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Fibers and sweeteners: Innovation beyond protein in plant-based ingredients

A growing interest in plant-derived fibers and sweeteners is transforming the food industry. In recent years, plant-based foods have taken the spotlight, largely driven by protein alternatives sourced from plants. However, a quieter revolution is brewing within the sector, shifting focus to the next frontier in plant-based ingredients: those that go beyond protein. As manufacturers seek healthier, sustainable, and more functional products, plant-based fibers and sweeteners are becoming essential components of modern formulations.
Young consumer eating plant-based burger.
Plant-based trends: Striking the balance between targeted nutrition and sensory appeal
The plant-based food market continues to grow at a rapid pace, as consumers seek healthier, more sustainable, and personalized nutrition. As these demands evolve, plant-based innovation is moving beyond meat mimicry and “one-size-fits-all” products to deliver solutions that target specific health benefits. Innova Market Insights highlights the plant-based sector’s shift toward nutritional value over imitation, with consumers globally increasingly favoring natural, clean label ingredients and functional benefits like gut health. Plant-based options are also increasingly found in familiar formats for convenient access to nutrition.
A person using GLP-1 medication on the beach.
Vitafoods Europe 2026: ProNutra Tec targets GLP-1 side effects with plant-based Vollagen
The GLP-1 weight loss drug category is reshaping how the F&B industry thinks about protein. As millions of consumers use GLP-1 receptor agonists to lose weight, research is pointing to a significant side effect — accelerated protein and collagen breakdown in the body. For F&B manufacturers building functional formulations for this growing consumer segment, ProNutra Tec is positioning Vollagen, a plant-based collagen alternative derived from non-GMO corn starch, as a solution.
TechnicalPaperCeamsa
CEAMFIBRE a gut-friendly fibre solution
What's else, besides CEAMFIBRE's mutifunctionality? Could a citrus fibre be gut friendly? CEAMSA investigated whether CEAMFIBRE®—a partially soluble citrus fibre—may exhibit potential prebiotic and satiating properties using in vitro colonic fermentation models and enteroendocrine cell assays. Read the full study to find out.This Technical Paper is brought to you by CEAMSA.
Coralie Garcia, ADM
ADM: Translating consumer behaviors into scalable flavor strategies

Coralie Garcia, senior flavor product marketing manager for EMEA at ADM, answers key questions on translating consumer emotions into flavor strategies, balancing sustainability with innovation, and the role of data in flavor development. Filmed at ADM’s Flavor Innovation Center in Berlin, Germany, the discussion offers valuable insights into the future of flavor across a diverse F&B market.

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Vitafoods Europe 2026 preview: Nutraceuticals, functional food & targeted wellness
At the Vitafoods Europe 2026 trade show (May 5–7), the nutraceutical industry will showcase its ingredients, functional foods, and new product applications for increasingly health-conscious consumers. In Barcelona, Spain, suppliers will gather to present the latest innovations in gut health, longevity, women’s health, beauty-from-within, sports nutrition, pet care, and metabolic health. Exhibitors are set to highlight proteins, postbiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, botanicals, enzymes, and flavors. We preview some of the standout companies and innovations.

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Strait of Hormuz crisis exposes fertilizer supply risks and food security...
hands with fertilizer pellets
Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have started rippling through global food systems, with fertilizer supply emerging as a critical vulnerability. Global fertilizer producer Yara International’s CEO Svein Tore Holsether has warned that conflict linked to Iran could constrain fertilizer availability, with knock-on effects for agricultural output and food supply.
Retail Soy Group launches policy framework as deforestation targets fall short
Soybean grain in a hands of farmer, in a background green soybean field.
A new model policy to help companies become more sustainable and turn commitments into actionable change has been launched after it was revealed that global soy pledges to deliver deforestation- and conversion-free supply chains have fallen short.
Yeo’s launches Oolong Tea in Singapore to meet rising demand for unsweetened...
Yeo’s Oolong Tea
Singaporean beverage company Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s) is addressing growing consumer demand for more variety in sugar-free beverage options with its latest launch of Yeo’s Oolong Tea. Available in a 330 ml pack, the product is retailing for a limited time across major brick and mortar and digital channels in Singapore. The new Oolong Tea accompanies Yeo’s sugar-free First Harvest Green Tea. Both beverages are rated Nutri-Grade A and carry the Healthier Choice Symbol, while positioned for daily drinkers.
Nestlé ramps up restructuring with Blue Bottle Coffee sale and job cuts
Blue Bottle Coffee shop.
Nestlé has agreed to sell Blue Bottle Coffee as part of its ongoing restructuring, marking a retreat from specialty retail coffee. The move aligns with the company’s strategy to streamline its portfolio and focus on scalable global brands, particularly in coffee, where Nescafé and Nespresso continue to drive growth. The divestment comes as Nestlé accelerates efforts to exit or review non-core assets, including its water division and parts of its vitamins and supplements businesses. The F&B giant is increasingly sidelining lower-growth businesses, as management prioritizes brand-led categories with stronger international reach.
Ambition versus reality: EIT Food reveals major gaps in the protein transition
woman smiling and eating chicken salad
A new foresight study from EIT Food finds strong alignment around a “Circular protein renaissance,” but warns that Europe’s protein transition risks drifting off track due to gaps in financing, regulation, and consumer trust. The key takeaway from the research highlights a disconnect between industry ambition and the trajectory currently taking shape in a more diversified protein system.
April in review: GLP-1 nutrition trends, agroecology for food security &...
April in Review

Nutrition Insight

GLP-1 therapies, demand for affordable, nutrient-dense foods, and new supplement formats spurred nutrition innovations in April. Agroecology and micronutrient supplementation emerged as solutions for nutrition security, while debates on regulating processed foods continued. Meanwhile, ongoing industry consolidation signaled a shift to strategic investments in health-focused brands.  In our April review, Nutrition Insight dives into some of the month’s biggest stories, such as an update on developments in nutritional strategies around GLP-1 use and expert-led calls for tailored programs for menopausal women to prevent muscle loss. 
Highlighted features
Vitafoods Europe 2026 in Barcelona, Spain.
New Product Development
Vitafoods Europe 2026 preview: Five key trends shaping...
Vitafoods Europe 2026 promises to showcase the growing integration of health and wellness ingredients traditionally found in nutraceuticals into mainstream F&B products. The event in Barcelona, Spain, next week, will demonstrate how functional ingredients have become key differentiators for brands looking to win over increasingly health-conscious consumers. Visitors can expect to find functional ingredients ranging from protein innovations for metabolic health to probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics for gut health. Meanwhile, beauty‑from‑within ingredients, such as collagen, will demonstrate how mainstream brands are tapping into the growing demand for products that promote both internal health and external beauty.
April 2026 F&B industry highlights.
Food Ingredients News
April in review: UN FAO food security warning, Coffee...
In April 2026, the UN FAO’s chief economist warned that a prolonged Strait of Hormuz crisis could result in a “global agri-food catastrophe,” urging anticipatory policy actions to mitigate a supply crunch for key agri-food inputs like fertilizer. PepsiCo boosted its revenue through consumer price cuts and healthier snack sales. Fonterra sold its global consumer business to global dairy leader Lactalis. Keurig Dr Pepper acquired JDE Peet’s to form an expanded coffee giant.
Activia yogurts in supermarket.
New Product Development
The year of fiber: How Danone turns surging demand into...
Fiber has moved from a nutrition afterthought to a formulation priority for F&B manufacturers, as Western consumers increasingly prioritize gut health to support their overall well-being. Food leaders like Danone view fiber as a long-term strategic ingredient, but success depends on balancing functionality, sensory performance, and scalable sourcing in fiber-enriched products. Innova Market Insights ranks fiber as the second most popular functional ingredient for consumers in the US, behind protein. Around two in five say they are highly interested in fibers, signaling a strong baseline demand. Although WHO recommends a minimum of 25 g of fiber per day, most consumers in developed markets fall significantly short, highlighting a persistent “fiber gap.”

Ingredient focus

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Sugar reduction solutionsMay2026

Innova data shows that consumers are actively reducing sugar in their diets. This trend drove +5% increase in reduced-sugar claims in F&B launches from 2021 to 2025. Europe accounted for the most ...

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Food packaging trends May 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates a 5% compound annual growth in F&B launches between April 2021 and March 2026. The top packaging types were flat pouch, folded box, and bottle. More than half of launches were packed in plastic, while molded fiber packaging shows strong growth. Recyclable remained the top environmental claim, as reusable claims gain traction.

Trend analysis

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Innovative chocolate applicationsMay 2026

Innova data shows an increase in chocolate product launches globally. One-third of these launches were in a chocolate block format, while wrapped chocolate pieces emerged as the fastest-growing format. “Vegetarian” was the leading claim for chocolate, and nut flavor was the most popular flavor.

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Video10:38
LATAM fortification strategies diverge from WHO recommendations

Eugenia Muinelo, manager of regulatory affairs Latin America at EAS Strategies, discusses how LATAM nations are tailoring food fortification for population-specific deficiencies. As a region that suffers from a “double burden” of obesity and micronutrient deficiencies, governments are taking...

Coralie Garcia, ADM
Video09:00
ADM: Translating consumer behaviors into scalable flavor strategies
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Win-Win: Fermentation unlocks cocoa-free, climate-friendly chocolate NPD
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More per Bite: Turn wellness into market success
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