Prepared foods

Zooming into protein trends region by region

Zooming into protein trends region by region

By Niamh Michail

Protein has been topping the ‘hottest ingredient’ lists for a while now - but how does demand break down region by region? FoodNavigator looks at some patterns in protein consumption across the world. 

With chocolate and crisps falling out of favour as lunchbox fillers, there is a growing demand for healthy items, says Kantar Worldpanel.

Demand for healthy lunchbox fillers on the rise

By Niamh Michail

British kids’ lunchboxes are getting healthier and competition is more heated than ever, say market researchers at Kantar Worldpanel - but are manufacturers really meeting parents' demands?

The proposed law has been welcomed for protecting products that are made in Italy  - but detractors say Italian lawmakers are trying to sneak through mandatory COOL labelling.

Italy’s labelling bill slammed as backdoor protectionism

By Niamh Michail

An Italian bill will require companies to say where a product was produced and packaged, meaning greater transparency for consumers, says government - but industry has slammed it as backdoor protectionism that violates EU law.

Latvia becomes latest EU country to ban trans fats

Latvia becomes latest EU country to ban trans fats

By Niamh Michail

Latvia has banned the use of trans fats in domestically produced and imported food, joining ranks with Austria, Hungary and Denmark - but campaigners are pushing for an EU-wide ban.

A diet high in processed food was one of the risk factors associated with early death.

Poor diet is biggest contributor to early death globally

By Niamh Michail

Poor diet and high blood pressure are the top two contributors to early death around the world, with high salt intake a ‘key component’ in raising blood pressure, according to a study published in Lancet Journal.

The EU has set maximum levels for inorganic arsenic in food - but some scientists are saying they are too high and do not protect consumers enough.

Scientist slams EU arsenic limits as a safety fail

By Niamh Michail

The EU has lost the opportunity to provide safer food to its people by setting maximum arsenic levels in food too high, says one researcher - but a legal expert welcomes the levels for providing guidance and legal certainty.

The marketing of food that is high in fat, sugar and salt has been linked to increased child obesity - but food and drink companies disagree.

Readers' Survey

The big debate: Marketing junk food to children

By Niamh Michail

Marketing 'junk' food to children is raising blood pressure all round - and that's just the debate. FoodNavigator looks at some of the arguments that have been made in recent years and asks you, the reader, what you think.

The findings highlight an opportunity to transform ingredients and products such as bread, pasta, breakfast cereals into more diabetic-friendly versions, says lead researcher Cathrina Edwards.

Less processed fibre makes food healthier

By Niamh Michail

Preserving the natural structure of plant fibre during food processing keeps blood sugar levels in check – meaning manufacturers can make their products healthier without changing the ingredients, say researchers.

“The food we eat is now the biggest cause of ill health through its high salt, fat and sugar content added by the food industry,

Salt intake directly linked to obesity: CASH

By Niamh Michail

There is a direct link between salt intake and obesity, says 1200-strong CASH study – but health experts say the findings should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Fresh or dried vegetable pasta can help people reach their five-a-day vegetable intake - currently the most compelling health claim for British shoppers, according to a Mintel survey.

Spirals of success: Vegetable pasta is on the rise

By Niamh Michail

With sales of traditional pasta falling across Europe, homemade 'spiralised' vegetables are an increasingly popular alternative – but analysts say there is potential for food manufacturers too.

Last year 100 million tonnes of food was wasted according to European consumer rights group BEUC.

France's food waste law scrapped on a technicality

By Niamh Michail

A law that would have forced French supermarkets to donate unsold food to charity has been scrapped on a legal technicality – but supermarkets are being urged to adopt it voluntarily and some have already pledged to do so.

Protein players should think outside of the box for flavors, Wixon

Flavor Trends

Protein players should think outside of the box for flavors, Wixon suggests

By Elizabeth Crawford

Players in the protein category – especially those focused on the center of the plate – are behind the curve when it comes to flavor and need to rethink their strategy to capture and hold modern consumers’ attention, according to flavor and seasoning...

Heinz Ketchup isn’t ketchup, Israel rules

Heinz Ketchup isn’t ketchup, Israel rules

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Israel’s Health Ministry has ruled that Heinz Ketchup can no longer be called ketchup in Israel after local brand Osem argued it doesn’t contain enough tomato paste, according to Israeli news service Ynet.

Movement implies freshness: Study

Movement implies freshness – even for packaged food

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Implied motion in food advertising – such as an image of juice being poured into a glass – may make food appear fresher and more appealing, according to a study published in Food Quality and Preference.

Cargill takes over Italian citrus pectin plants, three years after they were bought by US-based FMC

Cargill buys Italian citrus pectin business

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Cargill is to acquire the pectin operations of US firm FMC - a move it hopes will help it tap into demand for 'label-friendly' ingredients. 

There is emerging evidence that the timing of food intake plays a much more important role in metabolism than previously thought, say researchers.

Night snacking woes: Is food timing is key to weight loss?

By Nathan Gray

There is a lack of top level evidence to support the notion that eating ‘little and often’ is beneficial for metabolism and weight loss, say researchers who warn that more robust clinical data that also accounts for meal timing is needed.

Consumers are highly susceptible to the symbolic information that food marketers may specifically use on labelling to promote their products, write the researchers.

The power of symbolic wording on a food label

By Niamh Michail

Symbolic information on a food label can change the perception of a product – even when consumers are aware that this perception is false, write researchers.

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