One of the world's favorite flavors, vanilla originates from Mexico, and the vanilla produced there has its own aromatic profile with balanced vanillin, chocolate and spice notes, according to supplier Zanilli.
'What we're wrestling with is whether CBD is an ingredient play, or something huge brands can be built around'
The fact that CBD is not a legal ingredient in foods and supplements - at least not yet - did not deter scores of exhibitors at Expo West, who added it to everything from soda to protein bars (absent any claims), with some opting for isolates, but most...
Latin American consumers want to buy better, safer food and companies need to react, according to R&D company AINIA. 'The dual forces of consumer awareness and legislation are evolving the market,' says its director of international projects.
Dairy giant Grupo Lala will market and distribute Blue Diamond Growers' almond milk alternatives in Mexico, a strategic deal it says will help it target premium-minded consumers.
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.
Chile is on a drive to increase investment and innovation by offering tax breaks for research and development (R&D) in any sector. “Chile is the natural laboratory for companies who want to see how the market responds to a product," says InvestChile
Chile's Gelymar is developing a "completely new" range of apple fiber products and making seaweed sourcing more sustainable. "Natural, unique and sustainable are the three pillars that will dominate the future hydrocolloid industry,"...
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.
Brazil's beverage market has been declining for the past three years, according to Kantar Worldpanel. "The market in Brazil is significant, complex and experiencing challenging times. However, there are opportunities to grow," it says.
The caramel and fruity notes of sapote make it ideal for both creamy dairy and acidic beverage applications, and can help manufacturers appeal to Latin American consumers, says supplier Aromatech.
Brazilians are hungry for meat-free foods with the taste and texture of meat - and quinoa patties won't cut it anymore, says the Good Food Institute (GFI). It shares advice for new product development and marketing strategies for plant-based products.
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",...
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.
Natural Habitats is one of the world's biggest producers of certified organic palm oil, and almost all its supplies are grown in Ecuador. We caught up with its sustainability director to find out more.
Brazilians are confused about which food and drink is good for gut health - but this is an opportunity for manufacturers to offer premium solutions, according to health consultancy New Nutrition Business. 'Focus on value rather than volume,'...
Argentinian start-up The Food Market is an e-commerce platform for local and regional brands, giving producers "an unthinkable growth opportunity" and consumers the chance to buy "honest, transparent" brands.
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?
Danone has given its Argentinean yogurt brand La Serenísima a sustainable packaging revamp to make it easier to recycle. “We have the opportunity to be the first yogurt in Argentina to speak about the circular economy," it says.
Appearing in Mexican street food, Argentinian coffee shops and Brazilian chocolate, hibiscus flavors are conquering the Latin American continent in categories as diverse as beverages, confectionery and dairy. We spoke to supplier Firmenich to find out...
From Chobani's new coconut-based range of spoonable and drinkable products to US food tech firm JUST aiming to take its plant-based product, JUST Egg, into China, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s a round-up of the top seven global...
From the continued growth of the organic category in the US to Roquette's optimism around plant-based milk for pea protein and regulatory developments to watch in APAC, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s a round-up of the top seven...
Internationally recognized academic experts are calling for Brazil to adopt the warning sign system pioneered by neighboring Chile, and not traffic light labels favored by many industry groups.
Latin America and the Caribbean face many social, economic and environmental issues, all of which must be addressed collectively by regional stakeholders, including food and beverage manufacturers, says the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United...
Becoming Latin America's most valuable brand – like Corona achieved in 2018 – is no easy feat, but there are five consumer-driven attributes that are key to such success, says Kantar Consulting.
From the stevia specialist PureCircle looking to move beyond sweeteners to Nestlé’s new Institute of Packaging Science and Cargill’s big Asian food system mega-trends to watch, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s a round-up of the top...
Brazil will soon hand power over to president-elect Bolsonaro and food and beverage manufacturers must be ready to 'act quickly' to any impending change, says a LATAM consulting expert.
Consumers across Latin America care greatly about environmental issues and a high percentage expect corporate engagement and will forfeit non-environmentally friendly brands, particularly in Colombia, finds Nielsen.
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.
There may be deficiencies in hygiene procedures during the production and storage of cheese in Brazil, with a new study finding viral and bacterial contamination of fresh and ripened semi-hard cheeses.
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...
Researchers have developed biodegradable active food packaging and suggest native Mexican plant extracts, traditionally used medicinally, could be incorporated as alternative antimicrobial agents.
From Cargill and DSM teaming up on high-potency sweeteners to China’s booming yogurt 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 get you updated!
From Kellogg's new joyböl smoothie bowls for "deskfast" to Novozyme's strong performance over nine months and what you should know about China's cross-border e-commerce sector, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s...
PepsiCo Latin America is 'dead serious' about its drive to reduce sodium, saturated fat and added sugars and is on track to achieve its 2025 global nutrition goals, the VP of Nutrition in LATAM says.
Dairy giant FrieslandCampina Ingredients is aiming to capitalize more effectively on the growing demand for high-quality ingredients in Latin America with its new new sales office in São Paulo, Brazil.
Using commercial salt replacers such as Salona (ICL Brazil) may help reduce the sodium content in Prato cheese by 35% without affecting the sensory aspects of the product, says a new study from Brazil.
Soft fresh cheese from concentrated milk may be a “great protective matrices” for Bifidobacterium BB-12, according to a new study that found the bacteria survived passage through a model gut system.
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.
The Colombian Secretary of State for Agriculture and Procurement (SEAB) has approved non-GMO Reb D sweetener derived from the stevia leaf for use as a tabletop sweetener and added to food and beverages.
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...
For the first time in 10 years, FMCG volume consumption across Latin America shrank by -0.1% in the second quarter of 2018, according to a new report from Kantar Worldpanel.
Retail giant Walmart has signed an agreement to acquire Mexico and Chile-based grocery delivery platform Cornershop in a move that should accelerate omni-channel growth in Latin America, its CEO says.
Amazon has made its first foray into Latin American food and beverage e-commerce with a dedicated platform in Mexico for non-perishables – a strategic move that makes sense but comes with challenges, say market experts.
