AFS News
Introducing MycoThrive™ Lion’s Mane: A Clinically Studied Ingredient for Cognitive Performance
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study, 40 healthy adults were evaluated on the acute (single-dose) response to 1000 mg of lion's mane, examining its effects on mental acuity and mood. The study introduces MycoThrive™ Lion's Mane, a premium organic lion’s mane extract and the newest addition to a series of innovative functional ingredients developed by Applied Food Sciences (AFS), a...
Boosting Immune Health by Protecting Against Toxins with Glucarate
Maintaining our immune health is crucial for the prevention of illness. While people are familiar with “boosting the immune system” by taking vitamins to fend off cold & flu, it is equally important to defend the body against harmful toxins, chemicals, and other pollutants that can cause an immune response. Every day we are exposed to a myriad of microplastics, excess hormones, preservatives, pesticides,...
(Even Better) Better-For-You Extruded Snacks
Most of us can't help but occasionally surrender to the addictive convenience of grabbing a crinkly bag off the snack aisle. If you are like 95% of Americans, who snack at least once a day, you will likely have had the delight of trying the puffy, crunchy, airy treats...
Mastering Plant-Based, Gluten-Free Baking With Hemp Protein
Protein plays a substantial role in baked goods. Beyond adding nutritional value, protein conditions dough, provides structure, retains moisture, and enhances texture. Therefore, as newer plant-based ingredients take the place of traditional proteins like animal proteins or gluten, formulation expectations must continue to evolve as well. The opportunity for plant-based protein in baked goods is undeniable. Grocery...
Enhancing Nootropics – Study Shows Cognitive Benefits from Guayusa and Lion’s Mane
Consumers are increasingly prioritizing their emotional well-being and, therefore, are seeking products that align with feeling good, staying mentally focused, and improving their productivity throughout the day. In 2023, nearly two-thirds (74%) of American consumers shared a belief that their food and beverage choices made an impact on their overall mental and emotional health [1]. These attributes are part of an emerging category called nootropics, which are...
The Next Move in Organic Vitamin C
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a vital nutrient for the human body to maintain normal function. Vitamin C has been known for its functional health benefits in energizing the body, boosting immunity, and providing structural support, such as helping to form cartilage, bone, and collagen. Vitamin C also has antioxidant properties protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals. While vitamin C is naturally found in many fruits and vegetables, most vitamin C...
Hemp Seed Protein Gives Rise to Healthy Pizza Dough
In today’s food landscape, product labels like ‘Gluten-free,’ ‘Lactose-free,’ and ‘Soy-free’ are the most common claims that accommodate both allergies and the popularized idea of clean, or ‘free-from’ eating. For instance, about 1% of Americans have celiac disease, but a growing estimate of 30% of U.S. adults limit or eliminate gluten from their diets to try improving their overall health [1]. In the last several years, food manufacturers supported this demand by...
Industry News
Growing Demand for Nootropics and “Wholesome” Energy
Recently, Mintel teamed up with a leading functional ingredient supplier, Applied Food Sciences (AFS), to gather insights on nootropics in what many are calling “the future of caffeine.” Their research highlighted the immense potential for beverages to capitalize on this emerging market. Furthermore, an innovative ingredient solution known as guayusa was emphasized, which specifically...
Five Functional Food & Beverage Trends in 2022
When like-minded companies come together, it beckons the collaborative spirit needed to innovate and stay on top of trending markets. That is why, at AFS, we gather our intel from working with thousands of brands each year and share what we consider to be the top trends in the natural products industry. Here are five trends...
Five Notes from Vitafoods Europe 2019
Europe has a lot to offer the natural products industry and at the Vitafoods Europe Show held every year in Geneva, Switzerland, many of the latest EU innovations are on display. For Applied Food Sciences (AFS) participating in this show is an important avenue to connect with customers from all...
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The Story of Guayusa
We want to share our story about the broader impact that sourcing botanicals can have on communities. This article tells the story of a novel Amazonian tea and its incredible impact on the indigenous people that produce it. What is Guayusa? Guayusa ("gwhy-you-sah") is a caffeinated holly species that grows only in the upper Amazon basin of Colombia,...
Promera Sports announces new and advanced formulas for the only natural product line in sport nutrition.
ProMera Sports, arguably the sports nutrition industry’s most innovative company with its history of molecular development and new category creations (e.g. Patented Creatine HCl®, Alpha-GEE®, ALPHA RECOVERY PLUS™ for the treatment of DOMS and exercise induced inflammation and other significant innovations), has become the only top sports nutrition supplier whose...
Five Functional Ingredients that Stand Out on the Shelf
What draws people to certain products over others? Brands only have seconds to grab a consumer's attention on the shelf, and added functionalities only help influence their purchasing decisions. Consumers want to thrive with the products they love, and as a result, just about every food group is trying to enhance what it brings to the market. Supporting this trend, ingredient innovator Applied Food Sciences (AFS) is developing...
Three Steps to Achieve Transparency in Beverages
When it comes to beverages, the full concept of “clean" goes beyond incorporating natural ingredients into a formula. It aligns more with demonstrating the transparency of the product as a whole. This is because the premise behind “clean label" is consumers are skeptical of what manufacturers say about their products, so transparency is needed to build trust. Consumers want to see what is inside the products they purchase so they can...
Tech Experts Launch Free-Flowing Curcumin
Downtime… The Struggle is Real Working with traditional curcumin ingredients can be a manufacturer’s nightmare because turmeric causes caking in production lines and stains equipment. In fact, due to the drastically lengthier cleanup times, some companies refuse to take on turmeric projects altogether. Production runs involving traditional turmeric extracts can incur post-production clean times that are 5 to 6 times longer...
AmaTea® Guayusa Tea Extract
Guayusa or ‘Ilex guayusa’ as it is commonly referred to as in the amazon rainforest, is a species of tree from the family of the ‘holly genus’ plants. In terms of specific regionality, the leaves are naturally found as well as cultivated in upper Amazonian regions of...
Solving the Caffeine Paradox
Caffeine helps us stay alert and focus but can also cause anxiousness that makes it hard to… well, focus – a contradiction that has inspired further research.
The Heart of Plant Based Meats
No disrespect to the original veggie burgers, but consumers may never settle for dry, spongy patties again… not after trying an Impossible Burger. The bar is set on what is forecasted to be an $85 billion industry by 2030.
Mastering Plant-Based, Gluten-Free Baking With Hemp Protein
Protein plays a substantial role in baked goods. Beyond adding nutritional value, protein conditions dough, provides structure, retains moisture, and enhances texture. Therefore, as newer plant-based ingredients take the place of traditional proteins like animal proteins or gluten, formulation expectations must continue to evolve as well. The opportunity for plant-based protein in baked goods is...
Applied Food Sciences Gains Non-GMO Project Verification
Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS) has taken the next step in demonstrating transparency by getting four of its core ingredients Non-GMO Project Verified. The company’s PurCaf organic caffeine headlines a list of sustainably sourced offerings. PurCaf Organic Caffeine –...
Don’t Sleep on Organic, Soluble Turmeric
PurTurmeric™, an innovative, superior quality turmeric extract, yields a complex flavor and full solubility for simple formulation. Look for this new ingredient from Applied Food Sciences (AFS) at BevNET Live and IFT, 2018. Trending TurmericOrganic Certified & Non-GMOHighly Water SolubleShelf...
Ingredient Manufacturer Announces Non-GMO Project Verified Caffeine Ingredient
Austin, TX – Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS) takes the next step in demonstrating complete transparency by getting four of its core ingredients Non-GMO Project Verified. The company’s PurCaf® organic caffeine headlines a list of innovative and sustainably sourced offerings by AFS. PurCaf®...
Organic, functional innovation essential for energy drink and shot growth
During the past decade or so, the energy drinks and shots category has experienced solid growth. In 2016, wholesale dollar sales for energy drinks grew 7.3 percent to $7.8 billion, according to Roger Dilworth, senior editor at New York-based Beverage...
Winning in the Early Stages of Craft Spirits
While many beverage brands will succeed or fail within their first two years, whiskey will be slowly aging in barrels. To have success in craft spirits, a now nearly four-billion-dollar industry, it is worth the wait. For up and coming Longtucky™ Spirits,...
Hemp Seed Protein Gives Rise to Healthy Pizza Dough
Dough formulation is no easy feat, especially when working with plant-based or allergen-free ingredients. Protein from hemp seeds is an innovative solution that checks the right boxes.
Hemp Seed Protein Gives Rise to Healthy Pizza Dough
Dough formulation is no easy feat, especially when working with plant-based or allergen-free ingredients. Protein from hemp seeds is an innovative solution that checks the right boxes.
Five Functional Food & Beverage Trends in 2022
When like-minded companies come together, it beckons the collaborative spirit needed to innovate and stay on top of trending markets. That is why, at AFS, we gather our intel from working with thousands of brands each year and share what we consider to be the top trends in the natural products industry. Here are five trends...
Archive News
Don’t Sleep on Organic, Soluble Turmeric
PurTurmeric™, an innovative, superior quality turmeric extract, yields a complex flavor and full solubility for simple formulation. Look for this new ingredient from Applied Food Sciences (AFS) at BevNET Live and IFT, 2018. Trending TurmericOrganic Certified &...
Applied Food Sciences Gains Non-GMO Project Verification
Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS) has taken the next step in demonstrating transparency by getting four of its core ingredients Non-GMO Project Verified. The company’s PurCaf organic caffeine headlines a list of sustainably sourced offerings. PurCaf Organic Caffeine –...
Ingredient Manufacturer Announces Non-GMO Project Verified Caffeine Ingredient
Austin, TX – Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS) takes the next step in demonstrating complete transparency by getting four of its core ingredients Non-GMO Project Verified. The company’s PurCaf® organic caffeine headlines a list of innovative and sustainably...
Organic, functional innovation essential for energy drink and shot growth
During the past decade or so, the energy drinks and shots category has experienced solid growth. In 2016, wholesale dollar sales for energy drinks grew 7.3 percent to $7.8 billion, according to Roger Dilworth, senior editor at New York-based Beverage...
Three Steps to Achieve Transparency in Beverages
When it comes to beverages, the full concept of “clean" goes beyond incorporating natural ingredients into a formula. It aligns more with demonstrating the transparency of the product as a whole. This is because the premise behind “clean label" is consumers are...
AmaTea® Guayusa Tea Extract
Guayusa or ‘Ilex guayusa’ as it is commonly referred to as in the amazon rainforest, is a species of tree from the family of the ‘holly genus’ plants. In terms of specific regionality, the leaves are naturally found as well as cultivated in upper Amazonian regions of...
Applied Food Sciences Secure Patent for Producing Guayusa Extract
Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS) has announced it is now the exclusive owner of a process patent that covers the production of enriched natural guayusa, from a single source plant, containing antioxidants, amino acids and caffeine. Guayusa is a caffeinated leaf of...
AFS issues Patent for Producing Guayusa Extract
AFS is pleased to announce it is the exclusive owner of U.S. Patent #9345707, a process patent that covers the production of enriched natural guayusa, from a single source plant, containing antioxidants, amino acids and caffeine. The purpose of this process...
Applied Food Sciences Joins the UNPA as its Newest Executive Member
Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS), an Austin, Texas-based ingredient supplier of novel organic and functional extracts designed for food, beverage, and nutritional supplements, is pleased to announce being accepted as the newest Executive Member of the UNPA....
Applied Food Sciences Opens State-of-the-art Innovation Center
Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS) demonstrates a commitment to innovation in food, nutrition and life sciences with the grand opening of a Midwest-based Innovation Center in Iowa City, Iowa. The Austin-based company, Applied Food Sciences, is a natural ingredient...
AFS Opens State-of-the-art Innovation Center
Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS) invests in the University of Iowa choosing its BioVentures Center (BVC) to be location for the company's newest branch for plant-based ingredient innovation. AFS demonstrates a commitment to innovation in food, nutrition and life...
Beverage Expert Applied Food Sciences Makes Breakthrough With Two New Organic Ingredients
Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS) has taken the next step in their organic offerings, introducing two new organic ingredients PurGinger™ organic ginger extract and Pur-C™ organic vitamin C extract at the upcoming BevNET Live conference...
Three Reasons Energy Drinks Will Continue To Dominate The Shelf
In 1987, an energy drink was sold for the very first time in its home market of Austria. The original beverage, at the time called Krating Daeng, was actually a Thai energy drink marketed to truckers, farmers, and construction workers. It wasn’t until...
Green Tea Extract Makes A Splash in the Energy Drink Market
Energy drinks are big business. And, despite setbacks in recent years, are still popular among Americans, with projected growth of 52% from 2014-2019, according to data from market research firm, Mintel. In 2015, energy drinks took up 6.2% of the total US soft drink...
How Applied Food Sciences’ Green Tea Extract is Unlocking Organic Energy Drinks
According to a recent Mintel report, energy drinks are not slowing down, in fact, they are expected to have excellent growth through 2019. Part of the reason energy drinks remain one of the only categories in beverage to continue sustained growth is that they are...
