Taste of Science: Building a Better Label: Winning with Protein in a Clean Label Era: Sponsored by Grande Custom Ingredients Group

Nearly 3 in 4 consumers reconsider purchases after reviewing ingredient lists, and 83% say they read ingredient labels before buying. At the same time, only 16% trust health claims on packaging—often prompting shoppers to verify whether the ingredient statement actually supports those claims.

Together, these data reinforce a growing “clean label” expectation: consumers want clarity, familiarity, and transparency in what they’re eating. This talk explores how food R&D teams can better serve consumers and increase purchase intent by replacing long, hard-to-understand ingredients with options that are more recognizable to shoppers.

It will discuss consumers' reasons backed by the latest studies, and why R&D teams are looking for alternatives that may be easier to identify or interpret on a label. In addition, you’ll hear about emerging research that suggests ingredient statements can shape trust and purchase intent independently of the nutrition facts panel.

Simply seeing a specific ingredient listed may increase confidence and buying interest, signaling familiarity, nutrition, and simplicity. Lastly we will discuss how protein affects the consumers purchase intent as more than a nutritional decision: protein is a multifunctional ingredient that can support structure, stability, viscosity, and moisture retention across applications.