Consumer packaged goods manufacturers, food technologists, students and their ilk headed to Chicago’s McCormick Place from July 11 to 14 for the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Tradeshow. The show featured a number of general sessions as well as featured lecturer sessions.

On July 12, the Women in Food Science Business Panel explored the changing roles of women in the food industry. The panel featured Liz Myslik, executive vice president of brand management and chief executive officer of Fresca Brands for Fresca Foods Inc.; Sara Mortimore, vice president of product safety, quality assurance and regulatory affairs for Land O’Lakes Inc.; and Catherine Woteki, undersecretary for research, education and economics for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

On July 13, Mike Walsh, futurist and renowned author, shared thoughts on emerging trends and technologies as well as shifts in consumer behavior and its impact on the food industry.

On July 14, the chief executive officer panel addresses Is Big Food, Bad Food? David Cotton of Flying Food Group, James C. Borel of DuPont Pioneer, and Eric Larson of Linden LLC discussed questions impacting the global food system.

The general sessions concluded with the FutureFood 2050: The Art of Producing a Science-Based Documentary. It discussed the making of IFT’s new documentary film “Food Evolution.”

Exhibitors also showcased their latest ingredients solutions as well as highlighting their existing portfolio of solutions for product formulations.

Below are some of the beverage highlights from the show:

City of Industry, Calif.-based AIDP Inc. promoted Magtein, a magnesium l-threonate ingredient solution that is U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) generally recognized as safe (GRAS) certified, non-GMO and is completely soluble in water. The company also promoted its prebiotic PreticX as well as several of its plant-based protein ingredients including PeasiPro.

Ajinomoto North America Inc., Fort Lee, N.J., showcased its Advantame aspartame sweetener by offering samples of a mango orange coconut water and a dragonfruit coconut water.

Aloecorp, Seattle, promoted its aloe ingredient solutions.

Suwanee, Ga.-based Amelia Bay, showcased its “half and half” tea/lemonade combination beverages as well as a lightly sweetened brewed black tea and a 100 percent Colombian coffee latte. Additionally, Amelia Bay promoted its formulation expertise and full customer support. In other news, the company announced the completion of a multi-year strategic marketing plan with ColinKurtis Advertising.

Decatur, Ill.-based Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) highlighted its broader ingredient portfolio since its acquisition of Wild Flavors and Specialty Commodities Inc. last year. The company noted that it will continue to offer products that will meet food and beverage trends including better-for-you solutions, clean label, cost reduction, and calorie reduction. The company also focused on nutritional beverage trends, highlighting its Clarisoy isolated soy protein combined with Wild’s taste modifiers, designed to ensure there is no soy aftertaste, it says. Additionally, ADM Cocoa showcased a new cocoa powder developed in response to the demand for natural ingredients. At another booth, ADM/Matsutani featured prototypes with its Fibersol soluble corn fiber.

BASF Nutrition & Health, North America, Florham Park, N.J., celebrated its 150th anniversary and unveiled its new tagline “We Create Chemistry.” It also showcased dairy-free plant sterols with samples of heart healthy almond milk and a morning pick-me-up iced coffee meal replacement beverage with Tonalin CLA, designed to reduce body fat and achieve fitness goals, it says. The replacement breakfast option is fewer than 180 calories and contains as much caffeine as cup of coffee plus B vitamins for energy.

Beneo Inc., Morris Plains, N.J., highlighted natural food and beverage options for energy management with Palatinose. Derived from beet sugar, Palatinose naturally delivers energy in a balanced and sustained way, the company says. In other news, the company announced that Jon Peters has been named president. 

BI Nutraceuticals, Long Beach, Calif., offered samples of a protein-packed  chocolate coconut smoothie, which features pumpkin seed protein, and an energizing cherry limeade containing a water-soluble extract form of guayusa, a natural energy ingredient out of South America. BI Nutraceuticals also introduced an 80 percent faba bean protein. Additionally, BI Nutraceutical’s marketing director Randal Kreienbrink participated in a panel discussion entitled “What’s My Role in the Development Process.”

Bioenergy Life Science Inc., Ham Lake, Minn., highlighted its fatigue fighting Bioenergy Ribose supplement, which drives energy maintenance and recovery. The product has a negative glycemic index and does not generally raise blood sugar levels, the company says. It also launched Driv, a grape-flavored energy packet with 2 grams of ribose and no caffeine, taurine or artificial ingredients.

Biothera, Eagan, Minn., highlighted Wellmune WGP, an immune health ingredient that is featured in children’s beverages and more.

Blue California, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., promoted its L-Tea Active ingredient. The natural L-Theanine reduces stress and anxiety naturally, the company says.

Briess Malt & Ingredients Co., Chilton, Wis., promoted its malt ingredient choices as well as its new White Grain Sorghum Syrup, which is non-GMO and gluten free.

Cargill, Wayzata, Minn., in partnership with Nagase American Corp., New York, showcased a ready-to-drink protein plus+ beverage containing TREHA trehalose, which masks off-flavors and odors while retaining beverage quality during storage. The vanilla flavored sample had a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, was sweetened with stevia, and contained high amounts of protein (20 grams) and fiber (3 grams) with a blend of soy and whey protein. Trehalose can mask offnotes from proteins, minerals, high-intensity sweeteners, amino acids and more.

Commerce, Calif.-based Carmi Flavors showcased a complete line of natural and organic flavors, including a natural pink grapefruit flavor, strawberry, passion fruit, blue raspberry, watermelon, kiwi lime and peach slush beverages, along with a horchata, a Spanish-derived rice milk.

Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients (CIFI), Nashville, N.C., showcased its healthy sweet potato juice, a 100 percent fruit and vegetable juice blend, and dehydrated ingredients (flour and granules) in its debut appearance at IFT. The company also hosted a press conference to announce the launch of a new processing plant, which will open in September.

CHR Hansen, Milwaukee, showcased water soluble liquids from a vegetable source to help with coloring red and pink beverages and water soluble suspensions from beta-carotene to provide versatile orange shades without sediment or neck ringing

Anaheim, Calif.-based colorMaker promoted its collection of natural colorants, all approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), for use in food and beverages. The company noted that many natural colors are water soluble and many natural colors are sensitive to changes in pH.

Lenexa, Kan.-based Corbion launched its new portfolio of non-PHO emulsifiers, Ensemble, which delivers drop-in functionality to maintain color, flavor and texture, without sacrificing quality, handling or shelf stability in a wide variety of applications including bakery, confectionery, dairy, beverages and processed foods, the company says. Corbion’s new emulsifier portfolio was specially developed to help food and beverage manufacturers remove PHOs from their products, as mandated in June by the FDA and to meet growing consumer demand for better-for-you products. 

Plymouth, Wis.-based Dairy Farmers of America promoted it’s Co-operative’s contract manufacturing division, which works with brands through every step with custom formulation, securing ingredients and developing packaging for products featuring dairy ingredients.

From its 34-foot“Great Escape to Innovate” RV, David Michael & Co., Philadelphia, unveiled a bourbon maple pecan pie shake, featuring old-time barrel aged flavors and a clean-label varietal honey flavored craft soda.

Parsippany, N.J.-based DSM Nutritional Products highlighted its carotenoid coloring solutions and promoted its larger color portfolio. The company also highlighted its nutrition and vitamin solutions. Additionally, its Fibersol brand highlighted the benefits of Fibersol-2 in a morning fiber shot. DSM’s Fortitech Premixes also highlighted several of its formulations as well including the powdered beverage utilizing the PowerCap, which is fortified with vitamins A, C
and E.

Florham Park, N.J.-based Finlay Tea Solutions (US) Inc. offered samples of its carbonated teas. Samples at the show were a sparkling cucumber lavender green tea and cucumber honeydew green tea. It also offered samples of a rooibos black tea latte. The company also dispensed its cold-brew coffee through JoeTap Nitro Coffee Solution, a standalone cold-brew coffee tap system for nitrogen-infused coffee.

Flavorchem Corp., Downers Grove, Ill., featured its new Columbian Coffee extract as well as its flavor solutions available in tea samples. The company also promoted its tea powder solutions.

Momence, Ill.-based FutureCeuticals promoted its collection of products that support clean labeling. Among those featured were Trim, a family of beverage-ready grains. Nutrim is a patented oat bran powder with a neutral taste and can be stable in a broad range of pH and baking temperatures. BarleyTrim is a free-flowing barley powder that imparts a smooth, creamy mouthfeel, the company says. QuinoaTrim utilizes Trim technology to produce a quinoa product with smooth texture and mouthfeel comparable to dairy or coconut cream, the company notes. The company also highlighted its Coffeeberry coffee fruit extracts and Terasante plant protein.

Carlsbad, Calif.-based Glanbia Nutritionals offered prototypes featuring high nutrient ingredients released for the first time at the show. A protein-fortified Ranger Cookie prototype demonstrated the use of its new Harvest Pro PFC 75EF protein system; Ignitor, an amino release matrix; and OptiSol 3000, an egg replacement system. Additionally, it offered a frozen fruit pop that showcased truebroc glucoraphanin, an antioxidant; TruCal D7, a calcium and milk mineral source; Mena Q7 Vitamin K2; BevWise I-300W, a protein system; and BevGrad Chia, a finely milled chia ingredient that offers texture.

GNT USA Inc., Tarrytown, N.Y., showcased its portfolio of Exberry color solutions by offering samples of colorful handcrafted drinks. Attendees could choose from honey gin, which featured celestial yellow coloring; citrus vanilla, which utilized mandarin color; blackberry ginger, which contained purple mist shading; and tropical punch, which featured red coloring.

Commerce, Calif.-based Gold Coast Ingredients offered samples of an orchard beer flavored beverage.

Hilmar Ingredients, Hilmar, Calif., promoted the use of whey protein and offered samples of products. It featured a vanilla chai whey + oak shake with Hilmar 9400 whey protein isolate and Hilmar 822 whey protein concentrate (wpc)  for weight management,  a chocolate coconut water shake with Hilmar 8350 whey protein hydrolysate and Hilmar 8200 wpc for women’s nutrition, and a chocolate exercise recovery drink with Hilmar 8800 alpha-lactalbumin enriched wpc for sports nutrition. The concepts have been tested in a full production run at Tetra Pak Pilot Plant, Denton, Texas.

Lynnfield, Mass.-based HP Hood highlighted its coast-to-coast aseptic bottling capabilities.

Ingredion Inc., Westchester, Ill., featured three interactive stations, each focusing on three food trends: “Simple foods. Simple ingredients.,” highlighting non-GMO sweeteners and starches; “Healthy eating. Healthy ingredients.,”  featuring fibers and prebiotics; and “New foods. New ingredients.,” featuring cooking demonstrations showcasing Ingredion’s portfolio of ingredients. The company also offered samples of a horchata rice milk with faba bean protein, a frozen golden Margarita featuring Foamation QY 50, and watermelon agua fresca, which contained Nutraflora prebiotic and soluble fiber. In other news, the company announced it has agreed to acquire Salem, Ore.-based Kerr Concentrates Inc., a privately held producer of natural fruit and vegetable concentrates, purees and essences. The transaction of approximately $100 million is expected to close within 30 business days, pending customary closing conditions.

Cranbury, N.J.-based Innophos promoted its nutrition solutions including botanical extracts, calcium phosphates and chelated minerals.

Chestertown, Md.-based LaMotte Co., promoted its water testing products. The company featured its Smart3 waterproof colorimeter as well as its PocketTesters, BioPaddles and test strips.

Mettler Toledo LLC, Columbus, Ohio, displayed several new balances as well as a new easy titrator. The smaller model, ideal for use in plants, uses the same components as the larger models as well as a one-touch interface.

Microthermics, Raleigh, N.C., promoted its machinery including a new development that the company partnered with Aseptia to develop, the UTH/HTST lab-25 DMW sterilizer.

Naturex Inc., Avignon, France, highlighted its first major strategic plan, Bright 2020. The plan reinforces Naturex’s position as a pure, natural player in a market facing many environmental, social, economic and regulatory challenges, it says.

La Verne, Calif.-based PAT Vitamins Inc. celebrated its 20th anniversary at IFT. The company highlighted its portfolio of ingredient solutions including vitamin C, vitamins D-2 and D-3, amino acids and its Sweeteners from Nature portfolio, which includes monk fruit and stevia solutions.

Prova Inc., Danvers, Mass., presented its new flavor and extract applications in food and beverages. The company also offered samples of a spicy chai coconut tea.

Geneva, Ill.-based Roquette America showcased its protein and fiber solutions. The company offered samples of a bourbon vanilla iced coffee, which featured Nutralys pea protein and Nutriose corn soluble fiber, and a vegan blueberry juice, which contained Algility high lipid algal flour, Nutriose corn soluble fiber and Nutralys pea protein.

San Joaquin Valley Concentrates, Fresno, Calif., featured its red color solutions. It also offered a PowerCap, which allows for easy addition of a powdered enhancer into a waterbottle, which featured San Joaquin red coloring.

S&D coffee, Concord, N.C., showcased its ground coffees, featuring a Guatemalan blend as well as several of the company’s coffee extracts.

St. Louis-based Sensient Colors, a division of Sensient Technologies, highlighted its portfolio of color solutions. The company offers a range of synthetic and natural color options as well as coloring foodstuffs for the European Union. Sensient’s natural colors are all non-GMO and preservative free. The company also promoted its Sensient Natural Origins (SNO) collection of flavors of botanical ingredients.

Sensory Effects, Defiance, Ohio, introduced its VitaCholine enhanced creamer. The low carbohydrate, spray dried powder contains the nutrient, choline, which is important in brain development and function, cardiovascular health, fitness and energy, liver function and fat metabolism, the company says.

South San Francisco-based Solazyme promoted its Ultra Omega-9 and High Stability algae oils. Additionally, the company featured its vegan, non-GMO and gluten-free algal protein.

Steviva Brands Inc., Portland, Ore., promoted its MonkSweet Plus and Erysweet+ stevia sweeteners. Additionally, the company promoted its recent white paper on back sweetening ciders with stevia. The paper discusses hard cider formulation and issues with secondary fermentation that comes along with commonly used sweeteners while highlighting the benefits of back sweetening with stevia-based sweetening solutions.

Sweet Green Fields, Bellingham, Wash., launched two new products for IFT. Intesse is a blend of steviol glycosides with no GMOs and FDA GRAS certified. It also is zero calories, sugar free and natural. Natrose Flavor is a FEMA GRAS flavor modifier. It enhances the sweetness profile of the sweetener system in use. Additionally, Natrose Flavor offers opportunity for clean label calorie reduction with no bitterness.

Synergy Flavors, Wauconda, Ill., highlighted several beverages including a chocolate salted caramel cold-brew coffee, a blueberry lime green sparkler, a grapefruit hibiscus paloma and a protein-packed buzz bar milkshake, which infused Synergy pure coffee concentrate with mocha flavor, natural vanilla flavor and natural chocolate. A mixologist also was crafting cocktails, including a Shishito Pepper Margarita.

Minneapolis-based Taiyo International Inc. highlighted its matcha and promoted its Suntheanine, Sunfiber, Sunactive, Sunamla and Sunphenon.

Tate & Lyle, Decatur, Ill., offered samples of a craft root beer, which featured Tasteva stevia, Dolcia Prima allulose, Promitor soluble fiber and Krystar crystalline fructose.

TIC Gums Inc., White Marsh, Md., promoted its hydrocolloid solutions in ready-to-drink beverages. The company offered a low pH beverage that used TIC Pretested Apple Pectin AM 800 and high-protein beverage that used Ticaloid Pro 571 SET and Ticaloid Pro 148 OG.

It was all about tea for the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Virginia Dare, which unveiled its matcha green tea flavored with jasmine and matcha green flavored with lime, which are made with authentic matcha powder, cane sugar and natural flavors. Its organic green and black tea extracts were complemented with organic apple and ginger flavors, respectively, and also featured natural and clean label formulations. In the health and wellness area, a chai tea flavored vegan protein shake containing a blend of pea, hemp and brown rice proteins was showcased.

Crowley, La.-based The Wright Group featured its SuperBlend custom nutrient premixes. The company showcased these capabilities by offering samples of a chocolate omega-3 beverage and a strawberry flavored omega-3 beverage.

 Next year’s IFT tradeshow will take place July 16-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago.