LSN : News : Genes influence likelihood of adopting a vegetarian diet, says report

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Nostalgic cereal snack bars get a protein-packed makeover

Magic Spoon, US

US – Magic Spoon, the brand behind lower-sugar and higher-protein alternatives to classic breakfast cereal, has introduced a range of better-for-you protein-packed cereal bars.

As consumers become ever more health-conscious, a host of food brands are re-imagining breakfast cereals as less sugary and more nutritionally balanced products. Magic Spoon originally launched its healthier version of childhood breakfast cereal in 2019, and has now introduced another convenient comfort food to its product range in the shape of cereal snack bars. Available in marshmallow and chocolatey peanut butter flavours, Magic Spoon Treats contain 11g of protein and only 1g of sugar per serving – a far cry from conventional bars.

‘We wanted to bring people back to the nostalgia of the quintessential ’90s-style cereal treats,’ said Gabi Lewis, co-founder of Magic Spoon. ‘Our Treats are the 2.0 version of these with the same approach to quality, nutritious ingredients people love in our cereal.’

At LS:N Global, we are monitoring how food innovators are re-engineering indulgence for changing palates and dietary preferences, creating an alternative confectionery market in the process.

Strategic opportunity

The snacking market is booming. While the better-for-you snack sector is crowded, there is an untapped opportunity in re-aligning nostalgic comfort foods with current visual trends and nutritional expectations

Genes influence likelihood of adopting a vegetarian diet, says report

Fungi-based bacon by Libre Foods, Spain

Global – Genetic variants appear to play a role in how likely people are to adopt a vegetarian diet, with certain genes linked to fat metabolism emerging as key factors, according to research by Nabeel Yaseen, professor of pathology at Northwestern University in Illinois.

Yaseen’s study examined data from UK Biobank that analysed 5,300 strict vegetarians and 330,000 meat-eaters. The research identified three gene variants more prevalent in vegetarians – two of which, NPC1 and RMC1, are involved in cholesterol and glycolipid metabolism, while the third, RIOK3, influences the immune system.

The research suggests that individuals who naturally produce specific fat molecules might find it easier to give up meat, shedding light on why some individuals find vegetarianism more manageable than others. The study echoes the link previously identified between the impact of genes on coffee or alcohol consumption. This is an important factor to consider for consumers, as they shift towards Adapted Appetites amid the cost of living and climate crises.

Strategic opportunity

As consumers become increasingly concerned about their diets, businesses should use the power of AI to innovate personalised nutritional solutions that create health and cost-related value

Stat: Firearm injuries among American young people are rising alarmingly

Biofire, US

US – Research published in the academic journal Pediatrics in October 2023 suggests that firearm injuries are the leading cause of accidental death among American kids and teenagers. In Trends in Pediatric Nonfatal and Fatal Injuries, the researchers reveal that the rate of firearm fatalities among children under 18 increased by 87% from 2011 to 2021 in the US.

After excluding deaths of infants born prematurely or with congenital abnormalities, firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among Americans under 20. Some 2,590 children and teenagers under the age of 18 died of firearm injuries in 2021, up from 1,311 in 2011, according to the study.

But accidental deaths attributable to car accidents among young people fell by almost half in the same timeframe thanks to new legislation on mandatory seat belts, booster seats and airbags. ‘The opposite is happening with firearms,’ Dr Rebekah Mannix, a paediatric emergency medicine physician at Boston Children’s Hospital who led this research, told The New York Times. ‘It’s just getting worse, and kids are dying at higher rates from firearms.’

As explored in The New Normal: Gun Violence In America, citizens and corporate America must emerge from their shock and collective grief to take action to protect America’s youth.

Strategic opportunity

As the 2024 presidential election looms in America, how can your business raise awareness on protecting children from gun violence while addressing the growing protective mindset among US citizens?