The food industry is full of creative entrepreneurs who want to make a positive impact by offering healthier, or more sustainable, products. And consumers are receptive to having more healthy and sustainable options. For example, according to the Organic Trade Association, sales of organic food in 2021 grew by 13% to $56.5 billion. Unfortunately, all the wonderful products on the market, no matter how good their intentions, create a strain on the environment.

For example, processing fruits into finished products creates an immense amount of waste in the form of peels, trimmings, stems, shells, bran, and seeds. When food byproducts end up in landfills, they pose a danger to the environment due to microbial decomposition and leachate production. Sometimes, byproducts are burned to remove fungi and parasites. The handling of this solid waste is also an economic burden on both food processors and those managing landfills. Food waste and byproducts not only have an impact on the environment but also are missed opportunities for human nutrition. In fact, these byproducts, which account for 50% of fresh fruit, can often have nutritional and functional content higher than the finished product

The nutritional potential of food byproducts is worth exploring when you consider the fact that 805 million people globally suffer from hunger. In food waste and byproducts is the presence of proteins, lipids, starches, micronutrients, bioactive compounds, and dietary fibers. It’s a shame to waste that potential.

Consumers are becoming aware of food waste and trying to be proactive, with grocery delivery services like Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods providing blemished produce and other items at a discount. Therefore, upcycling food waste and byproducts creates a compelling story that will appeal to people’s desire to make a difference.

On top of that, emerging certifications that recognize carbon neutrality and upcycling will help communicate that story and verify said claims. Two recent brands that have put the importance of upcycling into perspective are EverGrain (St. Louis, MO) and Riff (Bend, OR), which are Upcycled Certified and Certified Carbonfree, respectively.

EverGrain is a subsidiary of AB InBev, a brewing company that is responsible for producing the world’s most popular beers, including Budweiser. A brewing company this size goes through a huge amount of grain, such as barley, each year. According to an article in 

, the brewing industry produces nine million metric tons of used grain each year, and AB InBev accounts for 16%, or 1.4 million metric tons. Currently, EverGrain repurposes 50 tons of barley each year to develop protein and fiber-rich ingredients for the food and beverage industry—but soon will be able to upcycle 7,000 tons annually after retrofitting a 1905 fermentation cellar by AB InBev’s St. Louis brewery at a cost of $100 million. When one considers just how much beer is produced and consumed, the potential benefits of this kind of closed-loop system are staggering.

Coffee is another product that consumers cannot get enough of but that comes at both a human and environmental cost. Labels like Fair Trade help people sleep at night, but Riff is exposing something many of us may have been unaware of: unused coffee byproduct. According to a white paper published by Riff in partnership with Oregon State University in June 2020, during the 2018/2019 growing season, coffee production hit 24 billion pounds of coffee, with an estimated value of $48 billion. The coffee beans were harvested from 120 billion pounds of coffee cherries, which means that nearly 100 billion pounds of byproduct was left behind, including 58 billion pounds of nutrient-rich coffee fruit. Left unmanaged, the wasted coffee fruit could generate up to 14.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is the equivalent of emissions from three million passenger cars for an entire year.

Riff uses the fruit, known as cascara, to make immune-boosting energy drinks. But the fruit has so much potential for other food and beverage applications. According to the white paper, 100 g of cascara fruit contains 50% of the daily recommended intake of biotin and vitamin E, 35 g of fiber, and 6.15 g of protein, with less than 1 g of fat.

This is the story for so many of the fruits that we know and love. Mangoes. Pineapples. Bananas. Grapes. Their byproducts are just waiting to be tapped.

Food waste and byproducts: An opportunity to minimize malnutrition and hunger in developing countries.

AB InBev’s EverGrain Brings Used Beer Ingredients to Snacks and Plant-Based Milks

Articles

Food byproducts and waste present an important opportunity for product development.

Upcycling: Important opportunities for food development

Sustainability has long been a consumer-led initiative, and the pet health market is no exception. Consumers are increasingly demonstrating high awareness of the social impact of the goods they buy and are opting for more eco-friendly and ethically sourced products. As demographics shift and Millennials displace Baby Boomers as the nation’s largest consumer group, younger consumers’ values of sustainability and socially conscious capitalism are driving innovation in companion animal products.

Data from Kantar show that during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, 59% of all global consumers were taking at least some kind of action to reduce their ecological footprint.

 Meanwhile, one OpenText survey of 25,000 consumers in 12 countries found that over 80% of consumers said it is important to buy ethically produced products—and almost 20% of respondents only came to hold that belief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As consumers vote with their dollars and prioritize socially conscious, sustainable products, pet health brands will be forced to choose whether to become sustainability leaders, followers, or laggards. Here are some of the ways pet health ingredient suppliers are giving brands a new range of sustainable ingredient tools.

Complete Nutrition from Non-Meat Products

The desire for sustainable pet food has given rise to a variety of plant-based products. Plant-based claims are one of the ways brands are appealing to sustainability-conscious shoppers, says Maygane Ronsmans, product manager for animal nutrition, Beneo (Parsippany, NJ). Ronsmans cites the results of a Beneo survey of dog and cat owners across the globe: “Pet food trends continue to mirror those in human nutrition, and sustainability and plant-based origin are of increasing importance. More than half of pet owners are now paying attention to sustainability and the carbon footprint of their pets’ food, and this trend is even more pronounced in animal nutrition [supplements].”

As plant-based pet foods and pet health ingredients gain popularity, formulators are paying special attention to the nutrients involved in formulations and the unique nutritional needs of animals at every life stage. Ronsmans says it is quite common for pet health and pet food ingredients, plant-based or not, to lack certain essential nutrients. That’s why blends are becoming so popular.

“A great example is the combination of rice protein, which contains limited lysine, with faba protein concentrate,” Ronsmans explains. “Faba is a legume protein with higher lysine content, so [together] they fulfill the minimum requirement for this amino acid. Brands also often add vitamin or mineral premixes to their formulations, along with other ingredients like synthetic amino acids, to complement the formula.”

While plant-based protein sources are one way suppliers are moving away from meat, there is also a growing trend of cell-based solutions. Novel protein solutions like plant-based meat alternatives and cell-cultured meat are on a fast growth trajectory, says Patrick Luchsinger, marketing manager of nutrition and pet food for Ingredion (Westchester, IL). With consumers increasingly open to these alternatives for their pets, Luchsinger says suppliers are continuing to innovate by improving the taste profile and sensory experience of plant-based and cell-based meat alternatives.

“At Ingredion, we’ve seen an increased interest not only in our pea and lentil proteins but also in our collaboration with The Every Company. Formerly Clara Foods, The Every Company provides nature-identical proteins via fermentation technology,” he says.

The Every Company (San Francisco) launched the world’s first non-animal egg protein product in 2021. Produced by inserting the DNA sequence of specific animal proteins into a yeast medium and inducing fermentation, The Every Company’s proteins are functionally equivalent to animal protein, but with no animal ingredients.

Luchsinger says the future of protein for both animal and human applications is, in fact, in plant-based and cell-derived ‘meat.’ “Consumers are starting to realize that meat production accounts for a high percentage of global warming gases like nitrous oxide,” Luchsinger explains. “Meat production also consumes a large amount of water. Some consumers have started looking for alternative protein sources that have a low impact on the climate and on water consumption.”

Sustainability is an all-encompassing principle that permeates not just the ingredients themselves but also their supply chain. While sourcing plant-based ingredients is one means of reducing carbon emissions, pet health suppliers are taking steps to improve sustainability across the entire global chain. For instance, suppliers are increasingly incorporating clean-label principles like transparency and traceability into their operations, says Amanda Mackinnon, marketing and communications manager, Marinova (Cambridge, Australia).

“Consumer expectations for transparency have grown rapidly in recent years,” Mackinnon says. “Not only are consumers conscious of their own environmental impact but also the environmental impact of their pets. The burgeoning consumer demand for natural health products that are ethically and sustainably sourced is showing up in the pet health market.”

Pet health brands are supporting consumer demand by sourcing ingredients from clean-label suppliers, Mackinnon notes. Rather than using highly processed and commoditized ingredients, brands are increasingly partnering with suppliers that can demonstrate sustainable practices.

Moreover, more suppliers are reimagining their processes to reduce their environmental impact. “Manufacturers of fucoidan have traditionally used solvents to precipitate the fucoidan polymer from crude seaweed extracts,” Mackinnon says. “This can lead to contaminants in the final extract. Fucoidans manufactured in this way suffer many shortfalls, such as inconsistency in quality, compromised chemical integrity, and reduced bioactivity.”

Marinova has committed to a solvent-free extraction process that produces unadulterated fucoidan. However, Marinova’s sustainability initiatives also go much further; the company is committed to improving sustainability across the entire supply chain. Mackinnon notes that the company only sources wild macroalgae from clean ocean water using sustainable harvesting practices. Marinova deliberately avoids areas of ocean water that have been extensively farmed or contaminated by human or industrial activity. All of the company’s seaweed residues are repurposed into horticultural products, which keeps them out of landfills, she says.

Sustainability also starts on the farm, points out Gustavo Zenaide, vice president of pet and animal wellbeing at ADM (Chicago). ADM works with its global network of suppliers to incorporate sustainability practices in ingredient sourcing, from water conservation to greenhouse gas emission reductions and more. Zenaide says ADM’s Strive 35 plan is guiding the company in its efforts to improve energy efficiency, recycle water, find alternative uses for waste byproducts, and sequester carbon emissions. Under the Strive 35 plan, by the year 2035 ADM aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 25%, reduce energy intensity by 15%, slash water usage by 10%, and achieve a 90% landfill diversion rate.

Beyond its internal initiatives, ADM is leveraging its capital to invest in sustainability-leading companies. In September 2021, ADM finalized an agreement to purchase a controlling ownership stake in PetDine (Fort Collins, CO). “The PetDine group of companies has shown a strong commitment to improving sustainable practices within their business,” Zenaide explains. “In 2020, PetDine announced that their production facility in Harvard, IL, is powered with solar power, with a capacity to offset approximately 1,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.”

Consumers are also opting for pet foods and pet health products that have fewer, simpler ingredients, as well as natural flavors. After all, human nutrition trends are more frequently influencing the pet nutrition market, particularly as more consumers view pets as a member of the family, Zenaide says. That means growing interest in claims of “all natural,” “plant based,” “organic,” and “non-GMO.”

Pet parents are also looking for more natural flavors that appeal to picky pets, create a sense of novelty, or offer a sense of familiarity. Flavors like pumpkin spice, blueberry, and roast turkey can help healthy pet foods to command a premium, Zenaide notes.

Consumers are increasingly calling on brands to make it easier to track pet food ingredients, too, Beneo’s Ronsmans says. Research conducted by Beneo shows that a majority of pet owners expect their pet’s food to be human-quality, which is why the demand for natural, healthy, clean-label ingredients is growing.

“Pet owners want understandable labels,” Ronsmans says. “They also want ingredients that are nonallergenic and health promoting. Consumer interest in all things clean label is driving demand for more ethically sourced products. Consumers want to see more sustainability information on pet food packaging.”

Beneo recently increased energy efficiency in its factories and is investing in technologies that can harvest more raw material, thereby reducing waste, Ronsmans says. Beneo also recently invested 50 million Euros in a new pulse processing site in Germany, which helps to reduce carbon emissions at the farm level.

Pet parents are more eco-conscious than ever, and they’re willing to spend more money on pet foods and pet health products that can meet their high expectations. Clean-label formulations, plant-based and whole-food ingredients, and supply chain transparency are some of the dominant human nutrition market trends that have found their way into the pet health space.

As more consumers start to consider the sustainability implications of their buying habits and reduce their carbon footprints, demand for sustainably sourced pet food and pet ingredients will only grow.

OpenText Survey Shows Increase in Demand for Ethically Sourced Goods.

Environmental footprints of beef cattle production in the United States.

Mark Cuban Invests in Plant-Based Protein Company, but It’s Not for Humans.

Picky pet parents are on the lookout for sustainably sourced products. How are ingredients stepping up?

Human demand for sustainability is reshaping the pet health market

Given the irrefutable truth that we are what we eat, it follows that the record of which nutrients we do—or don’t—ingest will ultimately wind up written all over our faces.

It also follows that given the interest in self-care the pandemic unleashed, nutricosmetics—ingestible products that leverage nutrients to the skin’s betterment—would be landing ever more firmly on skincare consumers’ radars.

prediction that nutricosmetic sales will hit $1.6 billion by 2023, some observers still harbor plenty of doubt as to whether or not these items will reach the heights of their topical cosmeceutical counterparts.

But to nutricosmetics boosters, “plenty of doubt” looks more like “plenty of room for growth”—for beauty-from-within 

After all, says Katie Emerson MS, RD, LDN, manager of scientific affairs, Nutrition21 (Saddle Brook, NJ), “Nutricosmetics sit firmly at the intersection of health and beauty. The markets for them and cosmeceuticals go hand-in-hand, serving inner and outer wellness and beauty in topical and ingestible applications.”

Inner, outer, or otherwise, the obsession consumers have with beauty—or, more modestly, their appearance in general—actually intensified during COVID-19, despite their having fewer opportunities in which to flaunt it.

One source of that intensity was the much-discussed “Zoom effect,” and for good reason: It’s hard 

 to zero in on every facial flaw when most, if not all, meetings and social events take place on a screen that reflects those flaws right back at you.

To give magnitude to the phenomenon, Lycored (Branchburg, NJ) reports that 54% of the American consumers the company surveyed claimed that seeing themselves and others on video calls elevated physical appearance to top-of-mind status.

No wonder, then, that they and others felt motivated to “pay more attention to their skin” under lockdown, observes Zev Ziegler, Lycored’s head of global brand and marketing for health, giving skin smoothness, tone, and “glow” or “radiance” added consideration, even from behind closed doors.

Yet in another of the ironies that the pandemic was so adept at generating, consumers’ concerns about their skin peaked right as the venues where they’d normally address those concerns were closing their own doors.

Or, as Sébastien Bornet, vice president, global sales and marketing, Horphag Research, exclusive global supplier of Pycnogenol (Hoboken, NJ), puts it, “The pandemic disrupted a lot of things, skincare routines included. Restrictions shut many spas and professional skincare services, leaving consumers without routine facials and other in-person treatments they’d relied on to maintain skin health.”

Their response: adopt at-home, DIY approaches, like consulting the “University of Google” for self-directed educations in all things skincare science; not for nothing did Google Trends track significant jumps in web searches for the terms 

And indeed, Bornet says, “Many consumers explored new products and ingredients to help them maintain the investment they were making in their skin at home. The silver lining? Consumers learned more and took greater control of their routines.”

Their engagement persists even as lockdowns recede. “As people awaken from COVID-induced hibernation to travel, reconnect with friends, and experience whatever their new normal may be,” says Tim Hammond, vice president of sales and marketing, Bergstrom Nutrition (Vancouver, WA), “skincare, haircare, and overall body self-care are even more relevant.”

They’re more connected, too, as research into the brain/body/skin axis reveals how intimately our outward appearance relates to our inner workings.

Even the general public is catching on, says Liki von Oppen-Bezalel, PhD, consultant/director, TriNutra (Nes Ziona, Israel), who’s witnessed consumers “becoming more aware of the brain/body/skin axis and how all three interact. So, when it comes to stress, diet, exercise, and skincare, they understand that balance is critical.”

That tells her that consumers are “ready” for nutricosmetics and cosmeceuticals, and are looking for ingredients “that aren’t just well researched but are present in proper amounts and produce effects they can see and feel,” she says.

Bornet agrees, noting that consumers are “building routines that address nutrition, fitness, sleep, and beauty holistically, selecting products that tackle all at once to make those routines simpler and more effective. They understand that beautiful skin is healthy skin that reflects the body’s health and nutritional status overall.”

Younger consumers, in particular, have embraced the “from-within” mentality, Ziegler adds, which is leading them to redefine that “healthy glow” as not just a dewy complexion, but a reflection of mental and emotional harmony “that can only be achieved through the right balance of external and from-within factors,” he says.

As if that’s not enough, “Multifunctional is the theme!” says Paula Simpson, principal, Nutribloom Consulting (New York and Toronto). “Consumers want formulations that not only help with skin and hair health but also with energy, gut health, vitality, hormonal balance, etc. Tailor-focused claims are a wave of the past; providing additional wellness support goes a long way.”

Assuming products can do all that, “Both nutricosmetics and cosmeceuticals have great potential,” von Oppen-Bezalel predicts.

Granted, consumers’ familiarity with topical applications gives cosmeceuticals a head start; in fact, analysts project the global cosmeceutical market to reach a value of $96.23 billion by 2029.

 Yet while nutricosmetics brought in a relatively demure $7.4 billion in 2021, they’re still set to grow at a compound annual rate of 8.2% through 2028.

Thus, von Oppen-Bezalel concludes, “As more people become aware of beauty from within and understand the science behind it, there’s great potential to drive this latter market.”

And that science is compelling. As von Oppen-Bezalel explains, “When using an ingestible for beauty, the effects are systemic, affecting the whole body, and thereby the skin, from within. This happens not only by reaching the skin but by activating multiple functions in the body.” Topicals, by contrast, work via direct and concentrated contact with skin tissue.

Yet when used routinely and continuously, “both have long-lasting effects,” she continues. “And when both are used at the same time, the benefits seem to be enhanced, more prominent, and in many cases faster.”

That’s why Samantha Ford, MS, director of business development, AIDP (City of Industry, CA), sees “such a great opportunity for ingestible solutions to provide synergies with topical treatments and even boost or prolong their effects.”

All of which underscores a point Nutrition21’s Emerson is keen to make: “Nutricosmetics and cosmeceuticals need to be formulated with ingredients that produce visible results and are backed by science.”

She offers biotin as one such ingredient. A veteran of hair, nail, and skin formulations, biotin exerts its effects at the cellular level; yet its poor absorption hinders its efficacy and has been a “longstanding issue” limiting its success, Emerson says.

Nutrition21 stabbed at the issue with its Lustriva ingredient. A patented complex of magnesium biotinate and bonded arginine silicate designed for nutricosmetic use, the formulation’s biotin is 40 times more soluble than the D-biotin found in most hair, skin, and nail products, with clinical evidence showing that it improves skin elasticity and overall appearance, reduces facial wrinkles and fine lines, and improves skin texture compared to baseline.

Beyond that, Emerson says, an efficacious dose of 160 mg is easy to incorporate into “a wide variety of dietary supplement and functional food or beverage applications, including ready-to-drink and dry-mix beverages, gummies, capsules, and tablets,” which she feels leaves the ingredient “well positioned to replace traditional biotin forms on the market today.”

Another skincare staple—particularly in dermatologic practice—is the mineral sulfur, which Bergstrom’s Hammond notes is both a key component of skin’s collagen framework and a building block of the keratin that lends structure to hair and nails.

Further, he claims that Bergstrom’s methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) ingredient OptiMSM—34% sulfur by weight—is a potent sulfur donor to skin, where it not only supports collagen but inhibits the crosslinking that can lead to tissue “hardening.”

Instrumental analysis suggests that MSM may bolster the skin’s barrier function, “providing for a greater exchange of water and nutrients in the dermis,” Hammond adds. “And MSM has also been identified as one of a few select ingredients that effectively improve skin’s appearance by supporting the extracellular matrix—critical to skin’s strong yet flexible characteristics.”

A study published in 2015 reported that participants receiving oral supplemental OptiMSM experienced improved skin elasticity and firmness, as well as an average wrinkle reduction of 38%.

 Results of a follow-up study published five years later also noted significant improvements from baseline in facial-wrinkle severity as well as skin hydration, firmness, and elasticity among participants in the supplement group, leading the authors to conclude that just 1 g daily effectively reduced signs of skin aging and yielded visible benefits within four weeks.

Finally, Hammond hints at an as-yet-unpublished study indicating that a combination of 1 g of OptiMSM and 2.5 g of marine collagen may significantly improve skin smoothness and texture at six weeks, with reductions in the number and appearance of fine lines and wrinkles appearing upon clinical evaluation at 12 weeks.

Beyond minerals, Bornet notes that antioxidants “have become a staple in the nutribeauty space,” and that Horphag’s “flagship” ingredient, Pycnogenol—an antioxidant derived from French maritime pine bark—selectively binds collagen and elastin to protect them from oxidative degradation and, by extension, from the fine lines and wrinkles that degradation can cause.

Participants in a recent study who supplemented with the ingredient experienced retention of skin hydration, increased skin elasticity, reduced air-pollution-induced skin pigmentation, and reinforced skin-barrier function, even upon exposure to urban environmental pollution and seasonal temperature and humidity variations, he says.

This builds upon earlier studies showing that the ingredient enhances photoprotection to reduce hyperpigmentation and improve skin-barrier function

, all while increasing hyaluronic acid production by upping activity of the enzyme that synthesizes it by 44%. The upshot: Improvements in skin hydration and elasticity of 21% and 25%, respectively.

 And of import to formulators, Bornet adds, the ingredient complements both topical and oral formulation.

Sticking with the antioxidant theme, Ziegler emphasizes the “growing evidence for carotenoids’ many skincare benefits,” including a recent study showing that supplementation with these antioxidants—as well as with polyphenols and estradiol—reduced oxidation-induced skin damage and improved skin health and appearance.

 “The findings may have particular relevance to efforts at reducing skin damage from UV radiation and environmental pollutants, as well as natural aging,” Ziegler hypothesizes.

 involving Lycored’s own carotenoid ingredient—its Lumenato golden-tomato extract—demonstrates not only the antioxidant’s fast action but its durable results, as well. Twenty-four healthy volunteers supplemented with the complex for four weeks, with researchers noting a nearly fourfold increase in skin phytoene levels after only one week and levels almost five times baseline by week four. “There were also significant increases in other carotenoid levels, such as phytofluene and zeta-carotene, indicating Lumenato’s high bioavailability,” Ziegler says.

After 12 weeks of supplementation, participants continued reporting significant improvements in skin hydration, firmness, brightness, tone, and overall condition, plus reductions in fine lines, dark spots and circles, and wrinkles. “Interestingly,” Ziegler notes, “assessment of these parameters showed continued improvements after treatment ended.” Namely, while 19% of participants rated their facial skin as attractive at baseline, that percentage had increased to 65% following 12 weeks of supplementation and to 69% two weeks post-trial. Ziegler’s take: “It’s exciting to see consumers noticing a lasting effect, which demonstrates the continuous skin nourishment that carotenoids can provide.”

“Another ingredient formulators should consider is 

,” von Oppen-Bezalel suggests. Also known as black seed oil, it’s appeared in traditional pharmacopeia for millennia, with science now substantiating its benefits as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, pigment-controlling, barrier-protecting, wound-healing, and all-around “detoxing” ingredient for skin.

TriNutra’s black seed oil preparation—cold-pressed and standardized to 3% of the main active thymoquinone with low free fatty acids—has scientific backing for its ability to hydrate, boost age-related mitochondrial function, reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, and simply “energize” skin, von Oppen-Bezalel says, “thus revitalizing and rejuvenating it and contributing to a flawless appearance.”

What’s more, research on its mitochondrial effects as expressed in ATP production links it “to efficient energy production through improved respiration and metabolism of sugars and fat,” von Oppen-Bezalel explains, adding that a recent study

 shows that the formulation—which TriNutra brands B’utyQuin for use in cosmeceuticals—“can play an important long-term role in maintaining skin homeostasis” by regulating growth of the 

 pathogens associated with seborrhoea, dandruff, and other skin conditions.

Proprietary TriNutra research found that B’utyQuin even helps regulate the balance between the skin and gut microbiomes—landing it at the epicenter of a trend celebrating the microbes inhabiting our gut, our skin, and a whole lot more.

“The world of microbes is definitely on minds these days,” Simpson says. “With our overly hygienic practices and daily use of multiple products on our skin, chronic skin conditions are on the rise. Consumers are considering the skin-microbiome approach because they’re interested in how it affects the gut-skin axis and because of the ‘minimalist’ and ‘balancing’ effect it can have both from within and when applied topically.”

AIDP’s Ford agrees. “Consumers are increasingly aware of the gut-skin axis,” she says, noting that by impairing the skin’s barrier function, an imbalanced gut microbiome can allow toxins to enter circulation and accumulate on the skin, causing oxidative stress, inflammation, discoloration, and collagen and elastin breakdown.

That’s why she promotes use of AIDP’s BeautyOLIGO prebiotic in nutricosmetic formulations. Clinical data shows that the galacto-oligosaccharide helps optimize the gut environment by stimulating growth of beneficial bacteria and stanching growth of the bad, strengthening the immune system, eliminating toxins, and inhibiting activation of collagen- and elastin-degrading enzymes. The result, she says, is proven wrinkle reduction, improved skin tone, and hydration.

“New research within our Naticol type 1 natural marine collagen line demonstrates gut-health and inflammation benefits, as well, due to its unique composition,” Ford continues, which hints at a new frontier for this skincare active with a lengthy history of research and use.

Naticol, for example, helps rejuvenate the body’s own collagen system, leading to tighter, firmer, and smoother-looking skin, Ford says. Sourced entirely from fish skin and scales, the ingredient is also bioavailable, “allowing the body to circulate necessary amino acids used to synthesize collagen fibrils and other connective tissues.” Clinical results show improvements in skin hydration, firmness, elasticity, and wrinkle reduction with as little as 2.5 g daily.

Ford also highlights the benefits of AIDP’s Keragen-IV vegetarian keratin, a digestible powder that amps up the body’s innate mechanism for producing collagen types IV and VII between the dermis and epidermis, targeting deep wrinkles, nail strength, and hair-follicle strength.

“If you look at formulations across the nutricosmetic and cosmeceutical space,” Ford concludes, “you’ll notice many ingredients that cross into both areas—not just keratin and collagen, but hyaluronic acid, pre- and probiotics, and even certain vitamins and minerals. So, there’s room to grow and diversify in this space.”

Back to Life: Beauty and Self-Care in the Post-Pandemic World

Cosmeceuticals Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis.

A randomized double-blind evaluation of a novel biotin and silicon ingredient complex on the hair and skin of healthy women.

Journal of Clinical & Experimental Dermatology Research

Effects of oral supplementation with methylsulfonylmethane on skin health and wrinkle reduction

Beauty from within: Oral administration of a sulfur-containing supplement, methylsulfonylmethane, improves signs of skin aging

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research 

Beneficial effects of a sulfur-containing supplement on hair and nail condition

Oral Pycnogenol intake benefits the skin in urban Chinese outdoor workers: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, and crossover intervention study

Grether-Beck S et al. “French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol®) effects on human skin: Clinical and molecular evidence.” 

Pycnogenol Shown to Improve Visable Signs of Aging

The protective effect of carotenoids, polyphenols, and estradiol on dermal fibroblasts under oxidative stress

, vol. 10, no. 12 (December 20, 2021): 2023

“Effect of Lumenato oral supplementation on plasma carotenoid levels and improvement of visual and experiential skin attributes.

. Published online ahead of print January 12, 2022.

Antimicrobial activity by a unique composition of cold pressed 

Consumers are eager to invest in skincare products, but will today’s ingredients stand up to scrutiny? 

On the face of it: Are nutricosmetics and cosmeceuticals ready for their close-up?

It’s no surprise that the market for sleep-support supplements really…er, 

 once COVID-19 made a peaceful night’s rest about as hard to come by as a roll of toilet paper. And two-plus years on, research from ClearCut Analytics reveals continued growth in online sleep-supplement sales, with Amazon purchases alone up 55% year-on-year as of September 2021.

But has the need for a bedtime boost redounded to the benefit of sleep-support foods and beverages, too? After all, says Ranjana Sundaresan, lead research analyst, Spoonshot AI (St. Paul, MN), “Consumers show growing interest in the concept of food as medicine, preferring food instead of pills as a means to better health—which increasingly means better-quality sleep.”

In fact, Spoonshot’s analysis of online consumer- and influencer-generated content suggests that general interest in sleep-improving foods grew 90% in the 12 months preceding January 2022. And as for industry interest, references in professional blogs and business media skyrocketed by 228% during the same period.

That said, Sundaresan continues, “Sleep support is still a very niche segment of the food and drink space, accounting for just 0.05% of products launched,” per Spoonshot’s number-crunching. But where some brands see niche positioning, others see room for growth. And if the products they create hit the sleep-support sweet spots, consumers will eat them up.

Whatever the platform for sleep support, “It’s definitely a great time to be in this market,” declares David Foreman, RPh, ND, founder and president, Herbal Pharmacist (Oceanside, CA). Even as COVID-19 recedes, he says, “I think people are reaching more for sleep support these days than less.” Why? “The pandemic’s stress is still very fresh—and raw—and it’s still impacting sleep quality.”

Even more vexing, that stress landed atop a stack of woes that were already robbing consumers of rightful rest. As Chris Peruzzi, cofounder and COO, The Functional Chocolate Company (Evergreen, CO), points out, “Sleep issues had been a challenge for a majority of Americans even prior to the pandemic. Stress and anxiety from work, family and finances, as well as health issues and poor sleep habits all lead to insufficient sleep. Unfortunately, those factors aren’t disappearing anytime soon.”

Nor, however, is the sleep-science research that’s demonstrating beyond doubt that “sleep is as important to health as anything else,” Peruzzi continues. “It’s no surprise that the public is now more aware than ever about just how important a good night’s sleep is.”

Yet while consumers have their pick of over-the-counter sleep aids, “Many of these come with heavy side effects and are delivered as large pills or bitter drops,” Peruzzi says. Neither of which does much to encourage compliance.

Enter, therefore, the small but growing class of functional foods and drinks designed to make easing into sleep…easier.

For example, Sundaresan says, teas—and herbal varieties especially—lead the sleep-support food and beverage category, accounting for 44.3% of the launches that Spoonshot tracked. “And this isn’t very surprising,” she says, “as herbal teas are associated with relaxation and unwinding, particularly when consumed in the evening.”

Perhaps less obvious is the “significant scope” that Sundaresan and colleagues see for sleep support in the snack and indulgence spaces. “These categories have near-universal appeal,” she argues, “and their reputation as comfort foods could support relaxation and stress reduction when formulated with the right ingredients.”

Melatonin is the granddaddy of sleep-support ingredients, but Foreman finds it can leave consumers “groggy or nonfunctional,” as he puts it. He’s more bullish on innovations that he says give consumers “clinically proven options with little to no aftereffects.” Some that he considers “legitimately promising” include Sensoril ashwagandha, Affron saffron extract, Lactium casein hydrolysate, and PharmaGABA, “which all seem to be getting noticed.”

Beyond choice of actives, “Lifestyle-friendly delivery systems are key,” Foreman continues—meaning “products consumers can easily remember and that are convenient and easy to take at the same time.”

Case in point: “If I’m getting ready for bed, I don’t want to brush my teeth first and then chew a gummy or bar,” he says. “A beverage seems to be a great fit that can sit on the bathroom counter or near your toothbrush and mouthwash. Just a cool thought.”

Of course, it might be hard to prioritize tooth-friendliness in a sleep food aimed at the indulgence space. Yet if Peruzzi’s experience as cofounder of a functional-chocolate company is anything to go by, many consumers may be okay going without it.

One of the brand’s bestselling products is its Sleep Chocolate bar, which the team “dreamt up,” Peruzzi says, “as a sweeter approach for the huge segment of consumers looking for a bit of a respite.”

Formulated with a “carefully selected” blend of botanicals—chamomile, valerian, lavender, and lemon balm—as well as magnesium and melatonin, the blueberry-lavender-flavored dark-chocolate bar not only spares consumers the lingering effects of traditional sleep aids but provides what Peruzzi calls an “ideal vehicle for functional ingredients.”

It’s inherently functional thanks to its flavanols, antioxidants, and minerals like magnesium, zinc, iron, and copper, he says; fortifying it further with active nutrients and botanicals “creates an even more indulgent and especially effective experience, as the healthy fats found naturally in chocolate act as carriers to improve bioavailability.”

As consumers chew the chocolate, he adds, “The brain has a chance to alert the digestive system to prepare for nutrients, which also improves bioavailability significantly compared to swallowing tablets or capsules.”

Finally, don’t discount the decadence factor. Dark chocolate “offers a pleasurable delivery method for key ingredients,” Peruzzi insists, “making it more likely that consumers will use the supplement regularly, which can be a challenge with less-palatable pills, tinctures, or even teas.”

That’s not to say the team was able to formulate its dream chocolate in their sleep. Fine-tuning flavor, for instance, posed challenges, particularly around valerian root, which formulators brought into balance using natural bitterness blockers, Peruzzi says.

But ultimately, the brand’s goal was less to fight or hide active and botanical notes than to complement them. “Each Functional Chocolate bar’s flavor reflects its ingredients,” Peruzzi explains. “So Sleep Chocolate includes lavender as an active, and instead of trying to cover that strong flavor, we embraced it by making a lavender-blueberry bar. We’re not willing to compromise flavor or user experience, so balancing efficacy and decadence is always our goal.”

They’ll learn how successfully they’ve met it as the bar gains broader distribution, reaching “more tired consumers in more places—from hotel lobbies to airports, spas, salons, and, of course, direct to doors from us,” Peruzzi says. “Combining beneficial ingredients with the enjoyment of a sweet treat like premium chocolate is simply a more pleasurable experience.”

While The Functional Chocolate Company was very deliberate in pitching its Sleep Chocolate bar as a sleep solution delivered in edible form, the mission of NightFood (Tarrytown, NY) “was to solve the nighttime snack problem, not the sleep problem,” declares Sean Folkson, NightFood founder and CEO.

“We understand that the most popular nighttime snack choices—cookies, chips, ice cream—are inherently sleep-disruptive,” he explains. “So while billions of dollars of consumer snack spend have shifted to better-for-you brands, and while almost half of all snacking takes place between dinner and bed, other companies have failed to address the impact our snack choices have on sleep quality. That’s what we do at NightFood.”

The upshot: The company’s “sleep-friendly ice cream for night snacking,” Folkson says, “is not a delivery system for sleep aids.” Rather, the product is “simply a more sleep-friendly alternative to ice creams that consumers would otherwise eat—and yes, tens of millions of ice cream servings are consumed before bed every night.”

Still, the brands’ formulations bear functional hallmarks. “Our ice cream, for example, has about twice the tryptophan as other brands,” Folkson notes. “It’s also higher in prebiotic fiber, protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6, and more. And we use tart Montmorency cherries, which are higher in melatonin, for our Cherry Eclipse flavor. Our coffee flavor, Cold Brew Decaf, is actually made with a decaf-coffee base.”

Still, he’s adamant that the frozen treats aren’t “delivery systems for functional ingredients.” Whatever functional actives appear on their ingredient statements are there simply “to make them better choices for people who snack before bed,” Folkson maintains. “We see a tremendous future in snacks formulated with better sleep in mind.”

Distribution of the brand’s pints is “set to roll” into hotel lobby shops nationwide, helping “to accelerate the rate at which consumers internalize and accept the fact that what they eat before bed impacts sleep—for better or worse—and then begin making nighttime snack choices with that factor in mind,” Folkson says. “With that, the ‘sleep-friendly snacking’ category will come to life, and that’s largely independent of the ‘sleep-supplement-in-food’ segment, which we feel has relatively limited potential.”

Even so, consumers are cluing in to all that the sleep-support space has to offer. And Foreman bets they’ll be engaged by what they learn. “The more the message gets out about sleep-support foods and beverages,” he predicts, “the more the science will hopefully lead the show.”

And how can companies introduce sleep foods and beverages to bedtime routines?

Are consumers ready for sleep-support foods and beverages?

Energy drinks, as a category, are hot and cool. Hot because the category is ripe for upstarts and newbies, those with a dream to quench their creative and entrepreneurial thirsts. And cool because those startups often enter the market with a plan to help save the planet in the process.

Not that the big guys and those already entrenched in the category are going anywhere soon. As Erin Costello, communications and events associate, Imbibe (Niles, IL), puts it, “While the top runners in this space might not be giving up their thrones just yet, this category has welcomed a number of brands that offer modernized options.” As an example, she mentions Ghost

, whose marketing copy for its energy drinks is as snappy as the drinks themselves. According to Costello’s read from market researcher IRI (Chicago) data, Ghost experienced a 1,505% increase in energy drink sales in the 52 weeks ending April 17, 2022.

Imbibe, no stranger to experience, is coming up on its 60

 anniversary next year. With as many specialties—maybe more—as Dr. Addison Montgomery, the super-credentialed, super-fictional surgeon from 

 Imbibe wears a lot of hats. And all of them seem to fit well. The beverage innovation leader, drink developer, and more recently ingredient supplier (with its launch last year of Ingredients by Imbibe, a platform that offers the company’s ingredients to external R&D teams) is also a supplier of trends thanks to its 

 Says Costello, “As we’re making our way through 2022, rather than seeing a lot of the trends shift, we’re seeing expansion in these areas with new concepts popping into categories like canned cocktails, coffee, carbonated soft drinks, and more.”

Moreover, Costello advises, “We’re noticing this same trend in energy drinks, with plant-based being highlighted as an attribute of energy drinks and this category targeting additional need states like immunity, cognitive support, and added vitamins.”

For those companies considering energy ingredients, Costello says Imbibe’s robust team of experts often advises its clients “to consider more natural sources of energy.” She sees growing interest in ingredients like B vitamins, matcha, cascara, yaupon, and yerba mate as a mechanism for delivering the pick-me-up consumers are looking for, often with other inherent benefits that come from antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, or other compounds.

And, of course, in the energy drink category, none of those trends can become a reality without the drinks still tasting good. Thanks to greater attention to newer technology from suppliers and manufacturers, health-conscious consumers can enjoy their energy drinks with less sugar and added functional ingredients, without the bitter aftertaste of years past. With taste in mind, Costello cites 2021 research from market researcher Mintel (London) which, she advises, says that approximately 24% of consumers reported eating and drinking more savory flavors in 2021.

This could potentially see consumers welcoming more earthy flavors from functional ingredients, she adds. Suppliers, brands, and consumers with a taste for trendy adaptogenic mushrooms like lion’s mane, chaga, reishi, and cordyceps will celebrate this news. And although adaptogens have been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, 

magazine noted back in 2018 that these herbs, roots, and nontoxic plants are enjoying a renaissance.

The Appeal of Mushroom-Based Energy Drinks

Om Mushroom Superfood, a leading producer of high-quality mushroom powders, beverages, and supplements, expanded its portfolio in 2021 with the launch of its Morning Energy Blend, a clean, caffeine-free, eco-friendly boost of energy in single-serve sachets. The product contains two species of cordyceps, plus vitamin D2 from 

 to support energy, vitality, and mood. Lion’s mane and rhodiola, meanwhile, promote focus; Turkey Tail and King Trumpet provide immune support; and reishi and chaga provide balance and antioxidants. Morning Energy Blend is also available in a 30-serving biodegradable canister.

Jan Hall, Om Mushroom Superfood’s CEO, said of the new caffeine-free coffee and tea alternative, “Morning Energy Blend gave us a natural opportunity to expand beyond our core line of beloved functional mushroom coffees and teas and offer consumers a beverage that would leave them energized but without caffeine jitters.”

The sachets contain only 30 calories and 1 g of sugar, and no added sweeteners, artificial flavors, or colors. In addition, Morning Energy Blend is USDA certified organic, certified kosher, vegan, and gluten free. “We know that consumers are looking for sustainable options and products with clean, functional ingredient panels now more than ever,” Hall noted.

More Mushrooms—and Some Bumps—Along the Way

Amaz is another company counting on growing consumer interest in plant-based, better-for-you, and good-for-the-planet energy drinks. In 2018, cofounders Gustavo Nader, CEO, and Demian Moraru, chief marketing officer, introduced the American market to a line of super plant elixirs they now call “more of a concept product” developed and revamped as the entrepreneurs took more time to get to know the American beverage market and its consumers.

The elixirs were well received within some health and wellness communities, particularly yoga studios and sporting events, and were sold at Whole Foods Market and Erewhon stores in California for over a year before the original formulation and branding was determined to be too niche for what the founders had in mind: a mainstream expansion for this brand with a story to tell.

So, Nader and Moraru went back to the drawing board, conducted market research among 30,000 consumers, analyzed additional market data, and conducted demos to gather more feedback. As a result, they discontinued Amaz’s initial portfolio and relaunched its new product line in April 2021—unfortunately smack in the middle of the pandemic. Fast-forward to March 2022 when Amaz’s diligence and perseverance led to a sweet reward: selection as a top-five semifinalist for standout emerging, mission-driven, and innovative brands in the Natural Products Expo West 2022 Pitch Slam competition.

The new—and improved—product line is called “Amaz Organic Sparkling Yerba Mate,” an organic, sparkling tea with adaptogens. The 12-oz canned teas are “rich in antioxidants and nutrients, used to boost energy and improve mental focus,” says Nader. They are available in three flavors—Acai Blueberry, Lemon Ginger, and Peach Mango. Each can contains 80 mg of natural caffeine, zero calories, zero sugar, and has a proprietary blend of ingredients including Yanomami mushrooms, suma root, acerola cherry, green tea, and guarana.

“Yerba mate was a very obvious choice—first, because of the growth the category is seeing in the U.S., and second because it is aligned with our values,” says Nader. It didn’t hurt that the cofounders grew up drinking yerba mate in their native Brazil.

They connected with investor Vinicius Biagi Antonelli, an entrepreneur focused on regenerative farming in Brazil who infused funding into the development of the yerba mate line. Amaz secured ingredients from Origens Brasil, an ethically sourced supplier focused on environmental sustainability in the Amazon rainforest.

 The Yanomami mushrooms, for example, are “a blend of native mushrooms collected and consumed by the indigenous Yanomami people for their nutritional balance,” says Nader. The market for these mushrooms helps generate income for indigenous communities, he adds.

From a marketing perspective, the company’s story is simpler than when it started—and that’s purposeful. Says Nader, “we wanted to be clearer on the communication to consumers.” Nader notes that “we only have a few seconds” for the products to attract consumers’ shelf attention, allowing consumers to “be able to understand the product and its benefits” and to make a yes-or-no decision. “We learned that 

 is a niche term,” states Nader, and with the goals of nationwide expansion and the need to clarify messaging for consumers, he adds that “we needed to improve.”

Amaz’s Organic Sparkling Yerba Mate line is available in Whole Foods Market and Erewhon, in the Amaz store on Amazon.com, and is available online direct-to-consumer from the company website.

The lessons learned by Amaz also resonate with Imbibe’s Costello, who says that “consumers are highly focused on the results that are promised from beverages, and although they’re seeking out products that are targeting certain need states, consumers are looking for this through products that are calling out and featuring it on their packaging and in their marketing.” To satisfy that need, she says that many brands have repackaged their products to call out a targeted need state, sugar reduction, and/or functional ingredients.

As an example of how the big brands are watching the entrepreneurial players in the beverage space, Costello uses a Snapple rebrand this past April as an example. “Snapple rebranded its tried-and-true beverage line, Diet Snapple, with new bottles and a new ad campaign to feature ‘zero sugar’ instead, dropping the term 

Company Values Help Consumers Find Their Brand

Costello also believes that brands, big and small, are looking to “align more with the target consumers’ values today.” And vice versa.

And that’s at the heart of Amaz’s story. Says Nader, “We believe that new products need to take a step further to promote sustainable diets and regeneration. It’s not only about protecting the environment; it’s also about consumers’ wellbeing and planetary health.”

Nader says consumers are increasingly aware of the relationship between consumption, environmental sustainability, wellbeing, and climate change. “Consumers are shifting toward sustainable diets, seeking a more holistic approach to personal and planetary health,” he advises.

Amaz’s story is built around the support, regeneration, and biodiversity in the Amazon rainforest. As such, Amaz partnered with Xingu Seeds Network, a nonprofit organization helping regrow trees in the Amazon rainforest, with a pledge of 2% of the company’s proceeds to the environmental project.

“The Amazon Rainforest is a vital part of the global climate system, so to protect and regenerate the Amazon has a direct effect on our planet and the wellness of the people. Our planet is one living system, and everything is connected after all,” says Nader.

Others, too, recognize this need for shared values. Imbibe’s Costello explains that sustainable brands are being held accountable and sought out for their commitment to recapturing carbon emissions. “This, of course, will extend beyond food and beverage, but the momentum behind the ‘climavore’ movement is growing,” she says. “Within the next three years, there will be a lot more products that will be sorted or filtered by their carbon emissions, potentially with a carbon score card or a carbon neutral marking of some kind.”

A Company’s Commitment to Carbon and Coffee Changes

Carbon neutrality is at the heart of Riff’s story.

 This purpose-driven, sustainably minded coffee company announced earlier this year that Riff Energy+ had been officially certified carbon neutral by the Carbonfund.org Foundation’s Carbonfree Product Certification Program.

 According to the company, the product is “the nation’s first energy drink and functional beverage to be certified carbon neutral.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Riff on this partnership to go carbon neutral,” said Eric M. Carlson, president, Carbonfund.org Foundation, in a press release. “Forward-thinking companies are continuing to prove that new products, such as energy drinks, can be part of the fight against climate change. Riff is taking their environmental sustainability seriously, which is an important step toward a more sustainable future for all of us.”

Riff Energy+ is brewed from nutritionally rich and naturally sweet upcycled cascara (meaning that fruit surrounding the coffee bean is reused and repurposed rather than going to waste) and touts not only its carbon neutral certification but also its clean label and functionality (packed with antioxidants and vitamin C). The good-for-you-and-the-planet sparkling energy drink in a can is fueled with clean caffeine—an amount equivalent to that in a cup of coffee—and is available in three flavors: Booyah Berry, Get-It Guava, and Pick-It-Up Pomegranate. It is sold on the company’s website, on the Riff store on Amazon.com, and in store locations in the “upper left” portion of the U.S. (Washington, Oregon, and parts of California).

The energy products shelf is increasingly characterized by shared values, personal health, and sustainability.

Nutritional Outlook Vol. 25 No. 5

Upcycling: Important opportunities for food development

Human demand for sustainability is reshaping the pet health market

On the face of it: Are nutricosmetics and cosmeceuticals ready for their close-up?

Are consumers ready for sleep-support foods and beverages?

Energy drinks in 2022: Sustainable, natural, and making a difference

Food’s Animal-Free Future: Meat and dairy alternatives are growing more sophisticated to court more consumers

Challenging the leader: Sleep-support up-and-comers prove melatonin isn’t the only game in town

Mandatory product listing debate over U.S. dietary supplements raises key questions

Is hair health now the star of natural beauty supplements?