Petco to Stop Selling Pet Products with Artificial Ingredients

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Petco, one of the largest pet food retailers, has stated that they are no longer going to sell cat and dog food made with artificial ingredients. They have since announced that any items made with artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors will be pulled from their shelves. This came as a shock for many people who are used to buying pet food products with artificial ingredients, but it was not surprising to the millions of pet consumers demanding clean label ingredients for their furry friends.

New CEO, New Policies

This in part came about after the new CEO Ron Coughlin came into his new position back in June of 2018. He brought about this change to remind consumers what Petco’s primary objective is as a company.

They chose to do this based on their commitment to the wellbeing of pets. Petco wants for owners to treat their pets as family, and this includes the way that they eat. Beginning in the new year, over 50 different artificial ingredients will no longer be allowed in Petco’s stores. Petco wishes to have all artificially made products removed from their shelves before May of 2019.

Although this may seem like a substantial financial risk for the company, Petco’s CEO has since stated that it was the right thing to do. Their goal is to positively impact the lives of the animals we call our pets. This is more important than the potential financial blow that may follow after this move.

These changes will impact large companies such as Cat Chow and Pedigree. Petco has since stated that they are working with these companies to have them change the way they create their products and make the switch to a more natural alternative.

The only exception would be two specially branded cat foods meant to assist cats with a rare health issue. In some cases, there is not yet a natural alternative to the artificially made ingredient, which explains why it will be allowed to stay on shelves.

Petco is Leading the Way

This is a significant move on Petco’s part as other pet food retailers will probably begin to follow suit. It is safe to assume that companies that produce pet foods will also start to adopt new means of production that exclude artificial ingredients. This change will most likely negatively impact companies who have been producing artificial ingredients.

Petco maintains over 1,500 different locations and employs over 20,000 people. Their company has been known to put the wellbeing of animals over their desire for profit. In 2010, Petco launched a National Pet Food Bank to allow financially struggling owners to keep their pets and feed them properly.

Petco is a retailer that strives to continue serving animals and owners alike, with their primary goal of delivering positive experiences for pets and owners. This company has continued to serve the pet loving community for over 50 years.

This decision to pull artificial ingredients directly reflects their vision of healthier, happier pets across the world. Be expectant to see Petco continue to pursue changes that directly influence the pet food market, and that will ultimately ensure that more animals can live long, happy, healthy lives as our faithful companions.

Inspired by fortune.com

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FDA Bans 7 Artificial Flavoring Substances

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Many consumers are unaware that they are ingesting substances that are not good for them. These substances are usually written as “artificial flavors” on product labels.  Recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration released a list of seven artificial flavoring substances that are harmful to health. These flavorings include ethyl acrylate, benzophenone, eugenyl methyl ether (methyl eugenol), ethyl acrylate, mycrene, pyridine, and pulegone.

The Substances Were First Approved by the FDA

These synthetic substances might be foreign to ordinary consumers, but they were first approved by the FDA during the early 60s. These substances are used for a wide variety of purposes such as mimicking or enhancing natural flavors. They are used to impart the flavor of mint, cinnamon, and floral in ice cream, baked products, beer, candy, and chewing gum.

The flavoring industry and FDA mentions that there is no risk to the public when consuming these products as long as the quantity is small. But even if this is the case, there are a growing number of people who prefer not to eat or drink anything synthetic.

Natural Alternatives Needed for Artificial Flavoring

Many people are opting not to buy products that contain artificial flavoring or substances. As a result, food companies are looking for natural alternatives to flavor for food. Petitioning to ban these substances pose a significant risk to many food manufacturers. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association noted that the delisting of these substances confirms that there is a need for FDA to assess the actual risk instead of still following the 60-year old provision of the Delaney Clause.

The Delaney Clause was the statutory provision created by the FDA. In a nutshell, the provision strictly discourages the FDA from approving any food additives that can induce cancer to humans at any dose. And since the substances mentioned above did not reveal to cause cancer in the past, their use was continued until today.

Approving the Petition May be Difficult

While these substances may not be linked to inducing cancer, they can cause other health problems that are as concerning as cancer. However, FDA noted that approving the petition to ban these substances may not be that easy as the agency receives more than 200 petitions annually and it takes several weeks or more to evaluate and validate each.  But because of the public outcry including those from the institutions such as the Center for Food Safety, Center for Science and Public Interest, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, the FDA was forced to act.

The Implications

The implication of banning these substances is to push the manufacturers will likely be looking for natural substitutes and determining how they can change recipes using natural flavoring. But this might take a while, and many food manufacturers are asking for at least two years to be able to have a smoother transition in getting the job done. But on the bright side, switching to natural flavoring can draw in more consumers leading to a competitive boost for a variety of products.

Inspired by www.fooddive.com

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How Bitcoin Blockchain Technology is Transforming the Food Industry

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Bitcoin is one of the most well-known applications in the field of internet technology and computer science. It is not only used for purchasing items online, but individuals and institutions are utilizing this technology to transform the food industry. The Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative, a collective of small-scale livestock farmers in Arkansas, is using a supply chain tracking system called Provenance that is powered by blockchain technology to trace their products. This supply chain tracking system does not have anything to do with cryptocurrency, but it is using the powerful tracking mechanism of bitcoin to smoothen the co-op’s processes.

Provenance is a London-based company founded in 2013. Ever since the company was conceived, it has helped a lot of small-scale companies all over the European Union including fishermen, winemakers, and food manufacturers. It is no surprise that farm co-ops such as the Grass Roots Farmer’s Co-op is also using it to streamline their processes.

How Can Blockchain Technology Help Farm Coops

Many people think that blockchain is a shady technology but it is much more than cryptocurrency, its database is permanent once it is entered, making every transaction traceable when applied to consumer products. According to Jessi Baker, Ph.D. in computer science and founder of Provenance, small food companies who want to trace their products can use blockchain technology as a third-party verification so that they don’t have to undergo expensive auditing processes.

How It Helps Small Farm Co-ops

Blockchains can hold data that is immutable so changing information within the database is very hard to do. The information in the database is put directly in so that people who are involved in the transaction can see it. For instance, if a member of the farm co-op raises chicken for chicken legs, they can put the conditions the chicken was raised in as well as other pertinent information in the database and then delivers the information along the supply chain until the product is sold to the end-consumers.

 

Bitcoin & Blockchain Equals More Transparency

Aside from pertinent information about the product, other information such as certification of their products can also be entered into the database. This makes it easier for consumers to scrutinize the product and it gives people access to a paper trail for transparency. So, when you pick up a bag of apples at your local grocery store, you can scan a QR code on the package, so you can pull all the information that you need about the product that you want to buy.

 

Setting Expectations With Consumers

With elevated product transparency, the blockchain technology also sets expectations to consumers about the condition of the products that they have bought from start to finish. Consumers are guaranteed that they are buying certain products from quality sources. This prevents many food companies from making fraudulent and misleading claims. This increases the credibility of companies that are involved in using this technology. It is definitely a win-win solution for both food manufacturers and consumers.

Inspired by modernfarmer.com

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Greater Food Brand Loyalty is Linked to Food Transparency

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According to a retail food study, consumers showed a higher incidence of brand loyalty to food products that generate a deeper connection via transparency. As much as 75% of shoppers are more than ready to switch brands when confronted with a product that has a more detailed label. The new study shows that shoppers are getting more demanding when it comes to food transparency.

Inside the Report

The report was developed by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) with the purpose of outlining how shoppers define transparency and how it influences their food buying behavior. The report is known as The Transparency Imperative. According to the CMO, “We titled this report The Transparency Imperative because as we executed the research to bring the key findings of our 2016 studies current, we see clearly that transparency is only becoming more important to consumers.”

The paper looks deeply into the behavior and attitude within shoppers who are health-conscious as well as those who are digitally-active. It also looks into the response of consumers across different ages.

Targeting these varied consumer demographics, the study offers various and needed steps that brands should look into to further show their commitment to transparency; to track the ever-changing scenario of consumer preferences; to meet the ever-increasing expectations of food-buyers; to comprehend the exact needs of essential groups of buyers; and to transmit data over and beyond the list of ingredients.

The Results Show Brand Loyalty for Transparent Brands

 

As much as 86% of the correspondents agree that food retailers and manufacturers that provide a gateway to easily look-up their products’ ingredients definitions are easy to understand and complete—would lead to greater trust from them.

Further, a staggering 80% commented that they would definitely be more loyal to a brand that offers a significant amount of data on their products, more than what’s usually contained in the product label.

Lastly, more than half of the correspondents, 54% to be exact, would pay more for products with this included information.

Defining Transparency

According to Generation X and Baby Boomers, transparency is directly linked to nutritional information, ingredient descriptions, and a complete list of ingredients. Millennials, on the other hand, have a more detailed expectation when it came to transparency. Aside from what the older generations have listed, they are more likely to focus on fair trade and labor practices, animal welfare, descriptions of ingredient usage data, claims and certifications as well as allergen information.

Health-Conscious Shoppers Committed to Transparency

As much as half of the households in America have an individual who follows a health-related diet. Making these households more likely to put a significant importance on transparency. In fact, as much as 89% of shoppers are more likely not to buy a food product when the label is not sufficient to meet their needs.

Further, households that have children have an increased tendency to lean toward transparency. As much as 87% of these households use their smartphone while grocery shopping to check product information while in store.

All these findings point to advocating transparency by food brands can lead to better consumer relationships, brand loyalty and profits. Natural food brands should look for simple ingredients that help create a transparent, clean label. Learn more about GrandFusion fruit and vegetable powders to add real vitamins and minerals to your products.

Mintel Report: Pressed for Time? Mug Cakes for Breakfast!

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Mug cakes, you ask? As its name implies, these are single-serve cakes in a mug that’s baked in the microwave in a jiffy. So, you have a warm, homemade, and healthy breakfast in minutes which makes it one of the most favorable new breakfast trends.

This trend has been growing in popularity over the last couple of years due to delicious taste, convenience, and speedy preparation and cooking time. The product was designed for impulsive indulgence. There’s a lot of room for expansion when it comes to breakfast and baked goodies, which leads to the niche being carved by mug cakes as your breakfast treat.

The Success of Breakfast Biscuits

In Italy, consumption of biscuits is an all-time high which inspired Belvita to offer breakfast biscuits in 2010. It has taken the global market by storm and by far is one of the top product positionings of the decade.

By targeting their message on whole grain, energy release, and convenience, Belvita has made it more acceptable to eat biscuits for Breakfast. On the other end of the spectrum are breakfast cakes, which is a whole new frontier that has a lot of room for exploration where food brands can replicate the biscuits’ success.

 

Improving Health Insights

Just by using the word cake already connotes something unhealthy, which could be the reason behind why food brands are wary of dipping their toes in this market. However, there are ways to meet the demand for variety while not compromising the health of the consumer. This is where vegetable inclusions and flavors come in.

In fact, in a survey held in the UK, half of the buyers are interested in buying cakes other than the ones made from carrots. They want to see beetroot and courgette on their options for mug cakes. Another factor that food brands should look into is the sugar content of the cake, where nearly three-quarters of the consumers agree.

Food brands are also looking at NutriFusion fruit and vegetable blends to add to their mug cakes. The inclusion of these fruit and vegetable powders add essential vitamins without compromising the taste or texture of the end product. Companies are finding innovative ways to make “cake” so much better-for-you with GrandFusion fruit and vegetable nutrient blends.

Mug Cakes For The Most Important Meal of the Day

Time is a precious commodity in any household and people who have the time to spend preparing and making breakfast are lucky in today’s busy world. Breakfast meals that are tasty, nutritious, and fresh are the dream of today’s consumers.

When it comes to mug cakes, there are different levels of convenience to choose from, now isn’t that neat? Some products already include plastic cutlery which is geared towards consumption outside of the home. There are also mug cakes that come in a microwavable cup, and all you need to do is add water and cook it in the microwave. There are those that you need to put in a microwave-safe mug, perfect for people who are wary of plastics. And there are those that need a little bit of preparation by adding milk, water, or egg. Whatever suits your needs and wants, the variety of mug cake products on the shelf are wide. How will brands take advantage of this trend and stay with the better-for-you foods movement?

Inspired by www.mintel.com

Convenience Stores Now Offering Fresh, Better-For-You Foods

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Convenience stores are known to be dark, dusty, and laden with artificial food. But this stereotype is slowly changing as some upbeat convenience stores are offering fresh and healthy meals on the go. The Goods Mart in Los Angeles is setting an example of a new wave of convenience stores. As the brainchild of Rachel Krupa,  The Goods Mart is shaking up traditional models of convenience stores by offering healthy and high-end products from local brands.

Like 7-Eleven But With Better-For-You Foods

Just like the famous and conventional 7-Eleven, The Goods Mart offers a wide variety of products. The only difference is that the ingredients do not contain artificial colors and preservatives.  And while 7-Eleven provides its slushies and coffee self-service bar, The Goods Mart serves coffee and slushies from local companies with responsible practices. Companies like La Colombe and Kelvin Slush Co that help organic products.

But it is not only The Goods Mart that is picking up with the better-for-you foods trend. Another brand of a convenient store is Foxtrot. With five locations in Chicago, the store’s big driver is coffee, wine, and ice cream. It does not look like a convenience store but a  coffee shop. According to co-founder Mike LaVitola, Foxtrot started as an online delivery service for convenience store items like snacks, wine, and coffee. But the need for more organic and better-for-you convenience store items pushed the need for Foxtrot to open its very own brick and mortar stores.

 

Denver-based Choice Market, which opened recently, is banking on its organic bananas as its top seller. But aside from its bananas, it also has a robust made-to-order sandwich, salads, and smoothies. While 90% of the shelves are stocked up with fresh and healthy products, 10% of its shelves are still filled with traditional convenience store CPG brands like Coca-Cola.  Just looking at these three convenience stores, you can see society is embracing a new culture of better-for-you foods.

How The Trend Affects Local Consumers

Customers now have increased expectations of what convenience stores should feel and look like.  The popularity of this new wave of convenience stores is pushing for more competitors to enter the market. Foxtrot, for example, is planning to open more stores in a couple of months because of the high demand for such convenience stores. Other companies are emerging and following suit.

Gone will be the days when convenience stores are notorious for selling items that are artificial and unhealthy.  The new wave of convenience stores are not only inviting as they elevate the experience of their customers, but it also teaches people how to eat healthily. It gives everyone available better-for-you foods to make better choices.  Expect for more stores to open not only in Chicago and Denver but many other parts of the country too.

Inspired by www.newhope.com

How Food May Look in 20 Years

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Twenty years from now, our view on food will significantly change. Sugar will be considered the new cigarette, and we will probably live in a society where people eat fruits that are genetically modified. We will also be eating synthetic eggs and meats for all we know. The future of food might sound like it came from a sci-fi movie, but there is a huge possibility that it could happen.

The possible future of our food system is driven by our current food culture and our past. This may be our outlook for 2020 when it is 2040…A few decades ago, our farmers experienced an agricultural bottleneck caused by global warming that, in turn, affected the production of our food. Our livestock was plagued by diseases that severely compromised our food sources. Three-Fourths of the world’s food is derived only from 12 plants and five animal species. This means that we are eating the same food day in and day out – no diversity at all! And so, our food scientists reacted to food scarcity using a novel approach by growing meat in labs and implementing robotics in farms to increase productivity and food sustainability.

Farming Is Reinvented

Because of the high demands to produce food, traditional farmers have reinvented themselves to adapt to modern technology in growing, caring for, and harvesting their crops. The involvement of technology in agriculture has also paved the way for young farmers to join in. Around 70% of the young farmers are fresh out of college, and they refer to themselves as urban farmer-scientists. The young generation farmers are no longer planting crops the conventional way but are growing plants in containers or a hydroponic setup. The rise of the movement of the urban farmer-scientists bridges the gap between the citizens and their food source. This has the potential to solve the issue of the food desert.

On the other hand, the fields that were heavily cultivated in the past using traditional agricultural methods have been turned into sites for regenerative agriculture wherein the farmers can improve the quality of a once-depleted soil and use it to grow organic products. Obtaining the organic label does not only appease the growing demands for organic products, but it can also help combat climate change by sequestering carbon into the ground.

Transparency Is King

In today’s society wherein, we prefer too much personalization even in our food; transparency is the mainstream in many food manufacturers.  The focus on food security and climate change have led to many kinds of food police. Transparency allows consumers to determine the source of their food and monitor if the food was made using sustainable means. Transparency of our food labels also will enable consumers to analyze the health effects of the food products that we buy. This can be achieved by technological innovations such as a digital implant tattoo or an edible nanorobot to assess the benefits of the food we consume.

The future of food will become more complicated, but whatever our food researchers and scientists come up with, it will be for the benefit of everyone.

Inspired by www.fastcompany.com

Singapore Researchers Discovered Plant-Based Food Preservative

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Researchers from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore recently discovered a healthy plant-based food preservative that is more beneficial and effective than conventional preservatives. This natural preservative is made up of flavonoids – a group of phytonutrients found in all plants. The flavonoid combination developed by the researchers have strong antioxidant and anti-microbial properties that can inhibit the growth of bacteria thus keeping the food fresh for longer.

They tested the new preservative on meat and fruit juices and it has kept the food fresh for two days in the absence of refrigeration. Lead researcher Professor William Chen noted that the new preservative can provide a low-cost solution in preserving food. In fact, the team is in talks with companies to develop a new food preservative that is healthier compared with artificial preservatives. The findings of the study were published in the journal, Food Chemistry.

Understanding More About Flavonoids

Flavonoids are naturally-occurring compounds found in plants. The main function of flavonoids is to defend the plant against pests, herbivores, and pathogens. They also protect the plan against environmental stress. You can say that flavonoids are part of the plant’s immune system. But aside from protecting plants, they are also responsible for making your favorite fruits and vegetables colorful.

In nature, flavonoids do not have strong anti-microbial activities, but the researchers were able to create a flavonoid that has a stronger antimicrobial activity. They can be further processed via prenylation wherein additional hydrophobic molecules are added to the protein to facilitate cell attachment and increase its antimicrobial molecules. They achieved the stronger flavonoids by implanting the selected flavonoid of the plants into baker’s yeast to create the new plant-based preservative.  This process might sound complicated, but it is actually cheap and easy thus making the natural preservative a cost-effective alternative to artificial preservatives. Early studies also show that the natural plant-based preservative is more effective than artificial preservatives.

Growing Concern on The Use of Artificial Preservatives

There is a growing concern of using artificial preservatives in increasing the shelf-life of food. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a warning regarding the chemicals in food preservatives particularly the meat products. Meat products such as bacon and hot dogs contain nitrates and nitrates that can interfere with the thyroid hormone thereby affecting the metabolic processes in the body. These compounds can also cause problems with the metabolism as well as linked to cognitive decline.

The new natural preservative obtained from the flavonoids from yeast is brilliant. Many experts wouldn’t have thought that a natural preservative can be made with the help of yeast, which has been used in making beer and in manufacturing vaccines against hepatitis B.

The Future of The Natural Preservative

There is a huge potential for using the new natural preservative. Since there are no pieces of evidence that indicate the dangers of using the natural preservative, it has a huge potential within the food industry. Food industries can utilize this plant-based preservative to create healthier products that are safe to consume by everyone.

Inspired by www.eurekalert.org