Latest news in the food and nutraceutical industry

Plant-based & Alternative Proteins

The seed oil backlash: How food and beverage brands are adapting

9 Jul 2024

There is a small but growing anti-seed oil movement, with some consumers perceiving seed oils – such as rapeseed oil and sunflower oil – as harmful for human health, despite the advice of nutritionists and assurances from dietary authorities.

Chinese Gen Z consumers hungry for alternative proteins

27 Jun 2024

China’s Gen Z could be at the forefront of a dietary shift, with younger consumers increasingly open to and curious about alternative proteins. With the right strategies to address their concerns and highlight the benefits, the alternative protein mark...

Consumers dislike faba beans’ sensory profile

3 Jun 2024

Consumers display low acceptance of faba beans, with sensory properties such as bitterness a core concern, a study suggests. However, for product varieties such as cocoa-free chocolate, this attribute could prove to be a benefit.

Japanese-inspired umami products expand into global consumer markets

17 May 2024

Brands are responding to shoppers' interest in cooking ingredients with deep flavours, by launching new products that emphasise umami-rich flavours inspired by Japanese cuisine.

Health and environmental food trends boost umami presence

9 May 2024

Plant-based products, lower salt formulations, and snacking options resonate with manufacturers looking to enhance umami flavour profiles in their offerings.

The rise of plant-based - and plastic-free - chewing gum

7 May 2024

Conventional chewing gum is typically made from a gum base that can contain plastic, paraffin, and synthetic resin. Enter the challenger brands making plant-based gum from chicle, the chewy sap of the Sapodilla tree. ‘Chew plants, not plastic,’ they sa...

Strategies to create category-winning plant-based meat alternatives

3 May 2024

Keep an eye on emerging categories like breakfast products; offer vegan options in meal kits; and consider ingredient blends to stand out in the increasingly crowded plant-based meat alternative category, says market research experts from Frost & Sulli...