The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) saw more than 23,000 attendees at IFT16: Where Science Feeds Innovation. The organization’s annual meeting and food expo, which took place July 16-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago, featured various speakers, poster presentations, scientific sessions and a sold-out expo floor that had 1,222 exhibitors.

The following are some of the beverage highlights from those exhibitors:

AIBMR Life Sciences Inc., Seattle, highlighted its consulting, product development and regulatory compliance services, including formulation development/review to help products achieve generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status in the market.

AIDP, City of Industry, Calif., promoted its protein and prebiotic ingredients. The company featured its rice and pea proteins in an almond milk base as well as a vegetable-based digestive-health drink that contained its PreticX prebiotic. In packaged offerings, it also showcased how its Naticol natural type 1 collagen peptide can benefit multiple need states, including mobility and beauty from within.

Itasca, Ill.-based Ajinomoto North America Inc. offered samples of two different formulations of a strawberry lemonade. One was a full-sugar formulation, and the other was a 20 percent calorie reduction that featured Advantame aspartame. The company highlighted Advantame’s high-potency taste and low-cost attributes, it said.

Seattle-based Aloecorp Inc. promoted its growing, processing and supplier capabilities for aloe vera.

Johns Creek, Ga.-based Amelia Bay highlighted its tea and coffee offerings in several on-trend prototypes. The company highlighted its teas in an organic matcha green tea with pineapple and mango; a premium, brewed organic sweet black tea; and a premium, brewed organic unsweetened tea. It also showcased its coffee solutions in an organic cold-brew coffee with caramel.

Chicago-based Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) promoted the addition of WILD Flavors, Specialty Commodities Inc., Eatem Foods and Harvest Innovations to its portfolio. The company emphasized that its portfolio now offers a larger range of solutions. At a separate booth, the Fibersol brand, a part of ADM’s joint venture with Matsutani LLC, promoted its newest offering Fibersol-2L, a liquid version of its Fibersol-2. The company showcased a concept fiber shot beverage as well as a fiber-fortified powder beverage mix.

Arla Food Ingredients Inc. USA, Basking Ridge, N.J., highlighted the ways in which whey protein and the minerals from milk can help reduce the effects of aging while also reinforcing its recent Goodness of Dairy and Change Your Body Age initiatives. The company offered samples of two beverage prototypes: a coffee cappuccino drink containing Lacprodan DI-7017 and Capolac, and an instant iced protein coffee with Lacprodan SP-8011 and Capolac. Both prototypes contained 30 grams of 100 percent whey protein and natural milk minerals, it says.

Covington, Ky.-based Ashland Inc.’s Specialty Ingredients business unit highlighted methods to enhance mouthfeel, consistency and texture in reduced-calorie and -sugar beverages. It also reinforced its portfolio of hydrocolloid solutions.

Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Northbrook, Ill., highlighted flavors from several of its Spark trends, which are designed to ignite creativity and inspire product development, it says. For example, it highlighted flavors from the Well-Traveled Kitchen: India, which showcased trending aromatic flavors and contrasting tastes that mix boldness and versatility, the company says.

Beneo, Morris Plains, N.J., highlighted the technical performance of Remypure, a high-performance rice starch that qualifies for both natural and clean-label status worldwide. A fruit-flavored dairy drink was offered featuring Remypure. The company also offered its concept energy drink 2.0, which featured Palatinose, a sweetener that provides sustained energy, it says.

Blue California, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., promoted its newest offering: BC-DHQ (Dihydroquercetin), an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and color-stabilizing ingredient. BC-DHQ is a water-soluble flavonoid produced by fermentation and can be used in functional beverages, the company says.

Long Beach, Calif.-based BI Nutraceuticals highlighted its protein and botanical ingredients. The company featured tropical turmeric juice with greens, which included its turmeric, alfalfa, broccoli and spinach powders, as well as a high-protein horchata, which included the company’s faba bean protein and its cinnamon powder extract.

Cargill, Minneapolis, highlighted its partnership with Nagase in the utilization of Treha trehalose, a masking agent that can be found in proteins, vitamins and minerals, and high-intensity sweeteners. It also can modify bitter and astringent flavors, the companies note. To showcase this, the companies offered samples of a grapefruit energy blast beverage, which contained Nagase’s Treha as well as Cargill’s Truvia stevia and Zerose erythritol. A zero-calorie, cola-flavored carbonated soft drink (CSD) sweetened with EverSweet also was offered.

Nashville, N.C.-based Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients Inc. introduced four new ingredient brands and two new purple sweet potato solutions, which can replace artificial sweeteners and other ingredients for clean-label applications, it says. The new brands are Carolina Original cloudy sweet potato juice, Carolina Clear clarified sweet potato juice, Carolina Craft dehydrated sweet potato ingredients and Carolina Sweet clean-label sweetener. The company featured a concept refreshment beverage made with its sweet potato ingredients and a mocktail made with purple sweet potato juice concentrate.

Milwaukee-based Chr. Hansen Inc. promoted its ultra-stable natural red coloring solution. Water soluble, FruitMax Huckleberry Red 501 WS provides an easy-to-use natural solution for red and pink coloring, the company says.

Corbion, Lenexa, Kan., highlighted its ability to help formulators develop products that support clean labeling. The company also showcased acidification solutions, including PURAC Fit Plus lactic acid, which enables replacement or partial replacement of citric acid in beverages, it says.

The Corn Refiners Association highlighted its recently released GenerationWhy research. The data segments the age demographic into four classifications: Traditionalist, the least health conscious and least engaged on social media; Bon Vivant, more likely to dine out and least likely to avoid certain food products as well as moderate social media activity; Food Purist, the most likely to avoid certain products and also uses social media to access perks and deals, but doesn’t let it influence opinion on products; and Balance-Seeker, the most engaged and influential on social media, who utilizes moderation and is a seeker of healthy balance.

Philadelphia-based David Michael & Co. featured a state fair theme at its booth. To highlight its flavor expertise, the company offered samples of a pomegranate hibiscus lemonade and a kumquat lemonade.

The Döhler Group, Darmstadt, Germany, highlighted its range of flavor solutions and fruit and botanical extracts as well as its comprehensive portfolio of colors, coloring concentrates and color extracts. The company also featured its recent acquisition of Teawolf Inc., Pine Brook, N.J. At a separate booth, Teawolf offered samples that featured its various extract solutions. Among the offerings were a hibiscus cucumber herbal drink, a mochacchino coffee drink, a black tea lavender drink and a green tea passion fruit morgana.

Parsippany, N.J.-based DSM Nutritional Products Inc. featured its EPA and DHA omega-3s. It also highlighted several on-trend concept beverages that utilized its ingredient solutions. A hydrotonix pink lemonade colored with beta-carotene featured added vitamins and electrolytes without colors from artificial sources; a fruit and yogurt smoothie featured added protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and omega-3s; and a tropical orange juice contained less sugar and added nutritional benefits.

Philadelphia-based EMD Performance Materials Corp.’s Pigments and Functional Materials unit highlighted its abilities in pearl color effects for foods and beverages by showcasing Viniq Liqueur.

Flavorchem Corp., Downers Grove, Ill., promoted its cold-brew flavor extracts and reinforced its flavor portfolio. The company featured a cold brewed Agua de Jamaica Granita, made with the company’s cold-brew hibiscus extract, and a cold-brew rooibos chai latte, made with its cold-brew rooibos extract.

Food Ingredient Solutions LLC, Teterboro, N.J., highlighted that its spirulina extract now is approved for coloring solutions in variety of products, including beverage mixes.

FutureCeuticals, Momence, Ill., highlighted its Coffeeberry energy, an organic coffee fruit caffeine ingredient with antioxidants. The company offered a prototype red coffee berry ale, which was brewed by Tinley Park, Ill.-based craft brewer Hailstorm Brewery. Coffeeberry energy supports clean labeling and offers functional benefits, the company says.

Gelita USA, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, highlighted its clean-label gelling agents, stabilizers, binders and emulsifiers.

Carlsbad, Calif.-based Glanbia Nutritionals featured its newly combined business, which brings together its previously separate business units into one integrated organization offering proteins, cheese, custom nutrient premixes, bioactives, grains, seeds and pulses, aseptic beverage manufacturing, flavors and micronutrient straights. The company also highlighted its ingredients and services through a plethora of prototypes, including an effervescent supplement.

Glatt Integrated Process Solutions, Binzen, Germany, showcased technologies for an innovative particle based on fluidized bed and spouted bed technologies to dry, agglomerate, granulate and coat various functional ingredients, it says. 

Tarrytown, N.Y.-based GNT USA Inc. offered attendees handcrafted sodas that featured its all-natural color solutions. The concept beverage was available in the following flavor options: Blackberry Ginger, Rhubarb Citrus and Pineapple Vanilla.

Commerce, Calif.-based Gold Coast Ingredients offered a different beverage and food sample each day of the expo to highlight its flavor capabilities. The first day featured a blueberry and pomegranate drink; on the second day, a mango and mangosteen beverage was served; and on the final day, the company offered a Fuji apple and plum drink.

Hilmar Ingredients, Hilmar, Calif., showcased its Hilmar 9020 Whey Protein Isolate in a ready-to-drink isotonic fruit punch, which highlighted the ingredient’s clean flavor and acid and heat stability. It also reinforced its other whey protein offerings: a concentrate and a hydrolysate.

Ingredient Solutions Inc., Waldo, Maine, highlighted its newest hydrocolloid offering for beverages: gellan gum. The company also featured other hydrocolloid solutions within its portfolio, which include carrageenan, pectin and xanthan gum.

With a focus on delivering digestive health and immune support, Ingredion Inc., Westchester, Ill., offered samples of several beverage prototypes, which were clean tasting, gluten free with no- or low-added sugar, it says. These included a green cooler fruit-and-vegetable beverage with Nutriose FM06 soluble fiber; a nut-and-seed-based black sesame cashew beverage, which contained the natural plant-based sweetener Enliten A810 and the liquid prebiotic soluble fiber Nutraflora L95-S; a matcha tea that was sweetened with Enliten Reb-A stevia sweetener and Erysta C40 crystalline erythritol; a fruit-and-vegetable-based super berry protein smoothie with no added sugar; and a high-protein coffee almond nutritional beverage, which contained Vitessence Pulse CT 1552 pea protein concentrate and prebiotic soluble fibers Nutraflora and Bioligo GL 5700 GOS.

Innophos Inc., Cranberry, N.J., promoted its nutritional solutions, including nutritional botanical extracts, calcium phosphates and chelated minerals. Its newest solutions include Vitra Phos and Mono Di. Vitra Phos is available in a powder or granular form and is ideal for acidic beverages, while Mono Di is a potassium phosphate that is well-suited for isotonic water and sports beverages, it says.

Newton, Mass.-based Jungbunzlar Inc. featured a mango slushy with no added sugars. The formulation included the company’s Erylite sweetener blend of erythritol and stevia extract.

Kemin Food Technologies, Des Moines, Iowa, highlighted its Kemin Fortra natural plant extract line. Derived from spearmint, Fortra is a proprietary blend that protects color and flavor in alcohol and non-alcohol formulations, the company says.

Kerr Concentrates Inc., Salem, Ore., showcased its clean-label product line of fruit and vegetable concentrates, purees and essences. It also offered samples of a mango-vegetable refresher made with carrot and pumpkin juice concentrates and a sour cherry limeade, which featured apple puree and cherry concentrate along with beet juice concentrate for color.

Tralee, Ireland-based Kerry Group plc highlighted its recent acquisition of Wellmune, an immune-support ingredient. Additionally, the company featured concept products that addressed consumer preferences like clean label, convenience and authentic taste. It offered samples of a berry beat blast prototype beverage that utilized Wellmune and a blend of juice from crystals; a stirred rye whiskey cocktail that featured smoke bitters, notes of cumin, coriander, artichoke and caraway; and a frozen mango passion tea was made with real sugar, real green tea and all natural flavors.

Experts from Kyowa Hakko USA Inc., New York, Nawgan, Dana Point, Calif., and DSM Nutritional Products hosted the “Functional Ingredients for Cognitive Health in Food and Beverage Applications” at an IFT clinical symposium on the scope and science of brain health and cognitive function. The symposium was divided into the following tracks: nutritional guidelines, trending cognitive ingredients and product creation. 

Monk Fruit Corp., Libertyville, Ill., showcased its monk fruit sweeteners in an espresso con leche and a black currant elderflower iced tea.

The National Honey Board, Firestone, Colo., highlighted the versatility of honey as a natural sweetener and provided samples of two varieties: orange blossom buckwheat and Florida tupelo.

Fort Worth, Texas-based Parker Products highlighted its ability to support clean-label products. It also reinforced its portfolio of mix-ins, flavor bases, drizzles, toppings and grinds.

PAT Vitamins Inc., Laverne, Calif., highlighted its portfolio of nutritional ingredients for food and beverages.

Petiva Private Ltd., Hyderabad, India, introduced a line of non-GMO, GRAS natural sugars. The line features Honeytose, a calorie-free natural sugar found in honey; Nectrose, a complex sugar present in nectar; and Caneose, a low-sweetness sugar.

Prova Inc., Danvers, Mass., offered trend-inspired demonstrations featuring the company’s vanilla, cocoa and coffee extracts as well as its sweet brown flavors in three beverages. Additionally, the company celebrated its 70th anniversary.

Carol Stream, Ill.-based Prinova utilized its partnership with PureCircle to feature marketing trends associated with sugar reduction and the best ways to market reformulated stevia products. The company offered three prototype beverages, each with its own claim. A blackberry-flavored CSD provided an example of a clean-label sugar reduction using PureCircle’s NSF-04 and NSF-05 sweeteners. A ready-to-drink (RTD) natural peach tea offered an “absence of” claim and utilized PureCircle’s Alpha, Sweta-S and Reb-A for sweetness, Prinova flavors and Prinova Bitter Blocker. Finally, a strawberry banana smoothie highlighted a sugar reduction in a protein-fortified beverage.

PureCircle, Oak Brook, Ill., announced at the show that it made a $100 million investment in its agronomy program. The investment will go toward expansion efforts in 15 growing regions around the world and the further development of the company’s farming footprint outside of China. Additionally, it highlighted its Zeta family of Reb-D and Reb-M stevia sweeteners and its Sigma-T tea-specific solution.

Rembrandt Foods, Spirit Lake, Iowa, highlighted its RemPro 8000 egg white protein in a passion fruit protein shake and a vanilla crème protein shake, both of which contained the equivalent of seven egg whites. The company also promoted its RemPro8090, a flavorless egg white protein isolate that it anticipates launching in the first quarter of 2017, it says.

Fresno, Calif.-based San Joaquin Valley Concentrates promoted its line of natural colors as exemplified in a berry antioxidant beverage.

Concord, N.C.-based S&D Coffee promoted its capabilities for cold-brew coffee and tea. The company offered a range of concept products that featured its cold-brew coffee and tea extracts.

Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sensient Flavors LLC offered samples of four RTD beverage prototypes: a Jamaican rum cake coffee with natural rum cake and natural spiced rum flavors; a 50 percent sugar-reduced black tea made with ackee, a naturally sweet fruit grown in Jamaica; a charred coconut coffee; and an herbal orange-flavored black tea with a 50 percent sugar reduction.

Sethness Products Co., Skokie, Ill., showcased 11 non-GMO Project Verified caramel colors and caramelized sugar syrups in its Class I, III and IV color portfolios.

Steviva Ingredients, Portland, Ore., a provider of proprietary sweetness systems, offered samples of a lemongrass ginger-flavored CSD, which featured a blend of stevia, monk fruit and erythritol, and contained 10 calories in a 16-ounce beverage.

Sugimoto America, Redmond, Wash., showcased its portfolio of matcha and green tea powders.

Sweet Green Fields, Bellingham, Wash., highlighted its added-sugar reduction or elimination capabilities through its portfolio of stevia ingredients. It offered samples of a strawberry- and kiwi-flavored beverage and an orange juice, which both contained the company’s Stevia Optimizer 2.10. The company also promoted its Natrose and Intesse stevia solutions.

Synergy Flavors, Wauconda, Ill., launched Synergy Pure 100% Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, a highly concentrated cold-brew offering. The company’s cold-brew concentrate is a clean-label ingredient, is scalable for high-volume distribution levels, is non-GMO, organic and Fair Trade, the company says. It also featured its Synergy Pure Essences and Extracts.

Minneapolis-based Taiyo International Inc. promoted its Suntheanine, SunActive and SunFiber ingredient lines.

Decatur, Ill.-based Tate & Lyle North America served up food-truck-inspired fare, which included a reduced-calorie/reduced-sugar spicy chocolate milk that contained Dolcia Prima allulose, Krystar crystalline fructose, Tasteva stevia and PureFruit monk fruit. Additional beverage offerings included a zero-calorie cucumber lime green tea agua fresca that contained Tasteva and Dolcia Prima; and a pineapple passion fruit drink, which featured Dolcia Prima, Splenda sucralose and PureFruit.

TIC Gums, White Marsh, Md., offered a coconut almond milk that contained Ticaloid Pro 181 AG. The hydrocolloid offers a clean-label claim and can be used in rice, nut, grain and soy beverages, the company says.

Selah, Wash.-based Tree Top Inc. offered samples of two prototypes: a hop-infused craft juice made with hop extract and an apple chai tea containing apple juice concentrate, ginger puree and cinnamon that is designed to be blended with ice and 1/3rd cup of milk. 

Vegetable Juices Inc., a company of Avignon, France-based Naturex, highlighted its new cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices. The company offered two concept beverages: a pick-me-up refresher and a tart cherry vegetable juice.

Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Virginia Dare debuted its new, refreshed brand and introduced its portfolio of ingredients under two new platforms. The Taste Foundations platform includes the company’s premium vanilla, tea, coffee and cocoa extracts, while the Taste Collaborations platform features its flavors, taste-enhancement systems and taste-modulation systems. The company also highlighted its new logo, marketing and sales materials, and tradeshow booth. Additionally, it demonstrated its capabilities through several concept products, which included a spicy chocolate plant-protein shake and a vanilla ice cream.

Watson Inc., West Haven, Conn., showcased fortified coffee creamers with energy and antioxidant premixes. The energy creamer was available in a French vanilla flavor, while the antioxidant creamer was a hazelnut variety. The company also offered samples of fortified spring water, which contained Watson’s Clear-E and Beta-clear and highlighted the company’s clear forms of vitamin E and beta-carotene, it says.

Welch’s Global Ingredient Group, a division of Welch’s Foods Inc., Concord, Mass., unveiled a new FruitWorx Concord Grape juice powder, which is made with a proprietary dehydration process that removes all the water from the fruit juice while capturing its natural wholesomeness, it says. The powder is made with real fruit juice, is free from artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, is non-GMO, and can be used in a wide range of applications, including beverages.

Gilbert, Ariz.-based Wisdom Natural Brands’ SweetLeaf Stevia reinforced its line of SweetLeaf Water Drops, a stevia-based water enhancer. It also highlighted the new look for its Sweet Drops line of sweeteners, which are available in Coconut, Caramel, Chocolate, Vanilla and SteviaClear flavors.

The Wright Group, Crowley, La., featured its SuperBlend custom nutrient premixes and offered samples of a chocolate and strawberry value-added beverage fortified with omega-3 fatty acids. Applicable for use in milks and juices, the value-added premixes are non-GMO and shelf stable, it says.

IFT17 will take place June 25-28, 2017, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.