Food and Culinary

Claims relating to the benefits of whole grains are now the most sought after health claims on food packages, followed by claims about dietary fiber, according to the Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) 2011 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends report. Restaurants feature exotic rice, spelt, faro, amaranth, and other lesser known grains in everything from salads and pancakes to pizza crusts, soups, cocktails, and desserts.Read more

Just in time to help Americans keep their New Year's resolutions by making healthy food and physical activity choices, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released USDA's new nutrition SuperTracker. The SuperTracker is a comprehensive, state-of-the-art resource available at ChooseMyPlate.gov designed to assist individuals as they make changes in their life to reduce their risk of chronic disease and maintain a healthy weight.Read more

New research on the impact of folic acid in bread shows increased levels of folate in women of childbearing age and that fortification of bread is contributing to this, says Julie Collins, MAF Biosecurity, Food and Animal Welfare Policy Director.

MAF has released research that looked at whether the desired folic acid content in breads was being achieved and the impact it has on the blood folate status of women of childbearing age. The research found an increased level of folate in women of childbearing age.Read more

Food and nutrition forecasters at Publicis Consultants USA, a food PR and marketing agency, are revealing what they believe to be the top food trends for 2012.

"Taste will forever remain the key driver of food consumption, even in price-conscious times," says Registered Dietitian Joy Blakeslee, director of the firm's Publicis Culinary & Nutrition Center. "Consumers are going beyond comfort foods, discovering in food and drink some of the adventure they might have afforded in travel or other purchases."Read more

OMAHA, Neb., Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A continued desire to save money will lead more Americans to eat at home in the coming year, and consumers will rely even more on technology to shop for bargains and make community connections, predicts Supermarket Guru® Phil Lempert. And that's just the beginning. Lempert, who works closely with ConAgra Foods and its retailers, has analyzed the food industry landscape and sees an interesting year ahead for food trends.Read more