The Future of Clean Label: Radically Transparent, Natural, Functional
2021-03-01 16:20:57
Producing “clean label” products has been a bellwether of food industry innovation for years. And while clean label may lack a clear definition, the consensus is it has a distinct meaning for consumers: ingredients they recognize back of pack.
But food innovators are working on shifting sands. Fickle public opinion is shaped by events and meeting elevated consumer expectations remains a moving target. The meaning of “clean label” is a work in progress. Is it natural ingredients? Certified Organic? Preservative-free?
One of the major consequences of the global pandemic is that consumers are doubling down on transparency in 2021, tied into growing consumer concerns around sustainability and ethically produced foods with significant implications for clean label.
COVID-19 has also vastly accelerated consumer interest in diet and health, with a considerable up-tick in the number of people who expect the food they eat to deliver functional benefits, including immunity. Research from Global Data suggests 60% of consumers worldwide proactively look for products that improve their health.
While health and environmental concerns are contributing to new understandings of clean label, they are also boosting interest in the plant-based space. Alternative proteins are being pushed into an increasingly mainstream phenomenon, with innovation in plant-based moving beyond the bun with increasingly realistic meat analogues, seafood, and dairy alternatives.
No matter where on the “clean label” spectrum you and your customers fall, Sensient is here to help unleash nature’s rainbow in your products. Get started with a sample or a technical consultation today!
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The Future of Clean Label: Radically Transparent, Natural, Functional
