Supermarket Guru sees food prices continuing to rise in 2012, thanks to greater demand for exports and global weather and other environmental conditions, plus higher fuel, feeds, packaging and food safety costs. A growing sense of community, perhaps driven by food blogs and ubiquity of mobile devices, is fueling a trend toward group food experiences. Aand aging baby boomers – all 76 million of them – are driving the popularity of healthy foods and beverages. A few more of the 10 key trends for 2012: rising consumer interest in the origins of their food supply, increased use of mobile devices to obtain food information and bargain offers, and the rise of ethnic food trucks as a replacement for gourmet and specialty stores.

A Harris Interactive telephone survey sponsored by the Vegetarian Resource Group has found that about a third of adult Americans eat vegetarian meals a significant amount of the time, along with committed vegetarians. The finding, according to the VRG, provides a reason for companies producing vegetarian foods to be optimistic. And, “No wonder so many restaurants have added vegetarian options.” Seventeen percent of adult Americans eat no meat, fish, seafood, or poultry at many of their meals, though less than half the time, and 16 percent don't eat these foods at more than half of their meals, but not all the time. Almost half (48 percent) of those surveyed said they eat meat, fish or poultry at every meal. The survey was conducted between March 30 and April 3 of 2011 among 1,010 adults.

German company Metabolomic Discoveries has launched a technology platform that allows the identification of relevant taste and aroma components in products and natural sources. The company says its metabolomics-based Flavor Profiler will help the food and beverages, agriculture, and cosmetics industries to optimize their products by making flavor more objective and by identifying the underlying chemical basis, according to CEO Nicolas Schauer. Unlike sensory profiling, it can measure all the relevant taste and aroma compounds in the product. The flavor analysis can be done in an early stage to support the further development of a product, but can also screen products and production processes for potential changes in flavor.

International Food Network has introduced an in vitro gastrointestinal modeling technology that tests the performance of functional foods and supplements in a simulated digestive environment. The GastroLab modeling system focuses on stomach processing, replicating gastrochemical make-up and pH profile to evaluate physiochemical properties. Food and beverage companies are under severe pressure to get products to market quickly; the GastroLab system speeds up product launches while minimizing risk and enhancing results, the company says. “We have the ability to determine what will survive the rigors of the digestive tract and develop new food and beverage forms to optimize their functionality,” CEO Peter Salmon told Nutraceuticals World.

Worsening teen health linked to high blood sugar levels, obesity, poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking is likely to lead to death at an earlier age from cardiovascular disease, a U.S. study has found. The researchers analyzed the health profiles of 5,547 children and adolescents who constituted a representative sample of 33.1 million American youth. The poor health condition of today’s teens is already having an impact on the health profiles of young adults: cardiovascular mortality rates in adults aged 35 to 44, particularly women, are on the rise. The researchers said it was especially alarming that “zero children or adolescents surveyed met the criteria for ideal cardiovascular health," indicating that “ideal cardiovascular health is being lost as early as the teenage years."

Unlike the term “organic,” “natural” foods lack an authoritative definition that consumers, retailers and manufacturers can look to when applying that term to products. Stepping in to fill the void is the Natural Products Association, which is expected to begin unveiling more tangible definitions of natural food products sometime in 2012. The NPA issued such a definition and seal for natural home care products in 2008. Six food categories have been targeted by the organization, and two – snacks and cereals, meat and poultry – will have definitions and seals next year, according to reports. Some observers feel the FDA should take the lead in the call for a definition of natural, but the agency hasn’t shown any indication it will.

About 40 percent of restaurant visits by Hispanics include children, according to a market study by The NPD Group. In fact, Hispanics who like to dine out say they would do it more often if more restaurants made children feel welcome. In contrast, only 30 percent of non-Hispanic restaurant visits include children. Forty-five percent of Hispanic restaurant visits are in groups of three or more compared to 32 percent for non-Hispanics. NPD’s Michele Schmal said that “restaurant operators and food manufacturers would do well to focus marketing to Hispanics around the family and children.”

Forty percent of Americans say they prefer to curb their hunger with snack foods throughout the day rather than by eating the traditional three square meals, according to a survey by Snack Factory’s Pretzel Crisps brand. More than three fourths (78 percent) said they eat snack foods for lunch and 55 percent eat snacks for dinner. The trend toward substituting snacks for full-course meals is greater among younger people – ages 18 to 49 years. Only 31 percent of people age 50 or older skip meals for snacks. But the survey found that  whatever the age, “more and more people are relying on snacks to get them through the day.”

Riverford Organic, a British organic grower that delivers vegetables and other farm produce through a network of franchisees, reports that its products are an average 19.3 percent cheaper than big U.K. food retailers likeTesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. Riverford is 32 percent cheaper than Sainsbury’s, and their best value boxes beat the supermarket equivalent by more than 40 percent for the second month in a row. Riverford founder Guy Watson says the company’s goal is to grow and sell affordable and accessible organic produce without compromising on flavor or freshness. Key principles driving its success are its fair treatment of growers, a minimal approach to packaging and model regional farms that reduce food transport miles.

Food industry consultant Technomic says restaurants will be affected by seven key trends during 2012. At the top of the list is a consumer preference for familiar comfort foods and formats that offer novel flavors. Also, diners are demanding rustic fare using simple preparations and fresh ingredients. This trend will push restaurant operators to curtail purchases of value-added items in favor of cheaper cuts, beans, grains and produce that can be transformed into home-style food. Other trends include: growing use of seasonal and local-sourced foods, greater use of social networking to share restaurant experiences and opinions, increased demand for product and menu nutrition information, etc.

Annual krill oil sales are growing at a rate of 20 percent, despite concerns about the sustainability of krill harvesting. Whole Foods and other natural foods stores have banned the sale of krill products because of environmental concerns. However, consumers are increasingly aware of the health benefits of krill oil, which has more omega-3s than other fish and contains a potent carotenoid known as astaxanthin. The increasing consumer awareness of the benefits of krill oil should drive sales – and probably prices – higher in the future, according to industry observers. However, environmental conservation groups are relentless in their opposition to krill harvesting.

Dairy product producer Dean Foods announced a 50/50 joint venture with Swiss-based Hero Group, producer of fruit and infant nutrition brands Hero and Beech-Nut. Dubbed Hero/WhiteWave, the new venture will take Dean's WhiteWave business into the jam and chilled fruits business for the first time. Hero has had success with chilled-fruit products in Europe, and believes that North American consumers will be receptive to the products. According to reports, the two companies will develop new healthful products, while sharing technology, manufacturing and distribution capabilities. Dean also announced healthy financial results for the third quarter, with earnings per diluted share on an adjusted basis doubling to $0.28 from a year ago.

Peru's Congress has imposed a 10-year moratorium on imports of genetically modified organisms (GMO) to safeguard the country's biodiversity. The measure, approved by an overwhelming margin, bans the importation of  GMOs such as seeds, livestock, and fish for cultivation or to be raised locally. The Congress did allow some exceptions: for example, GMO can be used for research in closed environments though they must be carefully monitored. The bill requires the signature of President Ollanta Humala before becoming law. Humala is a strong opponent of GMO programs. Peru earns about $3 billion a year from the export of organic food, including coffee and cocoa.

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology (Germany) have developed a way to test whether chemical substances accumulate in farmed fish that have been fed contaminated feed. The food industry needs such a test because half of all the fish eaten today comes from fish farms, where fish are increasingly fed vegetable-based foods that may contain pesticide residues. Fish feed producers have turned to the use of crops such as soya, maize and rape to replace the dwindling supplies of fishmeal and fish oil so important to fish feed. Using large water tanks, researchers test the flesh of fresh water fish like carp and trout for pesticide residues using highly sensitive analytical methods that detect even the smallest quantities of a harmful substance. 

U.S. and Korean researchers have found that fast-food dining is not the reason for higher rates of obesity among people with lower incomes. In fact, the study found that eating out – either at fast-food or full-services establishments – becomes more common as income rises. Middle income people, who have lower rates of obesity and are attracted to fast-food restaurants for a variety reasons, increased their visits as their annual household income approaches $60,000. When  income increased beyond that level, fast-food visits decreased. Eating at full-service restaurants, where there is a range of food choices and sit-down service, followed a predictable pattern: as income rose, visits increased. The researchers used survey data from nearly 5,000 people in the U.S.

Consumers interested in losing weight are responding to marketing promises, driving healthy weight management product sales, according to a Euromonitor report. Weight loss companies have successfully upgraded their meal replacement lines, introducing new flavors for current products, and launching new powders, soups and bars. All have enjoyed success at the retail level. Palatability and texture have improved markedly, thanks to the application of new ingredient technologies. Meal replacement slimming and weight loss supplements posted the highest sales in the U.S., mainly because of strong promotional efforts from direct sellers Amway and Herbalife. “A combination of high overweight/obesity rates, affluence and the desire for a perfect body helped North America dominate retail value sales of weight management products in 2010,” Euromonitor said.

Abbott Nutrition has introduced Glucerna Hunger Smart shakes and bars for diabetics. According to the company, the products are designed as meal replacements that assist in managing hunger and blood sugar spikes while helping diabetics achieve weight management goals. The Glucerna shakes contain a proprietary carbohydrate blend called Carb Steady with both low glycemic and slowly-digestible carbohydrates to help minimize blood sugar spikes. Each 180-calories shake has 15 grams of protein and six grams of sugars, as well as 25 vitamins and minerals. The snack bars are 140-150 calories with 10 grams of protein in addition to Carb Steady.

Farmers in southwest Georgia (U.S.) are looking for more information about how to participate in, and benefit from,  Walmart’s new Heritage Agricultural Program, an initiative supporting consumers’ interest in local and sustainable farming. Various organizations, including the USDA, have been meeting with Georgia farmers to tell them what they need to do – like having the proper infrastructure in place – to supply produce to Walmart. The company wants to reduce the number of miles perishable fruits and vegetables travel from farm to market by purchasing locally-grown produce for stores, and is encouraging farmers to grow crops traditionally produced in their regions.

A survey conducted by a group representing steelmakers and some food processors found that only 46 percent of Americans know that canned foods count toward U.S. government recommended dietary guidelines; 40 percent believe canned foods are less nutritious than frozen foods; and sixty percent believes canned foods are not as nutritious as fresh. But according to the Canned Food Alliance, food packaged in steel cans “can be just as nutritious (and sometimes more nutritious) than fresh and frozen varieties.” CFA Executive Director Rich Tavoletti said canned foods provide affordable, accessible and convenient nutrition.

A report from market researcher Mintel finds that 73 percent of Britons born in the 1990s – a group known as “Generation Z” – are heavy consumers of energy drinks, compared to only 31 percent of people over age 55. Nearly three quarters of 16- to 24-year-olds say they buy energy drinks because they like the taste, but 70 percent say it’s the energy boost that has them coming back for more. And though energy drinks are primarily marketed as a way to improve sports performance, only 59 percent of the Z crowd drink them for physical activity: 57 percent rely on them just to get through the day.

Data drawn from questionnaires provided by nurses and other health professionals show an inverse association between drinking caffeinated coffee and the risk of basal cell carcinoma, according to a study presented at a recent medical conference. Though the study looked at the connection between caffeine and both basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a decreased risk was found only with BCC. Nearly 73,000 participants were followed from 1984 to 2008 in the study. Researchers found that women who drank more than three cups of coffee a day reduced the risk of BCC by one fifth. But men who drank more than three cups a day had only a nine percent risk reduction, compared with people who drank less than one cup a month.

A U.S. study has found that teenagers who consume more than 60 ounces of non-diet carbonated soft drinks a week are much more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior, such as toting a weapon and acting violently against peers and siblings. Researchers surveyed 1,878 teens in Boston public schools about their soft drink consumption in the prior week, then divided them into low-consumption and high-consumption (five or more cans a week) groups. About 30 percent were classified as high-consumption. The teens were then asked about violent behavior towards peers or siblings, whether they carried a knife or gun, etc. Teens who were heavy consumers of non-diet fizzy soft drinks were nine to 15 percent more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior – the same magnitude as the impact of alcohol or tobacco.

Kraft Foods announced it is extending its Cocoa Partnership – established by Cadbury to boost coca farming in Ghana, India, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean –  to the Dominican Republic. The five-year initiative with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will try to sustainably increase the yield and quality of Dominican cocoa, while improving farmer livelihoods and communities. About 10,000 small-scale cocoa farmers of the Conacado cooperative will benefit from training in farming techniques, post-harvest practices and supplemental income opportunities, Kraft said. The Cocoa Partnership has committed 45 million pounds Sterling (approximately $70 million) to the program.

PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi told Reuters recently that her company’s product line will grow much healthier over the next ten years, thanks to an expansion of more nutritious juices, dairy products and grain products. Nooyi said that within ten years, healthier products will comprise as much as 30 percent of its portfolio, up from a current 22 percent. The new focus by PepsiCo takes advantage of a growing consumer trend toward purchasing more nutritious products. The company hopes to double sales of healthier products to $30 billion in the next nine years.

A U.S. study of Mature Baby Boomers (MBBs, 55 to 64 years of age) and Mature Millennials (MMs, 25 to 34) finds that the two generations have similarities – and key differences – in their attitudes toward foodservice. A key similarity is an attraction to dining out: the combined 151 million people are responsible for nearly $65 of every $100 spent in restaurants. The two generations view restaurant cleanliness, taste, value, convenience and customer service as the most important qualities of a restaurant. Key differences that the foodservice industry needs to be aware of: 72 percent of MBBs order food by phone compared to 59 percent of MMs; nine percent of MBBs order via the Internet compared to 32 percent of MMs, and 25 percent of MMs use Smartphones to make reservations and check menus, but only 10 percent of MBBs.

The Associated Press reports that Target Corp. has decided that all of its fresh and frozen seafood must be sustainable and traceable by 2015. The company has been at the forefront of efforts to adjust their policies regarding seafood as concerns rise about overfishing and the environmental impact of some fishing methods. In the past two years, for example, Target has stopped selling Chilean sea bass and orange roughy in its stores because of concerns related to overfishing. Last year the company pulled all farmed salmon from stores, because of pressure from consumers and environmentalists concerned that salmon farms are bad for the environment.

A research scientist at Norway’s SINTEF Technology and Society says a lot of the Western world’s food supply is wasted by food producers, consumers and restaurants who believe that food has run out of shelf life, when in fact “it is perfectly OK.” According to Jan Ola Strandhagen, a third of the world’s supply of food could be saved using advanced technology – and a change in attitude – before it reaches the waste bin. Information from the retail food sector about consumer buying habits, and how much food ends up in store trash bins, would allow “surgical precision” in the production of food. That kind of information would influence the logistics of food distribution: “when and where, and in what quantities, individual products are delivered to retail outlets.”

A report from market researcher Packaged Facts says the edible fats and oils market in the U.S. is booming, thanks to a flurry of new product introductions containing “good” fats and oils. The new products are taking advantage of the fact that consumers are aware some fats are actually beneficial. Recent studies have shown that monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can lower disease risk. Consumers who have avoided fats for years have now embraced the so-called “good” fats, driving companies to introduce products that contain better-for-you fats. U.S. retail sales of fats and oils topped $9 billion in 2011; annual sales should reach $11 billion by 2016. Annual growth rates should move from two percent to four percent by 2016.

Consumers are fueling the healthy growth of the bakery café market, a sub-segment of the fast-casual market, according to a study by Technomic. Total bakery café units increased 4.2 percent, and bakery cafe sales increased 12 percent during the past three years. The segment now accounts for $5 billion in annual sales and over 3,600 units nationwide, successfully navigating the middle ground between quick- and-full service restaurants. Consumers are visiting bakery  cafés in increasing numbers both as first-time and repeat customers. The Technomic report offers some other interesting insights for restaurant operators and other foodservice professionals. For example, 34 percent of consumers strongly agreed that they would visit bakery cafés more frequently for breakfast if menus offered more breakfast options.

An NPD study that probes consumers’ attitudes toward morning food and beverage choices has found that nearly three out of every ten males aged 18-34 skip breakfast. Overall, ten percent  – 31 million Americans – skip the morning meal, according to the study. And among children who are awake but don’t eat breakfast, the highest incidence of skipping is found among kids 13-17 years old. NPD said such high rates of daily breakfast skipping present “a significant opportunity for food and beverage marketers to reach these consumers.”

Natural and organic products marketer Hain Celestial Group has acquired the Europe's Best brand of natural, frozen fruit and vegetable products in Canada, where frozen produce is a $385 million market. The company said it plans to expand Europe's Best product lines, which include 24 premium fruit and vegetable products, into other channels of distribution in North America. All Europe's Best products are washed and individually quick frozen, by means of a flash freeze process, to retain flavor and freshness and preserve nutritional value.

A petition calling for the mandatory labeling of genetically-engineered (GE) foods was submitted to the U.S. FDA “on behalf of millions of consumers” by a coalition of  400 businesses and organizations dedicated to food safety and consumer rights. GE foods are altered at the molecular level in ways that could not happen naturally, the coalition said. Noting that consumers have a right to know what’s in their food, Just Label It - We Have a Right to Know (www.justlabelit.org) said that the FDA has rejected labeling of GE food since 1992, even though many countries worldwide require it. The agency is considering allowing the marketing of a genetically engineered salmon that grows to maturity twice as fast as normal salmon.

Unhealthy dietary patterns in children as young as a year old are the root cause of America’s childhood obesity problem, Nestlé Nutrition research has found. One-third of the calories consumed by toddlers from the age of 12 months and up come from between-meal snacking on nutrient-poor foods. Bad eating habits start early in life, according to the study, which noted that those habits mirror those of older children and adults. The solution starts with giving parents and guardians better nutrition guidance, establishing healthy eating habits early, and making simple dietary changes. For example, parents could make snack times “mini-meal” times when kids could eat fruits, vegetables, low fat yogurt, and whole grain foods instead of junk.

A study by Cornell University scientists shows that children are more likely to eat fruit in a cafeteria setting if the fruit is displayed in colorful bowls. Moving the fruit increased sales by 104 percent, and is just one of many simple, cheap, and effective tools that lead schoolchildren to choose healthier food. The research was conducted as part of the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement at Cornell’s Center for Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs (BEN). With the White House, BEN created the Chef’s Move to Schools program as part of the national fight against childhood obesity. The BEN center has analyzed many school lunchrooms, finding layouts and designs that hindered student's selection of nutritious foods. The lunchrooms were revamped with easy, low-cost/no-cost environmental changes that resulted in an increase in healthy food choices.

The American Heart Association (AHA) is adding foods higher in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats to its Heart-Check Food Certification Program. The expanded list of foods  eligible to be certified includes fish, nuts, etc., that contain “better fat.” Also being revised are sodium allowances and food screening guidelines for certified products that call for limits on added sugars and promote dietary fiber. The AHA said fish, nuts, and other foods containing the “better fats” can be certified now. But the group is giving food manufacturers until 2014 to reformulate production processes to comply with new sodium, sugar, and fiber requirements. AHA-certified food products are allowed to display the red-and-white Heart-Check mark on packages.

U.K.-based market researcher Frost & Sullivan reports that manufacturers of functional ingredients for immune-boosting and cardiovascular supplements are profiting handsomely from Europe’s fear of epidemics such as the deadly swine flu. Sales of immune-boosting ingredients are steadily growing, thanks to a growing awareness of the relationship between a healthy immune system and prevention of flu-like diseases and respiratory ailments. Likewise, a Frost & Sullivan analyst said, there are “significant opportunities for ingredient manufacturers” because of the extent that cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, affects the European population. However, the analyst warned that manufacturers need to better educate consumers about the benefits of their ingredients in order to stand out from the competition.

A survey of 212 women by Southeast Seattle nonprofit group Got Green has found that buying, cooking and eating “green” and healthy food are top priorities, but organic fruit and vegetables are just too expensive and grocery stores are scarce. The main barrier to switching to a healthier diet, therefore, is not education about “green” living, it’s affordability and availability, according to Got Green. Gardening is a good idea, but it’s not a solution for low-income families that are often short on time. Among its recommendations for change, the group urged policy changes that would provide more money for people who use food stamps so they can buy healthy food.

The Organic Industry Examiner reports that organic food delivery services are springing up in metropolitan areas around the country, creating a new type of food delivery industry that is “more than just a trend.” Urban Organic in New York City, for example, delivers organic groceries three times a week, while Greenling offers a similar service in two Texas cities, and Healthy Bites serves the Washington, D.C. area. Their business models are dissimilar – Healthy Bites, for example, delivers full meals using organic foods twice a week – but all promise “organic when available,” certified pesticide- and GMO-free foods.

PepsiCo has launched an initiative with the People’s Republic of China to promote sustainable agriculture projects and accelerate the development of the Chinese countryside. The company will work with China’s Ministry of Agriculture to build and operate demonstration farms that apply advanced irrigation, fertilization and crop management techniques. According to PepsiCo, they will also promote best practices in China's farming system to improve yields, increase income levels and raise living standards for farmers throughout the country. The partnership underscores the company's support for China's 12th Five-Year Plan, which establishes objectives for developing sustainable agriculture and speeding up agricultural modernization.

An online survey of 2,112 adults conducted in August for Whole Foods Market found that food prices have had a major impact on their food buying patterns. Eighty-two percent said current food prices have affected their grocery shopping, and more than 75 percent said they have changed their cooking and eating habits due to the economy. Large majorities saying they would buy natural or organic foods if they could afford it. Seventy-one percent said they would buy natural/organic foods over conventional foods if the prices were the same. And 70 percent said they would buy organic if prices fit their budgets. Twenty-four percent said natural/organic foods would account for only a quarter of their total household food purchases in 2011.

After studying scientific findings on the health benefits of hydroxytyrosol, an orthodiphenol found in olives and olive oil, the European Food Safety Authority has issued a scientific opinion stating that the ingredient does protect blood lipids from oxidative damage. The EFSA approved the health claims of the product Hytolive, which has a high concentration of natural hydroxytyrosol. The agency based its opinion on the results of three studies that showed a “dose dependent and significant effect of olive oil hydroxytyrosol … on lowering levels of oxidized low density lipoproteins (LDL)” after three weeks of consumption. The EFSA said consuming five mg a day of the ingredient would qualify for an approved health claim.

The European market for nutritional solutions in immune and antihypertensive health, which totaled $577.9 million in revenues in 2009, is likely to reach $838.6 million in 2016, according to new Frost & Sullivan research. Driving this strong growth is a rise in problems related to high blood pressure and a weak immune system along with an increased trend among Europeans toward preventive healthcare. Manufacturers are profiting from the growing awareness of the potential of immune health ingredients in preventing flu-like symptoms and respiratory infections, the researchers said. Health ingredients claiming cholesterol- and blood pressure-lowering benefits are likely to see strong growth. The only brake on growth is a preference for traditional blood pressure lowering techniques and drugs: exercise, weight management, salt reduction, diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, etc.

The Warsaw Journal reports that Poland has the right mix of resources and other factors that could make it “an important player” in Europe’s growing organic foods market. The country so far has been a small consumer of organic foods – only 0.2 percent of food purchases in 2009, or about €50 million, were in the organic category – but consumer interest is growing. With European and global organic demand on the rise, organic production in Poland is increasing as well, thanks to competitive prices, a large workforce and many small-scale, traditional farms that are easy to convert to organic methods. Through 2010, the number of organic farms and total area devoted to organic food production have soared: from 3,760 to 20,000 farms, and from 82,730 to more than 500,000 hectares. The number of processing plants in turn grew from 50 to nearly 300. Also driving expansion has been the rapid development of a sales network for organic products in Poland. The number of organic stores should grow from 300 in 2010 to around 500 by the end of 2011.

Swiss nutritional ingredients maker DSM says it has created a business unit that combines Martek’s algal DHA omega-3 and ARA omega-6 products and DSM’s polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFAs) product portfolio. The Nutritional Lipids unit will leverage Martek’s technology and market position in the U.S. and DSM’s global marketing and sales network. The company says scientific evidence shows that nutritional lipids offer significant health benefits and support brain, eye and cardiovascular health throughout life. Products from DSM's Nutritional Lipids portfolio are  found in more than 400 brands of infant formula, nutritional supplements, functional foods and animal feeds sold worldwide. Martek veteran Peter A. Nitze will serve as president, based in Columbia, Md.

Though many scientists and consumers are convinced that a salty diet is the primary contributor to high blood pressure – and increased risk of cardiovascular disease – in the Western world, recent studies cast doubt on that view, and even suggest that cutting salt intake may be harmful. One blood pressure expert in the U.K. called the evidence of the harm caused by salt intake “actually pretty flimsy.” The salt industry, of course, agrees, and one food manufacturer has started adding salt back into its products. According to this Reuters special report, the outcome of the debate will have a big impact on business. There’s the U.S. snack foods industry with annual revenue of $27 billion, for example, and the blood pressure medications industry with worldwide sales of $35 billion in 2009. But scientists have yet to come to a consensus on salt’s harmful or beneficial effects. Evidence is slight and often contradictory. So the debate rages on.

A Harris Interactive poll conducted for the American Meat Institute (AMI) has found that 80 percent of American adults do not use a thermometer to determine doneness when grilling hamburgers or poultry burgers. Three-fourths rely on sight to tell whether their meat is fully cooked. And 57 percent simply rely on the clock to determine when to take the meat off the grill – “not an accurate indicator of doneness,” AMI says. The organization notes that U.S. meat products are among the safest in the world, but like all raw foods, they can contain some potentially harmful bacteria. “It is important to take time to remind consumers about safe handling and cooking practices,” AMI says.

Warren Struhl, CEO of a company marketing dissolvable tongue strips that deliver a fast jolt of caffeine and B vitamins, tells FoodNavigator-USA that his product and others like it could become a $1 billion market within three years. Sheets Energy Strips from PureBrands have already won the backing of NBA star LeBron James and other celebrities, while response from retailers (Walmart, CircleK, GNC) has been “overwhelmingly positive.” Struhl expects to launch a family of similar dissolvable strip products next year. The energy delivery version costs much less than energy shot drinks while delivering 200 percent of daily value of vitamin B6 and B12, 100 percent of vitamin B5, and 100 mg of caffeine per two-sheet serving.

Though nutricosmetics haven’t caught on in other parts of the world, market data from Datamonitor show high per capita spending in Asia, particularly in Japan. Nutricosmetics sales are  growing especially strongly in China, which is  expected to overtake Japan by 2015, according to market researcher Frost & Sullivan. Driving the phenomenon in China are rising disposable incomes, increased concerns about beauty, and strong cultural acceptance of the beauty-from-within concept, thanks to centuries of use of herbs and plants to cure beauty-related problems. In this report, Happi.com outlines nutricosmetics market opportunities for both established companies and new entrants in the Asian region.