In its annual national survey of professional chefs and members of the American Culinary Federation, the National Restaurant Assn. (NRA) zeros in on “which foods, beverages, cuisines and culinary themes will be hot trends on restaurant menus.”
Whether it’s because they’re battling a health condition, such as diabetes, or simply watching their weight, consumers are looking to avoid sugar. Meanwhile, certain sweetener alternatives have fallen out of public favor (justifiably so, or not).
Sometimes, a team has to think outside the box. Then again, there are times when a customer might ask a company to literally think outside its plant’s capabilities. Such was the case for Sandridge Food Corp., a refrigerated deli salads processor.
In the fierce competition for consumer dollars between companies in the food, beverage and supplement areas, trying to distinguish a product line from a slew of competing products often leads to aggressive labeling and marketing campaigns. Claim formulation is an integral part of labeling and advertising strategies.
Fried and/or breaded appetizers—such as wings, fries, chicken tenders and crispy vegetable offerings—stand out as popular snack options on appetizer menus. However, Technomic data routinely show that consumers believe fried food is not healthy.
Regardless of the science behind the strident call for sodium reduction in people’s diets, there is a real and pressing consumer desire to do so, as well. This leads processors to strive toward reformulating a broad range of prepared foods.
Ingredient manufacturers have brought the next generation of fats and oils under a positive health halo. This has been achieved through the development of oil and fat formulations that ensure their concentrated calories are of the healthiest type possible.
For decades, an insurmountable gap has existed between the vital processing tool that is a versatile zero-calorie sweetener, and the Holy Grail of a zero-calorie sweetener that tastes and
functions exactly like sucrose.
According to Ambrose Bierce, in The Devil’s Dictionary, sauce is “the one infallible sign of civilization and enlightenment.” He added, “A people with no sauces has one thousand vices; a people with one sauce has nine hundred and ninety-nine.”
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