US firm brushes off Yerba Mate beverage 'bitterness' claims, hopes for sparkling growth

21-May-2012 - US firm Guayaki has launched a sparkling-based beverage containing natural stimulant Yerba Mate in Rexam sleek cans in an ‘ongoing effort’ to reach a more mainstream audience, and dismissed suggestions that the plant's sometimes bitter taste could deter uptake.

Coke takes ‘natural’ mid-calorie carbonate plunge in Pepsi NEXT wake with stevia-based trials

15-May-2012 - The Coca-Cola Company is poised to test its own mid-calorie sodas in the US using Sprite and Fanta using natural sweeteners including Cargill's stevia brand, hot on the heels of PepsiCo’s mid-calorie cola launch Pepsi NEXT.

Special edition: Where next for natural sweeteners?

08-May-2012 - From stevia to monk fruit, oats, agave nectar and coconut palm sugar.  In the second of our spring special editions, we look at what’s next for natural sweeteners.  

'Breakthrough innovation' sees PepsiCo launch Tropicana juices with tea

24-Apr-2012 - PepsiCo brand Tropicana has launched two new US Trop50 varieties, including an innovative juice with tea mix and a red orange juice with 50% less sugar and calories.

Edible food packaging dissolves in water – developer

20-Apr-2012 - A US company has developed a food packaging technology that dissolves when exposed to water and said it is ready for commercial roll-out as soon as individual customers’ needs are satisfied.  

Coke hopes revamped adult soft drinks brand will cause Tumult in Europe

10-Apr-2012 - The Coca-Cola Company has redesigned the packaging and branding for one of its more niche brands, a premium non-alcoholic adult soft drink now only sold in Paris, but poised for a European roll-out.

Krones suggests EU trend towards juices and milk-based mixed drinks with natural fruit content

19-Mar-2012 - German beverage machinery supplier Krones says that interest in premium juices and milk-based mixed drinks with natural fruit pieces is growing in key European markets, in the wake of its recent Twin-Flow concept launch.

Madonna backed coconut water Vita Coco faces new 'super hydrating' legal challenge

08-Mar-2012 - Superstar-backed coconut water brand Vita Coco faces a new class action over claimed product benefits in Canada, including a ‘super hydrating’ claim, just weeks are settling a similar US suit. 

Tropicana sued over ‘100% pure and natural’ orange juice claim

10-Jan-2012 - Tropicana Products Inc. is the latest company to be sued over use of the term ‘natural’ – this time to describe its not-from-concentrate ‘100% pure and natural’ orange juice.

Natural flavours ‘identified in nature’ to have major industry impact – report

02-Jan-2012 - EC regulations implemented last year that require natural flavouring substances to be identical to something found in nature will greatly impact the industry, according to a report assessing the new regulation.

Dispatches from FIE 2011

Cranberry giant aims to settle debilitating PACs debate in “6-12 months”

30-Nov-2011 - Ocean Spray has waded out of its Massachusetts cranberry bogs and into the fiery and divisive debate about accurately measuring the berry’s health benefit-delivering proanthocyanidins (PACs) – a longstanding tete-a-tete it says it can end once for all in "6-12 months".

News in brief

Juna aims to cause Andean stir in UK juice sector

27-Oct-2011 - Juice startup Juna claims that it will shake-up the UK juice market following the recent launch of a new all-natural nectar range made mango, lulo, guanabana and mora fruits.

Organic tomato juice more ‘nutritious’ than conventional juice?

02-Sep-2011 - Juice from organically grown tomatoes contains higher levels of bioactive polyphenols than juice made from conventionally grown tomatoes, says a new study.

Natural colours drive Chr Hansen Q3 results; probiotic uncertainty continues

06-Jul-2011 - The newly renamed Natural Colors Division was the star performer in Danish ingredients supplier Chr Hansen’s Q3 results, showing 34% organic sales growth for the quarter, compared to 5% for Cultures and Enzymes, and 9% for Health and Nutrition.

Stevia: Moving beyond the ‘holy grail’ hype

22-Jun-2011 - Hype about the promise of stevia created inflated expectations – but the market has evolved in response, according to stevia supplier PureCircle’s vice president of global marketing Jason Hecker.

New citrus flavours aim to add signature notes to branded drinks

09-Jun-2011 - Kerry has launched a new range of natural citrus flavours that aim to quench industry thirst for signature twists in branded drinks.

Vitamin fortification tops list of energy drink claims

26-Apr-2011 - A new Leatherhead report has highlighted how vitamin fortification and other ‘health and wellness’ claims are driving growth in the global sports and energy drink market.

New citrus flavour doubles up as an antimicrobial agent

21-Apr-2011 - Lanxess has developed a new natural citrus flavour for US soft drinks that it claims targets shelf life as well as taste buds.

Coca-Cola keeps faith in Honest Tea potential

08-Mar-2011 - Coca-Cola has bought out the remaining stake in Honest Tea although the organic bottled tea company is still a niche player in the US market.

DD Williamson introduces organic acid-stable caramel color

21-Sep-2010 - DD Williamson has introduced a USDA-certified organic version of its class one acid-stable dark caramel color for use in beverages with pH below 2.5, the company has said.

Project to quantify stability of natural food colours

02-Sep-2010 - Food research group Leatherhead is in the final stages of a testing project on natural food colours, which it expects will provide clear guidance on the stability and shelf-life of the ingredients.

DD Williamson develops acid-stable class one caramel color

24-Jun-2010 - DD Williamson has introduced a new class one acid-stable dark caramel color for use in beverages with pH below 2.5, the company has said.

Relaxation drinks make opening moves in Europe

24-Jun-2010 - Datamonitor claims relaxation drinks are taking their first steps in the European market with new products featuring herbal remedies and, more unusually, laughing gas.

Discovering the market for ‘mid-calorie’ stevia-sugar blends

17-Jun-2010 - Stevia suppliers have been partnering with sugar companies with the aim of blending the two sweeteners for more sucrose-like taste and lower calories – but the success of hybrid sweeteners relies on consumer acceptance.