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Trends > Health & Functionality
Health & Functionality
The healthy chocolate sector is still in a relatively embryonic stage but is being buoyed by the increasing amount of cocoa polyphenol science, exciting product innovation and increasing public interest. And, while the segment still suffers from a counter-intuitive response in many consumers that a health benefit shouldn’t be derived from an indulgence food like chocolate, this is being overcome.
Natural & Clean Label Trends 2013: How clean is your label? And can GMOs ever belong in 'natural' products?
Recent data from Symphony Consulting (click here ), shows that while US retail sales of products making ‘natural’ claims still grew in 2012, the pace of that growth slowed noticeably compared...
Candy eating frequency unlinked to obesity, suggests NCA funded study
A study funded by the US National Confectioners Association (NCA) has not ruled out that candy may cause obesity but has suggested there is no link between the number of...
Is theobromine responsible for cocoa’s cholesterol benefits?
The potential of cocoa to beneficially impact ‘good’ cholesterol levels may be linked to the theobromine content and not the flavonoids, says a new study from Unilever Research & Development...
Still fuel for caffeine gums after Wrigley halts production on FDA concerns
There is still a market for caffeine gums even after US Food and Drug Administration concerns prompted Wrigley to suspend production of its new Alert gum, according to private label...
Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2013
Confectionery ‘a new way to control weight’ claims Carmit Candy
Confectionery is a novel way to control your weight, according to private label firm Carmit Candy which has just launched a weight management chocolate wafer bar.
Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2013
Chewing gum developed to battle common cold
Private label gum maker Fertin Pharma has developed an immunity chewing gum that it claims can help guard against the common cold.
Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2013
Chocolate an ‘amenable’ probiotic delivery vehicle, says DuPont
Chocolate is a strong carrier for probiotics and could present an opportunity for brand manufacturers to introduce products to improve gut health, according to supplier DuPont.
Barry Callebaut-funded study
Dark chocolate enhances mood but not cognition, say researchers
Cocoa flavanols in dark chocolate may keep you calmer and content but no link has been established with enhanced cognitive performance, according to a study funded by Barry Callebaut.
Exclusive
Cocoa flavanol content varies depending on origin, says Callebaut
Barry Callebaut’s innovation department has revealed that the level of cocoa flavanols, which are associated with a string of positive health effects, vary depending on where beans are sourced....
FDA to probe impact of caffeine on kids' health following launch of Wrigley's Alert Energy Caffeine Gum
The FDA says it will take a “fresh look” at the health effects of caffeine on kids following the launch of Alert Energy Caffeine Gum - a new caffeinated gum...
Convenience and indulgence the secret to pacesetting confectionery sales
Launches from Hershey, Mondelez and Nestlé were among the top 100 bestselling new food and drink items in 2012 having filled consumer needs for convenience, indulgence and functionality, according to...
Chocolate may worsen acne, say researchers
Eating chocolate may increase incidence and severity of acne by stimulating microorganisms that cause the condition, according to a team of Dutch researchers.
Hershey adopts front of pack nutrition labelling
The Hershey Company is to roll out front of pack nutrition labels in the second half of this year to help consumers make more informed choices.
Regular cocoa flavanol intake could help maintain brain health – study
New research claims regularly eating cocoa flavanols could protect people from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
New Zealand chocolate consumers ‘trade up’ for ethics and health: Leatherhead
Consumers in New Zealand are spending more on healthier and ethical chocolate variants - a move that has aided growth in the burgeoning sector, an analyst says.
Chocolate over-consumption may be linked to Parkinson’s Disease – review
Indian researchers have urged consumers to limit the chocolate they eat because it is the food richest in a component linked to Parkinson’s Disease.
Foods labelled ‘organic’ may seem tastier and more nutritious
Consumers perceive foods labelled as organic as tastier and healthier than those without organic labels, even if the foods are exactly the same, according to a study published in the...
Low-cost functional gum opportunity in the Netherlands
Chewing gums backed by approved health claims and with low price points are a rare growth opportunity in the mature Dutch confectionery market, according to market analysts Canadean.
Chewing gum fails to suppress hunger and puts people off fruit: Study
Chewing gum has long been considered a potential appetite suppressant, but new research says there is no evidence it can control hunger and mint-flavored varieties may even deter people from...
Global confectionery NPD: Stevia Haribo and dental candy
ConfectioneryNews takes a look at the latest confections to hit store shelves across the globe including stevia-sweetened Haribo in Germany, low calorie chocolates in Japan, and teeth friendly candy in...
Desert Labs launches hoodia weight management gum
Hoodia gum maker defends satiety effect
The maker of a newly launched appetite suppressant gum claims to be the first to have self-affirmed GRAS status for hoodia in the US and hopes to overcome the negative...
Wrigley’s caffeinated energy gum misses core youth market - analyst
Mars-owned Wrigley is to launch an energy chewing gum with the caffeine equivalent of half a cup of coffee in each piece but one analyst says the product misses the...
Insufficient cocoa flavanols in chocolate to benefit diabetics, says Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK says there are not enough cocoa flavanols in chocolate to benefit diabetics after a study found that a cocoa extract could help people with the condition regulate insulin...
Dark chocolate bitterness can be reduced with green coffee, finds Callebaut
Barry Callebaut has developed a formula to reduce the bitterness of high cocoa chocolate using green coffee that doesn’t give a coffee taste and ups antioxidant content.
Cocoa may help diabetics regulate insulin, says study
Diets rich in cocoa may help people with diabetes to regulate insulin levels, according to new research.
