VIRTUAL EXPO WEST innovators target mind, body and planet

摘要

Brands included in a natural products show must meet certain criteria. For Natural Products Expo West, which took place virtually May 24-27, there are several ingredients not allowed in products displayed or sampled. The list includes artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and sweeteners; high-fructose corn syrup; monosodium glutamate; trans fats, hydrogenated oils and/or partially hydrogenated oils; and synthetic constituents of the hemp plant. For the large and growing population of consumers who seek products they perceive as better-for-you, omission of such negatives is not enough. They want more. "There's this fundamental belief that consumers want to see this new definition of health, whether it's mind or body, plus social and environmental concerns, reflected in the foods they are buying," said Amanda Helming, chief marketing officer, United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), Providence, RI. "But they want it at the right price, too." Eve Turow-Paul, a Chicago-based food culture analyst, discussed changing consumer interests in a keynote address on May 27. She highlighted the ways social and environmental activism, along with new societal pressures and anxieties, are influencing food and beverage innovation.