​​​​​​Parker Products, a provider of inclusions and other specialty ingredients for the baking, dairy, beverage, confectionery, RTE and snack, and foodservice industries, has announced that cookie manufacturer Creative Food Ingredients (CFI) has joined the Parker portfolio.

Welch’s Global Ingredients Group discusses how its fruit ingredients can deliver to prevailing snacking trends.

The president and CEO of Pure Foods talks about new tortilla chips that add trail mix elements like seeds and fruit.

Inclusion Technologies LLC has introduced allergen-free Bits-O-Flavor Flakes.

When it comes to food trends, consumer interest in better-for-you products continues to grow. The desire to improve their overall health and well-being is prompting many Americans to be more selective when it comes to the foods they buy and eat, including baked goods and snacks. Instead of automatically placing a familiar product into their shopping cart, consumers are now scrutinizing its label for unpronounceable ingredients, artificial flavors and colors, GMOs and high levels of sweeteners and sodium.

Fruits, nuts and chocolate are go-to ingredients for inclusions, toppings and fillings that add nutritional benefits to baked goods and snacks.

Though niche customization represents the new frontier for bar manufacturers, select ingredients still appeal to a wide segment of bar-buying consumers.