Dairy processors focus on clean ingredients, new organic dairy products
As more dairy processors are answering the call for cleaner labels, retailers are adding more shelf space for such foods and beverages. Also, consumers are increasing their purchases of organic products.
The clean label trend (which is dominating the conversation in the food industry) isn’t so much a trend anymore, but a “movement.” This is a common thing I’m hearing when talking to dairy processors and suppliers lately. With consumers making it very clear what it is they want, more food manufacturers are recognizing this movement and are answering the call with new product innovation, more transparency about what they use, changing the ingredients, or in some cases, all of these things.
Over the last five years, clean label claims appear more often on new dairy launches in North America, according to Innova Market Insights, Netherlands. The number of launches tracked with claims such as “not treated with growth hormones or antibiotics” has grown every year, up around 9%. Among yogurt drinks, around a third of the launches were tracked with a clean label claim in 2015.