Vitamin D3 Explained: Real Food vs. Synthetic Vitamins (And Why Your Label Matters)

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Vitamin D3 is often called the “sunshine vitamin,” but many people still fall short, even with fortified foods or supplements. You might think a glass of milk or a daily capsule is enough, yet gaps remain. This matters because vitamin D3 supports your bones, muscles, and immune system. It also shows up on labels that confuse many consumers and product developers alike.

In this blog, we will unpack what vitamin D3 is, where it comes from in real food, how synthetic versions differ, and why clean-label, food-based solutions are becoming a must for modern brands. You will also learn how to read labels like a pro and make formulation choices that your customers can trust.

What Is Vitamin D3 and Why It Matters

Vitamin D3, or cholecalciferol, is more than a vitamin. It acts like a prohormone. Your body makes it when your skin is exposed to UVB sunlight. Once metabolized, it helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus, keeping bones strong and muscles functioning properly. It also plays a role in normal immune function.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in many populations. The recommended daily intake is 600–800 International Units (IU) for most adults, and older adults often need more. Understanding what vitamin D3 is matters for you as a consumer or a product developer. Labels that say “natural vitamin D3” or “vitamin D from food” are not just marketing; they signal quality and transparency.

Vitamin D3 From Food and Common Dietary Gaps

Getting enough vitamin D from food alone is tricky. Most foods barely have a small amount, so it is easy to fall short. 

  • Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, or sardines pack more vitamin D, and cod liver oil is another classic source.
  • Egg yolks, certain meats, and dairy help too, but they rarely fill the gap completely.
  • For plant-based diets, the options are slowly growing. UV-exposed mushrooms, some biofortified foods, and vegan D3 from lichen can help bridge the gap.
  • Fortified foods like milk, plant-based milks, juices, and cereals play a role as well, yet even then, most people do not reach their target.

That is why smart fortification or careful supplement design matters. It is not just numbers. It is about making nutrition work in the real world.

Natural Vitamin D3 vs Synthetic: What Those Labels Really Mean

Natural vitamin D3 usually comes from food sources, such as lichen or mushrooms, with minimal processing. Synthetic vitamin D3 is chemically produced from precursor compounds.

Research shows D3 generally raises blood levels more effectively than D2. When comparing natural versus synthetic D3, the difference in clinical outcomes is subtle. Many consumers, however, care about the source. “Nutrients created by nature, not the lab” resonate more than chemical names on a label.

Seeing “from lichen” on a vegan supplement can signal a more natural option. Labels matter not only for compliance but for building trust with our customers. A simple source statement can speak volumes.

Why Food-Based Vitamin D Matters for Clean Labels

Whole vegetables, including beetroot, broccoli, mushrooms, ginger, tomatoes, and leafy greens, arranged on a dark surface.

Today, shoppers want ingredients they recognize. Short lists, plant-based nutrients, and non-GMO sources are no longer optional. Food-based vitamin D checks all those boxes.

When derived from fruits, vegetables, or fungi, it delivers nutrients without synthetic isolates. NutriFusion’s GrandFusion blends help stabilize naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D from plant-based sources. No synthetics. No additives. That means you can enhance nutrition while keeping your label credible and straightforward.

Safety and quality expectations matter in formulation. NutriFusion supports manufacturers with GrandFusion blends designed for clean-label fortification across food, beverage, nutraceutical, and pet applications. Manufacturers gain confidence when a clean-label replacement avoids recipe overhauls while maintaining nutritional value. Small changes can make a meaningful impact.

How to Read Vitamin D Claims on Ingredient Labels

Reading vitamin D labels can feel like decoding a secret. IU, micrograms, D2, and D3. If you are staring at a bottle wondering what it all means, let’s simplify it.

Understand Units, Forms, and Daily Values

IU stands for International Units. One IU equals 0.025 micrograms. Percent Daily Value shows how much a serving contributes to your Daily Value. D3 is often associated with more substantial increases in vitamin D status, though some plant-based products use D2 or vegan D3. Think of it like pouring milk into a cup. You want the right amount, not too little or too much.

Spot Real Food vs Synthetic Vitamin D

Source matters. “From lanolin” typically signals an animal-derived source. “From lichen” or “from shiitake mushrooms” can signal plant-based sourcing. Phrases like “no synthetics” or “nutrients created by nature, not the lab” can support transparency. A glance at the back-of-pack often tells you more than the front label alone.

Next time you shop, it helps to look beyond the numbers. Focus on sources you recognize and labels you can trust. That can make the decision more straightforward.

Formulating With Plant-Based Vitamin D: A Roadmap for Food, Beverage, and Supplement Brands

Vitamin D presents challenges. Off-tastes, stability issues, overages, and performance through heat, freezing, or processing can complicate product development.

GrandFusion blends simplify this. We can incorporate GrandFusion plant-based nutrient blends into foods, beverages, and nutraceutical formats with minimal sensory impact, supporting clean-label fortification with fewer texture or taste concerns. They are heat-stable and can help maintain mouthfeel, making formulations easier to manage.

Plant-based vitamin D is available in many formats: nutraceutical capsules, drink mixes, yogurts, frozen meals, kids’ snacks, and pet formulas. Using food-based D3 can help keep labels recognizable and straightforward. Clean-label nutrition is not a fad. It is a competitive advantage.

Build Trust With Real Food Vitamin D3

NutriFusion mushroom powder in a wooden bowl with a scoop, shown alongside dried mushrooms.

People care about the source, not just how much is in it. If your labels say your vitamin D comes from actual foods like fruits, veggies, or mushrooms, people will trust you more. If you mix that with easy-to-read labels and clear dosing info, your brand will gain fans and keep them.

We can add NutriFusion® GrandFusion® blends, which are non-GMO, plant-based, and made without synthetics. The result is products that meet modern expectations for nutrition and integrity.

We have seen how this approach can strengthen customer loyalty. When people know where their nutrients come from, they feel confident choosing your products. GrandFusion® blends make it easier to deliver plant-based, non-GMO vitamin D without synthetics in foods, beverages, supplements, and pet products. Working with solutions built for clean labels helps manufacturers align with clean-label trends while offering nutrients people recognize and trust.

Explore NutriFusion®’s GrandFusion® 6 Nutrient Vegetable Blend 50 (NF-2770) to deliver plant-based vitamin D with labels customers can trust.

 

NutriFusion

NutriFusion develops all‐natural fruit and vegetable powders that are nutrient-dense, for when you do not have access to fresh produce, and even when you do, to improve your vitamin intake. Sourcing only whole, non-GMO foods, NutriFusion offers consumers a concentrated micronutrient and phytonutrient-rich food ingredient blend. With a farm-to-table philosophy, NutriFusion’s proprietary process stabilizes the nutrients from perishable fruits and vegetables, allowing a longer shelf life and access to vital nutrients.

NutriFusion fruit and/or vegetable powders are for use in foods, beverages, supplements, and pet foods. NutriFusion can help! Visit us at www.nutrifusion.com.

 

 

References

  1. National Institutes of Health. 2025. Vitamin D — Health Professional Fact Sheet. Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
  2. PubMed. 2012. “Vitamin D3 Is More Effective Than Vitamin D2 in Raising Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels.” PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22552031/
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2025. GRAS Notice GRN 690: Fruit and Vegetable Vitamin Extract. https://www.fda.gov/files/food/published/GRAS-Notice-GRN-690-Fruit-and-vegetable-vitamin-extract.pdf

Are Frozen Fruits Healthy? The Truth About Fruit Powders in Your Smoothies and Snacks

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A smoothie we all love typically features bright berries, perfectly cubed mango, and fresh greens. Now consider what goes into most smoothies and snack formulations. Frozen fruit. Freeze-dried inclusions. Fruit powders. That contrast leads many people to pause and ask: Are frozen fruits healthy?

If you develop food, beverage, or nutrition products, you hear this question often. Your customers want real fruit nutrition. You need ingredients that scale, last, and fit clean-label expectations. So let’s take a closer look at the facts.

In this blog, we will examine the nutritional value of frozen fruit, the benefits of freeze-dried fruit, and the real role of fruit powders in smoothies and snacks. We will also share how whole-food ingredient solutions can help you deliver transparent, plant-based nutrition in modern formats.

What People Really Mean by “Are Frozen Fruits Healthy?”

Most people are not questioning frozen fruit itself, but rather how its nutritional value changes after processing. Frozen fruit is typically harvested at peak ripeness. It is washed, prepared, and frozen shortly after harvest. This quick process helps preserve vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.

Research consistently shows that frozen fruit can deliver nutritional value similar to that of fresh fruit. In some cases, however, it performs better than fresh produce that spends extended time in transport or storage. That said, not all nutrients behave the same way. Some vitamins, such as vitamin C, are sensitive to oxygen and time. That is why storage conditions matter.

So the honest answer is not a simple yes or no. Frozen fruit is a healthy option when sourcing, handling, and formulation choices are managed well.

Myth #1: Frozen Fruit Is Less Nutritious Than Fresh

Fresh fruit feels more natural. Frozen fruit feels processed. So you assume fresh is better.

Fresh fruit can seem like the better choice, but the evidence is more balanced. Frozen fruit is usually harvested at peak ripeness and frozen soon after, which helps retain nutrients.

Fresh fruit may spend days in transit and storage, and some nutrients decline over time. In most cases, frozen and fresh fruit offer comparable nutrition. Fiber stays intact, supporting fullness and digestion.

The real concern is not freezing. It is what may be added. Sugary syrups and sweetened blends can shift the nutritional profile. The takeaway is simple. Plain frozen fruit is a strong option when the ingredient list stays clean.

Myth #2: Fruit Powders Are Just Sugar, Not Real Fruit

NutriFusion fruit powders beside bowls with berries and fresh figs on a blue surface.

Fruit powders are often grouped together, which can cause confusion. High-quality fruit powders begin with real fruit. The fruit is dried, water is removed, and then it is milled into powder. This concentrates nutrients, creating real advantages for manufacturers.

These powders are shelf-stable, easy to store, and simple to dose. Small amounts can deliver vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds in smoothies, bars, and ready-to-mix drinks.

What matters most is transparency. Some powders lose fiber and can be calorie-dense on a weight basis. Pure fruit powders are very different from blends bulked up with sugar, maltodextrin, flavors, or fillers. Those additions are what give fruit powders a bad reputation.

Freeze-Dried Fruit Benefits and Practical Tradeoffs

Freeze-dried fruit sits between fresh, frozen, and powdered options. The fruit is frozen, then vacuum-dried to remove water while preserving its structure. This process retains much of the original vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. It also delivers a long shelf life without the use of preservatives.

The result is bold flavor and a light, crunchy texture. That is why brands use it in snacks, cereal toppings, and premium smoothies.

There are trade-offs. Freeze-dried fruit costs more than frozen or powdered forms. Without water, sugars concentrate, so portions matter. Many brands blend formats. Freeze-dried fruit adds texture, powders support nutritional goals, and frozen fruit provides volume.

Fruit Powder vs Fresh Fruit in Product Formulation

This comparison often arises in formulation discussions, but it oversimplifies the issue. Fresh fruit excels at providing water, volume, and a familiar eating experience. It supports satiety, looks appealing on the pack, and signals freshness to shoppers.

Fruit powders solve different problems. They are shelf-stable, easy to store, and simple to dose with precision. That makes them easier to work with at scale, especially when seasonality or supply variability is a concern.

They also perform where fresh fruit struggles. Think bars, baked snacks, dry blends, and ready-to-mix beverages. So this is not a choice between fresh fruit and fruit powders. It is about using each format where it makes the most sense. 

How Fruit Powders Are Used in Smoothies and Snacks

Fruit powders support convenience and nutrition in product development, for smoothies and ready-to-mix (RTM) beverages. Powders eliminate peeling, washing, and fruit waste. They provide consistent flavor, color, and nutrient content, making production smoother and more reliable.

For snack bars, bites, or fruit-leather-style products, fruit powders can:

  • Reduce some added sugar while delivering natural sweetness.
  • Add vibrant color and fruit flavor with minimal added processing.
  • Deliver vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in small, manageable amounts.

Powders made from whole fruits and vegetables make clean labels clearer. You can say “made from real fruits and vegetables,” not just “natural flavors.” NutriFusion® GrandFusion® blends support nutrient-dense, shelf-stable smoothies, bars, and snacks with transparent ingredient lists.

Ingredient Transparency in Frozen and Fruit Powder Choices

When it comes to frozen, freeze-dried, or powdered fruit, transparency is more than a buzzword. It is how you build trust with your customers. For frozen fruits, the simplest label often tells the biggest story:

  • Single-ingredient: Strawberries” or “Mango,” without added syrups or sweeteners.
  • Origin and handling: Determine whether the fruit is ready-to-eat or intended for cooking.

Freeze-dried fruits deserve similar attention:

  • Check for 100% fruit without oils, sugars, or other additives.
  • Be mindful of portion sizes. Removing water makes them more calorie- and sugar-dense on a per-gram basis.

For fruit powders and blends:

  • Confirm they are truly derived from whole fruits and vegetables.
  • Avoid fillers, carriers, or synthetic vitamins.

Clear labels and simple ingredient lists make it easier to position fruit powders credibly. Statements such as “made with real fruit,” “plant-based nutrients,” and “non-GMO” can help brands communicate quality, transparency, and nutrition to consumers.

How NutriFusion Supports Whole-Fruit Nutrition at Scale

At NutriFusion, we source high-quality fruits and vegetables and turn them into nutrient-dense powders. GrandFusion blends make it easy to add whole-food fruit nutrition to smoothies, RTM beverages, bars, and better-for-you snacks while preserving flavor and key nutrients.

Example blends:

  • 6 Nutrient Fruit Blend (NF-2771): Orange, banana, papaya, and shiitake mushroom.
  • 6 & 12 Nutrient Fruit and Vegetable Blends (NF-2769, NF-2782): Spinach, broccoli, carrot, sweet potato, apple, strawberry, and seeds.

Each 450 mg serving can provide 100% of the Daily Value for key vitamins, with no synthetic additives.

NutriFusion 6 Nutrient Blend Fruits whole fruit powder supporting smoothies snacks and clean label nutrition

6 Nutrient Fruit Blend | NF-2771

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NutriFusion 6 Nutrient Blend Fruits Vegetables plant based fruit and veggie powder for balanced nutrition

6 Nutrient Fruit & Vegetable Blend | NF-2769

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NutriFusion 12 Nutrient Blend Fruit Vegetables nutrient dense whole food powder for smoothies and snacks

12 Nutrient Fruit & Vegetable Blend | NF-2782

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Turn Frozen Fruit Myths Into Real-Food Innovation 

Frozen fruit mix showing strawberries, mango slices, used in GrandFusion blends.

Frozen fruit myths confuse brands and shoppers alike. The truth is simple. Plain frozen and freeze-dried fruits retain most of their vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fruit powders made from whole fruit can help carry that nutrition into shelf-stable products like smoothies, bars, and snacks.

For brands, the goal is not to choose between formats. It is using the right mix to deliver clear labels and real nutrition. That is where NutriFusion GrandFusion blends fit, making it easy to add whole-food, plant-based nutrition to smoothies, RTM mixes, bars, and better-for-you snacks while supporting taste and functionality.

Turn frozen fruit questions into confident labels with NutriFusion® GrandFusion® blends in smoothies and snacks.

 

NutriFusion

NutriFusion develops all‐natural fruit and vegetable powders that are nutrient-dense, for when you do not have access to fresh produce, and even when you do, to improve your vitamin intake. Sourcing only whole, non-GMO foods, NutriFusion offers consumers a concentrated micronutrient and phytonutrient-rich food ingredient blend. With a farm-to-table philosophy, NutriFusion’s proprietary process stabilizes the nutrients from perishable fruits and vegetables, allowing a longer shelf life and access to vital nutrients.

NutriFusion fruit and/or vegetable powders are for use in foods, beverages, supplements, and pet foods. NutriFusion can help! Visit us at www.nutrifusion.com.

 

References

  1. Food to Live. n.d. “The Difference Between Fruit Powders and Fresh Fruit.” https://foodtolive.com/healthy-blog/the-difference-between-fruit-powders-and-fresh-fruit/
  2. Healthline Editorial Team. n.d. “Dried Fruit: Good or Bad?” Healthline.https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dried-fruit-good-or-bad
  3. Shreeji Foods. n.d. “Difference Between Fruit Powder and Fresh Fruits.” Shreeji Foods Blog. https://shreejifoods.in/blogs/articles/difference-between-fruits-powder-and-fresh-fruits

Real Foods vs. Processed: How Clean Label Ingredients Are Changing the Game

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On a crowded retail shelf, shoppers often compare two similar products. One carries a long list of additives, preservatives, and synthetic nutrient sources. The other highlights “100% real foods,” “plant-based sources of nutrients,” and “no GMOs,” and that is the one that goes into the cart.

Manufacturers see these choices every day while still needing products that are safe, scalable, and convenient. In this blog, we’ll look at what separates real foods from processed foods, how clean label expectations are reshaping formulations, and how plant-based, non-GMO NutriFusion real food-derived nutrient systems support product performance and long-term nutritional health.

Real Foods vs. Processed: What’s the Difference

Real foods are whole or minimally processed edible parts of plants, animals, and fungi that retain their natural structure and nutrients. Think fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, eggs, unflavored dairy, nuts, seeds, and minimally processed meats. These real foods usually have short ingredient lists, often just one ingredient, and deliver higher-quality nutrition, including fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

Processed foods exist on a spectrum. Minimally processed options include washing, freezing, drying, fermenting, or pasteurizing to extend shelf life while preserving most of the original nutritional value. Ultra-processed foods, by contrast, are built from industrial formulations with refined ingredients, added sugars, unhealthy fats, salt, and multiple additives that resemble home-cooked food less and less.

Clean label ingredient systems now give manufacturers a way to rethink processed foods, so they behave more like real foods nutritionally and on the label, without abandoning processing entirely.

Why Real Foods Matter for Long-Term Health

Non-GMO fruits and vegetables showing real food sources for NutriFusion plant-based nutrient powders.

The real food movement is grounded in long-term health research rather than short-lived trends. Eating patterns rich in whole or minimally processed foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains have consistently been associated with lower risk of a range of chronic disease outcomes. By contrast, higher intakes of ultra-processed foods have been associated with increased risk of obesity and other adverse health outcomes in large population studies.

Processing is a vital part of making food safe, moving it through the supply chain, distributing it globally, and providing convenience. The problem occurs when food products combine low nutritional density with excess refined carbohydrates, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and large numbers of synthetic additives.

As formulators, we want to provide the advantages that come with processing food while maintaining the label-friendly attributes of real food ingredients. This means utilizing nutrient-dense, plant-forward design, easy-to-understand ingredient labels, and modern clean-label systems that use real foods to source nutritious blends.

Clean Label: Bringing Real Food Principles Into Processed Products

Although the term clean label is not legally defined, it is generally understood as products that are created with only natural ingredients, without added synthetic substances or artificial flavors, preservatives, or similar additives. Often, they meet the criteria of being non-GMO, plant-based, or sourced from organic ingredients.

The primary purpose of a clean label is transparency. To do this effectively, a clean label requires manufacturers to:

  • Use fewer ingredients on the ingredient panel.
  • Use simpler, more recognizable ingredients.
  • Utilize real food components such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, and whole grains.

Consumers associate clean label with trust, and that trust strongly influences purchasing decisions alongside other ethical and environmental values. Providing clean-label products consistently across a variety of manufactured goods is well supported by the use of plant-based nutrient ingredients and non-GMO, non-synthetic ingredients. Plant-based nutrients and non-GMO ingredients help fill this requirement. They allow us to use real food nutrients to make processed foods without affecting texture, flavor, process efficiency, or shelf life.

NutriFusion helps fulfill this role. Our business is based on providing manufacturers and brands access to a full range of nutrient systems derived directly from fruit and vegetable sources while maintaining both clean labeling and operational efficiency.

New Standards of Plant-Based Nutrients and Non-GMO Ingredients

Plant-based nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients (naturally occurring compounds in plants) have become a foundation for many modern formulations, which often favor them over purely synthetic fortification. Research across many populations associates plant-based nutrition with improved cardiometabolic markers, healthier weight management patterns, and reductions in key risk factors for cardiometabolic disease.

Alongside this shift toward plant-based nutrition is an increase in consumer demand for non-GMO ingredients. Many consumers view non-GMO ingredients as a proxy for safety, higher quality, and natural sourcing. In response, ingredient suppliers are increasingly promoting non-GMO, natural, minimally processed ingredients as part of clean label strategies.

The future of processed foods for manufacturers will utilize NutriFusion’s proprietary plant-based, non-GMO nutrient systems that provide a real-food experience while enhancing nutritional profiles. NutriFusion fruit and vegetable-based blends are creating opportunities for brands to improve their nutrition facts panels and ingredient lists by using ingredients that are as close to real food quality as possible.

NutriFusion’s Approach From Real Foods to Real Food Ingredients

Colorful fruits and vegetables showing whole-food ingredients used in NutriFusion nutrient blends.

At NutriFusion, we operate under a straightforward principle: real food and real food nutrition. Using only whole, non-GMO-sourced fruits and vegetables as our starting point, NutriFusion has developed concentrated blends that capture key vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients naturally found in fruits and vegetables.

All NutriFusion nutrient blends are 100% plant-based, providing plant-based nutrition for use in supplements, foods, beverages, and pet food. As a result, NutriFusion blends can be formulated without doubtful or unrecognizable ingredients.

NutriFusion’s GrandFusion nutrient blends for supplements provide several benefits to manufacturers, including:

  • Real fruits and vegetables provide 100% plant-based nutrition
  • Recognizable ingredients that support clean ingredient statements
  • No synthetic additives or preservatives
  • Low sensory impact to help maintain taste and texture
  • High potency, with 450 milligrams providing 100% of the daily value of key nutrients
  • Heat stability, formulated to withstand high heat and other demanding manufacturing processes while helping preserve nutrient levels
  • Potential for improved shelf life from the natural antioxidants in NutriFusion blends

NutriFusion’s GrandFusion blends enable manufacturers to use processing to deliver real food nutrition in processed products such as snacks, drinks, cereals, snack bars, supplements, and pet food while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.

R&D Guide to Apply Real-Food, Clean-Label Ingredients in Processed Foods

We recommend a structured approach to integrating real food nutrition into processed categories through your research and development, formulation, and innovation teams as follows:

  1. Identify what “real food” means for your brand. Is your target plant-forward, non-GMO, nutrition derived from fruits and vegetables, or transparency for families? This will guide which ingredients you select, which claims you make, and how you communicate them.
  2. Review your products. Evaluate existing formulations to see where the use of synthetic vitamins, artificial colors, artificial flavors, and long ingredient lists detracts from your opportunity to achieve a clean label.
  3. Change to plant nutrient systems. NutriFusion’s GrandFusion products consolidate vitamins and phytonutrients from fruits and vegetables into one powdered ingredient, eliminating duplicate SKUs and improving overall ease of use. Additionally, they can significantly improve the clarity and readability of the label.
  4. Build for performance during processing. Select ingredients that will withstand the rigors of high heat, extrusion, baking, pasteurization, and extended shelf life. GrandFusion’s products are formulated to withstand robust manufacturing conditions and support long shelf life while helping preserve nutritional value.
  5. Communicate benefits in clear, compliant, legible language, such as vitamins from fruits and vegetables, plant-based nutrients, made with non-GMO ingredients, no synthetics, and simple ingredients.

This approach helps enhance consumer trust while supporting regulatory compliance.

Building the Future of Processed Foods With Real Food Nutrition

The distinction between whole foods and processed foods will continue to shape how people think about what they eat. With the use of clean label ingredients, plant-based nutrients from fruits and vegetables, and non-GMO ingredient systems, manufacturers can help shift perceptions of processed food toward options that better align with how consumers eat today and what they expect from real foods.

As an innovator, we at NutriFusion® support that transformation. Using GrandFusion® fruit- and vegetable-derived nutrient blends, food and beverage manufacturers can enhance the nutritional content and label quality of products ranging from snack items to baked goods, beverages, cereals, supplements, pet food, and more, helping to avoid costly reformulation and sensory trade-offs.

Explore NutriFusion® Whole-Food Nutrient Blends to power your next clean label launch.

 

NutriFusion

NutriFusion develops all‐natural fruit and vegetable powders that are nutrient-dense, for when you do not have access to fresh produce, and even when you do, to improve your vitamin intake. Sourcing only whole, non-GMO foods, NutriFusion offers consumers a concentrated micronutrient and phytonutrient-rich food ingredient blend. With a farm-to-table philosophy, NutriFusion’s proprietary process stabilizes the nutrients from perishable fruits and vegetables, allowing a longer shelf life and access to vital nutrients.

NutriFusion fruit and/or vegetable powders are for use in foods, beverages, supplements, and pet foods. NutriFusion can help! Visit us at www.nutrifusion.com.

 

 

References

  1. The Guardian. 2025. “Ultra-Processed Food Linked to Harm in Every Major Human Organ, Study Finds.” The Guardian, November 18. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/18/ultra-processed-food-linked-to-harm-in-every-major-human-organ-study-finds .
  2. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 2025. “Processed Foods and Health.” The Nutrition Source. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/processed-foods/ .
  3. Fang, Z., et al. 2024. “Association of ultra-processed food consumption with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: results from prospective cohort studies.” BMJ 385: e078476. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-078476.
  4. Scrinis, G., and D. Monteiro. 2025. “Towards unified global action on ultra-processed foods.” The Lancet (Comment/Series). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01567-3.
  5. Harvard Health Publishing. 2023. “Clean Eating: The Good and the Bad.” Harvard Health Blog, April 14. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/clean-eating-the-good-and-the-bad .
  6. Meticulous Research. 2025. Clean Label Ingredients Market – Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2025–2032). Industry report. https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/clean-label-ingredients-market-5588
  7. FoodChain ID. 2024. Clean-Label Trends: A Global Perspective. White paper. https://www.foodchainid.com/resources/clean-label-trends-a-global-perspective/

Vegetable Powder 101: Clean-Label Nutrition for Food and Drink Manufacturers

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Clean-label and plant-forward demand is reshaping how food and drink manufacturers think about formulation. Vegetable powders have moved from niche ingredients to core tools for product innovation, now showing up in savory sauces, soups, smoothies, snack bars, and ready-to-drink beverages. They let teams add meaningful nutrition without the logistics of fresh produce or the consumer concerns that surround synthetic ingredients.

In this blog, we will explain how vegetable powder and fruit powder work, outline the market forces that push their sales upward, plus show how plain vegetable powders, plain fruit powders, and blends that contain both vegetables but also fruit help developers build the next wave of better-for-you foods.

Vegetable Powder Basics: What It Is and How It’s Made

Vegetable powder is made by dehydrating vegetables and milling them into a fine, shelf-stable ingredient. Producers use hot-air drying, spray drying, freeze drying, or other dehydration technologies to remove most of the water. Fruit powder follows a similar process and often begins with juices, purees, or whole fruit that are gently dried to maintain color, flavor, and key nutrients.

For manufacturers, these powders offer practical advantages. They are compact and easy to transport. They hold a long shelf life and help reduce waste when compared with fresh produce. Their concentrated format supports consistent dosing across dry mixes, liquid systems, and extruded foods, which helps streamline blending and quality control.

NutriFusion sources first-grade fruits and vegetables and converts them into powders that retain meaningful levels of micronutrients and phytonutrients for use in food, beverage, supplement, and pet food applications.

Market and Consumer Drivers for Vegetable and Fruit Powders

There is significant growth momentum within the global fruit and vegetable powder sector. By 2025, the global fruit and vegetable powder market is projected to be valued at more than US $19 billion, with steady growth expected through 2032. Vegetable powder ingredients alone are projected to reach roughly US $3.6 to $5.8 billion between 2025 and 2032, supported by an expected growth rate of 7% or higher. 

Consumer behavior is a central force behind this momentum. Many shoppers prefer natural, plant-based ingredients that support overall wellness. Busy lifestyles encourage interest in convenient, shelf-stable nutrition.

Sustainability concerns also guide consumers toward value-added uses of the harvest, which include powders that help reduce waste. For manufacturers, these powders offer a scalable path to meet these expectations without relying solely on synthetic fortification.

Clean-Label Nutrition: Why Powders Fit Food and Drink Formulations

NutriFusion vegetable juice and smoothie displayed with fresh produce on a shelf.

Clean-label now shapes how many consumers evaluate foods and drinks. They look for short ingredient lists, recognizable components, limited artificial inputs, and clarity about where ingredients come from and how they are processed.

Vegetable powder and fruit powder fit these expectations well. They can replace or complement synthetic vitamin premixes with real food ingredients that contribute natural color, flavor, and measurable nutrition in a single line item. When used at appropriate inclusion levels and in line with regulations, they may also support on-pack statements such as “with vitamins from fruits and vegetables.”

Our GrandFusion vegetable blends, fruit blends, and combined fruit and vegetable blends are plant-based, non-GMO, and contain no synthetic additives or preservatives. We help R&D teams strengthen the nutrition panel while keeping the ingredient deck clean and familiar.

Where Vegetable and Fruit Powders Can Add Value

Vegetable and fruit powder now appears across many core food and beverage categories. In beverages, they support solid drink mixes, smoothies, juices, and ready-to-drink formats, helping keep flavor and color close to fresh produce while avoiding pulp separation and cold-chain pressure.

In bakery and snack items such as cakes, biscuits, breads, bars, and extruded snacks, powders contribute appealing color, aroma, taste, and added nutrition in a format that is easy to scale. Sauces, soups, ready meals, and baby foods use vegetable powder as a concentrated, easy-to-dose base that supports consistent formulation.

Our GrandFusion blends are used in similar ways in plant-based meats, baked goods, pasta, cereal, yogurt, frozen foods, nutrition bars, and topical seasonings, giving R&D teams a clear path to integrate vegetable blends and fruit blends into familiar products.

Inside NutriFusion Vegetable and Fruit Powder Blends

A single glass of NutriFusion green vegetable smoothie positioned between fresh vegetables.

We develop partnerships with manufacturers and provide products built around targeted ingredient systems that deliver nutrition and help solve formulation challenges. Our proprietary method for stabilizing our products allows us to give the manufacturers powdered forms of the vitamins and minerals contained in whole foods, while helping to preserve the bioavailability associated with those foods.

Through our GrandFusion product line, we provide custom, targeted solutions for a variety of nutritional and application goals, including:

  • 6 Nutrient Vegetable Blend (NF-2770): Based on spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, and other vegetable sources, this blend can be used in savory foods or when a fruit-forward flavor is not preferred.
  • 6 Nutrient Fruit Blend (NF-2771): Made from oranges, bananas, papaya, and other fruits, this blend offers a complementary fruit flavor and is ideal for use in sweet food applications.
  • Comprehensive Fruit & Vegetable Blends: Our 6-Nutrient, 12-Nutrient, and 21-Nutrient blends offer a variety of vitamins and minerals derived from actual foods by combining fruits and vegetables.

In order to guarantee that every product development project has a useful, clean-label ingredient to satisfy the needs of its target consumers, we also offer specialized solutions for particular needs, such as B-complex vegetable blends and pet food blends.

R&D Considerations for Clean-Label Vegetable Powders

R&D teams that work with vegetable powder or vegetable blends need a clear framework before moving into pilot runs. Key questions include:

  • Nutritional Target: Which vitamins and minerals should the product deliver, and at what percent daily value for your positioning, whether everyday wellness, active lifestyles, or family nutrition?
  • Processing Conditions: How will baking, extrusion, pasteurization, shear, or low pH affect nutrient retention? GrandFusion powders are engineered to tolerate typical manufacturing without heavy overages.
  • Sensory Impact: Will the blend keep taste, texture, and mouthfeel consistent in established SKUs and delicate flavors?
  • Shelf Life and Stability: Can fruit and vegetable powders help support product stability and a two-year or longer shelf life through inherent antioxidants?

At NutriFusion, we work with R&D teams to tune fruit blends, vegetable blends, and combined systems so that formulation, label claims, and clean-label goals stay aligned.

Turn Vegetable Powders Into Your Next Clean-Label Advantage

Vegetable powders have seen major growth as the market shifts toward healthier foods that emphasize credible, convenient ingredients. This creates a strong opportunity for food manufacturers to develop products that reflect consumer interests and position traditional processed foods as a source of real nutrition.

GrandFusion® offers you a straightforward way to attain this benefit. Our collection of vegetable blends, fruit blends, and combined fruit and vegetable blends offers you a dependable, clean-label ingredient source with minimal unnecessary processing.

Adding one of our clean-label blended ingredients to your next formulation can provide benefits such as elevating your nutrition label, streamlining your ingredient statement, and preserving the taste and feel of your product that your consumers love.

Explore NutriFusion®’s GrandFusion® Nutrient blends to turn clean-label vegetable powders into your next product advantage.

 

NutriFusion

NutriFusion develops all‐natural fruit and vegetable powders that are nutrient-dense, for when you do not have access to fresh produce, and even when you do, to improve your vitamin intake. Sourcing only whole, non-GMO foods, NutriFusion offers consumers a concentrated micronutrient and phytonutrient-rich food ingredient blend. With a farm-to-table philosophy, NutriFusion’s proprietary process stabilizes the nutrients from perishable fruits and vegetables, allowing a longer shelf life and access to vital nutrients.

NutriFusion fruit and/or vegetable powders are for use in foods, beverages, supplements, and pet foods. NutriFusion can help! Visit us at www.nutrifusion.com.

 

 

References

  1. SolutionBuggy. 2024. “A Detailed Guide for Launching Your Fruit and Vegetable Powder Business.” SolutionBuggy Blog, April 5. Retrieved December 8, 2025 (https://www.solutionbuggy.com/blog/fruit-and-vegetable-powder-manufacturing-business).
  2. Persistence Market Research. 2025. “Fruit And Vegetable Powder Market Size And Trends.” Press release, September 2. Retrieved December 8, 2025 (https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/press-release/fruit-and-vegetable-powder-market-size-and-trends.asp).
  3. Fact.MR. 2024. “Fruit and Vegetable Powder Market Outlook (2024 to 2034).” Industry report. Retrieved December 8, 2025 (https://www.factmr.com/report/fruit-and-vegetable-powder-market).

Fitaky. 2022. “Market of Fruit Powder.” News, Fitaky.com. Retrieved December 8, 2025 (https://www.fitaky.com/news/fruit-juice-powder.html).

Inside Nutraceuticals: How Plant-Based Nutrition Is Shaping the Future of Food and Beverage

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The modern grocery store now features a wide range of nutraceutical products, from protein waters and energy shots to botanical gummies and fortified, shelf-stable plant-based beverages.

This shift reflects rising demand for nutraceuticals and functional foods, as consumers look for convenient ways to support health through everyday choices. At the same time, manufacturers must balance innovation with regulatory compliance, clean label expectations, and real nutritional value.

In this blog, we’ll define nutraceuticals, examine plant-based functional food ingredients, review key regulatory and clean label considerations, and show how NutriFusion blends support next-generation food and beverage development.

What Are Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods?

Nutraceuticals are products made from natural food sources, usually in more concentrated forms (extracts or formulations), which are created to support health and wellness beyond the typical benefits of basic nutrition. Nutraceuticals are available in many different forms (capsules, powders, drinks, and fortified foods), and are marketed as solutions to particular nutritional requirements. Research indicates that nutraceuticals are unique products that fill the gap between conventional nutrition and supplements. However, there is a wide variance in regulatory definitions of nutraceuticals.

Functional foods are a type of food that offers a variety of health benefits. Functional foods include whole foods that are naturally high in bioactive compounds, as well as foods that have been engineered to contain additional ingredients (such as plant sterols, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins) in order to promote certain health objectives. Examples of functional foods range from common fortified cereal products to complex, innovative products such as ready-to-drink functional beverages containing bioactive ingredients.

Since there is no single definition for these two terms, producers should use a disciplined approach to claims, formulation, and transparency. NutriFusion provides fruit and vegetable blends that are rich in phytonutrients and micronutrients to be used as functional ingredients by manufacturers’ research and development teams in the creation of supplements, beverages, foods, pet food, and fortified products.

Why Plant-Based Nutraceuticals Are Surging

As a leading segment of the world’s nutraceuticals industry, plant-based nutraceuticals are shaped by a variety of global macro trends influencing this fast-growing area of product development.

According to a quantitative data report, the majority of consumers continue to show interest in using food to support a healthy lifestyle, and they are looking for foods they can trust as “real,” backed by certified ingredients that meet their expectations of quality. As a result, there has been an increase in the availability and demand for new plant-based functional food ingredients such as botanicals, prebiotics, probiotics, proteins, and other bioactive constituents, many of which are derived from plants.

As more consumers pursue dietary lifestyles such as veganism or flexitarianism, or seek to avoid certain allergens, food manufacturers are forming partnerships to create products made from fruits, vegetables, botanicals, and other plant-based ingredients. In addition, research also shows a steady upward trend in plant-forward product innovations that extend from beverages and snack bars to supplements and dairy alternatives.

NutriFusion directly participates in this overall trend toward plant-based foods with GrandFusion blends, nutrient-dense, plant-based powders from fruits and vegetables that are formulated to be bioactive, bioavailable, and ideal for delivering clean-label nutrients in nutraceutical applications.

How Plant-Based Nutraceuticals Are Reshaping Food and Beverage

NutriFusion fruit smoothie being held beside fresh berries and greens showcasing plant-based nutrition.

The application of plant-based nutraceuticals is expanding into many new mainstream product categories beyond just pills and powders. A growing number of products created using plant-based nutraceutical concepts can be found in the following categories:

  • Functional Beverages: Enhanced waters, refrigerated juices, ready-to-drink teas, and milk products (dairy and plant-based) fortified with vitamins, minerals, fibers, and botanicals.
  • Better-for-you Snacks and Cereals: Products with antioxidants, plant-based proteins, micronutrients, and fiber.
  • Hybrid Supplement Formats: Gummies, shots, chews, gels, drink mixes, and squeeze pouches, all of which bridge supplements and food products.

These new formats have become more user-friendly and increasingly credible in the eyes of consumers. NutriFusion has invested in plant-based nutrient solutions for foods, beverages, nutraceuticals, and pet nutrition to meet the demand for a wide variety of product formats. 

Through work with supplement and nutraceutical brands, NutriFusion’s GrandFusion blends are used in capsules, gummies, powders, drink mixes, tablets, and liquid applications, all of which leverage the same concentrated nutrients sourced from fruits and vegetables.

Functional Food Ingredients: From Concept to Toolkit

Functional food ingredients are bioactive components that provide additional benefits beyond basic macro- and micronutrient content. Some researchers identify examples such as plant proteins, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and probiotics, among others. Each of these ingredients may be associated with specific physiological benefits.

Rather than creating products consisting of single “hero” compounds, many nutraceutical brands now use combinations of micronutrients and phytonutrients together with supportive matrices such as healthy fats and dietary fiber. This production strategy may help improve overall product performance while also enhancing consumer confidence.

Our work at NutriFusion has evolved along these lines. The GrandFusion 6, 12, and 21 nutrient blends, which include B-complex nutrients and formulations specifically designed for pets, have been developed to deliver concentrated fruit- and vegetable-derived vitamins that support versatile, broad applications. In addition, the GrandFusion blends are designed to endure the rigors of manufacturing, remain stable through processing, and can provide a meaningful percentage of the Daily Value in small dosages.

As the flavor and performance characteristics of food and beverages are critical, our R&D teams have specifically formulated our ingredients to minimize the impact on taste and functionality. Micronutrient systems based on plant sources are no longer occasional additions to product formulations. R&D teams now treat plant-derived micronutrient systems as part of their standard toolkit, just as they would protein solutions or prebiotic fibers. The ability to utilize these formulations allows brands to produce food products that comply with clean-label requirements while providing high-quality nutrition.

Clean Label Nutrients and Consumer Trust

The clean label movement is reshaping the nutraceuticals market, with multiple consumer research studies showing that consumers want:

  • Short ingredient lists that are easy to understand.
  • Ingredients they are familiar with and can recognize at first glance.
  • Very few or no artificial additives.
  • Clear and precise information about the sourcing and processing of the ingredients.

These changing attitudes toward nutraceuticals and functional foods are leading many manufacturers to shift away from synthetic additives and preservatives toward naturally occurring antioxidants, bioactive plant materials, and nutrient systems that qualify as clean-label nutrients.

At NutriFusion, we have designed our GrandFusion blends to meet these consumer expectations by providing our customers with:

  • Nutrients that come from plants.
  • No synthetics, artificial additives, or preservatives.
  • Non-GMO whole food sources.
  • Simple ingredient statements made only from fruits and vegetables.

The GrandFusion product line improves both the nutrition facts panel and the ingredient deck, allowing manufacturers to create clean-label products that meet the expectations of today’s consumers. Clean label nutrients are no longer just “nice to have”; they are increasingly viewed as “must-have” for manufacturers that want to lead their categories in the future.

R&D Roadmap for Next-Generation Plant-Based Nutraceuticals

NutriFusion R&D team member showing fresh microgreens and fruits used to illustrate plant-based nutrition.

For R&D teams working with nutraceuticals, the first step is to define a clear benefit platform, such as energy and focus, immune support, healthy aging, or everyday wellness, and to ground it in credible evidence rather than disease-treatment promises. R&D teams then select functional food ingredients and clean-label nutrients that match this platform, favoring whole-food-derived vitamin systems, fibers, and other plant-based bioactives.

The next stage focuses on stability and sensory performance, looking at processing conditions, overages, and interactions with other ingredients. Labels and claims should align with regulatory guidance and internal risk tolerance, using transparent, consumer-friendly language.

NutriFusion supports this roadmap through GrandFusion blends and custom R&D collaboration that help brands integrate plant-based nutraceuticals efficiently into new and existing SKUs. This approach helps turn plant-based nutraceuticals into scalable, clean-label nutrition systems.

Partnering to Build the Future of Plant-Based Nutraceuticals

NutriFusion® focuses on whole-food, plant-based nutrient blends for clean-label nutraceutical products and highlights ingredients supported by published scientific evidence and regulatory documentation.

NutriFusion® provides manufacturers with the tools they need to improve nutritional content and increase the marketability of their food, beverage, supplement, and pet products while remaining consistent with a non-GMO, plant-based, and synthetic-free philosophy.

Explore NutriFusion®’s Supplements & Nutraceuticals Solutions to bring real plant-based nutrition into your next product.

 

NutriFusion

NutriFusion develops all‐natural fruit and vegetable powders that are nutrient-dense, for when you do not have access to fresh produce, and even when you do, to improve your vitamin intake. Sourcing only whole, non-GMO foods, NutriFusion offers consumers a concentrated micronutrient and phytonutrient-rich food ingredient blend. With a farm-to-table philosophy, NutriFusion’s proprietary process stabilizes the nutrients from perishable fruits and vegetables, allowing a longer shelf life and access to vital nutrients.

NutriFusion fruit and/or vegetable powders are for use in foods, beverages, supplements, and pet foods. NutriFusion can help! Visit us at www.nutrifusion.com.

 

 

References

  1. Chauhan, Kanika, and Alka Rao. 2024. “Clean-Label Alternatives for Food Preservation: An Emerging Trend.” Heliyon 10(16):e35815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35815.
  2. Cencic, Avrelija, and Walter Chingwaru. 2010. “The Role of Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals, and Food Supplements in Intestinal Health.” Nutrients 2(6):611–625. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu2060611.
  3. Fekete, Mónika, Andrea Lehoczki, Agata Kryczyk-Poprawa, Virág Zábó, János Tamás Varga, Madarász Bálint, Vince Fazekas-Pongor, Tamás Csípő, Elżbieta Rząsa-Duran, and Péter Varga. 2025. “Functional Foods in Modern Nutrition Science: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Public Health Implications.” Nutrients 17(13):2153. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132153. 
  4. Innova Market Insights. 2025. “Functional Ingredients Trends: Global Market Overview.” Innova Market Insights (Report), August 10. Retrieved December 8, 2025 (https://www.innovamarketinsights.com/trends/functional-ingredients-trends-global-market-overview/).
  5. Kalsec, Inc. n.d. “Discover the Power and Benefits of Clean Label Food Preservation.” Kalsec website. Retrieved December 8, 2025 (https://www.kalsec.com/natural-food-protection/insights/clean-label-food-preservation). 
  6. McClements, Isobelle Farrell, and David Julian McClements. 2023. “Designing Healthier Plant-Based Foods: Fortification, Digestion, and Bioavailability.” Food Research International 169:112853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112853. 
  7. Pandey, Ashish, Fozia Kamran, Manisha Choudhury, Li Li, Mohammad Shafiur Rahman, and Malik Altaf Hussain. 2025. “Omega-3 Fatty Acid Fortification of Plant-Based Beverages to Enhance Their Nutritional Profile.” Foods 14(9):1602. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14091602.
  8. Vignesh, Arumugam, Thomas Cheeran Amal, Ariyan Sarvalingam, and Krishnan Vasanth. 2024. “A Review on the Influence of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods on Health.” Food Chemistry Advances 5:100749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2024.100749.

Superfood Science: How Real Fruits and Vegetables Are Redefining Processed Foods

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Superfood is one of the new buzzwords currently populating everything from cereals and granola bars to snack packs and beyond. With an emphasis on health, the term “superfood” has created confusion for consumers.

Does “superfood” mean something, or is “superfood” just a marketing term? How can brands use the phrase “superfood” responsibly while navigating stricter regulations and a consumer shift away from ultra-processed foods?

In this blog, we will explain what superfood means, what makes some claims legitimate, and how the new generation of processed foods created through the use of plant-based nutrient powders can support superfood health benefits and overall nutrition.

What Are Superfoods?

The term “superfood” has no formal scientific or regulatory definition. In most cases, it signals that a food offers meaningful health benefits and delivers a high level of nutrients within a relatively low-calorie profile. In everyday use, the idea of a superfood usually points to whole, mostly plant-based foods known for their nutrient density.

Common lists highlight familiar categories such as berries, leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fermented foods. At NutriFusion, we share the view that the truly “super” qualities of fruits and vegetables come from the natural matrix of bioavailable nutrients found in real produce.

It is also important to remember that no single food creates overall wellness. Lasting benefits come from eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

The Science Behind Superfood Health Benefits

Superfood marketing is based more on science than on publicity. Despite the fact that the term is frequently used in marketing, many foods that are marketed as superfoods actually contain high concentrations of important nutrients.

Nutrient Density and Bioactive Compounds

NutriFusion whole-food nutrition is showcased in a vibrant bowl of fresh berries and citrus fruits.

People often group superfoods together because they are whole foods that are very nutritious. Many of them have important vitamins like A, C, and E, as well as minerals like iron and potassium. They also contain bioactive compounds like polyphenols and flavonoids that may help neutralize free radicals.

Research suggests these foods may support anti-inflammatory pathways and contribute to gut and metabolic health through fiber and, in some cases, healthy fats. What sets them apart is the natural bioavailability of these nutrients when consumed in their whole-food form.

Evidence vs. Marketing Hype

Nutrition experts agree that the term superfood is largely a marketing label, and many claims attached to it are overstated. The European Union even limits the use of the word on packaging unless a health claim is supported by evidence, which reflects growing regulatory caution.

Most of the benefits linked to superfoods come from diets that regularly include a broad range of fruits and vegetables rather than a single high-profile ingredient. For manufacturers, the real opportunity is to rely on plant-based nutrients supported by science instead of leaning on hype.

Why Superfoods Matter in a Processed Food World

Ultra-processed foods make up a significant share of the modern diet and often supply calories without the micronutrients people need. This gap is one reason the idea of superfoods continues to resonate. Consumers want convenient products that still support everyday health goals such as steady energy, immune support, and long-term wellness.

Manufacturers feel the pressure to meet these expectations while staying within clean label standards and providing evidence-backed information that satisfies regulators and informed shoppers. This tension creates a clear opening for innovation. When processed foods are formulated with concentrated nutrients from fruits and vegetables, they can deliver meaningful improvements in nutritional quality instead of relying on marketing language alone.

How Real Fruits and Vegetables Upgrade Processed Foods

A vibrant bowl of beans, avocado, and fresh vegetables that shows NutriFusion's whole-food nutrition.

Manufacturers can bring superfood functionality into packaged foods and beverages without compromising taste, texture, or shelf life by using advanced whole food-derived ingredient technologies.

NutriFusion’s powdered superfood ingredients are made from high-quality fruits and vegetables and processed through a proprietary stabilization method that helps preserve vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Hence, they remain stable and useful in finished products.

GrandFusion blends reflect this functional approach. These powdered fruit and vegetable ingredients can elevate the nutritional profile of foods, beverages, supplements, and pet foods while supporting clean label expectations. For example, a snack can gain additional nutrients and antioxidants, and a beverage can include real-food vitamins and minerals in a convenient, shelf-stable format. Because GrandFusion does not affect taste, flavor, or texture, manufacturers can improve nutrition without costly reformulations.

Practical Directions for Food, Beverage, Supplement, and Pet Food R&D

R&D teams often begin by defining the superfood story they want their product to communicate. This could emphasize plant-based nutrition, antioxidant support, or a direct connection to actual fruits and vegetables. Teams can choose the best NutriFusion’s GrandFusion blends, which range from 6, 12, and 21 nutrient profiles to B complex and pet-focused options, after that objective is established.

Planning for formulation should take into consideration:

  • Thermal stability: GrandFusion blends are designed to withstand baking and extrusion. 
  • Impact of flavor and color to guarantee that the finished product fits the desired sensory profile.
  • Regulations to verify that claims that are compliant are supported by additional nutrients.

NutriFusion also provides custom superfood powder blends that allow teams to select specific fruits, vegetables, and micronutrient compositions for targeted product development.

Turning Superfood Science Into Real Food Nutrition

There is enormous marketing power associated with the term superfood. Still, the future of superfoods will ultimately be driven by science. Superfoods have no magical ingredient that provides the real value; rather, the real value in superfoods comes from consuming a wide variety of fruits and vegetables that have been proven to provide documented levels of bioavailable nutrition.

Brands in the food, beverage, supplement, and pet industries that want to be at the forefront of food innovation need to take an approach that goes beyond the hype of traditional superfoods and develop the next generation of processed foods based on clean-label plant-based nutrient systems.

NutriFusion® has been created to provide the framework for taking the cutting-edge science of superfoods and converting it into real, marketable products, providing honest-to-goodness nutrition to people all over the world.

Explore NutriFusion® Custom Superfood Powder Blends to upgrade your products with clean, concentrated nutrition.

NutriFusion

NutriFusion develops all‐natural fruit and vegetable powders that are nutrient-dense, for when you do not have access to fresh produce, and even when you do, to improve your vitamin intake. Sourcing only whole, non-GMO foods, NutriFusion offers consumers a concentrated micronutrient and phytonutrient-rich food ingredient blend. With a farm-to-table philosophy, NutriFusion’s proprietary process stabilizes the nutrients from perishable fruits and vegetables, allowing a longer shelf life and access to vital nutrients.

NutriFusion fruit and/or vegetable powders are for use in foods, beverages, supplements, and pet foods. NutriFusion can help! Visit us at www.nutrifusion.com.

 

References

  1. Hill A. 16 Superfoods That Are Worthy of the Title. Healthline. Published October 30, 2023. Accessed February 2025. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/true-superfoods
  2. Ware M. Superfoods: Health benefits, uses, and risks. Medical News Today. Published January 7, 2019. Accessed February 2025. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/303079
  3. Cobos Á, Díaz O. “‘Superfoods’: Reliability of the information for consumers available on the web.” Foods. 2023;12(3):546. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/3/546

Vitamin K2 in Foods: The Powerful Micronutrient Most People Overlook

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We often talk about calcium and vitamin D, but the nutrient that directs where calcium ultimately goes, vitamin K2, is usually overlooked. Emerging research indicates that K2 may support strong bones and flexible blood vessels, yet many diets provide too little of it, particularly as processed and plant-based eating patterns increase.

In this blog, we’ll explain what vitamin K2 is, highlight which foods provide it, clarify why natural vitamin K matters in formulation, and outline how we at NutriFusion support manufacturers with plant-based vitamins from whole food sources.

Vitamin K2 101: The “Other” Vitamin K Most People Ignore

Even though vitamin K appears on most nutrition labels, its different forms are not always explained clearly. That is why many people understand K1 but have never heard of K2, even though the two forms play very different roles in the body. Before we explore food sources or potential benefits, it is helpful to clarify what sets vitamin K2 apart.

Vitamin K is a family of vitamins, not just one.

  • Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) is found in leafy greens and is essential for blood clotting.
  • Vitamin K2 (menaquinones), including MK-4 and MK-7, is found in fermented and animal foods and is associated with calcium regulation and long-term tissue health.

At NutriFusion, we note that plant-based K1 from greens is readily accessible and safe for consumption, and the body can convert some of it into K2 when needed, which makes it valuable in clean-label formulations.

Still, most consumers never see “vitamin K2” on labels, because nutrition panels simply list vitamin K, which can make the different roles of each form less clear. Brands that clearly communicate their real food vitamin sources can gain a meaningful transparency advantage.

How Vitamin K2 Helps Bones Stay Strong, and Arteries Stay Flexible

Once we understand what vitamin K2 is, the next step is looking at how it functions in the body. K2 plays a behind-the-scenes role that directly affects two major areas of long-term health: bone density and cardiovascular function. Its role in supporting calcium distribution is one reason K2 is so essential and often overlooked.

How K2 Supports Bone Mineralization

K2 helps activate osteocalcin, a protein involved in binding calcium to bone. When K2 works with vitamin D and calcium, it may help support bone mineralization and long-term bone strength.

How K2 Supports Arterial Flexibility

K2 also helps activate matrix Gla protein (MGP), which is associated with maintaining healthy arterial flexibility and limiting unwanted calcium buildup.

Despite these important functions, K2 is often overshadowed by nutrients like calcium or vitamin D. For brands developing functional foods, considering whole-food patterns of K, D, and other vitamins supports more comprehensive, evidence-informed nutrition strategies.

Where Vitamin K2 Shows Up on the Plate

Fermented natto beans displayed as a vitamin K2-rich ingredient.

Knowing the importance of vitamin K2 naturally raises the question of where it appears in everyday foods. Unlike K1, which appears widely in leafy greens, K2 is concentrated in only a handful of foods. That limited distribution is one of the main reasons many modern diets fall short.

Fermented Foods

Fermented foods offer some of the highest concentrations of vitamin K2 available. Their nutrient density makes them valuable for formulators who want real food sources of essential vitamins.

  • Natto (top source of MK-7)
  • Aged cheeses
  • Sauerkraut

These foods pack strong nutrition and strong flavors, which may limit their popularity.

Dairy and Eggs

Cheese, yogurt, butter, and egg yolks contain modest amounts of K2, along with calcium and protein. These are widely consumed but vary in fat and sodium, so balance matters.

Meats and Organ Foods

Beef liver and certain cuts contain K2. But as people shift toward plant-based eating, these foods are eaten less often, which may contribute to lower K2 intake. This is where whole food vitamin K solutions, including plant-based K1, can become valuable tools for manufacturers.

With only a handful of foods providing meaningful amounts of K2, brands have a strong opportunity to improve product nutrition by turning to whole food vitamin ingredients that support clean-label goals.

Why Vitamin K2 Is Easy to Miss in Modern Diets

K2-rich foods such as organ meats or natto are not common in many modern diets, particularly within Western or plant-forward eating patterns.

Ultra-processed foods generally provide little natural vitamin K unless they are fortified. Leafy greens that supply K1 are more common, although the body’s conversion of K1 to K2 varies among individuals.

This pattern can create a nutritional gap that manufacturers can address with clean-label, whole-food vitamin blends from NutriFusion, which help support natural vitamin intake without synthetics.

Natural Vitamin K vs. Synthetic Fortification: What R&D Teams Need to Know

For manufacturers formulating better-for-you products, vitamin K brings a unique challenge. It can be added synthetically, or it can come from whole food, plant-based sources, and consumers increasingly care about the difference. Understanding these two approaches is essential for brands aiming for clean label credibility.

Food formulators typically rely on two vitamin K pathways:

1. Synthetic Vitamin Additives

Manufacturers often compare different sourcing options when building a nutritional profile. Understanding how synthetic additions behave in finished products helps set clear expectations.

  • Chemically isolated vitamin compounds
  • Functionally useful but less aligned with clean label preferences

These additives remain common in many formulations, yet they do not always match evolving consumer expectations for natural and transparent nutrition.

2. Whole-Food, Plant-Based Vitamins

Formulators looking for a cleaner ingredient statement often explore natural vitamin sources. Whole food ingredients offer an approach that connects product performance with label transparency.

  • Delivered through fruit and vegetable concentrates such as GrandFusion®
  • Support clean label and no synthetics goals
  • Allow labels that highlight recognizable ingredients like spinach or broccoli

This approach gives manufacturers a way to strengthen nutritional profiles while keeping ingredient lists familiar and consistent with clean label priorities.

Even though natural K2 sources are mostly animal-based, developers can strengthen vitamin K profiles with plant-derived K1, which the body may convert to K2 as needed, supporting both nutritional goals and consumer expectations.

How NutriFusion Delivers Plant-Based Vitamin K From Whole Foods

A bowl of vibrant green kale powder resting on fresh kale leaves, shown as a NutriFusion whole food ingredient.

NutriFusion® develops GrandFusion® nutrient blends made entirely from whole fruits and vegetables.

  • The 12 Essential Vitamins Blend (NF-2782) provides about 50% of the daily value of vitamin K1, along with vitamins A as beta carotene, C, D2, E, and several B vitamins, in a single 225 mg serving made from ingredients such as spinach, broccoli, carrot, and sweet potato.
  • The 21 Vitamin & Mineral Blend (NF-82333) provides 100% of the daily value of vitamin K1 along with a broad panel of vitamins and minerals in a blend made from plant-based ingredients such as broccoli, spinach, kale, pumpkin, sweet potato, and other botanicals.

These blends help manufacturers deliver a real food nutrition story grounded in transparency, clean label principles, and whole plant ingredients.

From Overlooked Micronutrient to Clean-Label Advantage With NutriFusion

Vitamin K2 may not receive as much attention as other well-known nutrients, yet its role in supporting bone and heart health makes it increasingly relevant for modern product development. As consumers look for nutrient-rich and synthetic-free foods, K2 and plant-based vitamin solutions create a meaningful path for brands that want to deliver real food nutrition.

Using GrandFusion® plant-based blends gives manufacturers a practical way to support products positioned for bone and cardiovascular health by incorporating key vitamins such as K1, D2, and other essential nutrients from whole fruits and vegetables. These blends also make it easier to meet clean label expectations with no synthetics while maintaining ingredient transparency. By relying on real food sources, manufacturers can strengthen trust with consumers seeking authenticity.

If you are exploring ways to build more nutrient-dense products, our Custom Superfood Powder Blends can help you create targeted vitamin solutions using real fruit and vegetable ingredients.

NutriFusion

NutriFusion develops all‐natural fruit and vegetable powders that are nutrient-dense for when you do not have access to fresh produce…and even when you do, to improve your vitamin intake. Sourcing only whole, non-GMO foods, NutriFusion offers consumers a concentrated micronutrient and phytonutrient-rich food ingredient blend. With a farm-to-table philosophy, NutriFusion’s proprietary process stabilizes the nutrients from perishable fruits and vegetables, allowing a longer shelf life and access to vital nutrients.

NutriFusion fruit and/or vegetable powders are for use in foods, beverages, supplements, and pet foods. NutriFusion can help! Visit us at www.nutrifusion.com.

 

 

References

  1. WebMD. Foods High in Vitamin K2. https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-vitamin-k2