The use of the stevia plant to create natural sugar substitutes threatens to become the new battleground for the traditional Coke and Pepsi rivalry to play out. Coca-Cola has teamed with Cargill to create their own natural sweetener from the plant, while PepsiCo has joined with Whole Earth Sweetener to create PureVia. Pepsi’s version, derived from stevia, has no calories and provides a natural sweetener for food and drink products. PepsiCo reports that PureVia will debut in a new nutritionally... ...Read more »
The efforts of one man 25 years ago to bring a native plant from Paraguay to the United States is on the verge of changing the way America eats. Available online and in US grocery store aisles for the first time is an all-natural, zero-calorie, zero-carb, zero-glycemic index alternative to sugar. “No pun intended, but for me, this day is sweet victory,” said Jim May, CEO and founder of Wisdom Natural Brands, the makers of SweetLeaf Sweetener. May was, according to Wisdom Natural Brands,... ...Read more »
Nestlé, a world leading food manufacturer, is now attempting to create scientifically based foods to assist consumers in leading healthier lives. The Nestlé Research Center will work in combination with GE Global Research, the General Electric Company’s centralized research and development organization, to scientifically assess associations between body composition, metabolic status, diet and lifestyle habits. This unique relationship brings together the dynamic competencies of the Nestlé... ...Read more »
New food products are being released at record rates but retail sales are not reflecting similar growth. The new product number increases have been led by company responses to changes in consumer preferences, which have dictated an increased health and environmental focus. Confectionery, beverage, yoghurt, cereal and bread products have been among the food sectors which have seen an extensive batch of new products boosted by health supplements. Antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins and minerals... ...Read more »
Recent US research may indicate the next ‘big things’ in the ever expanding and increasingly popular health foods category: DON’T DISCARD THE PEELS Fresh squeezed orange juice contains all the health benefits of oranges except one : the cancer protection in the peel. People who regularly consume citrus zest reduce their risk of squamous-cell skin cancer by 30 percent, according to a recent University of Arizona study. Even lab rats live longer on the stuff ; animal studies... ...Read more »