Latest news with #BigFood
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Food stock turmoil: Innovation is key for major food companies
Consumers are shifting away from traditional packaged foods, pressuring Big Food companies like PepsiCo (PEP) and Kraft Heinz (KHC) to innovate or face continued volume declines. Yahoo Finance Senior Reporter Brooke DiPalma, Lafayette College chief investment officer Krishna Memani, and chief strategist Michele Schneider join Opening Bid host Brian Sozzi to explain how shifting consumer habits and innovation will shape the future of big food. To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Opening Bid here. Well, big food ever see savory financial results and tasty stock price gains again? Uh, this is just love the stuff. Look at what we've seen here in this space. ConAgra Brands reported poor quarterly results owing to consumer pressure. PepsiCo earnings later this week are expected to be well bad or flat concerns around weight loss drugs. I've heard that stocks multiple two craft times reportedly exploring a breakup. There are two separate deals on the table to buy two divisions of the legacy company that was Kellogg and Brook. Uh, it's hard for me to find what is going to be that catalyst for the top and bottom line results for some of these big food companies, even if the consumer gets a little bit better, they continue to change how they eat and how much they eat. Brian, what I'm hearing from my sources is that innovation is key here in order for these companies to offset all the major volume declines that they're seeing, cuz as you're noting here, consumers preferences have changed. They have to be willing to spend in this sort of dynamic. And so if these big packaged food companies like say, uh, PepsiCo later on this week can really understand the consumer and understand just how much they're willing to pay and what they're willing to pay for, that's really what could drive volume back up here. But as you noted, it's expected to be, uh, you know, a negative report here is largely due to the fact that consumers are buying less and ultimately the cost of packaging, the cost of the ingredients are ultimately more in this environment. Christian, a lot of these stocks, uh, these big packaged food plays are trading at 52 week lows. That has pushed up, uh, what has historically been already attractive dividend yields even higher. Do you have any interest in in trying to pick a bottom in some of these names? Even, you know, just considering how far they have fallen and the yield on these stocks. So I, I would say, you know, these, uh, these stocks have the potential of turning into the ultimate value traps. Uh, these are not the sort of stocks that this market is looking for, and therefore, uh, they are unlikely to, uh, unlikely to do very well. I mean, uh, from a long-term holding standpoint, given the high dividend yields, they may end up being really good investments, uh, for uh, some kind of a conservative investor. But if you are looking at it for from the standpoint of these stocks keeping up with the rest of the market, uh, this wouldn't be where I would be looking at. Yeah, Brook Cuad's packaged, uh, craft cheese. I, you know, I don't you have to say it, I'll just say it. I mean, this stuff doesn't even look like cheese. Michelle, but this at the end of the day, these are still consumer plays. As you survey the consumer space, is there anything breaking out or any moves of late that have caught your attention? Well, to kind of pick up on what Brooke said about the changing consumer habits concerning food, I don't think we can discount at all the impact that is just beginning to emerge in the consumer market with the diet drugs. We are really establishing a new thin economy, and that's going to be a tremendous group of people who have suffered with obesity or just being morbidly overweight for their whole lives. Now getting a chance of having a new life. And what does that mean? Well, in terms of these food companies, they're certainly turning less to junk food, turning less to alcohol, more towards healthy living. Obviously, in that consumer space, you wanna be looking at what would happen to a person who finally is thin and can stay thin, so they would be looking to buy more beauty stock, skincare, supplements, going to the gym, apparel for working out, um, certain types of retail chains that might make it easier for them to buy without having to go into a store, dating. I mean, this is really where I'm looking at the consumer right now because I've heard that 6% of the GDP can be added from just this new thin economy. These diet drugs are still expensive, but that doesn't mean they aren't going to get cheaper, more effective, and like for example, a company like Viking Therapeutics working with a pill form. To me, this is such an exciting mega trend on so many levels. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Toronto Sun
19-06-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
CHARLEBOIS: The fall of artificial colours in food
When consumer trust is on the line, even Big Food knows that fake colour doesn't sell Kraft Heinz brand Jell-O boxes line a stores shelf on June 18, 2025 in Miami. The company announced that it will remove FD&C artificial dyes from its products by the end of 2027. Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images This week, General Mills announced it will remove all artificial colours from its U.S. products, just hours after Kraft Heinz made a similar commitment. Both companies are giving themselves two years to complete the transition — a realistic timeline, given that reformulating food products can be as complex as redesigning a vehicle. It typically takes two to three years to test, approve and scale up new ingredients. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account What's extraordinary is that these changes are happening voluntarily. There is no government ban. No regulatory mandate. These companies are simply responding to market pressures — pressures rooted in a growing consumer demand for 'clean labels.' Some attribute this momentum to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) initiative. While better known for his controversial stance on vaccines, RFK Jr. has long advocated for the naturalization of food systems. Now, as health secretary, he's in a position to shape policy — and public sentiment — in ways that may accelerate the move away from artificial ingredients. Some of the movement is evidence-based. While artificial food dyes such as Red 40 and Yellow 5 have been approved by regulators and deemed safe in small doses, concerns remain — particularly among parents and pediatric health professionals. Emerging research suggests a link between certain dyes and behavioral issues, including hyperactivity in children. Europe has already imposed stricter labelling rules and encouraged the use of natural alternatives. North American regulations, by contrast, remain relatively permissive. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. But make no mistake: This shift is primarily driven by politics and market optics. Consumers have been expressing discomfort with artificial additives for years, and large Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies like General Mills and Kraft Heinz have seen the writing on the wall. Clean-label expectations are no longer niche — they are mainstream. The implications are significant. With major industry players moving simultaneously, the economics of natural dyes could change rapidly. Today, natural alternatives such as beet juice, turmeric, and carrot extract are more expensive and less stable than synthetic counterparts. But as demand increases and supply chains adapt, these costs are likely to fall. Importantly, when all competitors shift at the same time, the playing field is level — there's less fear of losing market share to a more colourful, artificially enhanced rival. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Canada will inevitably feel the ripple effects. Many food products on Canadian shelves are imported from U.S. facilities. It is unlikely that manufacturers will maintain separate formulations for a relatively small market like Canada. As a result, Canadians can expect to see more artificial dye-free products, regardless of whether the federal government acts. That said, Health Canada may choose to respond, but it may not matter. Canadian manufacturers who export to the U.S. will face mounting pressure to align with cleaner label expectations, especially if U.S. retailers begin to phase out artificially coloured products. While Canada regulates artificial dyes through dosage limits and labelling requirements, public concern continues to rise. For consumers hoping artificial colours will disappear from their food, change is coming — and soon. And here's the good news: Because the shift is industry-wide, the economics suggest food prices won't rise due to the use of natural dyes. In fact, the transition may lead to better transparency, more innovation, and healthier choices — without a hit to the wallet. — Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is the Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast NHL Soccer Columnists Sunshine Girls Canada
Los Angeles Times
18-06-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
How SpiceWell Founder Raina Kumra Went from Tech Veteran to Food Entrepreneur in Under Six Months
Raina Kumra, founder of the 'food is medicine' company SpiceWell, shares the personal story behind her venture. When her husband was recovering from knee surgery and her daughter had a broken collarbone, she started experimenting with family recipes to help them get healthy and SpiceWell was born. The company's mission is to make nutrition easier for people to eat more vegetables, as vegetable based vitamins have a much higher absorption rate (70-80%) than traditional vitamins (20%). Kumra wants to counteract the effects of 'Big Food' and 'Big Pharma' which she believes are connected. She talks about the professional risk she took when she left her established career in tech and media to start over in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry at an older age. This meant she had to start from the bottom in an industry where she had no connections. The best advice Kumra said she ever received was, 'you can take as long as you need to figure out what you want to be when you grow up, as long as you are doing something while you figure it out.' Her advice to new founders is to be prepared to make many mistakes, forgive themselves quickly and move on. She says to let go of perfectionism, 'perfect is the enemy of good' and her goal is to create good things not perfect things.
The Herald Scotland
17-06-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
What parts of RFK Jr.'s MAHA agenda are resonating? See poll results
Public opinion of Kennedy Jr. is also divided: 51% of the respondents said it was favorable and 48% picked unfavorable for the former 2024 presidential candidate who ran as a Democrat and then as an independent before dropping out to endorse Trump. More: RFK Jr. suspends campaign; endorses former President Trump A majority of Democrats (82%) say their opinion of Kennedy is either strongly "unfavorable" or "somewhat unfavorable," while 84% Republicans view Kennedy as either "strongly favorable" or "somewhat favorable." Among independents, 52% have a favorable view of Kennedy, the son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy. The poll was conducted online from May 30-June 10 among a national sample of 19,410 adults age 18 and up. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.1 percentage points. Among the poll participants, 37% described themselves as Democrats, 37% as Republicans and 26% as "Independent or something else." Asked about the use of vaccines to prevent diseases, 69% of Republicans, 93% of Democrats and 76% of independents responded to the NBC poll that they support immunizations to protect public health. Kennedy has repeatedly called into question the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Earlier this month, he fired the entire committee that advises the federal government on vaccine safety, implying that it was not conducting "adequate safety trials" before recommending new vaccines to children. Kennedy later appointed to the panel a physician criticized for spreading COVID-19 misinformation and conspiracy theories. Vaccine experts widely dispute Kennedy's characterizations. More: RFK Jr.'s MAHA movement is coming to a state near you NBC's pollsters also asked who deserved the most blame for America's chronic health problems, including obesity and heart disease. A majority at 35% blamed the food industry, followed closely by the "choices of individuals" at 32%. Kennedy has been a big critic of Big Food and Big Pharma, blaming them for Americans' high rates of chronic ailments like Type 2 Diabetes and accusing the industries of profiting by keeping Americans sick. In April, he announced that eight artificial dyes will be eliminated from medications and the nation's food supply by the end of 2026, including those found in candy, ice cream, soft drinks and jams. Only 6% of respondents blamed environmental toxins - which Kennedy has blamed a host of ailments on - as a reason for chronic diseases. The MAHA Commission report released by Kennedy last month identifies various toxins and environmental factors as potential contributors to chronic disease in American children. He has also announced a series of studies aimed at studying possible environment causes behind autism, which scientists continue to push back on. Last month, the right-leaning think tank Foundation for Government Accountability released a poll showing a similar pattern to NBC's results. It found more than 80% of Democrats and Republicans said they were in support of a U.S. prohibition on certain dyes and chemicals from foods in the same way they were banned in some European countries. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House Correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal
Fox News
12-06-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Medical experts warn 'Big Food' is fighting back against Ozempic with addictive items for sale
Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs may be cutting through "food noise," yet the junk food industry is only getting louder, some medical experts claim. "Ozempic is breaking the food addiction cycle – but Big Food isn't going down without a fight," Dr. Mark Hyman, an internationally recognized advocate for functional medicine, said in a recent Instagram post. "For decades, ultraprocessed foods have been engineered to hijack the brain's reward system – perfecting the 'bliss point' of sugar, salt and fat to keep people hooked," the physician also said. As Americans work to take hold of their health and wellness – and as the government cracks down on artificial food additives – the snack food industry appears to be evolving to outsmart both drugs and lifestyle changes, according to some observers. "Big Food isn't happy," Hyman continued, expressing his point of view. "Our food system is broken. It's built to create addictions, push ultraprocessed junk and profit off public health crises." Weight-loss and life coach Charles D'Angelo, based in St. Louis, Missouri, agreed with that assessment. "The food industry is one of many things evolving to outsmart our judgment sometimes," D'Angelo told Fox News Digital. "They are even outsmarting these medications and different health trends by engineering foods that bypass your hunger and can ultimately lead you to be more reactive than you otherwise would be." Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, for comment. Hyper-palatable foods (HPF) are designed with combinations of palatability-inducing ingredients, fat, sugar and carbohydrates that together enhance a food's deliciousness and produce an artificially rewarding eating experience, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Consumer Brands Association, based in Arlington, Virginia, represents the interests of the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry. "The makers of America's trusted household brands deliver safe products to consumers and innovate to provide them with healthier options," Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy for the Consumer Brands Association, told Fox News Digital. "No industry is closer to the consumer than this one," she added. "For decades, food and beverage companies have taken their cues from consumers on what products they want in the marketplace to meet their dietary and health goals – whether it's options low in sugar, sodium and saturated fats, no artificial colors or low-carb, high-protein and high-fiber options." D'Angelo said that even without added ingredients, however, marketing campaigns often mislead consumers into purchasing and eating or drinking foods they think are healthful when they're not, D'Angelo said. "That's not nutrition. It's marketing." "They're not just selling junk food anymore," D'Angelo said. "How many things do you see when you go down the grocery store aisle that say high-protein or low-carb, but they're still ultraprocessed? And it's engineered to hook you. That's not nutrition. It's marketing." Gallo said her organization is aligned with the goal of radical transparency and aiding consumers in making informed choices. "The industry has been actively engaged in initiatives to improve nutritional information accessibility for over a decade," Gallo said. One initiative is Facts Up Front, a voluntary program that presents key nutritional information on the front of packaging, facilitating quick assessment by consumers. Additionally, the industry has introduced SmartLabel, allowing consumers to access detailed nutritional information via QR codes. For more Lifestyle articles, visit Gallo said the Consumer Brands Association "stands ready" to work with the federal government "to continue to ensure the analysis of safe ingredients and increase consumer transparency." She added, "It's also why we are working with Congress to ensure the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] is properly resourced to carry out this important work and moving to mandatory notifications for new ingredients." "We need clarity, awareness and a complete shift in mindset to take back ownership of our choices." Still, D'Angelo said, misleading labels can give people a false sense of confidence in their personal choices. "I see how people are being conditioned subtly and repeatedly to trust marketing over their own inner signals, their own inner judgment," he said. "That's why we need more than just willpower or medications. We need clarity, awareness and a complete shift in mindset to take back ownership of our choices."
