IBM continues research on machines that approximate humans with artificial intelligence.  A.I. can be utilized now to work on perfumes, cosmetics and concrete applications replacing humans.  They are in the process of building a formulary base with profiles and flavor combinations utilizing popular flavors and ethnic trends to develop new product concepts eliminating the human sensory aspect.  This could expedite the product development process exponentially with computer generated formulas to evaluate.

McCormick has 20 R&D Innovation centers in 14 countries.  Faridi heads a global team of 500+ scientists and flavorists responsible for leadership, research, product development, nutritional, wellness, and sustainability supporting the worlds largest spice & flavor company. This enables McCormick to be a leader in global flavors and trends.

IBM is working with McCormick's extensive product formula data base  to re-create food and flavor innovation utilizing artificial intelligence.  A.I. is enabling McCormicks benchtop developers to create more innovative and iconic flavor products at significantly faster success rate. A.I. utilizes McCormick's worldwide R&D database of formulas and recipes to create unique on trend products.  ie: pumpkin with chipotle or increased use of cumin giving warmth or umami to products. A.I. automated R&D tasks can select consumer demand products and trends for future market innovations targeting groups like millennials and gen-x too.

Food processing provides a safe, nutritious and affordable food supply to the nation.  The advantages of further food processing provides increased sustainability and decreased food waste.  Synthetic food additives have achieved many of those advantages and Natural food additives can replace synthetic but often at reduced shelf life impact.  Natural food additives can result in decreased food quality, increased cost and increased food waste.  Clean label foods are made with as few ingredients as possible and with wholesome recognizable known ingredients.  "Clean label" actually is not defined by FDA, nor will it be!  Further research is needed to continue to maintain a healthy food supply chain.  "Clean" vs. processed? TBD
Other comments:
In 2018 Nutrition Journal - household approximates 50% men cook and 66% women cook, where as 92% women cooked in 1965.  Total cook time per day is 20-50 minutes.
"Eat 5 a day"- people are still only eating 3 a day fruit & vegetables.
Toxic lipid oxidation - if immune compromised, oxidized products are extremely detrimental for individuals.

Optimal diet should maintain health, fight infections, provide nutrients and essential energy to the body.  Nutrition adequacy in 1988 we were told to reduce fats, in 1992 we needed to limit fats & oils.  Low fats however translated to high carbohydrates. Creating thus another problem...
Variety is still the answer to diet!!
We have a huge list of trending diets, here are a few of the current fads. Food pattern diets like the Zone diet- complicated nutrient based diet, Ketogenic diet with no carbs at all,  or Paleo diet which includes meat, fruits, veggies, seeds and grains.
If you're Vegan, you don't eat cheese or dairy! Hello!!  So, why do we make non-dairy cheese products? Confusing...
People are cooking less and eating out more.  Restaurants are having to provide a variety of dietary preferred menu offerings for the consumers.
Our species is resilient, we can eat animal products or we can live on tubors!
"Eat with the Seasons", produce is grown year round but are the nutrients better in season?

Impossible Foods utilizes molecular biology to identify, isolate and characterize proteins to formulate food products from non-animal sources.  They create delicious, uncompromising meat-like products form plant protein.  Ingredients in the meat-like product include heme, coconut oil, potato starch and veggie proteins.  The heme or leghemolglobin is derived from the soy root nodules.  It is created with microbial fermentation to make the heme from the root.  It grows in large vats and looks like real blood.  Pichia pastoris, a yeast similar to saccaharamices is used for the microbial fermentation to make the soy leghemoglobin.  Impossible Foods has been able to create delicious, uncompromising meat-like products from their research and synthesizing plant leghemoglobin for application.

Portalatin is an industry national advisor that provides information , insights, and analysis on how U.S. consumers eat and drink, their attitudes and motivations, diet and nutrition, snacking and personal characteristics.  
The Ham & Cheese sandwich is still the #1 sandwich!  Amazing! 
As of February 16, 2020 the restaurant industry has been strong with an increase $ 14% since 2014.  March 3, 2020 - no additional information until next week? (closures starting?)
80% consumption at home with entertaining and at home trending.  We have a generational shift of Milennials - life stage changes.  Millenials cook more than Boomers!  In-home eating experience expected to grow 4% this next year.  Social media influence, Pinterest, on-line recipes, new experiences, new idea stimulation and sharing.
Grass root influencers such as clean label, clean eating, intermittent dieting, keto, vegan or plant based diets. 
Plant based or alternative meat products are a growing market with 89% of those consumers not actually vegan.  However, 61% U.S. adults want more protein.  Meat consumption is actually down but this is likely due to the fact that the population is getting older and eat less. 
​CBD products in those states with legal cannibus have an increase of brownie sales by 107% and gummies at 17% increase sales.

"What's Old is New Again" - Reintroduction of products with new packaging.  Reintroduce with a face lift to the same old product gives a marketing boost in an increasingly crowded market place.  "Me too" products or new versions like Ben & Jerry's ice cream came out with pint slices, which sells met $1.4 million in the first 8 weeks of introduction.
If you offer a premium product, not everyone will want it, but those who do will likely understand the "value" that it provides.
New trends? or Old? 
Stock vs. Bone Broth!  They are the same, both made from bone and collagen.  U.S. trend of Bone Broth as a drink!? Is it a beverage  or like a cup of tea?  Nutritional benefits?  Protein bases are a growing.
Sauerkraut?
Fermented foods a growing category.  (Kombuch, Sauerkraut, Kimchi)
"Winners & Losers"- The most successful new products are not necessarily pace setters.  For example, Oikos Triple Zero did 108 million in 2016.
Really innovative products, not necessarily best sellers ie:  "Meat Substitutes" (pulled oats)?, "Spray bottle- Tea Bags"?
The real picture:  "Innovation vs. Renovation"
"Smart Made" packaging story tells what the ingredients are, descriptions are important.  ie: "Roasted Turkey & Vegetables"
"Healthy Snacking"-   New renovation of existing products like Sargento Balance Breaks (Cheese, Nuts, Dried Fruits) vs. the Hillshire Farms (Meat, Cheese, Crackers).  Consumers still not sure of this product with meats.  Value Growth still in cheese, yogurt and water...

"Clean Label" -  Consumers are focused on overall health and natural...
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It was extremely hot in Las Vegas for the IFT Convention this year.  But as usual, we all froze in the well air conditioned convention center.  People flew in from all over the country to visit with ingredient suppliers and equipment vendors as well as attend the educational presentations and seminars.  There were too many presentations to be able to attend them all so here are a few highlights from the ones that I was able to attend.  Thank you all for the inspiration.

"Discriminating New Food Labels"  -  Food scientist need to research ingredients performance and source.  Know where they are derived from or if they are naturally occurring in fruits, veggies or cheeses.  Weigh the overall benefits.   "Be prepared to defend your ingredients or remove them."

"Processed Foods:  The Good, The Bad & The Science" -  An overview of the industry, what's good? what's really bad?  What about the science?  Fermentation process includes Beer, Wine, Yogurt and some natural preservatives....   Formulated foods equals pop tarts, cereals, peanut butter, catsup... 

"Clean Labels" -  Clean labels don't improve human Health & Safety.   Do not compromise safety!!   Clean label is marketed to lead consumers to believe they are better.  Marketing influences consumer behavior.  

"Mintel" - Several engaging topics throughout the day....  This deserves it's own entry.  (stay tuned for updates"