As some consumers continue to table international travel and large gatherings, creativity is helping their attempts to fill the void.

According to Imbibe, food and beverage brands have something to offer here, whether that means providing globally inspired flavors like blood orange, guava and dragonfruit, or fun mocktail flavors like hops, rosé and mimosa. Making these options even more appealing are their Instagrammable bright pink, vivid red and cheery orange colors. But artificial just won’t do.

New research from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) shows that about half of Americans say they seek out natural flavors at least some of the time, and the same amount also avoid artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners and preservatives when choosing food and beverage at retail.

Where does that leave the state of natural ingredients? Food & Beverage Insider sat down with experts from several brands—including LiveKuna and Real Food From The Ground Up—to discuss consumers’ most-wanted clean label ingredients, as well as the major trends formulators will need to consider going forward.

Food & Beverage Insider: What are some of the most trending clean label ingredients?

Deb Holt, chief marketing officer (CMO), Real Food From The Ground Up: At Real Food From The Ground Up, we use real veggies like cauliflower, butternut squash and purple carrot to give consumers more of what they love—more flavor, more crunch and more bites per serving.

We have seen a continued shift toward vegan flavors, not only for consumers who follow a vegan diet but also for those who see it as a healthier option. By using natural botanicals, for example, we can mimic some of the more complex cheese notes. Spicy flavors are also hot. Consumers continue to enjoy spicier seasonings, so using natural peppers and spices to add heat and flavor depth is popular.

And finally, color is powerful. Colors from plants have been a staple of the natural foods industry for many years. We see a trend with plant-based colors or flavors now having functional benefits like purple carrots, mushrooms and beets. There is no doubt that the color of food influences consumer taste perception. It is important to work with natural colors that provide appetite appeal to consumers.

Santiago Stacey, CEO and co-founder, LiveKuna: There's a clear shift happening in how we eat. Recent research tells us that consumers are proactively seeking out clean label products and foods that are good for their health and the environment. They also have an interest in understanding where their food comes from. The clean label concept has broadened as consumers look for increased transparency on meeting environmental and ethical demands. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated interest in promoting health through good nutrition. These are weighty subjects that can't be solved overnight. Brands must be authentic and meaningful in their storytelling to have an impact with consumers.

Some examples of trending ingredients are tea infusions, botanical extracts, cereal, nuts and pulses, and fruit powders—ingredients that are naturally beneficial for consumers. LiveKuna products feature chia and quinoa, superfood ingredients that provide great nutritional value.

“The real deal: Natural color and flavor solutions” digital magazine contains an extended version of this article, including insight from Del Monte. Click the link and select “Clean label ingredients can be functional and fun” from the TOC to read it.

Melissa Kvidahl Reilly is a freelance writer and editor with 10 years of experience covering news and trends in the natural, organic and supplement markets. She lives and works in New Jersey.

As 2021 comes to a close, the food and beverage industry has an eye on 2022 and beyond. What flavors, formats and fads are consumers most excited about, and how can formulators and CPGs best serve them? OnePoll, in partnership with Premier Protein, sought to answer those questions and more with its recent survey of 2,000 U.S. adults; here’s what consumers themselves are looking forward to in 2022:

Healthy can’t sacrifice taste

More than 8 in 10 consumers said tasty flavors still matter when it comes to eating healthy, and by and large most consumers feel healthier options fall short in that regard. Nearly 6 in 10 (58%) respondents said they don’t think healthy foods generally taste good enough, and more than 7 in 10 (72%) said they’d eat more healthy foods if they tasted better. Three-quarters of respondents indicated they would prefer healthier foods in more indulgent flavors, including chocolate, ice cream and peanut butter.

Additionally, healthy eating is not always easy for consumers; 21% said they struggle with dieting and healthy living. Sweet (54%) and salty (49%) snacks were the leading temptations for consumers, with ice cream and cookies standing out as particular favorites. As for how to make healthy eating easier, the answer may come in the form of beverages; 65% of consumers indicated a preference to consume healthier options via beverages such as shakes and smoothies rather than as foods.

There is some promising news, especially for the plant-based market. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents indicated they’d tried, and been pleasantly surprised by the taste of, alternative protein options such as veggie burgers, cauliflower tater tots and plant-based mac and cheese.

Future cravings

American palates are as diverse as ever, which is reflected in consumers’ interests looking ahead. Several popular 2021 flavors are expected to continue drawing interest in 2022. Coffee is still of interest to nearly half (43%) of consumers, with other 2021 trends like green and black tea (38%) and citrus (35%) still looking strong going into the new year.

New flavors are also drawing consumer interest. Nearly half (46%) of respondents pointed to mint-chocolate as a flavor they look forward to seeing more of in 2022. Another 36% indicated an interest in lemongrass, and 34% want to try hot honey flavored food and beverage next year. Mango (36%), red bean (31%) and teaberry (30%) also drew interest.  

When it comes to healthier options, fruits are a favorite of consumers and should continue to be into the future. Four of the top five favorite healthy options are fruits, led by apple (58%) and banana (57%), with orange (55%) and blueberry (52%) not far behind. Sources of protein rounded out the healthy favorites list, including chicken (49%), beef (46%) and eggs (46%).

EAT, according to its website, is “a global, non-profit startup dedicated to transforming our global food system through sound science, impatient disruption and novel partnerships.” Part of that transformation includes the “EAT-Lancet diet,” designed by the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, Health, which “emphasizes a plant-forward diet where whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes comprise a greater proportion of foods consumed.” EAT goes on to note, “Meat and dairy constitute important parts of the diet but in significantly smaller proportions than whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes.”

Recent research now indicates following the EAT-Lancet diet may lower one’s risk of death by as much as 25% (Am J Clin Nutr. 2021;, nqab369).

The study’s authors “sought to develop a new dietary index to quantify adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet and assess its association with mortality in a large, population-based Swedish cohort,” while also examining food components included in the index and their individual associations with mortality. To do so, the authors used the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort (n = 22,421; 45–73 years old at baseline). According to the authors:

“Dietary data were collected using a modified diet history method. The EAT-Lancet index was developed based on intake levels and reference intervals of 14 food components defined in the EAT-Lancet diet (0–3 points per component; 0–42 points in total). Associations with mortality were examined based on registers during a mean of 20 years of follow-up and were adjusted for potential confounders.”

Data showed following the EAT-Lancet diet was linked to lower mortality, with the authors writing, “the highest adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet (≥23 points) was associated with lower all-cause mortality.” Cancer and cardiovascular mortalities were lower in the higher EAT-Lancet adherence group than in the lowest groups as well. Overall, the mortality risk in the highest-adherence group was 25% lower than in the lowest-adherence group, with “a clear linear trend.” A 25% reduction in premature deaths globally, the authors said, would represent a whopping 11 million fewer deaths annually.

On an individual food level, the authors noted higher consumption of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits and lower consumption of eggs—all associated with following the EAT-Lancet diet—were linked to lower mortality. Potato intake was also linked to higher mortality, though the authors noted more research would be required to establish a link. Seafood intake was generally linked to favorable outcomes, though the authors did note such intake may be at odds with sustainability practices, “depending on the type of fish consumed and the production methods used,” the authors wrote.

“Our findings show the value of providing a set of recommendations that reflects a dietary pattern and contribute to the evidence base to be used when developing sustainable dietary guidelines and policies,” the authors concluded.

 

Ironically, one of the most desirable food and beverage tastes is sweetness, yet the excessive ingestion of sugar negatively affects human health.¹ Food and beverage industry experts know better than anyone how challenging it can be to achieve a sweet taste in products without the repercussions of added sugar.

That’s where monk fruit, also known as Luo Han Guo or swingle fruit, comes in. Freely soluble in water, most monk fruit extract takes the form of an off-white to light yellow powder, but this sweetener also comes in liquid, concentrate and granulated forms. Monk fruit has become a significant ingredient for research because of the pharmacological and economic potential of its non-caloric, extremely sweet components, namely mogrosides.²

The origin of monk fruit

Native to the remote mountains of China and Thailand, monk fruit allegedly gets its name from the Buddhist monks who were the first to cultivate it nearly 800 years ago.³ The warmer temperatures and higher elevation in Southeast Asia lend well to the growth of the fruit. An herbaceous perennial vine of the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, monk fruit is derived from a plant called Siraitia grosvenorii. Monk fruit extracts are prepared by water extraction of the fruits of said plant, specifically by removing the seeds and skin of the fruit, crushing the fruit and collecting the juice.⁴ The principal sweetening component at play is mogroside V—a different molecule than glucose, though, so it does not act like sugar. Research has shown that mogrosides have antioxidant effects, making monk fruit an even more desirable ingredient.⁵

Some sweet benefits

Although monk fruit is newer to the food and beverage scene, it has been around for ages. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), monk fruit was used to relieve cough, sore throat and other upper respiratory issues.²

Coming in at 150-250 times sweeter than sucrose and up to 300 times sweeter than sugar, a little monk fruit goes a long way. Plus, the ingredient has zero calories per serving, giving it a zero glycemic index. The calorie-free nature of this sweetener makes it an option for people with diabetes and preferable for anyone on a low-carb diet. Monk fruit has also been deemed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by FDA.⁶ Even better news for food and beverage producers—most people think it has a better aftertaste profile than other natural options. The flavor of monk fruit provides sweetness without the lingering bitterness.

Most often, monk fruit shows up in confectionery, dairy, cereals, tabletop and baked goods. Last year, an entire clinical study was done on the viability of monk fruit extract as a sweetener for yogurt, taking its physicochemical, rheological, microstructural and antioxidant properties into consideration.⁷ Essentially, yogurt sweetened with monk fruit had higher levels of antioxidants than yogurt sweetened with sucrose, and still tasted appealing. And the concentrated nature of monk fruit leaves room for other product enhancements, like additional complex carbohydrates, fibers and whole grains in any given food or beverage.

To read this article in its entirety, check out the “Sweet innovation: Natural solutions in sugar reduction” digital magazine.

Mike Efting has been a senior executive in the chemical distribution industry for more than 35 years and an entrepreneur for well over a decade. He is the current president and founder of Viachem, a specialty chemical food additive and ingredient distributor, and American Pure Products, a wholly owned subsidiary of Viachem that includes premium personal care brands spanning hand sanitizer to CBD.

References

1 Buchilina A and Aryana K. “Physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of camel milk yogurt as influenced by monk fruit sweetener.” J Dairy Sci. 2020;104(2):1484-1493.

2 Xia M et al. “Improved de novo genome assembly and analysis of the Chinese cucurbit Siraitia grosvenorii, also known as monk fruit or luo-han-guo.” GigaScience. 2018;7(6):giy067.

3 Balachandran K. “Natural Sweeteners.” J Soc Health Diabetes. 2018;6(1):8-10.

4 Younes M et al. “Safety of use of Monk fruit extract as a food additive in different food categories.” EFSA J. 2019;17(12):e05921.

5 Xu Q et al. “Antioxidant effect of mogrosides against oxidative stress induced by palmitic acid in mouse insulinoma NIT-1 cells.” Braz J Med Biol Res. 2013;46(11):949-955.

6 Li XE et al. “Parents’ and Children’s Acceptance of Skim Chocolate Milks Sweetened by Monk Fruit and Stevia Leaf Extracts.” J Food Sci. 2015;80(5):S1083-S1092.

7 Ban Q et al. “Physiochemical, rheological, microstructural, and antioxidant properties of yogurt using monk fruit extract as a sweetener.” J Dairy Sci. 2020;103(11):10006-10014.

To say it has “been a year” for the natural products industry would indeed be an understatement (and also an intolerable cliché). Yet despite its many challenges, as we were forced to face the harsh reality that the pandemic might be here to stay (at least for the foreseeable future), fresh perspectives and new natural products industry trends that are transforming the overall CPG industry for the better also emerged.

It has been a time to rethink how we connect, how we do business and how we create meaningful solutions for people and planet. Hence, an inspiring approach to innovation has taken shape—one that is much more about solutions than novelty and that makes promises for a brighter future, rather than just surviving the chaos of today.

Consumer behaviors are changing, and with that comes the opportunity for the natural products industry not just to meet consumers where they are, but also to predict where they’re heading.

Yes, “hot now” ingredients are on our list of top natural products trends for 2021, but so too are the complex ideas challenging the CPG industry and that are, we believe, here to stay.

Dive into the list below.

Celebrating diversity

With an increasingly diverse population and widespread consumer awakening around long-held racial inequities across nearly all sectors of U.S. business and society, the natural products industry is stepping up to become more inclusive in both its makeup and in who it serves. Investors and retailers will continue supporting diverse entrepreneurs, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because diverse founders have had the most exciting brand and product launches of the year.

Across the NEXTY Awards, Pitch Slam and Nutrition Capital Network, diversity brought new flavor and relevance to the food and beverage category. Pitch Slam and NEXTY Award-winning brand Fila Manila, founded by Jake Deleon—a first-generation immigrant from the Philippines—delighted judges with its bold flavors and its commitment to bringing traditional Filipino flavors to the masses. Richa Gupta of Good Food For Good is also a first-generation immigrant who was determined to transform the food industry through convenient, clean label food products. Without roots in the U.S. Gupta “had to start from scratch and just keep knocking on doors until I got the answers.”

Black-owned company Natureade is not new, but its commitment to making supplements more accepted and accessible in low-income black communities across the country was more pronounced than ever in 2021, when the company’s leaders were also part of a documentary tracking long-standing inequities in our food system.

In addition to powerful brand launches and voices, in 2021, we also saw a range of amazing networking groups, accelerators and investing options for BIPOC-owned entrepreneurs, including J.E.D.I. Collaborative, Project Potluck, Our Fair Share and New Voices Foundation. In 2022 we expect there to be more resources and retail support funneled into diverse businesses. The result: a better, more inclusive industry that serves all people.

Climate-smart messaging

Following the 2021 Glasgow Climate Change Conference, the U.S. rejoining the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the fact that the latter Agreement’s deadlines are quickly upon us, companies have been working steadfastly to address climate change through business practices. Now, they’re sharing this with consumers through climate smart messaging.

Collaboration is key to success in elevating climate change initiatives and ensuring brands' action supports their environmental marketing efforts. Organizations such as the Climate Collaborative, the Climate Pledge, Regenerative Organic Certification (and ROA), the Sustainable Food Trade Association (which now falls under the umbrella of the Organic Trade Association), Kiss the Ground’s Regenerate America and the American Sustainable Business Network’s Climate and Energy Working Group, to name just a few, are all playing a role.

The most obvious messaging relays commitments to carbon neutral deadlines. While the Paris Agreement pushes companies to be carbon neutral by 2050, the Climate Pledge, initiated by Amazon, asks participants, such as Daabon, to be net zero carbon by 2040. Early adopters such as Danone North America’s Horizon Milk are on track to be “Net Carbon by 2025” and Ancient Nutrition aims to be carbon negative by 2024. Numi Tea recently became Climate Neutral certified, which means the company pledges to fully offset its carbon emissions annually. This effort was made possible in part through the launch of the company’s new plant-based, compostable tea wrapper.

Pioneers such as Horizon Milk, Dr. Bronner’s, Patagonia and Nature’s Path are leading the way. But there are smaller, lesser-known brands also flexing their climate action muscles through meaningful partnerships. The success of Quinn Snacks, whose business model and partnerships with Mad Agriculture and David Vetter’s Grain Place Foods, is a great example of collaboration for a greater good.

Food technology is here to stay

Will the future of the good food movement within the natural products industry be one of alignment or one of polarization? Will the food innovations of tomorrow be met with trust or skepticism? The food industry is at a pivotal point where its various initiatives—plant-based, organic, regenerative, sustainable meat production, food technology and so much more—can join forces or become increasingly disparate.

It’s time to, first and foremost, remember what really matters: creating a healthier, more sustainable food system for all. In 2022 the industry will further align around common goals to scale positive impact and create a roadmap for transformative change. Key to doing so is establishing a baseline of product and brand quality and adhering to honest and purposeful practices. Consumer confidence in the future of food will only come with radical transparency—and that’s what we’ll see more of in the year ahead.  

Particularly challenging is defining a path for food technology, a space where industry advancements have swiftly outpaced the federal regulations. As the responsible food industry continues to face this challenge, it will attempt to provide clarity around terms such as synthetic biology.

Companies including Perfect Day, while different from legacy natural brands in their sustainable food approach, are eager to convince the natural products industry of their commitment to education and transparency. Beyond definitions, developing quality and transparency standards that are embraced by industry and communicated to consumers will be critical to instilling trust, not fear, in the diverse range of solutions that show promise for a better food future.  

A people-forward approach

From frontline retail staff to the oft-forgotten supply chain workers ensuring food makes it onto our tables, the unveiling is happening and the fallout can be significant: Big Food factory walkouts, the Amazon unionization movement and burnout across the board is making a people-first mentality dire.

Maybe it’s an aspiration, but hopefully it’s a trend: The natural products industry will double down on the health and well-being of its people. In order to boost morale and hold onto talent, psychologists and leadership experts are recommending a range of tactics for businesses across the supply chain to embrace, including more communication and greater expressions of appreciation (small gestures, as well as tangible benefits such as better wages and enhanced health care offerings). Mustard Seed’s Abraham Nabors knows that success through the pandemic “takes really awesome people” and in order to find and retain them, he’s increased wages—a permanent shift for the beloved Ohio retailer.

For the supply chain, UNSTUCK, an initiative by the Tent Partnership for Refugees, is also hoping to create a sustainable model, and recognizes that it’s critical to get to the root cause of poverty. Tent believes that it's unemployment and knows that the natural products industry can be part of the solution.

Comprised of a network of over 170 major companies committed to supporting refugees by including them as potential employees, entrepreneurs and consumers, its first product is Tent Chobani and UNSTUCK Mango and Cream Greek Yogurt, with more launches to come in 2022.

“UNSTUCK flips the traditional model of ‘give a percentage of profits to a good cause’ on its head,” says UNSTUCK Director Nick O’Flaherty. “With UNSTUCK, brand partners make an impact on refugee employment by doing what they do best: developing and selling products that people love.”

Year-round immune support

Sales of immunity-supporting supplements always spike after a sickness scare, whether it’s SARS, ebola or the wintertime cold-and-flu season. But a global pandemic that spans years? Game. Changer. In 2020 sales of cold, flu and immunity supplements reached $5 billion for the first time—with growth soaring more than 50%. That means 10% of all U.S. supplement sales in 2020 was for immune health support. Vitamins still dominate the market, but there is strong growth in botanicals, as well as probiotics, that support immunity.

You know how cold-and-flu supplements were big sellers for a few months in the dead of winter? It’s now a year-round pursuit, and consumers are seeing immune supplements as something akin to the new multivitamin.

“In 2019, pre-COVID sales in cold, flu and immunity were $3.43 billion, but category is now over $5.5 billion in all forecasted years,” said Claire Morton-Reynolds, senior industry analyst for Nutrition Business Journal, “in part driven by immune health now being a 365-day category, not just seasonal.” That means a complete rethink of how immunity supplements are positioned and sold at retail, especially since immunity health has overtaken “vitality” as the go-to phrase resonating with shoppers. Products embracing this more holistic, year-round approach to immune support include Big Bold Health HTB Rejuvenate Superfood, Country Life Gut Connection Immune Balance and For the Biome Immune Therapy.

Nonalcoholic beverages go beyond zero proof

With younger generations showing all the signs of being savvier than their predecessors in matters of health and wellness, the excessive imbibing that may have once seemed almost an inevitable rite of passage in one’s youth is being replaced by a more mindful approach to consuming or—more often than not these days—not consuming alcohol.

But while Gens Y and Z might be leading the way in their pursuit of alternative ways to unwind or blow off steam, it’s not just the younger generations who are driving the alcohol-free trend.

Dubbed the "sober curious," more and more consumers are being wooed not only by the health benefits that living alcohol free can offer—better sleep, weight loss, reduced risks for certain cancers and other diseases—but also by the growing selection of enticing beverage options that can make a total or part-time move towards a sober lifestyle feel more akin to pleasure than sacrifice. And they're relying on the natural products industry to discover these products.

Whether through flavors and ingredients that soothe with the familiar sensations of favorite libations—think nonalcoholic botanical spirits, hop-infused water, fermented juices—or the functional add-ins that won’t cause hangovers and offer added mind and body benefits.

The mocktails of 2022 will take this concept even further, with more brands harnessing the power of functional ingredients to enhance mood and relaxation—think Leilo with its kava kava root chillaxation beverage, or Recess with its good-mood blend of magnesium, ginseng, L-theanine and lemon balm—and those like the Ritual Beverage Co. that can create the experience of alcohol through botanicals.

Oh, mycelium!

While the culinary use of mushrooms is very familiar to consumers, mushrooms as a functional ingredient is just now beginning to trend into the mainstream. Functional mushroom supplements, classified under “herbs and botanicals” by Nutrition Business Journal, grew a whopping 60.2% in 2020, moving the market from $57 million to $91 million in annual sales. The increased interest in mushrooms is making it a popular addition to other product formats, including RTD beverages, sweets, snacks and bars.

The explosive growth in 2020 was largely driven by immune health, which captured 61% of mushroom sales last year. As with many other nutrition categories, immune health has served as a gateway to introduce consumers to an ingredient such as mushrooms that they may not have previously considered. Because of this, we see a long runway of opportunity for ingredients including reishi, chaga, lion’s mane and cordyceps across other trending conditions, including nootropics targeting brain health and formulas addressing mood and stress.

Self (personal) care

When consumers hunkered down at the onset of COVID-19, few could have predicted the that the boom in natural at-home beauty treatments would be an extended one. Intensive beauty treatments lie at the intersection of mental and physical health, becoming an integral part of people's daily or weekly routines. No longer is a $65 face mask a stretch—take For the Biome’s Invigorate Powder Mask featuring today’s trendiest mushrooms (including fermented reishi, lion’s mane and chaga) and prebiotic nutrients that take aim at ultra-stressed skin. It’s gentle enough to be slathered onto skin daily and can be a full-body, luxurious mask.

Avoiding facialists and other hands-on specialists meant consumers took on professional treatments home; at-home microneedling, red- and blue-light mask treatments and tools to stimulate facial muscles all grew in popularity over the past year. One such tool, a Traditional Chinese Medicine favorite called gua sha, has both an affordable price point and thousands of years of demonstrated results to offer consumers.

To capture the growing demand for easy-to-use at-home beauty tools, natural skin care brand OSEA launched a package kit for shoppers that includes a jade gua sha tool, argan oil to accompany the treatment and a facial mist to follow the self-massage process. What’s clear is that consumers are willing to spend their extra cash on luxury at-home beauty treatments that deliver tangible results.

Let’s get real—we’re talking to you, sugar

In recent years, brands have been leaning into better-for-you versions of consumers’ favorite sweet indulgences in response to the growing vilification of sugar and concerns about its impacts on health and wellness. Sugar substitutes such as stevia, monk fruit and sugar alcohols have risen in response to these demands, but we anticipate real cane sugar to continue to make a sweet, sweet comeback as evidenced by some of the latest products to market.

Moving into 2022, we foresee brands and consumers embracing more of the real deal, albeit in more mindful amounts and with an emphasis on making ingredient lists cleaner, simpler, more carefully sourced, more responsible and more sustainable.

These values have been particularly embraced by natural chocolate brands, many of which have gone above and beyond to support transparent practices and bean-to-bar operations. Even better, brands frequently back these up with USDA Organic, Fair Trade and other certifications. Examples include Alter Eco and Theo’s, both of which have recently launched lines of insanely rich, dark chocolate indulgences containing 85% cacao and just 4 grams of sugar per serving.

ChocXO is another brand that is embracing this trend with its 70% cacao Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups that blend organic cane sugar with carefully sourced cocoa beans to yield indulgent, USDA Organic snack cups that have just 3 grams of sugar apiece. And Nib Mor’s Snackable Chocolate squares contain less than 3 grams of sugar per square and are certified organic.

As we look to 2022, we don’t just expect this trend to continue in the sweets category, but also to grow in categories like pantry-friendly sauces, snack bars, beverages and more, with consumers demanding products with cleaner formulations, better taste and carefully sourced ingredients that are 100% real.

Sustainable packaging 2.0

Natural products brands are tackling the sustainable packaging puzzle across food, beverage and personal care categories that are still rife with unnecessary plastic waste. Two 2021 NEXTY Award winners, Simply Tera’s by Carrington Farms’ Organic Whey Bourbon Vanilla Protein Powder and Bhoomi’s Ginger Recovery+ Cane Water Elixir, represent the myriad possibilities for companies starting out on the (oftentimes confusing) sustainable packaging journey. The former is 100% recyclable in addition to being made of 100% post-consumer recycled content—including the canister, the cap, the scoop and the label—which means Carrington Farms is essentially buying back its own plastic and creating a zero-waste stream for the Simply Tera's tub.

Natural beverage company Bhoomi made the significant transition from fossil fuel-based plastic to a recyclable, 100% sugarcane-based biopolymer bottle. This move to an organic and plant-based material is feasible for many nascent brands to adopt and this kind of packaging can be derived from a wide range of renewable materials. Refillable packaging is also becoming more commonplace as the climate crisis heightens. For example, companies that choose to work with sustainable packaging pioneer TerraCycle opt into a program that allows consumers to return their go-to brands’ empty packaging to then be sanitized and refilled for others to use.

The continued rise of beauty from within

Beauty may well be skin deep, but skin health can be improved not just from the outside-in with creams, salves and lotions, but also from the inside out through the use of supplements. As the pandemic drove consumers to take their beauty and wellness rituals home, so too has it inspired them to embrace beauty from within. From acne to sun and pollution exposure to wrinkles and spots associated with aging, physical appearance is a concern attracting ever-younger demographics.

“Beauty-from-within is projected to grow nearly 10% this year, bringing total sales to $1.45 billion,” said Claire Morton-Reynolds, senior industry analyst for Nutrition Business Journal. “Collagen is the hottest ingredient in the category, with anticipated growth of 23%.”

What more retailers and consumers are waking up to, though, is that not all collagen is created equal. The Verisol ingredient brand has conducted research on its specific peptide, and it has demonstrated reduced wrinkles as well as improved skin elasticity and hair and nail growth. Beyond collagen, other beauty-from-within ingredients to keep your eye on include hyaluronic acid, carotenoids, astaxanthin and ceramides, each taking a different approach to supporting benefits ranging from glowing skin to stronger nails and glossy hair. Read more on our top picks for beauty-from-within ingredients.

Oats are the new cauliflower

That oat-based products are trending up in the alt-dairy aisle is certainly nothing new, but the boom in new oat-full products is stunning consumers based on the adaptability, sustainability and integrity of this mild-mannered grain.

No small part of the continued success of this grain-forward alt-dairy ingredient is due to the great versatility of oats in myriad plant-based dairy products. In products ranging from alt milk to creamer, ice cream, yogurt, butter and other analogues, oats are not only a fantastic, nut-free option for those who need it, but they also typically lend a mild taste, creamy texture and added nutritional benefits.

According to SPINS data for the Natural Enhanced Channel and Conventional MULO for the 52 weeks ending on Aug. 8, 2021, the attribute “oatmilk” was up by a whopping 92%—trailed far behind by peamilk at just 15%. It’s no wonder than that a recent report from Reports and Data estimates that the global oat milk market will reach $6.47 billion by 2027. 

Many oat-based alternatives are also topping the list when it comes to sustainability, traceability and clean ingredients—not to mention USDA Organic certification—attributes that we expect to see grow even further in 2022.

Willa’s goes above and beyond with its organic oatmilks, which are made with a proprietary production process that cuts down on waste and improves nutrition content by using the whole oat. Another brand to watch is Hälsa, which makes its “100% clean,” organic oat milk yogurts using an innovative, energy-saving process that uses neither enzymes nor chemicals.

This article originally appeared on our sister site newhope.com.

 

A study recently published in Clinical Nutrition indicates blueberries may reduce the acute cardiometabolic burden of energy-dense foods (2022; 41[1]:165-176). In other words, eating blueberries before a meal may be good for your heart and other metabolic measures.

The study, which was supported with funding from the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council with oversight from the USDA, showed that consumption of 1 cup fresh blueberries per day (or 26 g frozen/freeze-dried blueberry) in conjunction with a high-calorie, high-fat or sugar meal, may result in improved biometrics post-meal.

For the study, 45 participants with metabolic syndrome were selected and randomly assigned to an energy-dense blueberry or placebo intervention, which included a meal-replacement drink consumed after an overnight fast. All participants restricted consumption of blueberries and other anthocyanin-rich foods for 21 days prior to the study. The blueberry group consumed 26 g blueberry powder (104 calories, 0.6 g fat, 23 g carbs, 1.1 g protein) added to a 500 g milkshake-like drink consisting of 969 calories, 64.5 g of fat and 84 g of carbs. The authors noted this meal-replacement drink was of similar nutritional value to a cheeseburger, French fries and a medium soft drink. The other group received the same meal-replacement beverage with a placebo powder of similar nutritional content. Blood samples were collected prior to the meal consumption, then again after 30, 60, 90, 120 and 360 minutes, then again after 24 hours. No additional food was consumed until the 360-minute assessment.

After analyzing the samples, the data showed the blueberry group had improved metabolic measures compared to the placebo group. Specifically, blueberry consumption before a meal resulted in reduced insulin and glucose levels, lower total cholesterol, and improved “good” HDL cholesterol and related lipoproteins in the 24 hours following the meal. In addition, the authors wrote, “As anticipated, total anthocyanin-derived phenolic acid metabolite concentrations significantly increased in the 24 h[ours] after blueberry intake; especially hippuric acid (6-7-fold serum increase, 10-fold urinary increase).

“For the first time,” the authors concluded, “in an at-risk population, we show that single-exposure to the equivalent of 1 cup blueberries (provided as freeze-dried powder) attenuates the deleterious postprandial effects of consuming an energy-dense high-fat/high-sugar meal over 24 h; reducing insulinaemia and glucose levels, lowering cholesterol, and improving HDL-C, fractions of HDL-P and Apo-A1.”

The authors also noted that, because this study was conducted with what they described as “a pragmatically selected stable, homogeneous freeze-dried powder,” future studies including whole, fresh blueberries would be prudent. Because, as the authors write, “elevated postprandial glucose/impaired glucose tolerance increases CV [cardiovascular] disease risk,” further study into the effects of blueberries and their active compounds would be of wide benefit to consumers.

The head of a union has asked the CEOs of 63 U.S. retail and grocery companies to take specific measures to protect their customers and workers amid the two-year-old COVID-19 pandemic.

The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union, which has 1.3 million members in the U.S. and Canada, sent letters to such heavyweights as Albertsons Companies, Amazon.com Inc., CVS Health, The Kroger Co. and Whole Foods Market Inc.

“As you know, throughout this difficult period, the threat of COVID-19 variants has persisted and evolved even as many of America’s largest food and retail companies have relaxed their safety measures,” UFCW International President Marc Perrone wrote in Dec. 9 letters to the business leaders.

“Now, with the Delta variant driving a dangerous winter surge of COVID-19 cases in 39 states and new variants like Omicron further raising fears about public safety, we believe it is critical for our nation’s largest retail and food employers, including Walmart, Amazon, Safeway and Kroger, to take immediate steps to protect essential workers and members of the public during this holiday season,” he added.

Perrone urged the CEOs to promote wearing of masks for all their customers and make available to their employees personal protective equipment while they are on the job.

Perrone also requested food and retail companies re-establish social distancing and support vaccinations and booster shots for workers via onsite vaccine clinics and paid sick leave. 

Finally, he called for business leaders to increase worker pay.

“The exploding spike in food prices is impacting all workers and has added an additional burden to many essential workers—especially those with families,” Perrone wrote. “The reality is that the threat of COVID and the new variant is clearly contributing to historic inflation, fueling customer frustrations, and is making the job essential workers do in this pandemic even more difficult.”

Perrone cautioned against letting the pandemic worsen before implementing his requested measures. 

“Based on our discussions with virus experts, these actions must be taken now to help reduce the risk of a worsening pandemic that will cost lives,” he stated.

Since the pandemic’s inception, at least 497 UFCW essential workers have died, 35,945 have been exposed and 68,891 have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Perrone's letter. 

The deal will create an innovative leader in the food safety sector with a comprehensive product range and a strategic focus on the category’s long-term growth opportunities. The combined company will have the enhanced geographic footprint, innovative product offerings, digitization capabilities, and financial flexibility to capitalize on robust growth trends in sustainability, food safety and supply chain integrity.

The companies said the transaction values 3M’s stake at $5.3 billion, including $1 billion in new debt. The combined venture is expected to have a value of about $9.3 billion. The deal is expected to close by the end of Q3 2022. NEOGEN’s President and CEO John Adent and NEOGEN’s existing management team will continue to lead the combined company.

“This combination will enhance NEOGEN’s position in this new era of food security, equipping us with an expanded product line that enables us to capitalize on our growing footprint, reaching more customers, more often, while continuing our track record of strong and consistent growth,” Adent said. “The heightened global focus on food security, sustainability and supply chain solutions around the world presents exciting opportunities for NEOGEN to be positioned as an innovative leader at the forefront of the growth and digitization of the industry. We’re excited to welcome 3M’s Food Safety employees to the NEOGEN team, and we’re looking forward to demonstrating the immense benefits of this combination to our customers, employees and shareholders.”

Coffee is among the most popular beverages on Earth, widely consumed not only for its taste but the energizing caffeine it contains. In recent years, because of its popularity and improved understanding into how it affects the body, coffee has also become a common vehicle for other functional ingredients, from pre- and probiotics to protein and CBD.

A recent study conducted by researchers from England’s Northumbria University, in conjunction with PHMR Ltd. and PepsiCo, indicates an often-discarded part of the coffee plant may also be beneficial in boosting alertness, as well as improving mood: the coffee berry (Nutritional Neuroscience, 2021).

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study examined 46 healthy men and women with an average age of 23 years old. Each participant was assigned to one of four groups: 1,100 mg coffee berry extract; 1,100 mg coffee berry extract plus 275 mg apple extract; 100 mg coffee berry extract plus 275 mg apple extract; or a placebo. A cognitive and mood assessment weas given before ingestion, as well as one, three and six hours after consumption. These trials were conducted on four separate occasions.

After analyzing the data, the researchers concluded “Analysis revealed a consistent pattern of alerting effects following 1,100 mg coffee berry extract.” Participants in the 1,100 mg group also reported increased vigor, as well as decreased fatigue and negative mood. The authors stated coffee berry’s caffeine content, while low (about one-fifth that of a cup of coffee), may have contributed to those observed effects. The researchers did note only a limited effect on cognitive function, with little difference between the high- and low-dose coffee berry extract groups.

“Polyphenols from coffee berry (chlorogenic acid) and apple (flavanol) have been shown to improve mood and increase cerebral blood flow in healthy humans,” the authors wrote. “In line with previous findings, 1,100 mg coffee berry engendered increased arousal.”

Food & Beverage Insider insights

Coffee is among the world’s most-consumed beverages, and recent innovations have only made the old standby more versatile and in-demand. The energizing boost of caffeine inherent in coffee continues to be a major motivator, with Matthew Barry of Euromonitor International writing, “High-caffeine products were already seen prior to the pandemic but have increased in intensity recently. The fast growth of highly caffeinated brand Death Wish Coffee Co. is perhaps the clearest example, but other coffee and tea brands are either dialing up caffeine levels or adding ingredients like guarana (Paullinia cupana) or ginseng (Panax ginseng) to provide an additional boost.” Barry also noted that, from 2015-2020, sales of decaffeinated or reduced caffeine coffee and tea fell by 3%.

In addition to caffeine, recent research also indicates coffee may possess other benefits. One recent study pointed to coffee, as well as tea, potentially lowering the risk of stroke and dementia (PLOS Medicine, 18(11): e1003830). Another study noted coffee’s potential to lower the risk of cardiac arrythmia (JAMA Intern Med. 2021;181[9]:1185-1193).

With more than 60% of American adults consuming at least one cup of coffee every day, expect the popular beverage to continue to be researched and innovated, both as an ingredient unto itself and as a vehicle for others.

The pandemic reshaped the beverage industry, changing consumer demand for functional beverages. Coffee and tea, in particular, faced the dual challenge of delivering energy benefits in new ways as well as adapting to emerging demand spaces like immunity. The effects of this shakeup will continue to be felt for years to come.

Coffee and tea functionalities are continuously evolving but do not typically replace traditional positioning. Rather, new functionalities join those that already exist to give consumers an ever-increasing range of options to serve their specific needs.

The core functionality has been, and always will be, energy. Even as coffee and tea explore new spaces, delivering caffeinated energy will need to remain the focus because consumers worldwide rely on these beverages for energy to get through their days.

However, plenty of space exists for innovation, and two areas have seen a lot of activity: ultra-caffeination and calming functionalities. High-caffeine products were already seen prior to the pandemic but have increased in intensity recently. The fast growth of highly caffeinated brand Death Wish Coffee Co. is perhaps the clearest example, but other coffee and tea brands are either dialing up caffeine levels or adding ingredients like guarana (Paullinia cupana) or ginseng (Panax ginseng) to provide an additional boost. Caffeine content is increasingly potent in the ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee space, as cold brew coffees offer cleaner, but more intense, energy boosts.

This trend runs into growing issues with stress, anxiety and insomnia—all of which were issues in 2019 but became severely exacerbated by the events of 2020. From 2015 to 2020, retail sales of reduced-caffeine coffee and tea declined 3%, according to Euromonitor International. While stress levels continue to increase, artificially decaffeinated coffee and tea products remain, in general, underperformers.

Consumers may want to be more relaxed and sleep better, but they need energy to get through their days. This paradoxical demand results in rising levels of caffeine consumption across most major markets, which is unlikely to slow anytime soon. However, consumers are still concerned with their caffeine intake, so how do brands address these conflicting demands?

To continue reading this article, visit “Functional coffee and tea products in a post-COVID-19 world” in the “Steeped in innovation: Coffee and tea go beyond energy” digital magazine.

Matthew Barry is a senior beverages consultant at Euromonitor International, specializing in global beverage industry trends, with a particular focus on coffee, tea and alcoholic spirits. He is especially interested in how economic growth patterns and changing demographics are affecting the global beverage industry. His insights are often shared in business and trade press, such as The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and The New York Times, and on stage at industry events like World Tea Expo and the National Coffee Association Annual Convention.