De-cocainized coca leaf extract makes diet cola sodas taste better, according to a patent, and the scientist behind it is promising "a revolution in soda beverages that benefits the people of South America, not anonymous multinationals".
In price-sensitive markets such as Latin America, does clean label reformulation to make products healthier or more natural offer a return on investment?
Mexican start-up Bio B uses locally-sourced ingredients in smoothie mixes and protein bars, such as inulin from agave cacti, cocoa from Tabasco, and Mexican-grown moringa.
We hit Mexico's ANTAD Alimentaria last week to seek out the latest trends in finished products. From cactus snacks to green banana flour; matcha horchata to lemon popcorn, this is what we saw.
Búho Soda is Mexico's first all-natural, low-sugar soft drink made using locally-sourced ingredients, according to its manufacturer - and inspiration came from the country's booming craft beer movement, the start-up founder says.
Chile's strict food regulations are helping mothers - and even children - make healthier food choices for the family, according to a study. The findings are “overwhelmingly positive”, say the researchers.
Young Argentinians' and Ecuadorians' perception of ultra-processed food is closely aligned with the original definition, recent research suggests, and the results can help manufacturers with successful new product development.
Barbados' tax on sugary drinks has been effective in reducing sales of sugar-sweetened beverages - however the ad valorum tax may also encourage shoppers to switch to cheaper - and possibly more sugary - brands, researchers have suggested.
Latin American manufacturers are interested in cleaning up food labels but the region's lack of harmonization is limiting uptake, says Chr. Hansen’s LATAM vice president.
There is a high level of public support for front-of-pack nutrition warning labels among the Uruguayan public, according to a 1,400-strong survey. “In the Latin American context, the Chilean scheme seems particularly appropriate," write the researchers.
Producing sugarcane according to Bonsucro sustainability standards can halve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost crop yields, according to recent research. "A clear case" for seeking certification for this "very thirsty crop",...
Unified standards and regulations on the production and sales of beverages across Latin America and the Caribbean should happen within five years, says the International Council of Beverage Associations' (ICBA) regional group.
From jabuticaba-flavored yogurt to guacamole mayonnaise, processed food firms are catering to Latin Americans demand for natural, healthy, and authentic foods, according to a survey by ingredient supplier Kerry.
ConMéxico reacts: 'Our lobbying is legal, legitimate and transparent'
Mexico's lack of action to tackle its obesity crisis over the past six years may be due to policymakers' close ties with the food and drink industry, according to a report by consumer rights group El Poder del Consumidor.
Many critics of the NOVA food classification are biased due to close ties to the food industry, according to Brazilian researchers - but are the lines between criticism of NOVA and support of food processing becoming blurred?
Mexican households with higher untaxed beverage purchases before the country introduced its soda tax in 2014 had the “largest absolute and relative reductions in taxed beverages”, according to a new analysis.
Ingredient giant Ingredion has partnered with Matsutani Chemical Industry Co. to bring the rare sugar allulose to the Americas and aid sugar reduction efforts for food and beverage manufacturers.
From the US FDA’s approval of a qualified health claim for high oleic oils to the EU’s push to promote its own plant protein market, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s a round-up of the top seven global food and beverage news items to...
Artificial sweeteners in Latin America will continue to grow in the coming years, driven by consumer desire for low-calorie products and lucrative growth in Brazil's beverage segment, according to Fact.MR.
Ingredient supplier Layn is helping food and beverage manufacturers in Mexico and Central America take the guesswork out of sugar reduction by expanding in the region two new plant-based sweetener platforms that are optimized for different categories.
As the desire to attain a healthier, longer life through diet expands beyond niche groups focused on wellness into the mainstream population, consumers increasingly are looking for functional ingredients they recognize across categories – including in...
As consumers across LATAM increasingly seek out low- or no-sugar alternatives to their favorite food and beverages, Layn is excited by the potential of the region and expects to introduce new sweeteners as and when regulatory approval is attained.
Consumers in Brazil are trying to consume less sugar and more protein, but food and beverage brands need to ensure that taste and texture are not detrimentally affected while also boosting the perception of ‘freshness’ for their products, according to...
From clean label to sugar and sodium reduction, a few trends resonated throughout the 2018 Fi South America expo in Sao Paulo. Here’s our take on what’s hot…
For companies with limited R&D budgets or for those seeking some external help to speed up a developmental pipeline, Ingredion has launched a free to access virtual lab, and it’s coming soon to formulators across Latin America.
Ingredients giant DSM has achieved registration for use in Mexico with COFEPRIS of its Avansya Reb M steviol glycoside, introducing the ingredient at this year's IFT in Chicago.
The 2014 tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in Chile has led to an overall decrease in the volume of sugary soft drink purchases of almost 22%, according to a new study.
Processed food and beverages in Honduras are high in sweeteners, particularly US-imported products and beverages, and action must be taken to better regulate use and labeling of the ingredient, say researchers.
Products containing SweeGen's stevia-derived non-GMO Reb M are expected to launch in Colombia in late 2018 and throughout 2019 following approval from the country’s Secretary of State for Agriculture and Procurement (SEAB).
Introduced in 2014, Mexico's sugar tax reduced sweetened beverage sales by 12% in its first year, according to the Ministry of Health, but daily caloric intake has decreased by negligible amounts, argues ANPRAC (the National Association of Producers...
A cross-sectional, population-based survey assessed in the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (ELANS) found a high consumption of total and added sugar intake among 9,218 individuals from eight Latin American countries with Argentina registering...
Advertising of food and beverages around schools in Mexico often features unhealthy products, with almost 70% not in compliance with recommendations from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Replacing some of the sugar in cookies with an aqueous stevia extract produced high consumer liking scores, while also boosting fiber content and showing good metabolic benefits, report Mexican scientists.
An inventor from Peru has developed a sweetening formulation that enables calorie reduction but also targets disease prevention through functional ingredients like prebiotic fibers and omega-3s.
When it comes to sugar, fat and salt reduction, Latin America can learn a lot from Europe and the US as most of the complex, technical aspects have already been refined, says a formulation expert.
Protein is hot, and nowhere more so than in Latin America, where the percentage of high protein new product launches per year is almost double the global average.
Continuing its expansion across Latin America, Barentz International has established a joint venture with Sao Paulo-based Tovani Benzaquen Ingredients. The JV marks Barentz’s first real entrance into the Brazilian market.
The Argentinian National Commission of Foods (CONAL) has approved Beneo’s functional carbohydrate, Palatinose (isomaltulose), for use in all food and drink categories in the country.
Cost-effective formulations are a must in Latin America where the majority of end consumers still have a limited disposable income and are seeking out low-cost products, says Ingredion.
The company, which supplies plant-based sweeteners, flavors, and botanicals, has set up a new sales, marketing and technical team to support its rapid expansion in Latin America and globally.
Brazil must shift its organic strengths towards secondary production, the animal sector and functional ingredients if it wants to secure a brighter future, says the executive director of Organics Brasil.
Mexico’s Federal Commission for Protection Against Health Risks (COFEPRIS), led by Julio Sánchez y Tepoz, has approved SweeGen's next-generation Reb M sweetener for use in food and beverage categories already approved for steviol glycosides.
