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“Our fans have always relied on our products for energy, but we knew there was also an opportunity to create a product that could give a mental boost and support focus," said Fabiola Torres, PepsiCo general manager and chief marketing officer, Energy Category. 

In this episode of Reasoned Opinion, David Feder, Executive Editor–Technical, presents the more interesting ingredients, foods, and beverages that caught his eye at the 2024 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California.

“We’ve kicked things up a notch with this flavor exploration inspired by the flavor lab at Truly L.A. and can’t wait for fans to try this fun and playful combination that’s sure to score,” said Matt Withington, Truly Hard Seltzer's senior director of marketing.  

“Sustainability is at the core of Restaurant Technologies, and creating a better world for all of us to live in is a foundational part of our values,” said Diana Geseking, general counsel and chair of Restaurant Technologies’ ESG Committee. “We are grateful for our renewable energy partners, and our diverse customer base across industries who share our commitment to sustainability. With their continued support, we look to build upon our success and reach new heights in the years ahead.” 

Listen to a new Prepared Foods interview with Editor Bob Garrison and Carolina Sasson, Chief Operating Officer at Mission Field, recapping trends, tastes and technologies seen at Natural Products Expo West.

Today, it’s hard to keep up with the dramatic evolution of protein ingredients that fall under the umbrella of plant-based. This includes the growing numbers of ingredients that are not even based on plants. Here’s a brief look at current trends that help define movement in plant-based ingredients, followed by predictions for the future of alternative proteins.

Earlier this year, the Oregon cheesemakers at Tillamook released a comprehensive trend report on new ways consumers are finding to enjoy cheese. Two intriguing pairings revealed by the report included matching artisanal honeys with artisanal cheeses, and what the trend-spotters called “the cheddar plunge”.

Prepared Foods has selected six new food and beverage products introduced in March 2024. Vote to let us know which new product is your favorite!

The top snacking drivers are to “prevent feeling hungry” followed by “rewarding oneself” according to Innova Market Insights’ 2023 Snacking & Healthy Snacking survey.

Common technical challenges that arise when formulating with natural colors in bakery applications include color degradation during processing, color bleeding, and color fading over the product’s shelf life. “When selecting natural colors for bakery items with longer shelf lives, developers must consider various factors to maintain product quality,” explains Nidhi Jaiswal, MS, a food scientist specializing in human nutrition.