Food for thought
I always enjoy Food Matters Live, which is currently taking place at London’s ExCel. I love the fact that the exhibitors have time to talk and I always learn a lot and come away with plenty of inspiration for future articles and interviews for Confectionery Production.
Issues surrounding food, health and nutrition have hardly been out of the headlines this year. The ongoing debates about salt, sugar and fat have led to the entire landscape of the food industry beginning to change, and this is of course having an impact on the confectionery and snack sectors.
Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to provide ingredients information that consumers understand and this means that high levels of these less healthy ingredients are declared for all to see.
Of course, the intelligent consumer knows that it is simply a case of cutting down on less healthy treats, but choice and variety are key as a constant stream of exciting and innovative new products enter the market to address the need for healthier indulgence. Sales of free from products have soared and a wealth of innovative new ingredients and products are filling the shelves to meet increased consumer demand for healthy, nutritious food and drink.
The show itself and the discussions taking place there are thought provoking and interactive visitor attractions challenge the way we think about the future of food and nutrition through a series of live cooking demos, tastings and talks. Food Matters Live is well worth a visit, so if you didn’t make it to the show this year, I suggest you check it out in 2016.
