Functional Beverage

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The trends shaping the sports beverages market

By Nikki Hancocks

Sports beverages are the most popular vehicle for functional ingredients across the globe as an increasingly wide range of consumers look to support their physical and mental health through convenient everyday nutrition.

Pic:getty/visualgeneration

Functionality: The next big frontier in beverage innovation...

By Rachel Arthur

Functional beverages are a thriving category – but what exactly are consumers looking for in their drinks? From cannabis beverages to ‘think drinks’, hear from a panel of experts as this free-to-attend webinar explores the potential of the category.

Protein Extreme: Arla debuts new protein shot concept

By Beth Newhart

Arla Foods Ingredients has developed a new protein shot concept consisting of whey protein for ‘athletes and gym-goers’. It debuted the idea at the Supply Side West show in Las Vegas last week to beverage manufacturers.

The report called for policies to improve UK breastfeeding rates including tighter regulation of the infant formula market and paid breastfeeding breaks for women in the workplace. ©iStock/Viktorcvetkovic

Report urges UK to improve poor breastfeeding support

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Scotland and Northern Ireland have made improvements in policies that encourage women to continue breastfeeding but England and Wales still lag behind, according to scorecards in a report from the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi).

'The way protein is currently defined in labelling regulation needs to change because this is precisely the root of the protein spiking problem,' says ESSNA vice-chair. ©iStock/ogichobanov

Nitrogen spiking: The loophole jeopardising protein’s podium place

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European sports nutrition industry is calling for a ‘protein spiking’ loophole to be closed, but if there is any Brussels movement it is likely to be slow and this lapse threatens to knock the nutrition staple from the top step of the sports nutrition...

Alpro says it 'remains steadfast' in its plant-based mission following criticism of its acquisition by dairy giant Danone.

Alpro: 'we made a mistake and we’re really sorry'

Twitter storm blows up Alpro's dairy problem

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Belgian manufacturer of plant-based dairy alternatives Alpro has been caught in a Twitter storm after it tweeted that a healthy diet consists of one third animal-based products. Disgruntled vegan followers referenced the company’s recent acquisition by...

Kimstad, in Sweden, is the home of Tate & Lyle's oat processing facility, which has just undergone an expansion. Pic: Tate & Lyle

Tate & Lyle opens oat ingredients facility expansion

By Jim Cornall

UK-based Tate & Lyle PLC, a global provider of speciality food ingredients and solutions, has officially opened its expanded capacity at its manufacturing facility in Kimstad, Sweden.

'We have spent a while on it - but it’s important to get this right.' ©iStock/Brian Balster

ESSNA set to strike on protein spiking

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) will in weeks finalise its guidance on so-called ‘protein spiking’ - the controversial practice of falsifying product protein content via nitrogen manipulation.

Immunity-focused drinking yoghurt Actimel relaunched in April with the help of a music group Stay Strong Brothers. A revamp of gut health-orriented spoonable yoghurt Activia is expected in the second half of the year.

Solid global, flat European growth for Danone in first half of 2016

Can Actimel revamp inject life into Danone’s flat European sales?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Danone has recorded negative overall sales figures in Europe for the first half of 2016. But the company hopes investment in the relaunch of its Activia and Actimel brands will help return it to profitable growth.

Danone will be entering the FTSE4Good Index later in June.

Danone enters FTSE4Good Index

By Jim Cornall

Danone has announced its entrance into the FTSE4Good Index, a global responsible investment index designed to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.