With “natural” products expected to grow at 2.5 times the rate of their mainstream competitors and garner a $226 billion share of the market according to NewHope360.com, it’s no wonder that food and beverage manufacturers are eyeing changes to help position their offerings. With nearly 60 percent of snack foods now making health claims, it’s clear the tide has turned.
But of all the avenues companies consider in their quests for healthier and more natural products bearing cleaner labels — from formulation to ingredients to packaging and marketing — one important pathway is often overlooked: processing choice.