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Gochujang gains ground as Givaudan, Kerry and McCormick scale regional flavors

Gochujang, za’atar, berbere, and tamarind are opening formulation opportunities across sauces, snacks, and ready meals, according to Kerry, McCormick & Company, and Givaudan. However, manufacturers must preserve their distinctive characteristics while balancing processing demands, cost, labeling, and supply security. John Gaylon, senior research chef at McCormick, tells Food Ingredients First that gochujang is generating particular momentum. “Gochujang is generating some of the strongest customer interest because its combination of heat, sweetness, umami, and fermented notes gives developers a lot of flexibility across savory applications. Tamarind is also exciting because of its sweet-sour profile, while za’atar, berbere, and lemongrass each bring their own distinct herbal, spice, and aromatic notes.” 
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Tackling food waste: Ingredient innovators unlock business opportunities through upcycling and AI
Food waste presents complex challenges for F&B manufacturers, driven by factors spanning raw material utilization, product stability, and consumer acceptance. Industry experts point to a shift from waste management to prevention as ingredient innovation becomes a key focus area.
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Yeo’s bets on pandan as familiar beverage formats unlock Asian flavor discovery
Pandan offers opportunities for beverage developers to bring Southeast Asian flavors to wider audiences through familiar formats, according to Yeo’s. The multinational food and beverage manufacturer sees soy milk as an accessible introduction to the ingredient, drawing on its fragrant profile and associations with regional desserts. Pandan is a tropical plant. Its fragrant leaves are commonly used for flavoring in the cuisines of Southeast Asia. 
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Protein diversification gathers momentum
According to Innova Market Insights, more than half of consumers globally say they are consuming more protein than before. Many are also exploring plant-based sources, driven by perceived health benefits and easier digestion. Reflecting this interest, alternative protein product launches recorded a 2% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026, with innovation continuing across the market.
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Vegebrite® Orange Carrot & Golden Yellow: Clean labels, Indulgent colours
Vegebrite® colouring foods, obtained from ripe and vivacious fruits and vegetables, add a delightful visual appeal to foods and drinks. Vegebrite® orange carrot and Vegebrite® golden yellow are stable, simple label ingredients and create indulgent, eggy yellow cakes and brioches. Download the Vegebrite® white paper to learn more!

This Technical Paper is brought to you by Givaudan Sense Colour.
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Discover Flowhey®: High Fluidity, High Performance Sweet Whey Powders
Flowhey® sweet whey powders are designed to meet the highest standards of fluidity and quality. Thanks to their non-hygroscopic and free flowing properties, our powders are engineered to improve your storage management and production yield. Plus, our range is designed to meet the needs of various applications — Watch our video!This video is brought to you by LACTALIS INGREDIENTS.

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Ingredion and Kerry back systems approach to clean label & high-protein bakery
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Bakery manufacturers are cutting additives, adding protein and fiber, and reworking recipes as cocoa, fruit, and nut prices swing — and each change puts texture, flavor, or shelf life at risk. Experts at Ingredion and Kerry say the fix is a system of ingredients and technologies, not a one-for-one swap.
BeneMeat warns UK–EU trade deal could put wider biotech ambitions at risk
Woman in lab, looking at meat sample.
The proposed UK–EU sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement could have consequences far beyond the food sector if it limits Britain’s ability to authorize novel foods independently, BeneMeat warns. The Czech cultivated meat technology company says uncertainty is already affecting UK commercial plans, with implications for investment, manufacturing expertise, and the wider bioeconomy. The suggested SPS agreement would align relevant British food safety, animal health, and plant health rules with EU standards. It would reduce border checks and paperwork for food and agricultural trade, while bringing Great Britain’s novel food authorizations under EU rules. 
Whey squeeze: FrieslandCampina builds capacity as experts map replacement...
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Whey protein demand is running ahead of supply, according to the USDA, and ingredient suppliers are answering on two fronts. They are adding high-value capacity and helping formulators work around the proteins that are in shortest supply. FrieslandCampina Ingredients has doubled whey protein isolate (WPI) capacity at its Borculo plant in the Netherlands and committed €90 million (~US$104 million) to three more Dutch sites.
Nestlé taps customizable beverage trends with Starbucks Refreshers Concentrates...
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Nestlé and Starbucks are expanding beyond traditional coffee formats with Starbucks Refreshers Concentrates — a green coffee extract-based beverage concentrate for at-home preparation. With this launch, the F&B heavyweights are targeting consumers who prefer flavorful and customizable preparations to align with busy lifestyles. The concentrates are built on Starbucks’ Refreshers platform, which the company says has grown into an approximately US$2 billion beverage business over the past decade, alongside its espresso-based drinks. The beverage concentrates have seen strong initial retail demand since launching in the US earlier this year, according to Nestlé. 
Kirin and RIKEN target heat and drought resilience in wine grapes
Holding wine grapes.
Kirin Holdings and Japan’s RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (RIKEN CSRS) have launched a joint research project, to protect the quality and yields of wine grape varieties as climate consequences mount. The partners are investigating whether improving grapes’ ability to adapt to heat and drought can help farmers continue cultivating established varieties under changing climate conditions. Field trials have been underway since April 2026 at Château Mercian’s Mariko Vineyard in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The research also seeks to support more effective use of limited water resources. While irrigation can help cultivators manage dry conditions, securing enough agricultural water remains a challenge in water-stressed regions. 
Activ’Inside studies tie saffron and berry extracts to children’s cognitive...
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Nutrition Insight

Activ’Inside has carried out two real-world studies on children’s dietary supplementation, resulting in notable benefits from its Safr’Inside and Memophenol ingredients. The company highlights that pediatric supplementation is widespread, but many have not been tested in children. Saffron extract Safr’Inside Kids was found to have significant improvements in children’s attention up to 46.9% and hyperactivity up to 37.6%. 
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New Product Development
Ashwagandha targets mainstream F&B as formulation hurdles...
Ashwagandha (or Indian Ginseng) is moving beyond its traditional position in capsules and powders, as manufacturers explore its potential in functional drinks, coffee and tea blends, confectionery, bars, and dairy alternatives. The botanical’s established association with stress management and broader well-being gives brands a recognizable functional story, but incorporating it into everyday products presents sensory, stability, and sourcing challenges.
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Research & Science news
AI screening tool identifies hundreds of plant proteins for...
UK-based researchers have developed an AI-powered screening tool that could speed up the search for plant proteins with emulsifying properties. The technology could help food manufacturers reduce the time spent on lengthy trial-and-error testing. By combining machine learning and statistical physics, the platform identifies promising protein ingredients that could support the development of more sustainable solutions for applications such as dairy alternatives and plant-based meat. The computational screening system has identified nearly 800 plant protein candidates with potential emulsifying properties. Rather than creating finished ingredients, the tool helps scientists identify proteins worth testing before investing extended durations in extraction and laboratory experiments. 
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New Product Development
Fi Asia Indonesia 2026 preview: Five trends reshaping...
Healthier products will not be enough to win Southeast Asian consumers if they compromise on enjoyment or price. At Fi Asia Indonesia 2026 (Sep 16–18), ingredient suppliers will showcase their latest solutions enabling manufacturers to combine improved nutrition and functionality with standout sensory experiences, affordability, and local market readiness. Mandy Zhang, director and marketing category lead for Texture and Healthful Solutions Asia-Pacific at Ingredion, sums up the tension facing manufacturers: “Today’s APAC consumers want it all. They are increasingly health-conscious and navigating emergent needs around affordability and convenience, yet they still continue to crave indulgent taste and textures.”

Ingredient focus

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Food waste in focusSep2026

Consumers globally are more willing to pay a premium for sustainable products when waste reduction and upcycled ingredients are part of the proposition, Innova Market Insights data suggests. Brands ap...

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Product innovation

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Protein diversification gathers momentum Sep 2026

According to Innova Market Insights, more than half of consumers globally say they are consuming more protein than before. Many are also exploring plant-based sources, driven by perceived health benefits and easier digestion. Reflecting this interest, alternative protein product launches recorded a 2% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026, with innovation continuing across the market.

Trend analysis

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Sustainability claims gain groundSep 2026

Ethical and sustainable positioning continues to gain ground. Innova data shows that F&B launches featuring such claims grew at a 6% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026. Clean ingredient sourcing is consumers’ top sustainability priority globally. Bakery leads in the number of launches making ethical and sustainable claims, while Hot Drinks is the fastest-growing category.

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Discover Flowhey®: High Fluidity, High Performance Sweet Whey Powders

Flowhey® sweet whey powders are designed to meet the highest standards of fluidity and quality. Thanks to their non-hygroscopic and free flowing properties, our powders are engineered to improve your storage management and production yield. Plus, our range is designed to meet the needs of...

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Webinars25:45
The No-Compromise Formula: Ensuring Superior Taste in Nutrition-Focused Formulations
Free Jungbunzlauer webinar on functional eating in the GLP-1 era, Thursday 3 September at 09:00 CDT, 10:00 EDT, 15:00 BST, and 16:00 CEST.
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The new math of functional eating in the GLP-1 era: addressing texture, nutrients, and health
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Raisio Food Solutions: How oats can elevate gluten-free product development
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