Mark My Words

I love Food Processing Magazine. (I’m a total dork) Every year they have a food trends post based on what consumers are demanding more of. This is my favorite part of the magazine and I have some predictions of my own:

1. New higher-tech microwaves becoming streamline.

I’m talking the microwaves that weigh your potato and determine cook time and setting based on the information. With the boom in frozen quality family dinners and freezer isle gourmet, I think smart microwaves will soon catch up.

2. Cranberry seed protein isolate, Almond protein isolate.

I’ve done research on protein powders and both of these are currently patented. I say we see one of them sold commercially by the end of 2010.

3. Custom foods.

From Me& Gogi to Chocomize to YouBar to Mix My Granola, I don’t see an end to the customized food industry any time soon. I’m willing to bet the next boom will be in ice cream and freezer isle meals. Smart Choice My Choice?

4. Everything sweetened with Rebina-A

In 2007, after some research I found a (slightly sketchy) website where the author claimed the soda industry was paying off the FDA to keep Stevia banned as a sweetener.

Sound like a conspiracy? I thought so too. Well 32 seconds after the FDA determined Stevia extract as GRAS (Generally regarded as safe) both Coke-a-Cola and Pepsi introduced their own lines of stevia: PureVia and TruVia. Interesting… Martha Stewart style!

I?m willing to bet breads, cakes, cookies, puddings, Asian sauces, soups and cereals will all be sweetened with stevia soon! Not to mention instant beverage mixes and refrigerated beverages (Snapple- I know you?re next! ).

Right now, Blue California?s Reb-A Stevia Sweetener, Good &Sweet tm is 10% cheaper than sugar (when comparing sweetening power.) Obviously this isn?t the case for HFCS, but anything marketed to potentially health conscious clientele is getting away from HFCS. It?s too risky to have your product turned away for one ingredient.

5. Omega-6 is the new “evil food”

Many products have hinted foods are better with more Omega-3 and less Omega-6. I see safflower oil, vegetable oil, and soybean oil going out of style and everything fortified with O-3 fatty acids. The industry needs a new bad guy, and I bet Omega-6 will fill those shoes!

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What?s your favorite product trend, or which of these 5 would you like to see?

Enjoy your Sunday!

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PS. Has anyone tried bee pollen before? The bee farmer from the Farmers? Market was telling me about it and I think I?m going to buy some next week.