Carbohydrates and fibres (sugar, starches)

‘Fibre is the new protein’: Food brands lead push to boost fibre intakes

17-Sep-2021 By Oliver Morrison

With only 9% of adults getting the recommended amount of dietary fibre a day, the UK’s Food and Drink Federation has launched a new initiative to boost the nation’s fibre consumption. But what’s the best way to make this health-boosting substance an appetizing...

UK to lead WHO network to champion sugar and calorie reduction

14-Sep-2021 By Katy Askew

The UK has been selected to head up the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Sugar and Calorie Reduction Network in Europe.

DouxMatok inks first commercial partnership outside of Israel for Incredo Sugar

14-Sep-2021 By Flora Southey

DouxMatok has partnered with Italian ingredients company Hi-Food to commercialise its sugar-reduction offering Incredo Sugar. FoodNavigator hears from the start-up’s CEO and CTO to learn more about its B2B strategy.

Could mandatory fruit and veg sections near entrances be next?

09-Sep-2021 By Oliver Morrison

With the UK set to roll out restrictions on unhealthy food promotions in stores next year, fresh research claims healthier supermarket layouts, including fruit and vegetables placed near store entrances, improves customers’ food choices.

Carob: A ‘super-nutritious, highly sustainable hidden gem’?

06-Sep-2021 By Katy Askew

Food and ag tech start-up CarobWay is working to help grow the market for carob as a ‘super-nutritious’ and ‘highly sustainable’ food ingredient.

Call for restrictions as sugary yoghurts are named and shamed

19-Aug-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Parents are ‘misled’ by high-sugar yogurts with child-friendly packaging, according to researchers at Action on Sugar.

Good carbs, bad carbs? Study supports that high glycemic foods (in moderation) do not lead to weight gain any more than complex carbs

13-Aug-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

A scientific review has called into question the validity of the commonly-held notion that foods with a high glycemic index (GI) – white bread, white rice, etc. – lead to more weight gain than low-GI foods (e.g. bran and other minimally processed grains)....

‘Intake of added and free sugars should be as low as possible’: EFSA confirms sugar consumption a risk factor in chronic diseases

22-Jul-2021 By Katy Askew

The European Food Safety Authority was asked to review the link between sugar consumption and various diseases. The results are in: “Based on the risk of developing chronic metabolic diseases and dental caries, the intake of added and free sugars should...

Swapping out long ingredients lists on vegan mayo for chickpeas: ‘We’ve taken the aquafaba concept a leap further’

15-Jul-2021 By Flora Southey

Israeli start-up ChickP Ltd. says its 90% protein isolate demonstrates can be used as a clean label, one-to-one replacement for egg yolk in alt mayonnaise.

‘The next phase in the evolution of Tate & Lyle’: Ingredients supplier spins-off bulk sweetener business

12-Jul-2021 By Katy Askew

Tate & Lyle has sold a controlling stake in its Primary Products operations, which will be spun-out into a stand-alone business, leaving the London-listed ingredient manufacturer to focus on its faster-growing specialities business.

What Kantar’s list of most valuable global brands tells us about food and beverage trends

24-Jun-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Kantar's latest ranking of the world's largest food and beverage brands reveals the shift in consumer behaviour towards indulgence during lockdowns.

Protein from waste: a sustainable solution with consumer appeal?

24-Jun-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Quorn is hoping to make protein from crop leftovers within five years as a solution to the twin problems of climate change and food waste.

Roquette Ventures eyes protein sweeteners from fermentation to meet demand for healthier alternatives to sugar

14-Jun-2021 By Oliver Morrison

French investment firm Roquette Ventures (part of ingredients company Roquette Group), which supports start-ups in the food, nutrition, and health markets, is looking to scale up production of plant protein sweeteners made using precision fermentation.

Bonsucro launches five-year plan: ‘We want to lead the sugarcane sector towards Science Based Targets on climate’

04-Jun-2021 By Katy Askew

Sugarcane certification scheme Bonsucro has launched a five-year strategic plan, setting out ‘bold ambitions’ to accelerate sustainable production and use in sugarcane.

How UK brands are reformulating to avoid the HFSS ad ban

19-May-2021 By Oliver Morrison

UK food brands are currently digesting planned government legislation coming next year which will prevent marketing and advertising of HFSS being shown on TV (pre-9pm) and online from 2022 and limit where these products can be placed in bricks and mortar...

What does the future hold for reformulation?

19-May-2021 By Hannah Pearse, Head of Nutrition and Scientific Affairs at IGD

With the impending publication of part two of the National Food Strategy in the UK, IGD convened major retailers, manufacturers, food service companies and members of the National Food Strategy team to discuss reformulation, the challenges, and opportunities....

Does the UK’s proposed junk food ad ban reduce the motivation to reformulate?

12-May-2021 By Oliver Morrison

The Food and Drink Federation says UK plans to restrict in-store promotions of foods high in fat, salt and sugar will deter companies from developing lower sugar and fat alternatives.

Sugary drinks could increase risk of bowel cancer

07-May-2021 By Flora Southey

Fresh research suggests high consumption of sugar sweetened beverages is associated with a higher risk of early-onset colon colorectal cancer in women.

Potato grower starts upcycling unwanted spuds to pioneer ‘high grade’ plant protein alternative

03-May-2021 By Oliver Morrison

UK supplier Branston is working on a project to convert unwanted potatoes into ‘clean-label functional protein’ for use in meat analogues.

Sugar: the next ingredient set to come under fire for its climate impact?

23-Apr-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Meat and dairy are regularly targeted for their environmental impact. In the UK, for example, the government’s Committee on Climate Change has recommended a 20% cut in meat and dairy by 2030, rising to 35% by 2050 for meat only. Sugar may be next, warns...

Industry insights from NIZO: Safety challenges for plant-based foods

21-Apr-2021 By René Floris, NIZO Food Research Division Manager

In this series of articles, NIZO Food Research Division Manager and FoodNavigator advisory panel member René Floris discusses some of the big issues in today’s food industry. This month, he continues his exploration of the protein transition by looking...

Over 65s in Ireland urged to eat ‘more meat and dairy’, but told ‘no drinking tea during meals’

19-Apr-2021 By Oliver Morrison

A report by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has offered updated national recommendations to enhance older people’s nutritional health.

Scientists call for more bean and lentil production in Europe

14-Apr-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Legumes have high potential to underpin the transition to healthy and sustainable diets targeted by the European Green New Deal Farm to Fork strategy, according to research.

Why Mars is betting on personalised nutrition for the masses

29-Mar-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Mars Edge – the segment of Mars Incorporated dedicated to supporting human health through nutrition – is on a mission to reconcile the nutrition that consumers need with the food they want, it tells FoodNavigator.

A rainbow of opportunity: How fermentation biotech is creating ‘Agricultural 2.0’

25-Mar-2021 By Natasha Spencer

Biotechnology applications garner increasing attention in 2021, with fermentation processing expected to accelerate and expand commercialisation.

Snack sector looks to lentils, beans and insects as ‘health by stealth’ hits limit

25-Mar-2021 By Oliver Morrison

As the snack sector reaches its technological limits in cutting salt and fat from products, European manufacturers are accelerating reformulating efforts using lentils, beans, other vegetables -- and even insects -- as a way of meeting consumer demand...

Novax acquires majority of Ulrick & Short

15-Mar-2021 By Katy Askew

Novax has acquired a majority stake in UK ingredient supplier Ulrick & Short as part of its drive into the food sector.

Oatly talks UK expansion: Is switching to oat milk an 'easy way' to cut your carbon footprint?

12-Mar-2021 By Oliver Morrison

The Swedish oat drink company is building its first UK factory, set to be completed in early 2023. The Vegan Society says the move illustrates the growing demand for products styled as eco-friendly. But others question whether cutting dairy really is...

Health campaigners call for ‘honest’ labelling on so-called healthy snacks

10-Mar-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Researchers at Action on Salt are demanding a restriction on the use of what it calls misleading nutrition claims on HFSS products after its new data revealed seemingly ‘healthy’ snacks contain often higher salt levels than crisps and flavoured nuts.

More evidence links screen time with childhood obesity

04-Mar-2021 By Oliver Morrison

With the food industry under increased pressure to promote healthier diets, address obesity and reduce diet-related diseases, more evidence emerges to suggest environmental factors, specifically screen time and poor sleep, may go hand-in-hand with overconsumption.

Not all processed foods should be demonised, say nutritionists

22-Feb-2021 By Oliver Morrison

What do canned baked beans, low fat fruit yogurt, ice cream, pre-packaged sliced bread, ready-made pasta sauces, and breakfast cereals with added sugar all have in common?

‘There’s never been a better time to push the message that healthy can equal delicious’: Start-up aims to disrupt snacking sector with low-fat, low-salt crisp

19-Feb-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Challenger brand Mindful Snacker is promising to make 2021 ‘the year of healthy snacking’ and ‘clean comfort food’.

The future of ‘clean label’? Radically transparent and naturally healthy

17-Feb-2021 By Katy Askew

‘Clean label’ is an industry term that speaks to consumer demand for recognisable ‘pantry cupboard’ ingredients. But, without a clear definition, the meaning of clean label is evolving. What other mega-trends will shape the future of clean label innovation?

FREE WEBINAR: Hitting the Sweet Spot

16-Feb-2021 By Flora Southey

Register today for FoodNavigator’s FREE webinar exploring sugar reduction innovation in Europe.

Unilever and Kellogg discuss innovation priorities for 2021: From gut health to next gen plant proteins

09-Feb-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Kellogg Company and Unilever are calling on start-ups to help tackle some of the most critical issues facing the food and industry.

Food trends of the future where innovation opportunities are rife

04-Feb-2021 By Oliver Morrison

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, UK artisan chocolate brand Montezuma’s commissioned food anthropologist Caroline Hobkinson to predict food industry trends over the next two decades with a specific focus on chocolate.

Which sweet trends are predicted to stick in 2021?

01-Feb-2021 By Flora Southey

This year, consumers will embrace oat-based desserts, grow their fondness for Japanese cuisine – including mochi-flavoured doughnuts – and explore combinations of sweet, sour, salty, umami and pickled flavours, according to food futurologist Dr Morgaine...

Time for sodium alternatives to show they’re ‘worth their salt’

25-Jan-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Salt reduction needs to come out of the shadows, according to food artificial intelligence company Spoonshot.

Sugar blocker: Evolva’s new ingredient obstructs the body’s ability to digest sucrose

21-Jan-2021 By Flora Southey

Swiss biotech company Evolva is launching a natural sugar blocker for food and drink applications. L-arabinose is also a reducing sugar, the company’s head of investor and corporate relations tells FoodNavigator.

Beneo doubling down on the clean label mega trend

20-Jan-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Beneo predicts to see significant growth in the market for chicory root, sugar beet, wheat and rice starches as consumers in 2021 demand cleaner but also natural easily recognisable ‘cupboard ingredients’.

Origin labelling for honey blends on Slovenia’s presidency agenda: ‘EU producers can hardly compete with imported honey’

15-Jan-2021 By Flora Southey

When Slovenia takes on the presidency of the Council of the EU later this year, it wants to make origin labelling for honey blends more transparent. This would benefit producers and consumers alike, says the country’s food and agricultural chief, Darja...

New legume flour improves blood glucose response to white bread

13-Jan-2021 By Flora Southey

Researchers in the UK have developed a new flour made from chickpeas they claim can lower the glycaemic response in people eating white bread.

Ingredion launches organic instant functional native starch in Europe

11-Jan-2021 By Jim Cornall

Ingredion EMEA has developed an organic instant functional native starch, which can be used in certified organic products and delivers the quality of conventional ingredients.

‘The failed experiment of self-regulation’: UK urged to adopt robust approach to HFSS foods

07-Jan-2021 By Flora Southey

As the UK plans to dismantle Public Health England – in a move health expert Dr Anthony Laverty describes as ‘retrograde’ – the Government is being called on to take ‘bolder action’ to combat obesity.

Modified starch ‘ink’ developed for 3D printing: ‘They’re simple, cheap and easy to implement on an industrial scale’

10-Dec-2020 By Flora Southey

‘Ink’ used to make foods and novel materials by additive manufacturing have been developed by food engineers from modified starch.

Nestlé’s net zero roadmap: ‘We have no time to lose’

04-Dec-2020 By Katy Askew

Swiss food giant Nestlé wants to halve its emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. “We have no time to lose,” CEO Mark Schneider told journalists at an event detailing how the company plans to get there.

‘Mega trends’ in clean label revealed: ‘It’s what’s not on the label that’s important’

26-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

For today’s consumers ‘clean label’ is less about the ingredients featured back-of-pack and more about what isn’t listed, be it preservatives, genetically modified ingredients or artificial sweeteners, according to L.E.K. Consulting.

Beneo unveils new rice starch to exploit clean label’s expansion into the mainstream

23-Nov-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Ingredient manufacturer Beneo is expanding its range of native rice starches as it notes ‘clean label is no longer a trend, it’s mainstream’.

Unilever eyes €1bn plant-based sales and ‘positive nutrition’ push

19-Nov-2020 By Katy Askew

Unilever has said that it wants to increase its plant-based sales to €1bn and double the number of its products that deliver ‘positive nutrition’.

From immunity and sustainability to plant-based and clean label: Top trends out in force at Fi Europe CONNECT 2020

18-Nov-2020 By Katy Askew

Fi Europe is a red-letter event for the European food sector. This year, COVID-19 means things will be a little different. But the need to share ideas and innovation – as well as networking and business opportunities – has ‘never been more important’.