Trusted by leading brands and formulators across bakery, beverage, confectionery, and better-for-you applications. At Icon Foods, clean label is not a trend we chase. It’s a standard we help define. From the functional versatility of Glycera vegetable glycerin, a quiet workhorse that improves texture, stability, and sweetness perception without complicating labels, […]
The Gummy Evolution Summary Gummies have evolved from candy-aisle treats into functional delivery systems for vitamins, botanicals, and wellness actives, but consumers now expect indulgent texture and sweetness without added sugar. This white paper explores how formulators can successfully rebuild the gummy matrix by replacing traditional sucrose and glucose syrup […]
The Pros, Cons & Best Uses of Allulose, Xylitol, Stevia, Monk Fruit & Erythritol in Dietary Supplements Summary Formulating dietary supplements is as much science as strategy, especially when it comes to sweeteners. In Sweet Science: The Pros, Cons & Best Uses of Allulose, Xylitol, Stevia, Monk Fruit & Erythritol in […]
… and Carmelization in Food Applications Summary Taming the Burn: Controlling Allulose’s Quick Browning and Caramelization in Food Applications explores one of allulose’s most misunderstood traits: its tendency to brown early and aggressively under heat. While allulose delivers clean sweetness, bulking, and low-glycemic benefits, its highly reactive nature makes it prone […]
RFK Jr.’s Dietary Guidelines Shake Up CPG-Land Summary The newly revised U.S. Dietary Guidelines announced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mark a profound reset for the food system, elevating whole foods, protein, and nutrient density while pushing added sugars and ultra-processed ingredients to the margins. For CPG brands, […]
Summary Colostrum may be nature’s first functional food, but it’s rapidly becoming one of today’s most compelling clean-label opportunities. Packed with immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, growth factors, and gut-supporting peptides, bovine colostrum sits at the intersection of immunity, performance, and digestive health, three megatrends shaping modern formulation. As consumer familiarity grows and […]
… and How it’s Building a Bridge to the Kroger Network Summary The “better-for-you” movement is reshaping retail, and Target has emerged as its most powerful mainstream champion. In Target’s Rise as a Leader in Better-for-You Products, Icon Foods explores how Target has democratized clean-label, functional, and low-sugar foods, making wellness […]
Summary Tagatose vs. Allulose: A Comparative Analysis for Food and Beverage Formulators dives into two of the most promising rare sugars shaping the future of better-for-you formulation. Both deliver sugar-like sweetness with dramatically fewer calories and minimal glycemic impact, but when it comes to functionality, metabolism, and especially Nutrition Facts Panel […]
Summary Smart Cookies: Reformulating the Future of School Snacks explores how tightening USDA nutrition standards and rising parent expectations are reshaping the school snack landscape, creating a powerful opportunity for high-protein, low-sugar treats that kids actually love. As added sugar limits drop to under 10% of weekly calories by 2027, formulators […]
Where Sweet Innovation Meets a Clean-Label, Without Aftertaste! Summary SteviaSweet™ from Icon Foods represents a full-spectrum approach to stevia, giving formulators precision control over sweetness, flavor, and performance without compromising clean-label goals. From classic Rebaudioside A options to next-generation glycosides like Rebaudioside M and D, as well as proprietary blends […]