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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.
Mars and Nestlé adopt UK traffic light labels; Mondelez opts out
The UK largest confectionery company Mondelez International-owned Cadbury has decided against signing up to the UK’s hybrid front of pack nutritional label as competitors Mars and Nestle adopt the tags....
Mars Drinks eyes ‘huge potential’ in single-serve beverages after new functional coffee launch
Mars Drinks says it sees huge global potential for single-serve hot drinks machines and consumables in the high-growth office environment, and predicts ‘tremendous growth’ in emerging markets.
Caries and gingivitis sugar free gum benefits questioned: Study
Colombian researchers have questioned the clinical benefits of sugar free chewing gum to prevent dental caries and gingivitis after a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. A scientist from Mondelez has doubted...
Frutarom: ‘We want to expand our functional foods business’
Swiss-Israeli flavours and ingredients house Frutarom wants a greater slice of the global functional foods and drinks market with new investment and initiatives to tap markets like the Americas and...
Gold star: Oz confectionery industry welcomes front-of-pack labeling
The Australian confectionery industry has broadly welcomed a 'star based' voluntary front-of-pack labeling system but is concerned about time frames to introduce the measures.
Cocoa may help control diabetes, claims mice study
Research by Penn State University has found that mice fed cocoa have a reduced risk of obesity-related inflammation and type-2 diabetes.
Wrigley develops gum sweetened with dried fruit powders
Using dried fruit powders to sweeten gum could be a natural alternative to sugar and may be more cost effective than polyols, says Wrigley.
Label 'clutter' means consumers don't pay attention to nutrition information, say researchers
Want on pack nutrition information to be noticed? Then make sure your packaging isn't suffering from 'information clutter', say researchers.
Upcoming Special Edition
What’s at the heart of functional and healthy confectionery?
ConfectioneryNews explores the issues at the pulse of healthier and functional chocolate, candy and gum.
Clinical trial tips to win an EFSA health claim
Atlantia Food Contract Research Organisation has identified methods of best practices to help food and supplements makers conduct human intervention studies that will help them win a European Food Safety...
News in brief
Dark chocolate grows US popularity on health image
More people in the US favored dark chocolate in 2012 than they did the prior year due to its potential health benefits, according to market analysts Mintel.
Stevia: The Holy Grail or fail for chocolate?
When stevia sealed EU novel foods approval in December 2011 it was heralded as the holy grail of sweeteners, but has it lived up to all the hype for chocolate?
Carmit Candy bets big on vitamin and beauty chocolate coins
Israeli private label firm Carmit Candy has launched a chocolate coin packed with vitamins and another containing antioxidant ingredient astaxanthin.
Functional cookies for women: Opportunities in growing Brazilian biscuit market
The Brazilian biscuit market is set to grow 25% in value sales in the next five years and a big opportunity exists for healthy cookies marketed to women, according to...
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...
Protein chocolate: Sources, market and trends
Private label firms weigh up the benefits of functional weight management chocolate bars using different sources of protein.
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...
