Americans are infatuated with protein. Various surveys show that it's one of the top components consumers want to increase in their diet.

What kind of milk is best for the body and the planet is a topic of much debate. Organic dairy products provide higher levels of certain fatty acids, and the organic label ensures freedom from synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and GMOs in the feedstuffs.

I recently received an email with the subject line: "A well-balanced diet consists of a taco in each hand … on the beach (can’t forget that vitamin D)." The line was memorable and highlighted the fact that modern consumers have some novel ideas about what constitutes a healthy diet.

The Hartman Group's "Health + Wellness 2019" study revealed that 60% of consumers are seeking to increase protein in their diet.

Consumer awareness of the health benefits of probiotics continues to grow. And more consumers are abandoning probiotic supplements and looking for real food carriers.

The ability to digest lactose varies widely within populations, ranging from more than 90% of individuals from northern European countries, to less than 10% of individuals from Southeast Asian countries.

Clean label is big business. Euromonitor International estimates that global sales of clean-label food products will reach $180 billion by 2020.

Large companies will be required to list "added sugars" on their Nutrition Facts panels by the end of this year.

It seems that every year I learn about another exotic tropical superfruit brimming with healthy phytonutrients. But the reality is that most fermented dairy products in the United States rely on a fairly narrow list of traditional and cost effective fruits in their flavor lineup.

"Jack Sprat could eat no fat. His wife could eat no lean." This might be a modern day couple, with one spouse following a plant-based low-fat diet while the other adheres to a high-fat, low-carb regimen with generous portions of meat and dairy.