Natural and clean label

Wessanen reports strong Q3 results

Wessanen reports strong Q3 results

By Niamh Michail

Dutch food group Wessanen has reported strong Q3 results which it puts down to a consumer shift away from ‘Big Food’ towards healthy and sustainable food.

UK's organic standards up for public consultation

By Niamh Michail

The Soil Association is updating its organic standards to make them more practical and transparent and is calling on the public to give its opinion in an open consultation.

'Consumers are ready to give up long shelf life products for healthy and natural ingredients'

Guest article: analyst insights

Global market for natural food colors to reach $1.7bn by 2020

By Iti Singh and Indu Tyagi

The global market for natural food colors is predicted to reach $1.7bn by 2020, with 20% of this market attributed to beverage applications. Analysts Iti Singh and Indu Tyagi, from research firm MarketsandMarkets, look at the opportunities for beverage...

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.

This is the second time Silver Spoon has been pulled up by advertising regulators for making 'natural' claims about Truvia.

Truvia’s natural claim challenged in UK

By Niamh Michail

British Sugar has withdrawn a UK advert for Truvia which claimed sweetener was natural - despite having paid out €5m in a US court for the same claim two years ago.

Frutarom acquires 79% of Nutrafur

By Niamh Michail

Frutarom has acquired 79% of Spanish firm Nutrafur in a €10.3 m sale which will help the company develop its portfolio of natural plant extracts for food preservation, says Frutarom.

The flavour ingredient bypasses the need for grapefruit, making it more reproducible and affordable, according to Evolva

Evolva introduces fermentation-derived nootkatone

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Swiss biotechnology firm Evolva has introduced its nootkatone citrus flavour and fragrance ingredient – made from fermentation rather than traditional extraction from grapefruit skin.

Manufacturers need to think about fructose bad press and reformulate fast, says analyst

Will fructose follow trans fats’ fate?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Mounting scientific evidence and a shift in public opinion could mean fructose is set to follow the same black-listed fate as trans fats, argues an analyst.

The authority was also asked to add ‘fresh’, ‘pure’, ‘original’, ‘authentic’, ‘real’, ‘genuine’ and ‘home-made' to its list

Irish artisans complain big brands ‘usurping’ their shelf space

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has begun its crack down on the misleading use of terms ‘artisan’, ‘farmhouse’, ‘traditional’ and ‘natural’ following complaints from artisan companies – but enforcement will be a challenge.

French-based Naturex specialises in natural ingredient solutions.

Naturex develops water-soluble, colour-fast red

By Niamh Michail

Naturex has developed a water-soluble, non-migrating red colour that is carmine-free – responding both to customer demands for two-layered colour solutions in dairy and consumer demands for clean label.

Can sustainable foraging go mainstream?

By Niamh Michail

Commercial foraging is on the rise, influencing mainstream flavour trends and giving companies a sense of heritage, say market analysts - but is it as eco-friendly as it seems?

Plum ingredients can improve the nutritional profile and reduce sugar in chocolate and other confectionery applications, claims Sunsweet

Could plum be the new color of confectionery?

By Lynda Searby

Supplier Sunsweet claims its plum ingredients could present a pathway to cleaner labels as safety concerns over caramel colors prompt confectionery manufacturers to look explore alternatives.

Raw food on the rise

Raw food on the rise

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The trend toward raw foods is being driven by a growing group of consumers looking for ‘clean food’ – not just those who consider themselves raw foodists, says Teresa Havrlandova, founder of raw food firm Lifefood.

Among other terms, FSAI has outlined a clear definition of 'natural' foods

FSAI cracks down on ‘misleading’ marketing terms

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has published guidance for food companies to ensure consumers are not misled by terms such as ‘natural’, ‘artisan’, ‘traditional’ and ‘farmhouse’.

Organic NPD vital to survive mainstream 'healthification'

By Niamh Michail

The organic sector has cultivated a culture of ethical awareness among consumers that conventional manufacturers are now cashing in on – and new product development is vital for the sector to retain its value, say experts.

Confusing food labels are named and shamed on Twitter

By Niamh Michail

A Spanish consumer rights group has launched a naming and shaming Twitter campaign after it found one third of consumers surveyed has bought the wrong product due to confusing food labels.

When companies try to be cool: A lesson in 'wackaging'

By Niamh Michail

Wackaging – using cute and quirky language on a product’s packaging – seems to be everywhere. But with consumers becoming increasingly cynical, should manufacturers stop trying to be cool?

How to restore consumer confidence after a food scandal

By Niamh Michail

Accountability is key to rebuilding consumer confidence in the industry following a food scandal  - a company’s response to accusations of contamination is almost as important as its actual role in causing it, according to a new study.

Economically disadvantaged groups are likely to consume more trans fats, said Professor Stender at the meeting

European trans fat report 'could lead to ban'

By Joyeeta Basu

The European Commission will consider action on industrially produced trans fats in foods following a high-level debate, said a spokesperson at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

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