Xtalks Food Industry Podcast Xtalks

Clinical trials are the primary way that researchers find out if a new drug or medical device is safe and effective in humans, so why don’t food and beverage products that make specific health claims go through the same process? In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the burgeoning food clinical trial space, which tend to be more pragmatic and exploratory since they document human experiences with specific foods in the context of the human diet. Food clinical trials are often designed to evaluate specific marketing claims needing scientific substantiation, which increase trust among consumers as well as market value. The team wonder how long food clinical trials have been around for and are looking forward to seeing the space grow.
Also, in this episode, Sydney talks about why Babybel cheese, among other food products, are wrapped in wax. Second to its cheese, Babybel is known for its packaging, consisting of a netted bag in which each piece of cheese is encased in a colored natural paraffin wax skin. However, this red coating isn’t unique to Babybel cheese. Coating cheese using food-grade wax is often a method used on other hard and semi-hard cheeses that only need a few months to age. Wax can also be found on fruit snacks, Skittles, M&Ms, fruits and vegetables to keep them looking and tasting fresh. The team is surprised to hear that wax is used for more than just cheese and wonder whether Babybel wax can be recycled or composted. 
Read the full articles here:
What are Food Clinical Trials and What Purpose do They Serve?
Why Babybel Cheese and Other Food Products are Wrapped in Wax
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Clean Food Group, a food tech company based in the UK, plans to commercialize a yeast-based palm oil alternative that could reduce global deforestation. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about a palm oil alternative that uses fermentation technology to grow yeast in tanks while using lignocellulosic waste as a feedstock and renewable energy as an energy source. The sustainable alternative can be used in all products that currently require palm oil and may also reach price parity with conventional palm oil. The team wonders why palm oil is so ubiquitous in food production and discuss why a multi-faceted approach is needed to address all the negative environmental impacts of palm oil production.
Also, in this episode, Sydney talks about Monster Energy’s entrance into the alcoholic beverage category with Beast Unleashed. It will be the energy drink brand’s first new alcoholic beverage since the beverage maker acquired CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective for $330 million in early 2022. Beast Unleashed will also be the first time Monster has leveraged its namesake brand in the alcohol space. Since alcohol remains a small but growing segment for Monster Beverage, the company has been exploring other avenues for growth, including releasing a 100 percent vegan energy drink and a zero-sugar beverage. The team wonders whether Monster will find success in alcohol in such a crowded market and whether the branding will confuse consumers. 
Read the full articles here:
New Palm Oil Alternative Receives $2.2 Million Investment
Beast Unleashed: Monster Energy’s Long-Awaited Alcoholic Beverage
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Pink Sauce, a product created and marketed by a woman who goes by Chef Pii on TikTok, has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about the social media-based food scandal, from Pink Sauce’s ingredients to packaging and marketing. Concerns arose when TikTok users noticed an inconsistency in the product’s color and many reviewers had trouble placing the exact flavor. In addition to several label misprints and an impossible number of servings per bottle, several customers said they received leaking bottles of rotten-smelling sauce in the mail. The team discuss why it shouldn’t be so easy to start a food business, using Pink Sauce as an example, and wonder why food is not as heavily regulated by the FDA as drugs.
Also, in this episode, Sydney gives a list of the top five fastest growing beverage companies in 2022. The first two, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, come as no surprise, with PepsiCo’s growth partly attributed to its diversification into food and snacks and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar being the fastest-growing soft drink in the US. Third and fourth on the list were Monster Beverage and Celsius Holdings, two energy drink brands. While Monster Energy generated about $3.24 billion in sales in 2021, Celsius Holdings’ sales jumped over 1,000 percent last year on the back of breakout growth. Finally, the list of fastest growing beverage companies would be incomplete without an alcoholic beverage maker, Boston Beer Company. The team talk about the important role of startups and all the innovation they have brought to the beverage industry. 
Read the full articles here:
Pink Sauce: Everything You Need to Know About TikTok’s Controversial Condiment
Top Five Fastest Growing Beverage Companies in 2022
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Quark cheese is a high-protein, low-fat alternative to soft cheese and yogurt that can be used for baking, cooking and blending. In this episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast, Sydney talks about quark, which traces back to the 14th century where it was popular throughout Europe, and still is to this day. She clarifies that it is in fact classified as a cheese, although it features a super-thick consistency, which is a cross between cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. Quark cheese is multifaceted in the kitchen and is very popular countries like Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, but it is rare in the US, with only a handful of dairies producing the cheese. The team wonder why they had never heard of this cheese before and whether it has the potential to become more popular among US consumers. 
Also, in this episode, Sydney discusses the probiotic soda trend and whether these beverages are actually healthy. Simply put, probiotic sodas are carbonated drinks that contain one or more probiotic ingredient(s). Some research shows that probiotics can help maintain a balanced gut microbiome, which supports gastrointestinal health and function. While probiotics can be found in fermented foods, dietary supplements and beauty products, sodas containing probiotics are increasing in popularity. Some companies in the probiotic soda space include Culture Pop, Live and Loop, which uses produce that would otherwise be discarded and gives it a second life in its sodas and other products. The team critically analyze whether probiotics are effective in maintaining gut health and what claims companies can make when advertising probiotic sodas. 
Read the full articles here:
What is Quark Cheese and Why is it Rare to Find in the US?
Is Probiotic Soda Actually Healthy and Which Companies Produce It?
For more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.
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This episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast features an interview with Cristina Ros Blankfein, the co-founder of the zero-sugar, low-calorie beverage company, Swoon. Hear about how the brand was conceptualized, its line of lemonades and iced teas, the R&D process and the ingredients that make Swoon zero-sugar. She discusses the importance of having a social media presence in today’s marketing world as well as an exciting collaboration with influencer Emma Chamberlain. Hear about Ros Blankfein’s day-to-day schedule as a co-founder and some advice she has for aspiring food business owners. Prior to Swoon, she was a co-founder and board member at Circle of Women, a student-run non-profit that builds schools for girls.
Read the related story here:
Six Women-Owned Food Brands to Support Beyond International Women’s Day 2022 
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This episode of the Xtalks Food Podcast features an interview with Gwen Burlingame, the co-founder of premium lactose-free ice cream brand Beckon Ice Cream. Hear about how the brand was conceptualized, its start at a Boston farmers market, the R&D process and the ingredients that make Beckon a premium lactose-free ice cream. She discusses the challenges she and co-founder Katy Flannery encountered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as well as what it means to run a women-owned business. Hear about Burlingame’s day-to-day schedule as a co-founder and some advice she has for aspiring food business owners. Prior to Beckon, Burlingame held roles at L’Oreal USA and Kiehl’s Since 1851 in e-commerce, digital strategy, global brand marketing and product portfolio management.
Read the related story here:
Six Women-Owned Food Brands to Support Beyond International Women’s Day 2022 
For more food and beverage industry content, visit the Xtalks Vitals homepage.
Follow Us on Social Media 
Twitter: @XtalksFood
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