Kyowa Hakko Report, New Blommer Chocolate Line, and More

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Kyowa Hakko Report Explores Key Motivations for Supporting Mental Energy

Kyowa Hakko’s newest consumer research report sheds light on key factors that are driving interest in cognitive health and mental energy. Informed by insights from 1,023 food, beverage, and supplement consumers, this report, Get to Know the Cognitive Health Consumer, explores a variety of ways people look to improve their cognitive well-being, as well as their underlying motivations.

Download the full consumer research report to unlock a deeper understanding of consumer behavior and learn how you can leverage nootropic ingredients like Cognizin Citicoline to stay competitive in an evolving market.

To access the report, please visit https://info.ift.org/kyowa-hakko-usa-cognizin-2024-consumer-insights

CONSUMERS

Dairy Survey Identifies Knowledge Gaps

An in-depth consumer survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) explored barriers to dairy nutrition among Americans and provided a road map for how industry, government, and health and nutrition groups can improve awareness of and access to lactose-free milk and dairy products. The research was supported by the International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation.

The research suggests that there are missed market opportunities for lactose-free products. Almost two-thirds (64%) of Americans say they’ve never consumed lactose-free milk, 76% have not consumed lactose-free flavored milk, and 68% report not consuming lactose-free dairy products other than milk. The rate of non-consumption is more than half among Latino, Black, and Asian/Pacific Islander communities, indicating low awareness among groups that report higher rates of lactose sensitivity.

The Exploring Fluid Milk & Dairy Food Consumption Patterns to Improve Diet Quality & Nutrition Equity study also revealed a disconnect between consumer perception and actual dairy intake. While a strong majority (78%) of Americans believe dairy is essential, many are not reaping its benefits. The survey showed the clear need for greater educational efforts, from consumers who need dairy nutrition to policymakers who determine federal programs.

“Education and outreach efforts tailored to increase awareness and availability of lactose-free dairy foods and beverages, in addition to emphasizing dairy’s benefits beyond bone health for everyone, present new opportunities,” said IFIC President and CEO Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, in a press release.

NEW PRODUCTS

Blommer Chocolate has unveiled a new product line called Elevate that is designed to provide a high-quality, cost-effective alternative to traditional cocoa butter while contributing to a rich flavor and appealing texture.

Developed by Blommer R&D experts, the Elevate coatings utilize cocoa butter equivalent technology and were formulated to integrate seamlessly with cocoa butter while exhibiting superior bloom resistance, thus ensuring a longer shelf life and maintaining visual appeal. The formulation delivers a chocolate-like sensory experience in both flavor release and meltability. The rollout of Elevate comes at a time in which global cocoa production is down nearly 11% year to date and experts are concerned about the outlook for cocoa production in West Africa because of climate change, according to the International Cocoa Organization.

GELITA introduced OPTIBAR, a specific blend of collagen peptides optimized for bar production. It has excellent solubility, so it creates pleasantly smooth bars with an indulgent mouthfeel that lasts throughout shelf life even at protein levels as high as 60%. For best results, GELITA recommends using OPTIBAR together with whey or plant-based protein: Whey and plant proteins add structure, while OPTIBAR ensures homogeneity, a pleasant bite, and long-lasting softness. In addition to enabling protein enrichment, OPTIBAR can also be used as a sugar-free binder in cereal bars.

Using its expertise in yeast and spray-dried ingredients, Ohly has developed the new NEIVA range of health products, which support immune health and overall well-being, starting with yeast extracts and dried lipids. Yeast beta-glucans, NEIVA Glucan Max and NEIVA MCT Immune, were the first products in the portfolio to launch. The line is designed to deliver tailored solutions for functional foods and supplements.

HOWTIAN introduced SoPure Andromeda, a range of proprietary stevia blends uniquely designed and optimized for a wide range of beverage applications. Key highlights of SoPure Andromeda include superior overall taste performance compared with traditional Reb A stevia, faster onset of sweetness with minimized aftertaste, enhanced fresh fruit flavors, neutralization of bitterness and metallic off-notes, and a 100% natural, plant-based, and clean label profile. In addition to its sensory benefits, SoPure Andromeda offers up to 64% cost savings on sweetener components compared with traditional sugar.

Grande Custom Ingredients developed a new, clean label functional ingredient for use in sweet baked goods. Suitable for frozen or fresh dough and dry mixes, Grande Durato is a proprietary whey protein concentrate that replaces up to 100% of dried dairy products to improve moisture retention in cookies, cakes, muffins, bars, and pastries. Controlled studies were conducted to demonstrate Grande Durato’s ability to improve quality in cookies and muffins when replacing 100% of nonfat dry milk.

A sensory panel scored each version for major sensory attributes, and a technical analysis was performed to determine distinctions and moisture content over time. The Grande Durato cookie outperformed the control for moisture content, texture, and visual appearance, and it maintained a clean, desirable flavor.

RESEARCH

Vitamin K2 and Neurological Health

A study published in Cells highlighted vitamin K2’s role in neurological protection. It identified a link between supplemental K2 and possible mitigation of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, pointing to K2’s potential role as a supplement for support of healthy brain and cognitive function. Andrea Fuso, a 15-year research collaborator with Gnosis by Lesaffre and associate professor in clinical biochemistry and molecular biology, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, examined K2 as menaquinone-7 (in a reduced form) along with K2 menaquinone-4 on a model of neuroblastoma cells to determine how forms of K2 affect the expression of genes involved in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.

Vitamin K2 administration was found to support neurological function by creating a favorable balance of activity: It reduced the expression of genes associated with neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, while simultaneously upregulating genes protecting against amyloid formation.

INDUSTRY UPDATE

Arla Foods Ingredients signed an agreement to acquire the Whey Nutrition division of Volac’s business through a purchase of the shares in Volac Whey Nutrition Holdings and its subsidiaries, Volac Whey Nutrition and Volac Renewable Energy.

Kemin Industries received novel foods authorization from the European Commission for BetaVia Pure, along with five-year exclusivity in the European Union. BetaVia Pure is manufactured through a patented process using Euglena gracilis—Kemin’s proprietary strain of the algae. The novel food authorization includes usage in food supplements for a range of age groups—from 3 years of age up to adulthood—and allows for BetaVia Pure to be used in diet replacements for weight control and cereal bars for the general population.

© medlington1889/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Following the discovery of a new sweet protein from honey truffles last year, MycoTechnology has made significant strides toward commercialization, demonstrating the product’s potential as a valuable alternative to sugar and existing sweeteners. In less than a year since the announcement of its discovery, the company has scaled production from the lab bench to 3,000-liter tanks, improving production process efficiency, optimizing costs, and validating safety and digestibility. As the company continues to scale production, it also is making steady improvements in strain development, process yield, and quality.

Woodland Foods announced its rebranding to Woodland Gourmet. In addition to the name change and a new site, woodlandgourmet.com, the rebrand establishes Woodland Gourmet as the overarching brand with D’allesandro and Woodland Ingredients, catering to foodservice and industrial channels, respectively.

Through the introduction of rapid profiling and newly expanded microbiome capabilities, Brightseed is unlocking novel health insights for product development and accelerating commercialization timelines for food, nutrition, and bioscience companies. The expanded microbiome discovery programs include the identification of microbially derived bioactives and their associated health benefits when fermented ingredients or other prebiotic material interact with gut bacteria. Brightseed is collecting and analyzing fermented sources from around the globe with the help of global industry partners such as Korean food powerhouse CJ Foods to launch this effort. With the introduction of rapid profiling to its partner programs, Brightseed is now able to deliver actionable insights into the phytochemical and bioactive composition of its ingredients in just six to eight weeks.

Nosh.bio announced it will reach mycelium protein production capacity of thousands of tons per year at its new German plant. The latest breakthrough is the result of a series of production tests Nosh ran at its plant near Dresden, a shut-down brewery that has been successfully repurposed, thus overcoming scalability bottlenecks that plague many alternative protein companies. Nosh also announced the results of a Life Cycle Analysis conducted by ClimatePoint, confirming a 90.4% reduction in CO₂ and a 99% reduction in land and water usage compared with conventional beef production.

NutriLeads BV has expanded distribution of its precision prebiotic Benicaros in the Asia-Pacific region through agreements with Pure Chemicals Co., Bangkok, and Verentia Inti Cipta Alami (VICA) in Jakarta.

Monteloeder, a subsidiary of SUANNUTRA, is participating in La Vera Campo Arañuelo Hub, a visionary project that will bring cultivation and production of its flagship botanical lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) to Cáceres, Spain. There, it will serve as a keystone ingredient for research and agricultural innovation. Monteloeder is one of seven companies taking part in the La Vera Campo Arañuelo Hub agronomical research campaign. It has been allocated a space for growing lemon verbena in the hub’s 1.6 hectares (4 acres) of land nestled in the countryside of Cáceres. The space was transformed from tobacco fields into land devoted to cultivating herbals for the nutraceutical industry.

21st.BIO unveiled a new pilot plant facility at its Danish headquarters, designed to support companies in upscaling their bioproduction. Combining world-class industrially proven technology with fermentation capacity, the company will help customers get to scale faster in a risk-mitigated and cost-effective way.

Nuseed Nutritional US, the seed technologies platform of Nufarm Limited, welcomed Friend of the Sea recertifying Nutriterra DHA Canola as a sustainable omega-3 oil. Friend of the Sea is the global certification standard for products and services that respect and protect the marine environment. Nutriterra is pressed from Nuseed Omega-3 Canola, the world’s first crop-based innovation that increases the supply of DHA while reducing pressure on marine resources.

The Association of Vanilla Exporters of Uganda Limited (VANEX) is raising awareness of the need to diversify vanilla sources to avoid supply chain disruptions, as well as spotlighting the unique benefits of Ugandan vanilla. With quality on par with Madagascar-sourced vanilla, an ideal growing climate, and a hands-off government, Uganda is a natural option for brands seeking to diversify their vanilla supply, according to VANEX. Uganda produces two vanilla crops per year, offering a regular, dependable supply. More information is available on the newly launched website, VanillaFromUganda.com.

European agrifoodtech accelerator StartLife has announced its strategic collaboration with Corteva Agriscience, a global leader in crop protection and seed technologies. The partnership enables solutions through open innovation and creating a bridge between the hundreds of startups in the StartLife ecosystem and Corteva. In practical terms, this collaboration will foster knowledge sharing between corporate players, startups, and investors aligned in their mission to deliver positive change in the agrifood value chain.

Ardent Mills’ board of directors has appointed Sheryl Wallace as the company’s new chief executive officer.

Icon Foods announced a leadership succession: Kash Rocheleau, who has served as chief financial officer since 2022, has been appointed chief executive officer. The company’s longtime CEO and founder, Thom King, moves into the new role of chief innovations officer.ft

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