The results of a study by Innova Market Insights, Duiven, the Netherlands, which tracked the number of global launches of food and beverage products that contain resveratrol, found that increasing consumer interest in health and the growing body of research about the antioxidant’s role and efficacy has helped the ingredient become more mainstream.
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR) introduced Wellness Brewed beverages, a collection of K-Cup packs created to enhance consumers’ wellness lifestyles.
A study of mice with Type 2 diabetes found that a significant amount of coffee consumption could help protect against memory loss associated with advanced diabetes, as well as reduce weight gain and lower blood sugar levels, according to a May 10 article published in New York Daily News.
BASF exhibited a new product application for beverages at Food Ingredients Europe. Fitting in with the company’s “Think Newtrition” platform, it exhibited LCE beverages, which is a new take on ACE drinks that provide vitamins A, C and E.
With about 20 years of experience in the industry, Ben Weiss has learned a lot about the coffee business, and particularly about the outer fruit of the coffee bean. Weiss’ knowledge of the coffee fruit as well as his appreciation for the Asia-Pacific region led to the launch of Bai Brands, Princeton, N.J., which offers a collection of beverages that are infused with coffee fruit.
Sunrich Naturals, a brand of SunOpta Inc., introduced Sōl, a dairy alternative beverage made from roasted sunflower kernels. The dairy-free, gluten-free, all-natural beverage contains antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that promote heart and brain health, strengthen bones and teeth, and helps maintain youthful-looking skin, in addition to folic acid to support prenatal health, the company says.
Rainforest Beverages LLC will launch new flavors and packaging for its Rainforest brand of antioxidant soft drinks July 1. Rainforest drinks are 100 percent all natural and come in the following flavors: Natural Cola, Citrus and Tropifruit. Previously available in Natural Cola, Citrus and Tropifruit varieties are new to the line and also contain superfruits sourced from the rainforest. The new 12-ounce cans feature a red background instead of a black background to prevent any association with energy drinks, the company says. They also were designed to build brand presence and differentiation on shelf. Each variety contains a number of antioxidants and vitamins.
Pom Wonderful expanded its Pom line of pomegranate juice cocktails with Lite Pom, a lighter version of its original Pom juice that is 100 percent natural and contains no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Available in the produce section of grocery stores nationwide, Lite Pom comes in Pomegranate, Pomegranate Black Currant, Pomegranate Blackberry and Pomegranate Dragonfruit flavors. The new product contains the same antioxidants as original Pom, but with fewer calories, the company says. Lite Pom is available in a 16-ounce size of the brand’s curvaceous bottle for a suggested retail price of $2.49.
