Monthly Archives: January 2020

Many of us might have spent New Year's Eve looking back over the past year, but today, it's time to look forward and see what's coming in the food world. And, no surprise, there are some interesting trends on the menu for 2020, according to Whole Foods, which, for the fifth year, has released its predictions. Interestingly, the National Restaurant Association is in wholehearted agreement with many of the predictions, such as the trend toward low-alcohol drinks and regenerative agriculture, as well as plant-based "meats."

Each year, more than 50 Whole Foods team members, including local foragers, regional and global buyers, and culinary experts, compile a report based on decades of experience and expertise in product sourcing, studying consumer preferences and participating in food- and wellness-industry exhibitions worldwide.

Having predicted a rise in foods and other products made with CBD products last year, it appears the team's expertise in forecasting is right on target.

One of the most-interesting predictions is a growth in interest for regenerative agriculture.

While the term "regenerative agriculture" can have many definitions, in general it describes farming and grazing practices that restore degraded soil, improve biodiversity and increase carbon capture to create long-lasting environmental benefits, such as positively impacting climate change. Companies, such as Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station, California, maker of award-winning cheeses, and wines from Bonterra winery, another California company, follow the practices of regenerative agriculture. There are some in Tennessee as well.

"It's great to see consciousness around and about the land with a focus on regenerative agriculture in 2020," says Kristin Sherman, Whole Foods' local product coordinator." "Simpson Farms in Athens, Tennessee, is one of our long-standing Tennessee partners who are really doing things right."

And here are more predictions for the coming year.

* Flour power: As seasoned and amateur bakers alike look to scratch a creative itch in the kitchen, an array of interesting flours are entering the market, making baking more inclusive and adventurous. Consumers on the baking bandwagon are seeking out ingredients used in traditional dishes, like teff flour used for Ethiopian injera. It's predicted that the new year will also bring more interesting fruit and vegetable flours, like banana flour, into home pantries, with products like cauliflower flour in bulk and baking aisles, rather than already baked into crusts and snack products. As consumers look for more ways to boost their baking, "super" flours delivering protein and fiber join the trend.

* Foods from West Africa will see a rise in popularity. From indigenous superfoods to rich, earthy dishes, traditional West African flavors are popping up everywhere in food and in beverages. The trio of tomatoes, onions and chili peppers form a base for many West African dishes, and peanuts, ginger and lemongrass are all common additions. Popular brands are looking to West Africa for its superfoods, such as moringa and tamarind, and lesser-known cereal grains, including sorghum, fonio, teff and millet.

* Fresher snacks: Snack time comes out of the box with fresh options. No longer will we be reaching for granola bars and rice cakes to satisfy between-meal cravings. Refrigerated sections in grocery stores are filling up with the kind of wholesome, fresh snacks typically prepared and portioned in advance at home: hard-boiled eggs with savory toppings, pickled vegetables, drinkable soups and mini dips and dippers of all kinds, all perfectly portioned and in convenient single-serve packaging. Even nutrition bars have made their way from the shelves to the chiller, thanks to the addition of fresh fruits and vegetables. These snacking innovations mean ingredients lists are shrinking and there's a lot less guesswork in picking up a quick snack you can feel better about.

* Changing supplements: In the supplement aisle, brands are swapping soy for mung bean, hemp seed, pumpkin, avocado, watermelon seed and golden chlorella, maintaining the smooth textures in vegan protein powders and bringing a spectrum of plant-based amino acids to the table. As the plant-based movement gains traction with flexitarian eaters and meat eaters are enjoying better meat alternatives, brands are looking to avoid as many of the top allergens as possible. Look for plant-based prepared foods and traditionally soy-based condiments going soy-less.

* Seed butters: Nut butters are nothing new, but butters made from seeds are, and we'll be seeing more of them, such as watermelon seed butter and butter made from roasted pumpkin seeds. We'll be seeing new nut butters, too, including macadamia nut butter and nut butters that do not include palm oil.

* Kiddie options: Thanks to a new interest in cooking and dining brought on by all of the kids' cooking and baking competitions on TV, menus are being restyled for younger, more sophisticated palates. Offerings such as salmon sticks, goat cheese crumbles, colorful pastas in fun shapes and lemon-basil shortbread may become as common as chicken nuggets and pizza.

* Sweetener options: For those seeking sweetness outside of the usual suspects like sugar, stevia, honey and maple syrup, there will be lots more to choose from for your cooking, baking and tea- or coffee-stirring needs. Syrupy reductions from fruit sources like monk fruit, pomegranates, coconut and dates will be a healthier way to add concentrated flavors into recipes for desserts, meat glazes and marinades. Sweet syrups made from starches like sorghum and sweet potato can be compared to the deep flavors of molasses or honey and can be used for baking and sweetening beverages.

* Blended meats: Butchers and meat brands won't be left out of the "plant-based" craze in 2020, but they're not going vegetarian. Chefs across the country have been on board with the trend for years through James Beard Foundation's The Blended Burger Project, a movement that strives to make the iconic burger "better for customers and for the planet" by blending in at least 25% fresh mushrooms. Flexitarians looking to strike a tasty balance between meats and plants can expect more blended products in their future.

* Liquor alternatives: With more consumers seeking out alternatives to alcohol, interesting nonalcoholic options are creating a fizz, from menus at the world's most acclaimed bars to specialty stores. Many of these beverages seek to re-create classic cocktail flavors using distilling methods typically reserved for alcohol, creating an alternative to liquor meant to be used with a mixer rather than a drink on its own. Think alt-gin for gin and tonics and botanical-infused faux spirits for a faux martini. "Drinking has become more about the social aspect and taste than the booze content," says Joanne Fantozzi with Nation's Restaurant News.

SUGAR CHALLENGE

If kicking the sugar habit is one of your resolutions for 2020, then you'll want to take a sugar challenge presented by Cashew, a vegan cafe on River Street. The challenge kicks off Sunday evening, Jan. 5, with a special dinner from Cashew and coaching from nutritionist Maite Bou. In addition to teaching you about the dangers of sugar, she will also give you some clues on where to find hidden sugar in grocery items.

If you decide to participate in the 10-day challenge, you will receive an ebook that will give you tips and tricks on how to avoid overdoing it on the sugars found in foods.

Your sugar detox will culminate with a wrap-up dinner at Cashew on Wednesday, Jan. 15, to celebrate your 10 days of a new, sugar-free lifestyle.

Cost is $90. For more information, call Cashew at 423-355-5486 or log on to eventbrite.com.

Email Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com.

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Side Orders: Predicting the food trends for the new year - Chattanooga Times Free Press

If your pancreas doesnt produce enough of these digestive enzymes, which can happen to individuals who have an autoimmune disorder, then your food only gets partially digested. This can lead to uncomfortable symptoms like reflux, indigestion, gas, and bloating. Digestive enzyme supplements provide additional enzymes to help properly break down your food.*

Studies show that supplementing with digestive enzymes can be especially helpful for individuals with lactose intolerance and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI),* which can cause symptoms like gas, bloating, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Although the jury is still out, there's some promising research that a specific digestive enzyme, called AN-PEP, might help those with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.

In one small human clinical trial, researchers compared the effects of digestive enzyme supplements containing high or low doses of AN-PEP to a placebo in gluten-sensitive participants. They found that the supplements containing AN-PEP broke down most of the gluten before it reached the small intestine (which is where gluten can enter the blood, creating most of the problems associated with a sensitivity).

Read this article:

Bloat & Digestion Issues? These 8 Supplements Are Here To Help - mindbodygreen.com

Protein concentrates have become immensely popular across the food industry. Protein supplements have gained traction across the fitness industry, and several brands for these supplements have glutted the market. Hence, the globalsoy protein marketis projected to attract fresh revenues in the years to follow. The presence of a mature industry for food manufacturing in some developed regions has played an integral role in driving market demand. Soy protein, when consumed in regulated quantities, is believed to serve tremendous health benefits for humans. Hence, a large part of population has no qualms in consuming soy protein in concentrated forms.

Companies manufacturing protein supplements have gone an extra mile in positioning and advertising their products. These companies have paired benefits of soy protein with modern concepts of fitness, body positivity, and better health. All of these standpoints have been repackaged in rigorous marketing campaigns that appeal to the conscience of the masses. Hence, the global soy protein market is projected to become a goldmine of progress in the years to follow. The stipulation of laws and necessary practices within the food industry is expected to exercise influence on the growth of the market.

Unconventional means of promotion are expected to dominate the marketing landscape in the years to follow. The vendors in the soy protein market focused on product differentiation and improved packaging in order to gain the trust of the consumers. Furthermore, promotion of organic foods could also recalibrate focus toward soy protein products.

Transparency Market Research (TMR) predicts that the global soy protein market would grow at a moderate CAGR of 5.5% over the period between 2016 and 2024. The total value of the soy protein market is poised to reach US$7.78 bn by 2024-end, rising up from a value of US$4.80 bn in 2015.

Key Facts about Soy Protein Help in Promotions

A recent study found that soy protein could help in regulating blood oestrogen levels. This factor could lead women in reproductive age to consume soy protein in greater amounts. Hence, there is enough reason to believe that the global soy protein market could expand at a stellar pace.

However, market players are making efforts to stay wary of false information being shared across online platforms. A large number of consumers are quick to trust online sources for information regarding food and protein supplements. This factor is playing a pivotal role in defining the growth trajectory of the global soy protein market. The recurring need for better health supplements has also emerged as an important driver of demand. The cholesterol regulation effect of soy protein has fetched a new consumer base for vendors operating in the global market.

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Growing Popularity of Soy Protein in the U.S.

People in developed countries such as the U.S. and the U.K. are well-informed about food supplements and other similar products. This factor has given a thrust to the growth of the soy protein market in these regions. Sizable growth of the protein supplements market in the US has given an impetus to the North America soy protein market. Furthermore, the growing propensity of the masses toward working out and performing strenuous activities has also generated huge-scale demand within the global soy protein market.

Some of the notable players operating in the global soy protein market are Wilmar International, Ruchi Soya Industries, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Shandong Yuwang Ecological Food Industry Co., Ltd., and The Scoular Company.

This post was originally published on Market Research Sheets

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Soy Protein Market: Segment-Wise Assessment Of The Growth Potential - Market Research Sheets

KANSAS CITY, Mo. Throughout the year, Pet Food Processing shared countless online news stories, produced four magazines and debuted an Annual Resource Guide. The industry continued to expand, diversify and prove that pets have truly become part of the family.

From retail and formulation trends to mergers and acquisitions, heres a rundown of the 10 most-read stories on our website in 2019.

Red Collar creation

In December 2018, Red Collar Pet Foods was born as a result of Arbor Investments acquisition of Mars Petcares Exclusive Brands business. Arbor relaunched the pet food and treat co-manufacturing business under the name Red Collar Pet Foods and set its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee.

Then, in February 2019, Red Collar acquired Hampshire Pet Products, a leading co-manufacturer of baked and cold-formed pet treats based in Joplin, Missouri. The acquisition made Red Collar one of the largest private label pet treat manufacturers in North America, according to the company.

Hills faces repercussions of vitamin D recall

Multiple class action and individual civil lawsuits were filed against Hills Pet Nutrition throughout February 2019, claiming the company was negligent in recalling many of its products for potentially containing toxic levels of vitamin D. Therecall involved approximately 675,000 cases of canned dog food.

In December, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an official warning to Hills regarding the recall, citing it had not sufficiently followed its food safety plan or ensured the safety of its vitamin premix from the supplier, which was the root cause of the sweeping recall. Samples of the dog food were collected by the FDA on Feb. 11 and 12, 2019, and were found to contain vitamin D levels in excess of 33 times the recommended safe upper limit, according to the agency.

Grain-free diets implicated by DCM concerns

In June 2019, the FDA named 16 brands of dog food most frequently mentioned in the 515 reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) submitted to the agency between Jan. 1, 2014, and April 30, 2019. The agency began the investigation in July 2018, when the vast majority of reports were submitted and following a public announcement warning the public about DCM.

Many of those brands quickly responded, pointing out that the agency provided no scientific evidence of a causative link between grain-free diets and canine DCM. Since the FDA released that latest report on DCM, sales of grain-free dog foods have sputtered, and many consumers remain confused and concerned about the nutritional efficacy of grain-free formulas. The FDAs investigation continues, seeking industry help from pet food organizations, academia and manufacturers.

Packaged Facts predicts top 3 trends of 2019

Market research firm Packaged Facts looked at past trends to determine which market innovations would sustain growth through 2019, settling on three main drivers: the growing influence of e-commerce, personalized pet food, and cat food premiumization. These top three market trends are complimented by humanization, sustainability, animal welfare and emphasis on a more transparent pet food label, Packaged Facts added.

It seems like the companys market analysis was spot-on, as it reported in November 2019 that e-commerce sales are still driving pet food revenue gains and transform the industrys retail landscape a trend that has permanently made the pet products market omnichannel, according to David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts.

Behind the Bowl

The editor-in-chief of Pet Food Processing got up close and personal with Nestl Purinas Clinton, Iowa pet food facility in March 2019. The plant produces Beggin Strips, Tbonz, Beyond Wild, ProPlan Veterinary Diets, Friskies Party Mix and more as one of 21 Purina factories across the US. We learned about the companys nutritional, ingredient sourcing and processing philosophies, as well as its food safety and quality assurance practices.

Take a look behind the bowl for yourself in our slideshow of Purinas Clinton-based pet food operations.

Top food and treat trends at Global Pet Expo 2019

More than 1,100 exhibitors attended Global Pet Expo 2019 March 20-22, 2019 to showcase new products, develop key industry relationships and promote their brands. On the show floor, large companies, co-manufacturers, and family-owned businesses alike offered pet food and treats influenced by the overall market with a few key trends worth noting.

Get a glimpse of the top trends seen at the trade show, including regionally inspired formulas, enhanced mealtime experiences for cats and dogs, high-protein and limited-ingredient diets, increased variety in cat food and treats, a boom in CBD pet supplements, and redesigned packaging to make an impact on increasingly crowded retail shelves.

The green rush

Hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) made a huge splash in consumer packaged goods (CPG) in 2019, but regulations surrounding its use in animal food, treat and supplement products proved hazy at best. Two Husch and Blackwell lawyers took a close look at the legality of these products in June 2018 to warn pet product makers that hemp and CBD ingredients remain risky for business.

In a recent step forward, the US Department of Agriculture gave farmers the green light on commercial hemp production in October 2019, providing a foundation for regulation that the industry lacked before.

The offal truth

With the humanization of pets comes the humanization of pet food ingredients. This trend has given some traditional pet food ingredients a negative reputation, even though they offer health benefits, meet nutritional standards and offer a sustainable channel for by-products.

We took a deep dive into the nutritional and environmental benefits of formulating pet foods with by-products, debunking the idea that offal is anything close to awful when it comes to pet nutrition. Although this article was first published in 2018, it remained a fan favorite in 2019.

JAB boosts pet market holdings

Non-pet food companies have been entering the market or expanding their pet food portfolios in recent years to bite off a piece of the steadily growing pet food and treat market sales.

As more and more companies enter the industry through acquisitions, mergers and strategic partnerships, it came as no surprised when JAB Investors acquired the National Veterinary Associates (NVA), one of the largest veterinary and pet care organizations in the world, from a private equity group in June 2019.

Pet spending reaches all-time high

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) released its 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey results in March 2019, indicating that pet industry spending reached a new all-time high in 2018, totaling $72.56 billion, with approximately 41% of revenue coming from pet food sales.

Expect APPAs 2020-2021 National Pet Owners Survey to be released during or within days of Global Pet Expo 2020, which will take place Feb. 26-28.

Stay up to date on news about the pet food processing industry on our News page.

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The most-read pet food stories of 2019 | 2019-12-31 - Pet Food Processing

Whether youre a chocolate lover or not, chances are that at some point in your life, youve heard someone tout the surprising health benefits of cocoa. Thats not just hearsay this lovely little brown bean ranks alongside coffee and green tea as one of natures best superfoods, and even if you dont love to eat it as much as some people do, you can still easily add it to your diet or supplement stack with these flavanol-packed products from CocoaVia. Nows a great time to try it out, too, as CocoaVia is running a week-long end-of-year sale right now on all of its products. Read on to find out more about what CocoaVia can do for your body and how you can save.

Cocoa has many interesting and scientifically proven health benefits for the human body, the most important of which is that it is a boon to your heart and circulatory system. Cocoa flavanols improve circulation by naturally increasing nitric oxide levels in your blood. Nitric oxide is a potent compound that relaxes your arterial walls, increasing blood flow by making your blood vessels softer and more pliable. Your blood performs the vital tasks of delivering oxygen and nutrients to every part of your body while simultaneously carrying away toxins and waste materials, so improving your circulation is one of the best ways to achieve better overall health.

CocoaVias products are made from cocoa which is processed with a unique proprietary technology that preserves the delicate health-boosting flavanols (which are easily destroyed by normal processing methods so no, youre not getting much of a flavanol boost from that chocolate candy bar). CocoaVia also offers three different ways to enjoy the benefits of cocoa, so youve got a few options when it comes to making this superfood a permanent part of your diet and supplement regimen.

If youre looking for the simplest way to get a big dose of good stuff cocoa has to offer, these CocoaVia capsules are the perfect thing to add to your supplement stack. Each serving of two vegetarian capsules contains 450mg of cocoa flavanols the highest concentration available from any supplement on the market right now.

Chocolate-based drinks are nothing new, and the CocoaVia flavanol drink mix packets are even easier to make than hot cocoa: Simply add a packet to any flavored drink, food, or recipe of your choice. Each stick packet contains zero grams of fat, zero grams of sugar, and 450 mg of flavanols the same amount as two of the CocoaVia capsules making this another super-simple way to add high-quality, flavanol-packed cocoa to your diet.

If youre a firm believer that the only way to truly enjoy chocolate is to eat it, then the GoodnessKnows cocoa snack bars are right up your alley. Theyre GMO-free, low in sodium, made with dark chocolate, and come loaded with 100mg of cocoa flavanols per serving. Each snack bar also breaks into four squares so you can share them if youre feeling generous (or not).

CocoaVia is currently running a sitewide end-of-year sale on all of its products including its cocoa capsules, drink mix packets, and GoodnessKnows snack bars. From December 28 through January 4, you can take 30% off the entire selection of CocoaVia snacks and supplements, and if you sign up for auto-delivery, you can enjoy a 50% discount on your first shipment.

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Experience the Health Benefits of Cocoa with CocoaVias End-of-Year Sale - The Manual

Weight loss will be on many peoples minds as the New Year rolls in. The NHS offers medically-approved tips for losing weight, such as not skipping breakfast, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, moving more and using a smaller plate.

But some experts have also suggested the addition of a glucomannan supplement can also aid weight loss.

Glucomannan is a natural, water-soluble dietary fibre extracted from the roots of konjac, also known as elephant yam.

Its available as a powder and tablets, and is the main ingredient in shirataki noodles.

Like all soluble fibres, glucommanan is highly absorbent, and when it binds with water it forms a gel-like substance.

READ MORE:High blood pressure: Taking this supplement could lower your reading

This gel helps create a sensation of fullness, which can reduce appetite, delays stomach emptying, keeping a person feeling fuller for longer, and breaks down carbohydrates more slowly, stabilising post-meal blood sugar levels.

The gel can also decrease absorption of fat.

A 2005 study carried out by Norways University of Tromso reported dieters who took glucomannan lost more weight than those taking other high-fibre supplements.

Another study involving 176 healthy but overweight people on a calorie-restricted diet randomly assigned either a glucomannan supplement or a placebo to participants.

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Weight loss was significantly greater among those who supplemented with glucomannan.

But a 2013 study published in the Journal of Obesity found it had no effect on weight.

Glucomannan has also been shown to support gut health.

A 2010 laboratory study carried out by the University of Reading found it helped encourage healthy levels of gut bacteria populations, for examine bifidobacterium.

Its also been shown to lower cholesterol levels.

A 2008 review of evidence in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, glucomannan can reduce levels of total cholesterol and cause a decrease in bad LDL cholesterol too.

Researchers have suggested glucomannan has this effect by altering the way cholesterol is produced in the liver and how fats in the body are stored or used for energy.

When it comes to dosage for glucomannan, Holland and Barrett says a dose of around 2g to 4g per day has been used safely in studies, but you should always read the packaging or food label first.

It adds: Take glucomannan 15 minutes to an hour before a meal, and make sure you swallow it with 1-2 glasses of fluid to avoid it expanding before it reaches your stomach, as this could be dangerous.

Glucomannan has not been proved safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children.

If you are diabetic, speak to your doctor before taking glucomannan as it can reduce the absorption of some diabetes medications.

Glucomannan may produce mild side-effects including bloating, flatulence, soft stools and diarrhoea.

The rest is here:

Best supplements for weight loss: Taking this supplement could help you lose weight - Express

Nutritionist Nikhil Chaudhary

Chennai: Whats the first thing we expect while consulting a doctor? We expect him to prescribe medicines to cure our aliments. But before the invention of medicines, humans still survived and thrived. Health experts strongly believe we have the ability to heal our bodies by following scientifically proven lifestyle. It is in this field that Hyderabad-based nutritionist Nikhil Chaudhary has successfully made progress. He works on spreading awareness about need for nutrition, wellness and developing specific nutrition plans for people.

Diet manNikhils thirst to learn about functioning of human body and genetics made him become a nutritionist. It was tough though, for he had pursued Biotechnology. Speaking to News Today, he says, I felt as if I had wasted my time in college.

However, his passion never faltered. He started reading hundreds of medical research papers. Nikhil then started applying his knowledge to practice by recommending diet plans for people affected with life threatening diseases like cancer, diabetes, cholesterol. Many were treated back to normalcy thanks to his diet suggestions.

He eventually wrote a case study and presented it at a medical conference but was rejected as the panel members were not interested to read findings of a B Tech graduate. Soon, I decided to pursue MSc Dietetics and Food Service Management, smiles Nikhil.

Certified wisdomArmed with Masters degree, Nikhil in the past 10 years made numerous presentations at premier institutes across India. His clients are working professionals, senior citizens from over 25 countries. He holds online webinars and talks at corporate offices like Sony India and even at the Indian Air Force. Nikhil is active on social media platform, Quora, answering numerous health-related queries. His responses have over a million viewing hits.

Mindful eatingThrough out the conversation, Nikhil kept stressing on importance of following a proper diet, A human body isnt some of its parts but a single unit working together, he says. Medicines will have side affects but natural food wont.

Nikhil urges people to only eat food that reaches us directly from farmers. He strongly advises not to eat processed food, supplements and MSG. Meditation plays a big role, he says. I also feel online food apps are even more dangerous than sugar as it makes you crave for unhealthy meals.

Meal planFollowing a diet can be extremely difficult. But Nikhil believes if a person creates an atmosphere that restricts them to access unhealthy food, then it is easy. Senior citizens often find it hard because they have eaten unhealthy food all their lives. When such meals becomes a part of their lifestyle, its difficult to resist for them, he says.

To fight temptations, Nikhil suggests to keep fruits on a table in living room or any easily accessible place. Whenever a person feels hungry, the fruit in front of their eyes will urge them to eat, he says and adds, Such simple tricks helps in the long run.

(For details visit, http://www.nikhilchaudhary.com)

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Nutritionist expert & speaker shares art of being healthy - News Today