US-made gluten-free pasta is ‘good opportunity’, says Harvest Innovations

A new partnership between Heartland Harvest (Illinois) and Harvest Innovations (Iowa) is set to deliver new gluten-free pasta to the food industry, tapping into a substantially growing sector.

Kellogg secretively reformulates Special K to outwit private label copycats

Only a handful of employees at Kellogg will be privy to the secret recipe of its newly formulated Special K brand for Europe as the cereal giant works to stave...

66% of foods containing trans-fats have been reformulated, but progress is slowing: Harvard study

Industry efforts to reduce and/or remove trans fats from food products have led to progress, but this progress is slowing, and the industry must continue its effort to reformulate, says...

What characterizes a whole grain product?

Cereal science association AACC International has put forward recommendations on how whole grain products should be characterized.

Big interview: Kevin Cleary, CEO Clif Bar & Company

Clif Bar CEO: 'The protein trend is hot for men and women right now'

Nutrition bars enter - and exit - the snacks aisle at the speed of light these days. So how has Clif Bar managed to sustain the kind of growth rivals...

UK may have to stick to wheat imports, says commodities analyst

The UK was hit by an extreme wheat crisis last year forcing industry into import mode and forecasts suggest this trend may stay, says a commodity analyst.

Plant-based protein craze drives renewed interest in peanut flour

While peanut flour has been around for years, recent interest in protein - particularly the plant-based variety - has sparked renewed interest, particularly in the nutritional bars market, according to...

Post strengthens natural offerings with Hearthside buy

A second acquisition will further strengthen Post Holding’s position in the high-growth natural cereal segment, its CEO says.

‘Kellogg can’t afford to be less competitive in cereals’: Analyst

Investment in cereal makes sense for Kellogg because it cannot sideline such an important segment but snacks should really be the priority, an analyst says.

‘Loyal consumers see brands as a reflection of themselves’: Kellogg

Consumers want to invest in a product that aligns with their values - and they do care about corporate responsibility, says Kellogg.

Symphony Consulting: Growth rates of key label claims - organic, natural, gluten-free - are leveling off

Growth rates of several individual label claims under the health & wellness umbrella have started to level off, according to new research from Symphony Consulting.

Kids’ cereal challenges: Do not underestimate pester power, says analyst

Kids’ cereal brands must target parents but pester power from their children must not be underestimated or ignored, says an analyst.

Oatmeal beats ready-to-eat cereal on satiety, PepsiCo research shows

Remember the gluey texture of the oatmeal your mom served you as a kid? Turns out, this is a good thing, according to new research comparing the satiating effects of...

Boomers or bust: Is the $10bn US breakfast cereal market in a state of terminal decline?

On paper at least, boxed breakfast cereal ticks all the right boxes. It’s quick, great value for money, and nutritious - the perfect recession-proof food. 

‘Al-desko’ breakfast: Consumers want packaging innovation, says Mintel

The ‘al-desko’ breakfast trend has hit Britain and prompted consumer demands for re-sealable, easy to open cereal packs, says a Mintel analyst.

ADM edges closer to A$3.4bn GrainCorp takeover

ADM will put forward a third, higher bid of A$3.4bn ($3.5bn) for Australian bulk grains specialist GrainCorp after a full financial review of the company.

Kraft drops its MilkBite milk and granola bars. But were they doomed from the start?

In February 2012, Kraft unveiled a category first: MilkBite milk and granola bars for the refrigerated dairy aisle combining “real milk” (and as much calcium as an 8floz glass of...

Gluten-free app could drive nutrition innovation, says research fellow

A gluten-free scanning app in Australia could prompt industry to improve nutritional content and label on-pack, says a research fellow from the George Institute for Global Health.

Poor UK wheat harvest halts Weetabix production

Weetabix has stopped production of two cereal varieties because of technical problems caused by a poor quality UK wheat, it says.

SPECIAL EDITION: RIDING THE HEALTH CLAIMS WAVE

The hunt for that ‘added extra’: Pushing beyond a health claim

The health-conscious yet frugal consumer is increasingly difficult to convince, even when presented with a plethora of health and nutrition claims on pack. So, just how can manufacturers prompt that...

SPECIAL EDITION: RIDING THE HEALTH CLAIMS WAVE

How are market-leading kids’ cereal firms tackling health claims?

Use of health and nutrition claims on kids' cereal is widespread, but manufacturers are using them with caution and the majority favor nutrient content claims.

Healthy logo: Netherlands ‘Choices’ logo confirmed as first government-backed scheme in EU

The Dutch version of the Choices logo has been confirmed as the first government-backed healthy logo scheme to gain EU and Member State support.

High fructan barley holds wholegrain promise, says CSIRO

A barley variety high in fructans and positively linked to improved gut health holds promise for wholegrain foods, according to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO).

Sorghum: The next big gluten-free grain?

Leading scientists have hailed sorghum as a highly nutritious and cost-effective gluten-free grain, but said industry use remains nascent.

COMMODITY REPORTS: USDA

Lower domestic wheat use spells higher global supply: USDA

A drop in domestic wheat use has left higher global supplies – up 2.9 million for 2012/13, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).