This report is so jam packed we couldn't fit it all on the blog!

 For the FULL report, CLICK HERE.

 

“Seek and Avoid is the New M.O.” is one of the seven consumer trends we are exploring this year, one that we believe will define what’s next with clean. Going clean is a conscious decision for many consumers, requiring a lot of study for successful shopping and food prep. But hand-in-hand with clean eating is consumer avoidance of negative ingredients (sugar is one example) and seeking healthy and nutritious ingredients. What ingredients do consumers seek out, as additions to their diet? Would it surprise you to know that the #1 ingredient 47% of consumers look to add is fiber?

More and more, developers are faced with creating great-tasting functional foods featuring ingredients consumers want (like fiber) and excluding the ones they don’t (like sugar). This challenge is an opportunity in disguise, as 61% of consumers want to find fiber in their healthy food choices. Are you in a bind to create fiber rich applications? Read on for some fiber trend info that’ll inspire innovation.

Fiber and Health / The 411:

Soluble and insoluble are the two types of fiber.

Soluble fiber soaks up water in your digestive system and sometimes acts as food for good gut bacteria. Certain soluble fibers even work to lower the bad cholesterol (LDL), making the heart extra happy.

Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water, and it aids in digestion and satiety.

Fiber can help control blood sugar levels.

In a recent study, researchers discovered mice given a high fiber diet were protected from Type 1 or early onset diabetes compared to those bred to have the condition.

In the U.S., about half of new products claim high fiber, topping all other claims.

The largest number of new products claiming fiber were in 2015 and 2016, with an average of 62%.

Consumers and Fiber: The Ties That Bind

To understand all we could about consumers and fiber, FONA conducted our own nationwide consumer study. Here’s what we uncovered.
• 52% of women seek fiber in their diets,compared to 48% of men.
• 29% of 25-34 year olds are looking to boost fiber.
• 50% of consumers eat the majority of their fiber during breakfast.
• 58% of men seek fiber as part of a daily balanced diet vs 30% of women.
• 10% growth from 2005-2016 in the number of consumers searching for fiber content on a label.

For the FULL report, CLICK HERE.

Fiber Futures

Fifty percent of consumers seek more fiber, often encouraged by their doctors who believe it’s key to improving long term health. Whether this influence is driving the fiber bus or it’s something else entirely, it’s clear that fiber is at the brink of something big.

The Label Tells the Story:

Like sugar, fiber is being examined by the FDA, especially the way it’s portrayed on product labels. Fiber is now defined by the FDA as the sum of dietary fiber and added fiber (also referred to as functional fiber). Additionally, the FDA has increased the DRV from 25g to 28g per day. Look for this change to alter how manufacturers make claims like “high in fiber” or a “good source of fiber.”

High-Tech Fibers:

Big brand companies like Kellogg’s and smaller high tech startups are exploring fibers. Kellogg’s has filed a patent for a micropowder made of nutrient dense bran fiber that will make it easier for manufacturers to add fiber to products without increasing format size or bulk. Chitosan, derived from shrimp and other crustacean shells, is another designer fiber that is atypical from plant sourced fibers and is being combined with konjac glucomannan to increase satiety in low fat ice creams and soups.

Full Up on Fiber

Are you struggling to deliver the taste profile you want with the fiber levels your target consumers expect?

FONA understands how to mesh the complexities of flavor and the challenges of working with fiber in different applications. We’ll consider your technical, regulatory and, most importantly, taste requirements to deliver a complete flavor solution. Add to this FONA’s portfolio of taste modifiers and you’ve got one great solution for your fiber challenges.

We’re more than just great flavors — we deliver complete market solutions. Your priorities are our priorities. Your challenges are our challenges. Let’s talk.

Contact our Sales Service Department at 630-578-8600 to request a flavor sample or visit www.fona.com.

Souces: Mintel, Natural Marketing Institute, Food Business News, Ibid, Fox News, Medical News Today