Dive Brief:
- Dean Foods is launching TruMoo Calcium Plus low-fat chocolate milk, a new variety of the ready-to-serve refrigerated chocolate milk product in the U.S. Each serving of the new product delivers 50% more calcium than regular low-fat white milk.
- As a TruMoo branded product, TruMoo Calcium Plus is devoid of high fructose corn syrup, artificial growth hormones, and artificial sweeteners.
- Calcium is a popular nutrient to add to products, but other trending nutrients for fortification include potassium, vitamin D, vitamin E, choline, and fiber.
Dive Insight:
Fortified food and beverage products are nothing new to the industry, as the trend dates back as far as the early 1900s, when products like grits, salt, milk, and bread were fortified to help control the spread of certain diseases. Milk has been fortified with vitamin D since the 1930s, and calcium has also long been a popular addition to dairy products.
Manufacturers may consider fortifying products, but they may find that switching to using more natural ingredients is more palatable for health-conscious consumers. Manufacturers have been looking to natural ingredients to replace artificial ones, but the added nutrients from these natural ingredients could be an extra boost.