Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice has ruled the country’s nutrition label, SEFAB, is constitutional and respects the public’s right to food, health and information, a decision welcomed by the food industry but decried by civil society.
Nutrient-packed fresh spirulina has a neutral taste, creamy texture and is ideal for modern Mexicans to get the nutrients they are not finding in processed food, says supplier Spirulina Viva.
Mexico’s current nutrition label is deficient, incomprehensible and should be replaced by Chilean-style warning labels, a governmental advisory committee has said.
More than two-thirds (66.1%) of the adult population in Argentina is considered overweight, according to a recent national survey, which FIC (Fundación InterAmericana del Corazón) Argentina believes can be attributed to the lack of effective public health...
A new global online database of 185 underutilized varieties of vegetables, fruits, grains, and wild edibles -- 78 of which are native to Brazil -- is readily available to food industry decision-makers with the goal of sparking new conservation and nutrition...
By Brazil's ANVISA wraps up whole grain labeling consultation
Brazilian food authority ANVISA's open consultation on whole grain labeling ended last month, prompting public health experts to reiterate calls for stricter criteria.
Ecuadorian start-up Takay sources fruit that has been rejected by buyers for aesthetic reasons to create its healthy, ready-to-blend smoothie and ice cream mixes.
Amaranth, Mexico’s native grain is now part of the country's 'basic basket' of goods, an official come-back for this nutritious superfood that was sacred to the Aztecs. We look at how manufacturers can use it in their products.
Brand familiarity and trust create a protective 'shield’ that leads consumers to perceive a product as healthy – even if a red warning traffic light is telling them otherwise, according to data from Ecuador and Chile.
Arcor’s head of nutrition development tells us how it is making its products healthier, from reducing sugar with prebiotics and researching fat crystallization to applying nutrient thresholds and shrinking portion sizes.
Sixty percent of Chileans were willing to try an empanada filled with insect protein, according to a study by the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
The NOVA food classification bears "striking similarity" to the way ordinary Brazilians classify food, increasing its efficacy, according to a study. "This classification has introduced a new way of thinking about food," they write.
Nuts are "delicious, nutritious and tailor-made for the functional food market"- but the market in Brazil is stagnating. FoodNavigator-LATAM caught up with the president of trade association ABNC about how it plans to change this.
In price-sensitive markets such as Latin America, does clean label reformulation to make products healthier or more natural offer a return on investment?
Chili peppers are an essential part of Mexican cuisine, and the country's hot sauce category is a very busy space. So how can products stand out? We spoke to some companies that claim to be doing things differently.
Mexican start-up Bio B uses locally-sourced ingredients in smoothie mixes and protein bars, such as inulin from agave cacti, cocoa from Tabasco, and Mexican-grown moringa.
Mexico's leading coconut milk brand talks about new product development and how healthy drinks can compete with soda. "Coconuts have been popular in Mexico since forever. It's just that now companies are transforming them into everyday...
We hit Mexico's ANTAD Alimentaria last week to seek out the latest trends in finished products. From cactus snacks to green banana flour; matcha horchata to lemon popcorn, this is what we saw.
The fact that CBD is not a legal ingredient in foods and supplements - at least not yet - did not deter scores of exhibitors at Expo West, who added it to everything from soda to protein bars (absent any claims), with some opting for isolates, but most...
In a global ranking for CBD potential and cannabis market 'readiness', Latin America ranks second. We spoke to experts about how big a role Latino countries could play in an industry predicted to be worth US$2.5 billion by 2026.
With global demand for avocados set to rise by 15% annually until 2024, the boom is benefitting Latin American countries through job and wealth creation, according to the World Avocado Organization (WAO).
Chile's strict food regulations are helping mothers - and even children - make healthier food choices for the family, according to a study. The findings are “overwhelmingly positive”, say the researchers.
Young Argentinians' and Ecuadorians' perception of ultra-processed food is closely aligned with the original definition, recent research suggests, and the results can help manufacturers with successful new product development.
Most packaged food products in Latin America are meeting regional salt reduction targets, according to a first-of-its-kind survey - but this is probably because the targets were set too high, researchers say.
Reformulating to remove warning labels by cutting salt and fat makes a product seem healthier than creating a health halo by adding fiber or vitamins, Chilean researchers have found.
From jabuticaba-flavored yogurt to guacamole mayonnaise, processed food firms are catering to Latin Americans demand for natural, healthy, and authentic foods, according to a survey by ingredient supplier Kerry.
Harvested wild from the Chilean forest, maqui berries have seven times more antioxidants than rival superfood açaí and their global popularity is growing, says supplier Arauco Nutrientes Naturales.
Brazilians are confused about which food and drink is good for gut health - but this is an opportunity for manufacturers to offer premium solutions, according to health consultancy New Nutrition Business. 'Focus on value rather than volume,'...
Argentinian start-up The Food Market is an e-commerce platform for local and regional brands, giving producers "an unthinkable growth opportunity" and consumers the chance to buy "honest, transparent" brands.
Many critics of the NOVA food classification are biased due to close ties to the food industry, according to Brazilian researchers - but are the lines between criticism of NOVA and support of food processing becoming blurred?
Appearing in Mexican street food, Argentinian coffee shops and Brazilian chocolate, hibiscus flavors are conquering the Latin American continent in categories as diverse as beverages, confectionery and dairy. We spoke to supplier Firmenich to find out...
Nopal cactus is a native vegetable commonly eaten fresh in Mexico. But it's the high-fiber, high-calcium powder format that has true superfood status, says one Mexican supplier.
Food trendspotting is a round-the-clock practice for Campbell’s executive chef, Maria Gamble and her culinary team, who are tasked with finding ways to incorporate new flavors, textures, and ingredients into the company’s product portfolio that will spark...
Analyzing social media posts may offer food, beverage companies a quicker, and more resource-efficient method of identifying flavor pairings across Latin America, suggests a new study that looked at flavors in beer pairing.
From the stevia specialist PureCircle looking to move beyond sweeteners to Nestlé’s new Institute of Packaging Science and Cargill’s big Asian food system mega-trends to watch, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s a round-up of the top...
From Cargill and DSM teaming up on high-potency sweeteners to China’s booming yogurt market, a lot has happened over the past seven days. Here’s a round-up of the top seven global food and beverage news items to get you updated!
PepsiCo Latin America is 'dead serious' about its drive to reduce sodium, saturated fat and added sugars and is on track to achieve its 2025 global nutrition goals, the VP of Nutrition in LATAM says.
Responding to booming demand for super fruit such as maqui berry and acai berry, SouthAm Freeze Dry has launched a new line of freeze-dried fruit powders.
There was a lot of innovation on show at the recent Fi South America event in Sao Paulo. FoodNavigator-LATAM caught up with hydrocolloids supplier CP Kelco to find out how their ingredients can provide solutions to some of the region’s big trends.
Nestlé has finalized its majority interest acquisition of Ecuador-based Terrafertil in a move analysts say strategically secures supply for the food major to push deeper into the organic space.
With three decades of organic food business under their belts, Argentina’s Schatzi is eying further expansions while staying close to its main aim of “being a family that makes products as a way of life”.
Consumers in Brazil are trying to consume less sugar and more protein, but food and beverage brands need to ensure that taste and texture are not detrimentally affected while also boosting the perception of ‘freshness’ for their products, according to...
Processing major Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has filed a global patent on its edible bean blends VegeFull for use as non-sweet food binders in cereals and bars.
Sugar reduction and ambient drinking yogurt are two of the most interesting trends in Latin America at the moment, but both present technical challenges to food and beverage companies. Hydrocolloids are part of the solution, explains CP Kelco’s regional...
Latin American consumers are looking for more flavor options when it comes to cheese, representing an untapped market opportunity for manufacturers as just 12% of new cheese introductions in the region between January 2017 and April 2018 were flavored...
The food and beverage giant has reported that organic revenue grew 3.5% for Latin America, with strong growth in Argentina and Colombia. However, the truckers’ strike in Brazil hit overall revenue.
From PepsiCo’s new innovation group (The Hive) to the success of the NutriScore food labeling system in France to drive healthy food choices, here’s a round-up of the top seven global food and beverage news items from the past seven days.
