While the low-carb phenomenon has taken the natural products industry by storm—as it has virtually every other segment of the food industry—companies are not turning away from opportunities offered by functional foods that contain health-promoting ingredients. Indeed, many already have found success in this area.
Earth Island Natural Foods (Chatsworth, Calif.) introduced health-oriented, mayonnaise-like Vegenaise with Grapeseed Oil, under the Follow Your Heart brand in 1995. “Although about a third more expensive for consumers, the grapeseed oil-based Vegenaise now outsells our canola-based variety,” says Bob Goldberg, company president.