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Fonterra forecasts dairy protein surge as GLP-1s reshape F&B trends

Fonterra forecasts dairy protein surge as GLP-1s reshape F&B trends

Fonterra flags how increased GLP-1 use is fueling the demand for protein in its top five food and nutrition trends set to shape the year ahead in F&B. The global dairy exporter predicts a surge in demand for protein powders, ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, and protein-enhanced snacks, as the number of weight loss medication users rises globally.
Beyond sugar: How sweetener innovation is redefining taste and texture
Beyond sugar: How sweetener innovation is redefining taste and texture
Sweetener suppliers are moving beyond single-ingredient sugar swaps toward blended systems that combine rare sugars, stevia, citrus flavonoids, and sweet proteins to rebuild taste, texture, and mouthfeel simultaneously. Innova Market Insights data shows 72% of consumers worldwide are actively cutting sugar, while sweetener NPD is growing at 8% annually, presenting an increasingly lucrative market for the industry. 
Cargill study finds 98% correlation between ingredient perception and purchase decisions in APAC
Cargill study finds 98% correlation between ingredient perception and purchase decisions in APAC
Asian consumers aren’t rejecting food science — but they are turning away from scientific-sounding ingredient names. Cargill’s APAC IngredienTracker 2025 finds that naming, familiarity, and brand credibility matter more than ingredient complexity when it comes to purchase decisions, with over 70% of consumers now checking labels before buying. Yuchu Zhang, vice president of R&D at Cargill Food APAC, tells Food Ingredients First how the study’s findings across 91 ingredients are reshaping the company’s innovation strategy in the region. 
ADM Texperien® Tapioca Starch Solutions
ADM Texperien® Tapioca Starch Solutions
For foods with the ideal bite, ADM Texperien® tapioca starches offer the functionality to deliver superior texture and clean taste in a range of applications.This Technical Paper is brought to you by ADM.
ISM 2026 recap: Alternative ingredients address confectionery industry challenges
ISM 2026 recap: Alternative ingredients address confectionery industry challenges

Price volatility and dietary demands are changing confectionery’s core ingredients. Missy Green, editor of The World of Food Ingredients, explores how alternatives to cocoa, gelatin, and refined sugar are reshaping the confectionery industry on the ISM 2026 show floor.

ISM & ProSweets 2026: Solving supply and reformulation challenges
ISM & ProSweets 2026: Solving supply and reformulation challenges
At ISM & ProSweets 2026 in Cologne, Germany, innovation converged around supply chain resilience, product reformulations, and sensory excellence in confectionery and snacks. Exhibitors showcased cocoa-free alternatives, sugar-reduced solutions, and clean label colors and flavors. The show highlighted how collaboration, social media-driven trends, and smart ingredient designs are reshaping the future of scalable, high-quality confections and snacks.

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Kerry full-year results: Taste innovation drives gains following dairy...
Kerry full-year results: Taste innovation drives gains following dairy divestment
Kerry Group reported 3% volume growth, EBITDA margin expansion from 17.1% to 17.9%, and constant currency adjusted earnings per share growth of 7.5% in 2025 — its first full year following the divestment of Kerry Dairy Ireland. Demand for Tastesense salt and sugar reduction technologies, fermentation-derived taste systems, and a new enzyme-based natural sweetness platform drove gains across snacks, bakery, and beverages. The Tralee-headquartered group reported revenue of €6.8 billion (US$7.1 billion), a 2.5% decline on a reported basis reflecting the Dairy Ireland exit and currency translation headwinds of 3.9%. Adjusted EPS reached 481.5 cents, landing within the upper half of the company’s 7–11% guidance range. Kerry announced a new €300 million (US$315 million) share buyback program, commencing February 17. 
European Food Safety Authority withholds sucralose safety approval for...
European Food Safety Authority withholds sucralose safety approval for high-heat applications
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said it cannot confirm the safety of sucralose (E 955) — a sweetener around 600 times sweeter than sugar and used in reduced-sugar and sugar-free F&B products — for additional uses requiring prolonged high-temperature processing.
Scientists overcome plant protein taste barriers with fermentation
Scientists overcome plant protein taste barriers with fermentation
Scientists in the US have developed a two-step fermentation process to remove 95% to 99% of the “beany or grassy” unpleasant aromas from plant-based protein — a major barrier to the adoption of healthier food alternatives. The method can help F&B manufacturers increase consumer acceptance of plant-based foods, as sustainable, health-conscious, and allergen-friendly foods continue to grow in popularity worldwide.
Cerealto divests pasta business to sharpen snacking focus
Cerealto divests pasta business to sharpen snacking focus
Spanish private-label manufacturer Cerealto has agreed to sell its pasta business and associated production site in Venta de Baños, Spain, to Portuguese food group Cerealis, as the company doubles down on its snacking and breakfast categories. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval from Spain’s CNMC and Portugal’s AdC, includes the transfer of around 125 staff. Financial terms of the details were not disclosed.  
Agropur posts revenue increase as protein demand drives dairy growth
Agropur posts revenue increase as protein demand drives dairy growth
Canada’s largest dairy cooperative, Agropur, has reported revenues of CA$8.9 billion (US$6.2 billion) for its 2025 fiscal year, a 2% increase on 2024, with the company flagging plans to expand its value-added protein processing capacity. EBITDA rose 12.6% to CA$686.4 million (US$479 million), while CA$70 million (US$48.9 million) was returned to member dairy producers in patronage payments. 
Advances in delivery tech and food formats are revolutionizing prenatal...
Advances in delivery tech and food formats are revolutionizing prenatal nutrition

Nutrition Insight

In a growing prenatal nutrition market, the industry sees shifting consumer demand toward science-backed solutions with enhanced bioavailability. Experts from Balchem, Lubrizol Life Science, and Valio tell Nutrition Insight how advances in delivery technologies and food-based formats are making supplements more effective and enjoyable. Innova Market Insights data indicate that 50% of female consumers planning to get pregnant take vitamins or minerals, while global supplement launches with pregnancy claims grew 4% annually from October 2022 to September 2025. Vitamin B9, or folic acid, was the leading ingredient, present in half of the new supplement launches from Oct 2024 to Sep 2025. 
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IFF posts full-year net loss as US$1.15B write-down sets...
International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) has reported a full-year net loss of US$374 million for 2025, driven largely by a US$1.15 billion write-down on the value of its Food Ingredients business — a segment the company is now actively putting up for sale. Stripping out one-off charges, the underlying business grew 2% on a currency-adjusted basis and delivered US$2.09 billion in adjusted operating profit. Full-year reported sales came in at US$10.89 billion, down 5% from the prior year.The write-down — an accounting charge that reduces the stated value of a business when its expected sale price falls below what was originally paid — reflects IFF’s assessment that its Food Ingredients unit is worth less than the figure carried on its books since the 2021 merger with DuPont’s nutrition division. IFF placed the segment under strategic review in August and has since launched a formal sale process, taking a US$1.15 billion goodwill write-down to reflect the planned exit. 
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Food Ingredients News
US beef prices surge as supply crisis triggers political...
US beef prices are climbing at nearly six times the rate of overall food inflation, driven by the smallest cattle herd in 75 years and a parasitic fly crisis on the Mexican border. The situation has triggered a rapid political response from the Trump administration, which has ordered antitrust investigations into the country’s dominant meat packers, while simultaneously expanding Argentine import quotas to ease consumer costs. Major processors, including Tyson Foods and JBS, are reporting hundreds of millions of dollars in quarterly beef losses, and the USDA Economic Research Service forecasts wholesale beef prices to rise a further 6.9% this year. On the retail side, grocery chains are reworking their pricing, assortment, and markdown strategies to manage what has become one of the most visible grocery cost pressures on US consumers. 
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Food Ingredients News
Functional mushrooms move beyond supplements into...
Functional mushrooms are moving beyond capsules and powders into mainstream F&B — from mushroom coffee and energy drinks to chocolates and gummies. However, as consumer awareness of species like lion’s mane and reishi rises, industry advocates reveal deeper challenges around ingredient standardization, species differentiation, and treating functional mushrooms as a single, interchangeable category.

Ingredient focus

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Consumers crave enhanced mouthfeel experiencesFeb2026

Data from Innova Market Insights shows that consumers are increasingly curious about texture when purchasing indulgent F&B products. They are drawn to smooth, creamy textures while also exploring ...

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Sweetener trends & insights: Opportunities for calorie-conscious innovation Feb 2026

Innova Market Insights reveals that nearly half of consumers globally are turning to sweeteners to satisfy their sweet cravings while aiming to reduce their calorie intake. This growing demand for lower-calorie options is fueling innovation in the sweetener market, presenting new opportunities for the development of novel sweetener solutions in F&B products.

Trend analysis

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Plant-based innovation: Beyond dairy and meat alternativesFeb 2026

Plant-based products now extend beyond dairy and meat alternatives, including both category replicas and standalone or hybrid products. Innova Market Insights data shows plant-based F&B launches have seen steady growth globally over the past five years, with Europe leading the way. Dairy remains the top category in these launches.

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ISM 2026 recap: Alternative ingredients address confectionery industry challenges

Price volatility and dietary demands are changing confectionery’s core ingredients. Missy Green, editor of The World of Food Ingredients, explores how alternatives to cocoa, gelatin, and refined sugar are reshaping the confectionery industry on the ISM 2026 show...

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ISM & ProSweets 2026: Valio on “permissible indulgence” and high-protein innovation
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ISM & ProSweets 2026: Bursting espresso martini chocolates win Silver ISM Innovation Award 
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ISM & ProSweets 2026: Dreidoppel highlights cherry blossom as 2026 flavor trend
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