Interest in plant-based nutrition shows no signs of slowing down and this certainly confirms Innova Market Insights' earlier choice of "The Plant Kingdom" as one of its Top Trends for 2019.

AAK USA, Inc. used IFT to debut AkoPlanet, a new global brand for plant-based foods. It gives formulators a real-life solution for plant-based food and beverages.

A recent study by the Plant Based Foods Association and The Good Food Institute showed US retail sales of plant-based foods totaled $4.5 billion during the past year. These sales are driving increased demand for plant-based options in grocery stores across the country.

Starches, fibers, and gums are co-products constituting the majority composition of plant materials. They are emerging as destination ingredients in a market that is increasingly averse to synthetic ingredients and also questioning the regular use of animal-based ingredients.

Conventionally, flavor has been added after the texturizing process and this has produced an intense but short-lived experience. Adding flavor during or before texturizing is not commonly done because the flavor affects the texture of the product, and the flavor performance is affected by the texturization process. 

Don Lee Farms is launching the new Better Than Beef® Burger to fill a void for a nutritious and satisfying beef alternative in the plant-based burger market.

The announcement of the award winners comes shortly after the UN Climate Summit in New York and Impossible Foods’ worldwide debut in grocery stores in both New York and Southern California. Creating a more sustainable food system is core to the international architecture of progress on climate change. Impossible Foods is adding a powerful tool for climate action.

According to Innova Market Insights’ 2018 consumer survey, 49% of U.S. consumers are driven by health when buying meat and dairy alternatives. Plant-based food demand is climbing, with consumers concerned about animal welfare and minimizing their carbon footprint.

Packaged Facts reveals that only 6% of Baby Boomers claim to eat flexitarian diets, while 13% of Generation Z considers themselves flexitarian, showing the trend is especially prominent in young people.

Looking more closely at new product trends, it's clear that meat, poultry and seafood processors are addressing consumer interests in flavor and new food experiences. Still more new products help operators address back-of-house labor issues and consumers' concerns about ethical sourcing and sustainability.