Organic Industry at a Crossroads
June 14th 2007When members of Congress hold a hearing, it’s usually not a sign of good news. However, when the House Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture convened on April 18 to discuss the status of USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP), it heard some very good news: organic products accounted for nearly 3% of all retail sales in 2005, pulling in just under $15 billion for the year.
Thinking Outside the Juice Box
May 9th 2007Necessity may be the mother of invention, but sometimes being the mother of a small child is enough to inspire a great product. Several years ago, Roberta Greenspan noticed that her daughter loved juice boxes. Greenspan didn’t want her to load up on sweet drinks, however, and wondered if there were a way to create a similar product without the sugar and calories. Soon after, Maddie’s Beverage Co. (San Francisco) and the Wateroos drink box were born.
FDA Considers Official Definition for Gluten-Free Foods
April 10th 2007Food manufacturers that are looking for new opportunities might want to consider gluten-free products. On January 23, 2006, FDA proposed allowing voluntary labeling for the products, which lack proteins in wheat that can harm people with celiac disease-a chronic inflammatory disorder of the small intestine that affects up to 1% of the general population.
A Healthy Future for Organic Foods
January 19th 2007How will superstores affect the organic products marketplace? According to a 2006 survey by the Hartman Group Inc. (Bellevue, WA) that compares the 2001 and 2006 organics markets, two of the strongest barriers to consumer purchases of organic products are price and accessibility.
Research Mounts on Benefits of Omega-3s
January 19th 2007Two recent studies from the Archives of Neurology suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful for people suffering from cognitive decline. The studies, while not definitive, add more support to the theory that the omega-3s docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are important elements of cognitive health and well-being.
The Global Outlook for Functional Foods
October 16th 2006At the World Health Organization’s (WHO; Geneva) upcoming European Ministerial Conference on Counteracting Obesity, which will be held in November in Istanbul, Turkey, many of the world’s leading health experts will convene to develop new plans for dealing with the obesity epidemic. With any luck, functional foods will be one of the strategies that helps makes a difference.
Vitamin and Mineral Research: Reading between the Headlines
June 8th 2006Is the media accurately reporting the results of the latest dietary supplement research? If not, what should the industry do? If so, what can the industry do? Manufacturers have been grappling with these questions for the past several years and may be closer to finding some answers.