FoodNavigator-USA Podcast

The improving economy, an East Coast location, and a tie-in to consumer drivers with a keynote speaker from the Food Network's test kitchens boosted this year's Research Chefs Association conference and expo, says RCA president Janet Carver.

The latest version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans includes a new focus on the importance of total diet. FoodNavigator-USA spoke to Cynthia Harriman of Oldways to get the perspective of the organization behind the Mediterranean diet pyramid.

Nestle Prepared Foods Company is one of many food manufacturers to announce a bold sodium reduction strategy, recently pledging to slash sodium in its products by ten percent by 2015. The company's manager of marketing communications told FoodNavigator-USA why now is the time to talk about sodium reduction.

The Coca-Cola Company has accelerated its launches of 'better for you' beverages in recent years but consumers often have conflicting preferences - how does Coca-Cola keep ahead of new trends?

Six weeks ago a Kansas State University nutrition professor started a calorie-controlled diet based on high-fat snacks. FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Mark Haub and found that he is doing remarkably well.

Americans are becoming increasingly interested in the food that's prepared in their own neighborhood - and as their palates become more sophisticated, flavor companies are responding with authentically local flavors.

FoodNavigator-USA's team on the ground at IFT in Chicago give their impressions of the trade show so far on award-winning innovations, new omega-3 and gluten-free ingredients, and great taste improvements in stevia sweeteners.

Ingredients companies packed the expo hall at the Research Chefs Association meeting in Phoenix last week, with innovative ingredient systems to inspire creative new foods.

As more food companies have entered the gluten-free market, manufacturers have sought to differentiate their products by improving flavor and nutrition.

At the Research Chefs Association conference in Phoenix, RCA president Harry Crane spoke to FoodNavigator-USA about industry's intensifying focus on health and wellness.

In today’s challenging economy, large companies are increasingly looking to buy innovative finished products rather than developing their own, says Blue Pacific CEO Donald Wilkes.

A spate of high profile food-borne illness outbreaks has focused attention on food safety. At IFT in Anaheim Caroline Scott-Thomas caught up with food safety expert Dr Anuradha Prakash to discuss consumer perception of the food industry in the wake of such outbreaks.

The almond industry has been spared the recalls experienced by other nuts, and Tim Birmingham from the Almond Board of California tells FoodNavigator-USA about the measures the almond industry has taken to deal with food safety issues.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is no different from table sugar (sucrose) and that the public cannot be expected to understand differences between the sweetener and "pure" fructose, says Dr James Rippe from the Rippe Lifestyle Institute.

In this podcast, our journalists share their thoughts on what caught their eye during the last day of the IFT show in Anaheim, California.

Debate over high fructose corn syrup, lessons from a salmonella scare, putting omega-3 into alcoholic beverages, and the potential of black garlic... the FoodNavigator team shares thoughts on the second day of the IFT trade show in Anaheim, California.

Top prizes for innovation, stevia capacity and taste tests, food safety, and doing business in a tough economy... the FoodNavigator team shares thoughts on the opening day of the IFT trade show in Anaheim, California.

Adulteration of food proteins - as seen in the recent melamine scandal - is becoming a greater threat to industry as the food supply has become more globalized and economic crisis drives manufacturers to seek cheaper ingredients, says Jim Griffiths of US Pharmacopeia.

Blue California's Cecilia McCollum explains the purity-taste link for Reb-A, and hope for the new sweetener's approval all around the globe.

The popularity of specialist insurance to protect against the effects of product recalls is on the rise in the wake of the current salmonella scandal, says Mikel Fitzgerald of Wortham Insurance. He told FoodNavigator-USA.com how it can help minimize damage, both to company reputation, as well as the bottom line.

Experts predict that consumers will put on recession pounds by eating more unhealthy food to save money. But Dr Adam Drewnowski, director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington, says nutrient-rich foods that were typically eaten during the depression are affordable alternatives.

An expert from Mintel gives a taster of new flavor trends in the US, and predicts how long it could be before we are all enjoying the likes of peri-peri, lavender and cactus.