Wellness Foods - December 2007 - (Page 16)

cupuaçu, currants, elderflower, flavonoids, garcinia, goji, guanabana, hibiscus, content of the carotenoids beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. Indicative of the attraction the little rosecolored berries from Asia have is St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Inc.’s (www.anheuser-busch.com) new energy drink, 180 Red with Goji. It’s described as having a “slightly sweet cherry taste balanced with subtle tartness.” The berries also are becoming popular additions to cereals and bars. Mangosteen in juice form was one of the big emerging superfruits of 2006/2007, in part thanks to companies such as Adam’s 100% Inc. (www. mangosteens.com), San Francisco, and Xango LLC. (www.xango.com), Lehi, Utah. Xango began marketing the juice of the Southeast Asian fruit a few years ago as a supplement. The fruit’s deep burgundy rind and ivory-colored, lychee-like pulp is rich in xanthone antioxidants. Research shows xanthones may maintain intestinal health, strengthen the immune system, help support cartilage and joint function and protect the respiratory system. Superfruits have traditionally found their most popular application in beverages. PHOTO: Earthly Delights Inc. continued action in what it terms “Amazonia” – products and ingredients sourced from Brazil and the rainforest. For example, launches of foods containing açai and cupuaçu grew by over 70 percent in the first half of 2007, according to the research group. In fact, as many açai and cupuaçu beverages were introduced in the first half of 2007 as in all of 2006. Açai, the exotic Amazon palm berry that was the top-trend ingredient of 2006, spent last year popping up in multiple products, especially food (as opposed to bars and beverages). “We introduced North Americans to açai seven years ago, offering açai in a frozen pulp pack and as a powdered supplement to the natural foods industry,” says Laura Leinweber, director of communications of Sambazon (www.sambazon.com), San Clemente, Calif. “A year and a half ago we entered conventional grocery stores and are now offering product lines of açai in organic bottled juices, sorbets and smoothies.” The ingredient also is appearing in instant oatmeal formulations and RTE cereals. Goji, reported as an up-and-coming trend last spring (see “Healthy Out West,” www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2007/079.html) is still moving forward. Beverage processors are taking advantage of goji’s antioxidant profile, specifically its high Strange Fruit Two big South American superfruits coming up are acerola and camu camu. Acerola was popular as a supplement a generation ago. The sour, bright-red cherrylike fruit is an excellent source of vitamin C. It’s just now making a comeback as a beverage ingredient and could break big in 2008 or later. Camu camu is another vitamin C bonanza – in fact, the reddish-purple fruit has more C per gram than any other fruit. It also provides amino acids, beta-carotene, iron, niacin, phosphorous, riboflavin and thiamine. Camu camu’s ability to balance the nutrition profile of some formulations makes it a serious contender for future Top Superfruit. Ingredient suppliers are combing the rainforests, steppes and other exotic locales to find the next generation of trendy ingredients. Companies such as Earthfruits (www.earthfruits.com), South Jordan, Utah; Blue California (www.bluecal-ingredients.com), Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.; PL Thomas (www.plthomas.com), Morristown, N.J.; Fona International Inc. (www.fona.com), Geneva, Ill.; and NP Nutra (www.npnutra.com), Hawthorne, Calif., offer such exotics as dragonfruit, cupuaçu, rambutan, camu camu and yuzu in addition to the current crop of hot exotics such as the now ubiquitous pomegranate and açai. Special Thanks The top trend-tracking and resource groups were on hand again this year to help Wellness Foods magazine parse the growth and changes in healthful foods and beverage trends for the past year. Contributing generously to this issue were, in alphabetical order: Datamonitor USA (www.datamonitor. com), New York; Innova Market Insights (www.innova-food. com), Duiven, Netherlands; the International Food Information Council (www.ific.org), Washington; and Mintel International Group Ltd. (www.mintel.com), Chicago. Domestic Bliss Since 1984, many studies connected cranberries to health benefits ranging from cholesterol 16 | December 2007 www.wellnessfoodsonline.com Food Processing’s Wellness Foods™ http://www.anheuser-busch.com http://www.mangosteens.com http://www.mangosteens.com http://www.xango.com http://www.sambazon.com http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2007/079.html http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2007/079.html http://www.earthfruits.com http://www.bluecal-ingredients.com http://www.bluecal-ingredients.com http://www.plthomas.com http://www.fona.com http://www.npnutra.com http://www.datamonitor.com http://www.innova-food.com http://www.datamonitor.com http://www.innova-food.com http://www.ific.org http://www.mintel.com http://www.wellnessfoodsonline.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Wellness Foods - December 2007

Wellness Foods - December 2007 Well Noted Healthbites New Ingredient Profiles Wellness Trends in 2008 On the Shelf Expert Opinion

Wellness Foods - December 2007

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