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Debut and Oterra to develop Red dye 40 alternatives amid stricter color regulations

Regulatory scrutiny of synthetic food colors in the US is intensifying, pushing manufacturers to accelerate reformulation strategies that have long been under consideration. With the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) signaling a phase-out of certain FD&C-certified color additives by the end of 2026, demand is rising for alternatives that can match the performance of widely used synthetic dyes such as Red 40.
Packaging designers discussing sustainable solutions.
Food packaging trends 2026: Sustainability, digital innovation & consumer-centric solutions
The food packaging industry is undergoing a significant transformation, shaped by evolving consumer expectations and sustainability imperatives. Key trends are emerging that will reshape how food products are packaged and perceived in the marketplace. Innova Market Insights’ Top Packaging Trends for 2026 highlighted “Substantiated Sustainability” as its leading trend, stressing the need for verified environmental claims amid stricter regulations like the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. The market researcher has found that consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging but expect scientific proof to back up claims, reducing greenwashing.
A woman eating fruit-filled yogurt on a couch.
Functional food fortification: Agrana reveals evolving role of fruit preparations in dairy
Consumer demand for functional food fortification continues to grow. Protein-forward formats are driving innovation in yogurt and snacking dairy. At the same time, fiber enrichment, gut health, and prebiotic concepts are becoming baseline expectations rather than premium differentiators. Consumers must now navigate an increasingly crowded health and wellness landscape that is pushing brands and manufacturers to deliver benefits that are both meaningful and clearly communicated — without sacrificing the taste and texture experience that keeps them coming back.
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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.
Vitafoods 2026 Arla Foods Ingredients video thumbnail: AirBar protein bars in spicy cola and banoffee flavors displayed beside a portrait of a trade show representative
Vitafoods Europe 2026: Arla Foods Ingredients on GLP-1 trends and nutrient-dense dairy products

At Vitafoods Europe 2026, Sarah Meyer, head of sales development for Performance Nutrition at Arla Foods Ingredients, discusses the rising demand for nutrient-dense formats driven by GLP-1 users. She explores how these trends differentiate products in the saturated high-protein market, the balance between taste and protein loads, and the future of dairy categories in response to shifting eating patterns.

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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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Rising consumer interest in hybrid meat driven by taste, quality & price, finds...
food cart with chef cooking hybrid meat
Consumer acceptance for hybrid meat products — where plant-based ingredients replace part of the meat content — is rising, particularly among flexitarian consumers, a study by Beneo’s brand Meatless has revealed. The findings highlight why food manufacturers must prioritize taste, quality, and nutritional benefits in NPD, especially to increase hybrid meat’s appeal among flexitarian and health-conscious consumers.
PepsiCo and Fertiberia to decarbonize potato and corn farming in Europe
Trucks of fertilizer
PepsiCo and Spain’s largest fertilizer producer Fertiberia have entered a long-term partnership to scale the utility of high-tech, green hydrogen-based fertilizers across Europe. Fertiberia has agreed to progressively supply PepsiCo with up to 150,000 metric tons of its Impact Zero crop nutrition solutions annually by 2030. The total volume is enough to cover approximately 400,000 acres (~162,000 hectares) of farmland used to grow key crops such as potatoes, corn, sunflower, sugar beet, and rapeseed, which are key ingredients for PepsiCo’s top brands such as Lay’s, Doritos, Ruffles, and Cheetos.
FrieslandCampina invests €90M to boost whey protein capacity and sustainability...
huge dairy plant
FrieslandCampina is investing over €90 million (~US$105.8 million) to advance its whey protein innovation and further optimize its ingredients production network in the Netherlands. Using internally-sourced whey, the dairy giant aims to expand its capacity to produce protein ingredients for performance, active, early life, and medical nutrition applications.
Vitafoods Europe 2026 live: Transforming functional foods with sustainable...
trade show floor with various booths top view
F&B ingredient manufacturers are exploring biotechnology to create more sustainable, efficient, and consistent products that meet the growing demands of eco- and health-conscious consumers. At Vitafoods Europe 2026 in Barcelona (May 5–7), Spain, industry leaders are unveiling innovations in precision fermentation, probiotics, and enzyme technologies, highlighting biotech’s transformative role in shaping the future of food ingredients.
The Campbell’s Company acquires 49% in key pasta sauce producer La Regina
Pasta sauce
The Campbell’s Company has acquired a 49% interest in La Regina di San Marzano di Antonio Romano and La Regina Atlantica (combined, La Regina), which is the privately held maker of Rao’s Homemade tomato-based, jarred pasta sauces. The deal is valued at US$286 million and is structured into two tranches.According to official regulatory filings, the tranches comprise an initial cash payment of US$146 million on the deal’s closing on May 4, 2026, followed by a deferred payment of US$140 million due one year later.
Vitafoods Europe 2026 live: Arla Foods Ingredients unveils GLP-1 support...
Arla Foods Ingredients Vitafoods 2026

Nutrition Insight

Arla Foods Ingredients is showcasing high-protein, nutrient-dense application concepts designed to meet the needs of GLP-1 users at the ongoing Vitafoods Europe 2026 trade show (May 5–7). The company says these demonstrate how manufacturers can meet the growing demand for companion nutrition that helps consumers manage side effects, such as lean muscle loss, gastrointestinal issues, nausea, and loss of appetite. The concepts feature Arla Foods Ingredients’ Nutrilac and Lacprodan BLG-100 (beta-lactoglobulin) protein solutions, delivering essential amino acids for muscle health. They also incorporate probiotics and cultures from Novonesis to support digestive well-being. 
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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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Vitafoods 2026 Arla Foods Ingredients video thumbnail: AirBar protein bars in spicy cola and banoffee flavors displayed beside a portrait of a trade show representative
Video05:19
Vitafoods Europe 2026: Arla Foods Ingredients on GLP-1 trends and nutrient-dense dairy products

At Vitafoods Europe 2026, Sarah Meyer, head of sales development for Performance Nutrition at Arla Foods Ingredients, discusses the rising demand for nutrient-dense formats driven by GLP-1 users. She explores how these trends differentiate products in the saturated high-protein market, the...

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Video10:38
LATAM fortification strategies diverge from WHO recommendations
Coralie Garcia, ADM
Video09:00
ADM: Translating consumer behaviors into scalable flavor strategies
Win-win video thumbnail: Stack of cookies topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce on a plate, with a smiling man’s portrait in a blue circular graphic background
Video10:45
Win-Win: Fermentation unlocks cocoa-free, climate-friendly chocolate NPD
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