LifeWise Ingredients, Lake Zurich, Ill., named Dean Antczak as director of sales and operations. In this newly created position, Antczak will be responsible for growing and maintaining customer relationships, marketing, public relations, new product development, research of new applications for current products, and long-term strategic planning.

The Corn Refiners Association (CRA), Washington, D.C., announced the launch of a national, online consumer engagement campaign. It features registered dietitians who promote a healthy lifestyle through caloric balance, including the total sugars in consumers’ diets, rather than focusing on a specific type of sugar, the organization says.

To gain customer insight, D.D. Williamson, Louisville, Ky., polled 31 industry technologists at the biennial Food Ingredients Europe (FIE) exposition, which took place in November in Frankfurt, Germany. Only those with technical credentials participated in the poll that featured the following question: “Which [one] hue from natural sources is the most technically challenging for [your] new product development?” Red, selected by 39 percent of respondents, ranked the highest. Green and blue scored 19 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Other technologists voted for black, purple, yellow, brown and orange, but none selected white from the list, it reported.

At FIE, Sensient Flavors, Hoffman Estates, Ill., demonstrated its comprehensive flavoring expertise. For the beverage industry, its naturally flavored energy drinks addressed new target groups.

Erlanger, Ky.-based Wild Flavors Inc. acquired Alfrebro LLC, a manufacturer of natural extracts and aroma chemicals, advanced proprietary technologies, and expanded processing capabilities. With this positioning, Wild will further its development position and product lines to expand not only into unique flavors, extracts and aromas for the food and beverage market but also to strengthen its health-and-wellness focus and initiatives, it says.

QTrade Teas & Herbs, Los Angeles, promoted Ronald Eng to vice president of quality assurance, a position QTrade established to further ensure the highest standard of compliance.

PureCircle, Oak Brook, Ill., announced that it is making rapid progress rolling out its Sustainable Agricultural Policy and Procedures across its farmer base. The policy is dedicated to sustainable agricultural practices and is built around three main pillars designed to reduce its environmental footprint, source responsibly, and deliver transparency and accountability. As part of its commitment, PureCircle has established the following policies that will be completely in place by 2015: land rights and conservation of high-value conservation areas; protection of threatened or endangered species and wild animals; water rights and conservation and preservation of water resources; waste minimization and management; compliance with all labor laws and promotion of International Labor Organization Decent Work Core Labor Standards; open and transparent negotiations; safe agrochemical use; avoiding competition with local food security; management of crops; and maintaining traceability of stevia leaf.

Celanese Corp., Dallas, and its food ingredient business Nutrinova invited attendees of FIE 2013 to sample its Qorus sweetener system in a variety of beverages and yogurts. Part of the Qorus portfolio, the Qorus Dolce products are intended for use in reduced- and zero-calorie beverages and dairy products such as milk and yogurt, the company says. The Qorus Dolce 1000/1100 line is designed for 30-70 percent sugar reduction while the 2000/2100 line is intended for 50-100 percent sugar reduction in carbonated and still beverages, flavored waters, energy drinks, juice drinks and more.

Frutarom Switzerland Ltd. Health BU, Wädenswil, Switzerland, joined forces with Aquanova AG, Darmstadt, Germany, to market NovaSOL curcumin, a solubilized, highly bioavailable form of curcumin for the dietary supplement and food manufacturing industries. Frutarom Health will work in collab-oration with Molecular Health Technologies, its current sales and marketing agent in the United States and Canadian markets.

Naturex, Avignon, France, highlighted its sweet and savory product applications using its NAT F&V 100 percent fruit and vegetable powders at FIE 2013.

AppleActives, Abbotsford, British Columbia, announced that its AppleActiv, an organic dried apple peel powder (DAPP) clinically proven to support joint comfort and range of motion, has been granted U.S. Patent 8,551,554 for its methods of making and uses of apple peel powder. AppleActiv offers the antioxidants, polyphenols and flavonoids of organic apples, the company says. It contains no additional preservatives, artificial colors, dyes or additives and is certified organic, it adds.

 LycoRed, Israel, announced the expansion of production capacity of its natural beta-carotene coloring line in response to the growing demand of food and beverage companies in the United States, western Europe and Asia-Pacific. LycoRed showcased Intense, its new line of formulations of natural beta-carotene colors, at FIE.