Carbohydrates and fibres (sugar, starches)

Brexit will be sweet for cane and beet, says British sugar industry

13-Feb-2017 By Louis Gore-Langton

Brexit’s impact on the food industry remains speculation, but one British market feels the outcome of the UK’s impending departure will be sweet: the sugar industry.

High-GI carb intake may trigger a depressive low, study finds

10-Feb-2017 By Will Chu

The type of carbohydrate we eat may affect depression, say scientists who have identified high-GI foods as a risk factor.

Preaching to the converted? Only dieters are responsive to healthy eating adverts

07-Feb-2017 By Niamh Michail

Most people choose unhealthy snacks that are high in salt, fat and sugar regardless of whether they have watched adverts for healthy or unhealthy food, with only dieters choosing the healthy snack, according to research.

Sweet and spicy flavours add beverage calories, study notes

03-Feb-2017 By Will Chu

Individuals are piling on excess calories by sweetening or adding spice to their coffee or tea, according to a study from the US.

Smarter than a sweetener? Flavour modifier matches sugar's mouthfeel & sweetness

31-Jan-2017 By Niamh Michail

OmegaSweet is a natural, flavour-modifying ingredient that not only replaces sugar's sweetness but mimics its mouthfeel in beverages - a smarter way to reduce sugar ahead of the UK's sugar tax, says the company behind it, Omega Ingredients.

Playing with portions and price: Manufacturers need to 'downsize smartly', says researcher

31-Jan-2017 By Niamh Michail

For consumers, higher prices are fair game but smaller portions are not, says one food marketing researcher who is urging manufacturers to downsize smartly: "Some food companies act as if they are in the energy business, selling always larger volume...

French agency ANSES slashes recommended meat intake in new guidelines

30-Jan-2017 By Niamh Michail

French food agency ANSES has updated its nutrition guidelines, cutting the recommended intake for meat and encouraging more pulses and less sugar. But how does it compare to other national dietary advice?

FDF: 'It's an interesting concept and worth exploring'

Exercise labels are more effective than standard nutrition info for healthy eating, say researchers

30-Jan-2017 By Niamh Michail

'Exericise labels' that say how much physical activity is needed to burn off the calories in food are significantly more effective in encouraging healthy eating than standard nutrition information, according to a new study.

Gum in developed markets needs a boost, Mintel analyst warns

30-Jan-2017 By Douglas Yu

As gum manufacturers are battling the sluggish category growth by developing new and bold flavors, some makers have gone in the other direction: Innovating the texture, according to a recent blog post penned by Mintel’s director of insight on food and...

Acrylamide-free: Does it exist?

26-Jan-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

As one UK snack firm markets its kale crisps as 'acrylamide-free', we talk to a leading researcher on how to reduce the carcinogenic contaminant in different foods and ask: does acrylamide-free' really exist?

'Bold' obesity plan in Scotland would see manufacturers suffer, says industry

26-Jan-2017 By David Burrows

Scotland needs a “bold approach” to tackle obesity, according to an influential group of politicians. But food industry representatives said tough regulation could present “barriers to business” for the country’s manufacturers.

Belorussian confectioner turns wasted 'sweet water' into valuable fruit fillings

26-Jan-2017 By Niamh Michail

Belorussian confectioner Kommunarka is reusing its ‘sweet water’ - water used to rinse production lines which contains traces of sugar and sweeteners - to make fruit fillings for its chocolates, opening up a whole new business plan, it says.

Error in protective response post-meal may lead to diabetes, says Swiss team

24-Jan-2017 By Will Chu

Malfunction of the inflammatory response after a meal could be a cue for metabolic disorders such as diabetes as doctors identify its differing roles in dealing with pathogens and excess food intake.

Children in Nordic countries eat more healthily than adults: Survey

23-Jan-2017 By Niamh Michail

The overall healthiness of the Nordic diet fell between 2011 and 2014, although children increased their intake of fruit and vegetables and ate less sugar, according to a recently published survey.

Lower calorie sugar types may not make a difference to health: Rat study

20-Jan-2017 By Will Chu

Switching to a ‘healthier’ low calorie sugar may not lessen the risk of developing health conditions as trials comparing two common sugars found other factors involved in long-term health risks.

Finding the sweet spot: Balancing low-cal with sugar taste

19-Jan-2017 By Will Chu

The increase in low-calorie sweetener (LCS) consumption in US adults and kids has once again placed a question mark over their long-term use and effects on health.

Patented sugar reduction molecule will be on shelves next year, says DouxMatok

17-Jan-2017 By Niamh Michail

Sugar reduction specialist DouxMatok is in advanced talks with multinational food manufacturers and says its patented flavour-carrying particle will be on shelves in Europe by 2018.

Carrot biscuits, beetroot yoghurt and coconut sugar: A look at Europe's low sugar innovations

17-Jan-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

Natural sweeteners, such as agave and stevia, are in higher demand than artificial sweeteners as Europe cracks down on sugar.

Path to obesity explained by response to ‘natural cannabis’: Mouse study

17-Jan-2017 By Will Chu

The body’s ability to produce its own ‘natural cannabis’ may be responsible for fueling the chronic overconsumption of foods high in sugar and fat that contribute to the obesity epidemic.

High red meat intake a risk factor for an inflamed gut: Harvard study

12-Jan-2017 By Will Chu

The consumption of red meat might be a dietary risk factor in the onset and progression of a common inflammatory bowel condition, according to Harvard researchers.

Redefine and recategorise food scares to help reduce incidents, say researchers

12-Jan-2017 By David Burrows

The term 'food scare' should be redefined to take into account consumers’ distrust in the food supply chain, according to new research published this week.

Sugar changes to Eatwell Guide are ‘large’ but worthwhile: Oxford study

10-Jan-2017 By Will Chu

Reducing sugar consumption in line with recommendations set out in the Eatwell Guide, are likely to extend the average life expectancy by around six months according to Oxford University researchers.

Ethical food and drink worth over €10.5 billion in the UK

06-Jan-2017 By David Burrows

Sales of ethical food and drink increased 5.3% in 2015 to just over £9.03 billion (€10.55 billion), according to new research. Organic continued its revival but Fairtrade has struggled again.

Denmark’s Tænk slams producers for misleading labels

05-Jan-2017 By Eliot Beer

A Danish consumer rights organisation has made wide-ranging formal complaints against several food producers, including Nestlé and Kellogg’s, accusing them of misleading product labelling.

Azelis eyes African middle class with Ivory Coast investment

05-Jan-2017 By Niamh Michail

Ingredients specialist Azelis has set its sights on Africa’s growing middle class with a new import and distribution office in the Ivory Coast.

Sugar-free drinks no better for weight control, argue researchers

04-Jan-2017 By Will Chu

Artificially-sweetened beverages (ASB) do not contribute to weight loss and may even be part of the overall obesity problem, researchers claim.

Nutritionally ‘aggressive’ feeding strategy boosts premature baby health

04-Jan-2017 By Will Chu

An 'aggressive' approach to boost protein, vitamins, electrolytes and calcium can help development and growth of premature babies, researchers have found.

Kids start the day with big sugar-kick; breakfast cereals highlighted

03-Jan-2017 By David Burrows

Children in England consume almost three cubes of sugar at breakfast, according to new research that puts cereal brands in the spotlight once again.

France’s boomerang tax on flour

23-Dec-2016 By Gill Hyslop

The unpopular ‘Taxe Farine’ has reared its head again, after being supressed last month.

Allinson’s unveils new bread loaf size designed for smaller households

23-Dec-2016 By Gill Hyslop

The UK bakery has launched a range of 12-slice 650g bread loaves based on customer insights.

What will the top texture trends be in 2017?

22-Dec-2016 By Louis Gore-Langton

In 2016 15% of new food products launched in Europe employed themes concerning texture combinations – often on well-established product types such as yoghurt. FoodNavigator looks at some of the strongest product categories riding the texture wave into...

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Roquette ready for major investment in North American pea protein

22-Dec-2016 By Niamh Michail

Roquette is investing in pea protein in Canada next year, as the French firm ups its game in the protein space.

‘Health benefits of UK’s sugar tax will depend on industry’: Lancet study

16-Dec-2016 By Niamh Michail

The impact on public health of the UK's sugar tax will depend on industry's response to it, according to the authors of a Lancet study. If firms choose to cut the sugar content of soft drinks, the biggest beneficiaries will be children, they...

A veteran view on HiE 2016

16-Dec-2016 By Dennis Seisun

Hydrocolloids specialist Dennis Seisun reflects on this year’s Health Ingredients Europe (HiE) expo in Frankfurt, Germany in this guest article.

Consumers willing to pay 75% more for known ingredients: Survey

15-Dec-2016 By Louis Gore-Langton

Branding ingredients has a mixed record of success but a survey reveals worldwide demand for recognisable ingredients.

Gluten-free diet may not promote good intestinal health: Study

14-Dec-2016 By Will Chu

Nearly one in five children with coeliac disease showed signs of continual intestinal damage, even with a strict regimen to a gluten-free diet.

Food Navigator exclusive

Consumer sugar awareness ‘quite limited’: Cargill survey

09-Dec-2016 By Will Chu

Despite the drive to reduce sugar content in foods, consumers are still bewildered as to which type of sugar alternative is the healthiest.

Dutch industry pledges to remove cartoon characters from unhealthy food

09-Dec-2016 By Niamh Michail

The Dutch food industry has pledged to restrict the use of licensed cartoon characters from the packaging of unhealthy foods aimed at children.

Spain and Estonia to tax sugary drinks

07-Dec-2016 By Niamh Michail

Spain and Estonia are the latest EU countries to announce plans for a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.

Top 5 flavors forecast to shine for bakers and snack makers in 2017

07-Dec-2016 By Gill Hyslop

BakeryAndSnacks has analyzed the ingredients company McCormick’s Flavour Forecast for 2017 and extracted some highlights that could assist baked goods and snack producers in new product development.

Food industry should be ‘praised’ not ‘pilloried’ for sugar-reducing efforts

06-Dec-2016 By Will Chu

The food industry should not be pilloried for making food safe, affordable and enjoyable, according to the chairman of food consultancy Zenith International.

ARCHIVE ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

‘Yo-yo diet’ weight gain may be caused by gut bacteria

06-Dec-2016 By Nathan GRAY

Rapid post-diet weight gain, often referred to as yo-yo dieting, could be a result of obesogenic gut bacteria which remain even after weight loss, say researchers who hope their findings could help to stop weight gain after dieting.

France tops global food sustainability index

05-Dec-2016 By Niamh Michail

France is the top ranking country for tackling food waste and nutritional challenges while Germany is ranked number one for sustainable agriculture, according to a 25-nation food sustainability index by the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition (BCFN).

dispatches from HiE 2016

Teff: The next ‘ancient grain’ to make nutrition ripples?

02-Dec-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The success of chia and quinoa has opened the door for other less-known ancient grains, but one South African company exporting teff is wary of a boom and bust effect.

Sugar tax divides the industry, campaigners claim

02-Dec-2016 By David Burrows

The UK’s food and drink industry might not be as fiercely opposed to a tax on sugary beverages as industry representatives claim, according to a new survey.

Findings point to risk from saturated fats outside some reduction guidelines

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