Fats & oils

Fried chicken alternative developed from peanut protein: ‘Five years from now, we want to market every part of the chicken’

18-Jan-2021 By Flora Southey

Haofood says it is the ‘world’s first’ plant-based chicken company to tap peanut protein as its primary ingredient.

PALM OIL TRADE FAIR AND SEMINAR (POTS) 2021

Emotion over science: Experts argue better social marketing can overcome negative consumer palm oil sentiment

12-Jan-2021 By Pearly Neo

Consumers are opting to buy ‘No Palm Oil’ labelled products in places where these are available due to the sense of ‘emotional protection’ this confers versus any real scientific knowledge, an expert panel has claimed whilst recommending better social...

‘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.

Lindt tackles coconut oil sustainability: ‘In the consumer’s mind, palm oil is still the bad guy’

05-Jan-2021 By Flora Southey

Despite coconut oil being just a minor ingredient in some of Lindt & Sprüngli’s products, a raw material risk assessment highlighting sustainability challenges has prompted the chocolate maker to act.

Shea growers celebrate latest US green light

21-Dec-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Approval for a second shea ingredient could boost the West African economy by over $8.5 million a year.

Consumers associate plant-based with clean label: There is a ‘disconnect’ between perception and reality

16-Dec-2020 By Katy Askew

Demand for plant-based products is booming and many consumers identify the sector as being ‘natural’, ‘healthy’ and ‘artisan’, new research reveals. “There is an apparent disconnect between the consumer understanding of natural products and the reality...

Cultivated fat: a solution to the plant-based sensory gap?

15-Dec-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Cultivated or cultured fat could be the key to improving the taste and texture challenges of plant-based meat alternatives, according to one player in this market.

Fats in fashion: ‘Fat is the product developers’ friend’

07-Dec-2020 By Katy Askew

For decades fat has been the dieter’s demon. But new analysis suggests that younger consumers are shedding their fear of fat – a shift that opens ‘huge new opportunities’ for product developers across multiple categories.

'Shea is a uniquely sustainable and healthy crop': Bunge Loders Croklaan on its latest cocoa butter equivalent

04-Dec-2020 By Oliver Morrison

BLC has launched a shea-based premium cocoa butter equivalent. It says the nutritionally balanced ingredient will support food manufacturers to meet consumer demand for health-conscious and sustainable options that don’t compromise on taste and quality.

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.

The case for processed foods: ‘Zero processing doesn’t work for today’s food choices’

02-Dec-2020 By Flora Southey

With backlash mounting over ultra-processed foods, a research professor from Ghent University has balanced out the argument – making a strong case for processing where appropriate.

‘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.

Meet the ‘unbelievably creamy’ vegan chocolate brand paying cocoa farmers 60% more than Fairtrade

19-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

UK start-up Fellow Creatures has developed a plant-based chocolate its founder says is a far cry from the ‘sickly sweet’ vegan offerings currently on-shelf.

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’.