Innova Market Insights recently identified its top 10 trends likely to impact the food industry in 2015 and beyond, identified by the company’s ongoing analysis of key global developments in food and drink launch activity worldwide. In previous years, Innova has consistently predicted upcoming trends, including “Sustainability” in 2008, “Free-From Rises” in 2010, “Return to Softer Claims” in 2011, and …

SASKATCHEWAN’S DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE TALKS LENTILS, INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND THE MAGIC OF RESEARCH Text by Hermione Wilson There’s more to Saskatchewan than bread.“We’re sometimes known for our branded products,” says Alanna Koch, Saskatchewan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, “but the other thing we’re known for is ingredients, high quality ingredients.” Companies like InfraReady Products market Saskatchewan cereal grains, pulses and …

Personalized dietary advice based on a person’s genetic makeup improves eating habits compared to current “one-size-fits-all” dietary recommendations, says a University of Toronto researcher. “We conducted the first randomized, controlled trial to determine the impact of disclosing DNA-based dietary advice on eating habits,” said Ahmed El-Sohemy, an associate professor in nutritional sciences and Canada Research Chair in Nutrigenomics. “We found …

Raw food, like edible seeds such as chia, hemp, flax, and sesame, boasts a broad range of health benefits and are growing in popularity. However, many consumers are unaware that raw unprocessed foods, such as seeds, may not be safe due to contamination by pathogens like E. Coli or Salmonella. This can have devastating effects on the health of consumers, …

Canada’s agriculture and food sector can safely be labeled “Old Faithful” for its contribution to Canada’s export-based economy. While not a flashy industry, it remains among the most dependable and consistent in terms of foreign sales year after year. Export Development Canada’s latest forecast called for foreign shipments, which totaled more than $50 billion in 2013 and represented 9.5 per …

Maple water overcame competition from Europe and the United States to finish first at the recent 2014 Global Bottled Water Congress (GBWC). KiKi Maple Sweet Water was recognized as the top new product at the congress, which took place in Budapest, Hungary. The beverage is made with Ontario maple sap produced by manufacturer Troll Bridge Creek Inc. (TBCI). “We are …

Egg Farmers of Canada announced a new partnership with the University of Waterloo, establishing Bruce Muirhead as the industry’s first-ever research chair in public policy. “We are delighted to be working with Professor Muirhead,” said Tim Lambert, Chief Executive Officer of Egg Farmers of Canada. “With the creation of this Chair, we hope to continually elevate the caliber of the …

Researchers are challenging the way Canadians think about saturated fat, sodium, and sugar, and are ready to explore the pitfalls posed by the nutrient-focused approach used in dietary guidelines. This took place at a series of cross-Canada symposia titled “Straight Talk about Nutrition Guidelines” held in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Moncton in November and organized by the Registered Dietitians at …

Maple Leaf Foods recently hosted its Sixth Annual Food Safety Symposium. At the event, 170 representatives from more than 100 companies gathered to discuss the most pressing concerns in food safety. This year’s event was themed “People or Technology”, asking participants to debate which was the best investment to make a significant change in global food safety. “Food safety incorporates …

RACHEL PARENT MAY ONLY BE 15, BUT SHE’S ALREADY GETTING ATTENTION FROM CANADIAN HEALTH OFFICIALS Text by Hermione Wilson You may have heard of Rachel Parent. The young activist’s name has become synonymous with the mandatory GMO-labelling movement in Canada, especially since she met with Minister of Health, Rona Ambrose on Nov. 6, 2014. “The Minister was very nice and …