While healthier foods continue to be a focus for consumers — and thus food manufacturers — the ways in which those foods are harvested, produced and packaged are becoming just as important, especially among Millennials.

A study analyzed 12.5 million social media posts and other online commentaries to determine that sustainability and company transparency are priorities that rank right alongside health and flavor. A Nielsen Report also surmises that Millennials are a demanding generation that wants to be more informed about companies, their products and their business practices.

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Consumers in the U.S. eat more than 10 billion bowls of soup every single year. Tomato soup is the second favorite, topped only by chicken noodle. However, it’s hard to argue that any other is more versatile than creamy tomato soup which can be enjoyed on its own or used in other recipes such as chili, casseroles, stews, Mexican dishes, Italian classics and more.

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Some of the food trends named in the top 10 list for 2018 — as compiled by Datassential, a supplier of trends, analysis and concept testing for the food industry — aren’t likely to become staples in food manufacturers’ formulations anytime soon. Persimmon in your pudding? Rose water in your Ravioli?

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If you’ve used whey protein ingredients in your foods or beverages, you know that they provide a number of benefits to your formulations. In addition to its well-known health benefits, a functional whey protein ingredient can also add improved functionality to an application, in addition to lowering costs and replacing artificial-sounding ingredients to be more label-friendly. In today’s market, all of these things provide a huge competitive advantage for manufacturers.

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In the 1990s, the FDA defined “natural” products as those where “nothing artificial or synthetic—including all color additives regardless of source—can be included or added to a food that would not normally be expected to be in the food.” This prevented foods made with artificial ingredients from being labeled as “natural”, but created a loophole for certain ingredients to be classified as natural as well.

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When you think of “clean eating,” what types of food do you think of? For some people, clean eating brings to mind foods like fresh dairy and produce or grass-fed beef. However, according to a new study from The NPD Group, 61% of today’s primary grocery shoppers now believe that packaged foods are acceptable for clean eating, with 44% saying processed foods are okay too.

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When comparing Millennials, Gen Xers, and Baby Boomers, most people would agree that each generation has their own set of traits, preferences, and beliefs that distinguish them from other generations. Millennials are more tech-savvy than Baby Boomers, for example, making Millennials a popular target for new electronics, mobile devices, apps, and other cutting edge products. In the world of nutrition, things are no different, as each generation is targeted for their different eating preferences. You don’t see Baby Boomers being targeted for flashy energy drinks, for example, just as you don’t see Millennials being targeted for nutrient-rich health shakes.

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