Text by William Miller There is a science to flavour. The field of food science has evolved significantly to meet the growing demands for food composition and characteristic determination. Trends and demands of consumers, the food industry, and national and international regulations challenge food scientists as they work to monitor food composition, authentication and to ensure the quality and safety …

  Text by Jenny Zegler Consumption of high-caffeine energy drinks among children and young adults has been a focus for local and national governments worldwide. As Mintel Trend Supernanny State describes, many governments are enforcing taxes, fines and, occasionally, outright bans to encourage people to improve their behaviour. Lithuania was the first country to ban sales of high-caffeine drinks to …

Balances “Free-from” and Functional Text by Sarah Theodore Juice drinks in Canada have struggled in recent years, with volumes declining 1.3% in 2014 and 2.7% in 2015, according to Mintel estimates. Cost has played an important role in consumption declines, as have changing consumer demographics that favour older consumers who tend to drink less juice than younger consumers or households …

Recently, the Millennial cohort (23% of the Canadian population, ages 18-34 years) has faced exhaustive observation and daunting scrutiny that typifies large up-and-coming generations. Given the current and future spending power of this generation, this is not surprising. In 2014, Statistics Canada reported that Millennials accounted for $255 billion in annual spending. However, as the Millennial generation matures and fragments, …

RiceBran Technologies’ new exclusive supply agreement has given it a foothold in the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. food and beverage market, that of natural, organic and functional foods. The company has entered into an agreement with Thailand-based Narula Group, one of the world’s largest growers of organic rice, which gives RiceBran exclusive worldwide supply and distribution rights for Narula’s …

Think of it as a food industry Dragon’s Den: an entrepreneurial program aimed at supporting companies which are developing new probiotic food or beverage products. The Probiotic Innovation Jumpstart, the brainchild of probiotic research and product development company Ganeden, is inviting scientists, entrepreneurs and inventors to submit their ideas for new probiotic products by May 6. Canadian companies can apply, …

Champion Canadian hockey player talks brand values and life after Team Canada Text by Theresa Rogers In Canada, when you talk sports, hockey is king. And in hockey, five-time Olympic medalist Hayley Wickenheiser is queen. A dedicated and determined hockey player, leader and mother, Wickenheiser has been named number 20 of the Top 25 Toughest Athletes in the World by …

As we head into the holiday season, the days are short and so is time. I’m planning a holiday party and with almost 40 people who have RSVP’d, it’s going to require a lot of food and drinks. I don’t dislike being in the kitchen, but with a full-time job and family, I also don’t have time to spend hours …

Food division focuses on clean label, freshness, and fortification solutions Text by Kelly Townsend In a market that is becoming increasingly health-conscious, finding the balance between creating a product that meets a consumer’s health standards and one that still meets their taste expectations can be a challenge. Delavau Food Partners is a company that creates those types of solutions. Described …

Tealeaves, in collaboration with Pantone, launched an online exhibition in November that showcases the influence colour has on food and drink experiences. The exhibit, paletteforyourpalate.com, profiles Tealeaves’ Whole Leaf Pyramid Teabag collection and displays the tea-infused creations of 34 world-renowned culinary, pastry and mixology artists. The exhibit also includes a documentary that explores the potential of colour to excite and …