The NAFFS staff wishes all members and their families a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. NAFFS also thanks its members for their support throughout 2007 – whether it was in the form of corporate sponsorship, placing an ad in the NAFFS Yearbook, or serving on a committee. NAFFS values its members and the many ways they contribute to the success of NAFFS.

Along with the New Year come many trend predictions. Datamonitor’s Productscan Online took a look at trends in consumer packaged goods and offered the following ten trends to watch for in 2008:

• Probiotics, Beyond Yogurt – probiotics have hit the mainstream. Look for them in products outside of yogurt, such as chocolate and supplements.
  Organic Foods & Beverages for Kids – look for organic product makers to aggressively target the kids’ market.
• Fresh is Best – “fresh” is hot! Look for new food products that either use or are designed to use steam as a cooking method.
• Superfruits for the masses – Look for high-nutrient superfruits like acai, goji berries, noni, pomegranates and the emerging yumberry to go mainstream.
• Out of Africa – hot peppers such as African Birds Eye Chili – also known as Peri-Peri – are beginning to appear in new sauces and condiments.
• Sleep Soundly – As research shows a link between lack of sleep and obesity, look for a growing market for sleep aids and stress-relieving products that promote sleep such as Nakazawa Adult Milk in Japan and products based on the amino acid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is lauded for its stress relieving properties.
• Crunch Time – the number of worldwide new product reports touting “crunchy” or “crispy” tastes doubled between 2002 and 2006. Products that deliver a hearty crunch that can help make up for reduced fat and calories will continue to grow.
• Bold (Flavor) is Beautiful – consumers are demanding hotter, spicier and bolder flavors. Look for bold flavors to pop up in brand new areas.
• Power Up With Caffeine – In 2007 alone, caffeine found its way into sunflower seeds, mints, potato chips, jellybeans and even instant oatmeal. Watch for it in hot chocolate and other products targeted at younger consumers.
• Greening Up For the Planet – packaged goods makers are finding creative new ways to be green and planet-friendly. In Finland, the Into Limetti (lime) long drink is produced by fermentation using wind power. Procter & Gamble's Pur Flavor Options enables consumers to flavor water as it comes out of the tap, avoiding the waste associated with bottled water. And finally, US-based Wonder Tablitz offers a line of household cleaners and deodorizers that use effervescent bottles and special spray bottles. Consumers add their own water and reuse the bottles

The level of food or beverage appeal is heavily influenced by the intensity and appeal of the sensory attributes, according to a report by Datamonitor. Delivering highly sensual products involves focusing on the taste and flavor.

The report revealed:

• Consumers' health concerns are still secondary to taste and people are not prepared to have a trade-off between the two.
• 41 percent of consumers told Datamonitor that they had tried food with new and exotic flavors more often in 2006 than in 2005.
• Tropical fruit-based flavors – particularly those with frequently touted antioxidant benefits – continue to gain favor across the food and beverages spectrum.
• The sense of smell is highly powerful in shaping perceptions and forging an emotional connection with shoppers.
• Using pleasant smells in an appropriate manner can create new opportunities. This explains why, in recent years, the notion of 'scent-sory' branding has emerged.

An ellagitannin-rich pomegranate extract is safe and effective in enhancing the antioxidant profile in humans, according to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Two studies, both in overweight subjects, confirmed the safety of the ellagitannin-rich pomegranate extract, with no adverse effects reports, and showed a significant reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the blood linked with cardiovascular disease risk.

Pomegranate, a rich source of antioxidants, has been linked to improved heart health, but a growing body of science indicates the fruit protects against prostate cancer and slowing cartilage loss in arthritis, reported NutraIngredients.com. It is these antioxidants, and particularly ellagitannin compounds like punicalagins and punicalins, which accounts for about half of the fruit's antioxidant ability, that are reportedly behind the proposed health benefits.

Overweight, but otherwise healthy, subjects were chosen because excess abdominal fat has been associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress, said the scientists. A significant decrease of 0.13 micromoles in TBARS was observed in the subjects. TBARS is considered an important biomarker for oxidative stress, and is strongly linked to cardiovascular events.

"Further studies are underway to document the effects of this supplement in subjects with type 2 diabetes, known to have a more marked increase in oxidant stress," wrote the authors.

USDA issued a final rule that amends the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) regulations. This final rule, effective December 11, amends paragraph (e) of Sec. 205.601 of the National List regulations by adding Sucrose octanoate esters (CAS s--42922-74-7; 58064-47-4)--in accordance with approved labeling. The rule also clarifies the use and prohibition of chitosan.

Lionel Hitchen USA Ltd.
1867 Porter Lake Drive
Sarasota, FL 34240
Phone: (941) 379-1400
Fax: (941) 379-1433
Website: www.lheo.co.uk
e-mail: lhitchenusa@aol.com
Contact: Suzy Nolan, Director, Sales & Marketing
Products: Essential oils

Be sure to save these dates when filling in your calendars:

February 8, 2008 – NAFFS Winter Meeting, The French Culinary Institute, N.Y., N.Y.
March 13, 2008 – California Meeting, Anaheim, Cal.
March 25, 2008 – NAFFS Technical Meeting, Saddle Brook Marriott, Saddle Brook, N.J.
October 23-26, 2008 - The 91st Annual NAFFS Convention, Longboat Key, FL