ANAHEIM, CALIF. — Digestive health benefits may now be found in toaster pastries, pepper flakes and all-purpose cleaner. These were among the items featuring probiotics on display at Natural Products Expo West, held March 5-9 in Anaheim.
Consumers are becoming savvier about microbiome and overall health, driving demand for food and beverage products formulated with live active cultures, said Jenna Blumenfeld, senior food editor at New Hope Network, which produces the Natural Products Expos.
“The products we’re seeing aren’t just added probiotics anymore; you’re seeing more products with prebiotics in them,” she said. “What’s very exciting to me is you’re seeing more fermented foods cropping up in unexpected places.”
An example is Picaflor Live-Culture Raw Fermented Pepper Flakes from Foremother Foods, L.L.C., Boulder, Colo. Varieties include cayenne and hot Portugal peppers, Bulgarian carrot pepper, jalapeño and relleno peppers, and criolla sella pepper. The company describes the pepper flakes as “raw, fermented, and slowly dehydrated to preserve enzymes and all that good-for-your-gut bacteria.”
Picaflor also offers single-serve packets of hot sauce fermented with live probiotics.
“I love the idea of fermenting things for flavor and also for microbiome support,” Ms. Blumenfeld said.
Gutsii, Los Angeles, provides a whimsical, indulgent approach to digestive health. At Natural Products Expo West, the company featured a line of chocolate bars and shakes formulated with probiotics and prebiotic fiber. Flavors include raspberry, pink salt and mint crisp.
Another exhibitor, Gutzy, New York, combines fruits, vegetables, oats and botanicals with prebiotic fiber in a range of portable pouch snacks. Founder David Istier credits a diet of plant-based foods and fibers for glowing skin and “a lighter, more energized me.”
“Our understanding of the health impacts associated with the makeup of a person’s microbiome is expanding beyond traditional gut health,” said Amanda Hartt, market research manager at New Hope Network, during a presentation at Expo West. “We’re making more connections to our overall cognitive function and various other health outcomes like immunity (support).
“There’s so many brands that are tapping into gut health, healthy microbiome space because they know consumers are looking to live a life that is more resilient, a life that is full of vitality.”Fermenting Fairy, Santa Monica, Calif., introduced new items at the show, including apple cinnamon sauerkraut, lavender ginger lemonade and vanilla bean coconut milk kefir. Products are made with only raw ingredients and are organic, vegan, gluten-free and soy-free.
The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, unveiled Odwalla Smoobucha, a range of bottled beverages described as a smoothie combined with pasteurized kombucha, containing 500 million colony-forming units of “good” bacteria, according to the company. Flavors include citrus and guava, apple and greens, and berry and ginger.
“Our innovation strategy focuses on bringing trends from the fringe to the mainstream health and wellness shopper,” said Sara Smith, brand director. “Kombucha is growing 40% year over year, but can be polarizing because of its vinegary, tart taste. We saw this as the perfect opportunity for Odwalla to create a bridge for people who have been either intimidated to try kombucha or turned off by its taste.”
Source: Food business news
