value of your time at the show. Don’t forget, however, to stop by the other stands along the way, and of course come and meet the Leatherhead Team at Stand C23. See you in Amsterdam, and have a good show!