Manufacturers weigh in on upcoming ingredient and formulations trends, from dietary fiber to green tea extracts, low-fat to satiety-enhancing foods.

This is the second in a series of technical featurettes by the Guelph Food Technology Centre (GFTC) on ingredient-oriented food product development topics. Different functional or nutraceutical ingredients in demand by consumers and current food trends will be the focus of the series.

Most Americans know they eat too much salt--according to the American Heart Association, the average American consumes 3,436mg of salt a day, rather than the recommended intake of 2,300mg--and, this is linked to a series of health problems, including high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

This summer, expect pure innovation from one company. The Canadian-based OASIS brand is introducing the newest member of its line: OASIS Health Break Immuniforce.

Research is looking into how certain foods, such as almonds and cranberries, and key components, including extracts, yeast-derived compounds, and pre- and probiotics, help strengthen immunity.

A new study indicates hair attributes and condition can benefit from a flax ingredient. Consumption of Glanbia Nutritionals’ proprietary, beauty-from-within, enriched flax ingredient increased the luster, shine and overall condition of human hair, according to the company.

Many consumers say satiety, the feeling of fullness after eating or drinking, is important when making food and beverage choices, according to a 2008 survey conducted by The NPD Group for Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI).

Satiety-enhancing foods include some that are able to fill the gut but be markedly reduced (e.g., fiber, polydextrose), while others will affect the release of gut hormones, influencing satiety and appetite.

Inadequate prescription therapy pain-management, lack of doctor-patient communication about over-the-counter (OTC) medications and easy accessibility of OTC medications may contribute to patients using more than one medication to manage pain,"writes Stacey H. Kovac, Ph.D., from Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center and Duke University in Durham, N.C., and colleagues.

Fiber is a hot trend. Securing a fiber content claim is relatively straightforward. Going beyond a basic fiber claim will provide differentiation, but it requires careful selection of the specific dietary fiber.