bake - Febuary 2016 - 8

news bites

Premium Chocolate
Drives Sales

chocolate with fruits and nuts when
tives. Actual dollar sales back up these

Guidelines Examine
Reﬁned Grains

The confectionery industry has fared

claims with chocolate infused with

Even as the basic recommendations

well in recent years, underscoring the

hazelnuts up nine percent, almonds up

regarding grains intake have been left

importance of a small indulgence in

four percent and dried fruits (a much

unchanged in the 2015-2020 edition

good and bad economic times,

smaller segment) up 56 percent.

of the Dietary Guidelines, a marked

looking for better-for-you alterna-

according to the National Confectioners
Association (NCA). Among more than
300 product categories across the
store, confectionery is growing faster

shift in tone is evident from the 2010

Egg Supplies on the
Rebound

than 184 other categories.

edition. "Reﬁned grains," which held
center stage in the earlier recommendations as an ingredient to be
avoided with solid fats, added sugars

Half of the laying hens lost to the

and excessive alcohol, have a far more

The gourmet/premium chocolate

highly pathogenic avian inﬂuenza (AI)

modest presence in the latest edition.

segment has been on ﬁre with double

outbreak in 2015 have been replaced

digit growth for several years now, and

and full replacement may occur by

11 percent for the most recent twelve

mid-2016 if recovery continues at the

months. This includes higher-end

current pace, according to the Egg

chocolate with organic claims, choco-

Industry Center in Ames, Iowa. The

late with very high cocoa percentages,

center, which is administered by Iowa

but also products from countries such

State University, expects egg prices to

as Germany or Belgium. The NCA also

decline in the ﬁrst quarter as supply

sees a rise in the share of premium

continues to return to more normal

that focuses on GMO-free, fair trade,

levels.

etc. Fun and daring ﬂavor combinations are tied to the premium trend, as

"As the supply of egg products

more are creating and infusing fun and

continues to recover, there will be

daring ﬂavor combinations, particularly

ample availability for use in the food

enjoyed by the millennials. These are

industry," says John Howeth, execu-

things like hot red peppers, bacon,

tive vice president of the American

lavender and ginger that give a new

Egg Board. "And barring any further

twist to an old favorite.

incidents, we expect supply and
pricing to regain their previous

According to the NCA survey among

consistency."

1,400 shoppers, 41 percent purchase

08 < FEB 2016 | bakemag.com

"Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Egg imports, fewer exports and unaf-

2015-20, Eighth Edition," was posted

fected farms increasing production

Jan. 7 on the health.gov web site.

all have contributed to help with the

The guidelines are published every

supply gap, the American Egg Board

ﬁve years as a joint effort of the US

reported. Egg and egg product prices

Department of Health and Human

doubled and even tripled to record

Services and the US Department of

highs in the summer of 2015 due to

Agriculture. As was the case in the

tight to lacking supplies. Prices have

2010 Guidelines, the 2015-20 edition

fallen sharply since late summer as

recommends consumption of six

egg supplies increased, some demand

ounce-equivalent servings of grains

was offset by egg replacers and

per day (in a 2,000 calorie diet) with

consumers resisted high retail egg

at least half consumed as whole grains.

prices, which shifted more supply to

It also urges a cutback in consumption

processors.

of reﬁned grains.
http://www.health.gov http://www.bakemag.com
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