Health & functionality

When it comes to NPD, is consumer 'liking' an overrated idea?

When it comes to NPD, is consumer 'liking' an overrated idea?

By Nathan Gray

Testing the consumer liking of a new product may be an overrated idea that ‘breeds mediocrity’ and means products fail to differentiate themselves against the competition, according to David Howlett of MMR Research.

Sweet foods meant life-saving vitamins and minerals in the early human landscape. That landscape has been swamped with unhealthy sweet foods today.

A sweet tooth is just as genetic as asthma, says researcher

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

About 50% of our preference for sweet food and drinks can be attributed to genetics, about the same level of heritability as certain personality traits and asthma, according to a food sensory scientist.   

Stephen Daniells and Shane Starling from FoodNavigator and NutraIngredients

Key Insights from Food Vision

Food Vision 2014: Bridge knowledge gaps, overcome change and work sustainably

By Kacey Culliney

What is the future of food? Simple communication of complex advances will be crucial, as well as picking up the pace amid a global population boom to feed the world nutritiously and sustainably, according to FoodNavigator and NutraIngredients senior editors.

Large-scale study to assess whether cocoa flavanol supplements benefit heart health. Photo Credit: Happy Days Photos and Art

Mars gears up for large-scale cocoa flavanol pill study

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Chocolate giant Mars and the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute are readying themselves for a five-year research project into possible heart-health benefits of taking a daily flavanol-rich capsule. 

Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins and iron so when used in cookies can play into healthy indulgence, says Datamonitor

DIGGING INTO INNOVATION & NPD WITH DATAMONITOR CONSUMER

Sweet potato cookies: The new way to indulge

By Kacey Culliney

Sweet potato should be seriously considered by cookie makers looking to tap into better-for-you indulgence, says a Datamonitor researcher.

White packaging trend goes global, but it could have retail implications. Photo credit: CPS International

Special Edition: Consumer friendly confectionery packaging unwrapped

White is the new black – but does it make a bland shelf?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

White packaging is on the rise globally, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out within the retail space, according to an industry commentator.

Court-appointed panel split over junk food ban near schools

Court-appointed panel split over junk food ban near schools

By Ankush Chibber

Banning junk food near schools, one of India’s biggest and long-running public health issues, seems like it will continue some more after industry officials and health activists on a court–appointed panel were unable to forge a common direction. 

A standard can of sugar-sweetened soft drink would exceed the 5% limit on added sugars for most people

WHO recommends halving sugar intake advice

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised halving sugar intake advice from 10% of total calories to 5% of total calories in a new dietary guideline proposal.

32% of Irish consumers say they would be more likely to shop at stores where junk food at checkouts is banned

Irish NGO calls for sweet-free checkouts

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Irish NGO Safefood has called on supermarkets to make checkouts ‘sweet-free zones’ as part of its campaign to tackle childhood obesity.

Dietmar Eiden, vice president of trade fair management at Koelnmesse, on the talking points of ISM 2014

Dispatches from ISM 2014 in Cologne

Sustainability and health needs grow at ISM, says organizer

By Oliver Nieburg

The confectionery industry is in good shape and demand for sustainable products and those catering to health needs has never been higher, according to ISM organizer Koelnmesse.

Caramel colors: Prop 65 4-MeI levels in Coke, Pepsi

Caramel colors under fire again: Is there a safe level of 4-MeI?

By Elaine WATSON

The FDA says it has “no reason to believe” that 4-MeI - an impurity generated during the manufacture of caramel colors III and IV - poses a health risk at current dosage levels, but says it is reviewing new data to determine whether it needs to revise...

Government advisers accused of conflict of interest

Conflict of interest? On the sugar payroll

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

A Channel 4 Dispatches programme to be aired in the UK this evening is to accuse scientists advising health ministers on sugar of a conflict of interest due to funds some receive from the food industry.