As the infection rate and death toll of the novel coronavirus continue to climb, more Americans are re-thinking their diet to help ward off infection, as illustrated by the dramatic increase in sales of immunity products and people buying them in the US.

Even as packaged food and beverage companies scramble to meet increased consumer demand while also compensating for setbacks during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many are shifting already limited resources to employees, customers in need and the broader community.

Americans are drinking more coffee than ever before – and not just because fears of coronavirus are keeping them up at night or because they suddenly need an energy boost as they navigate new demands that strain work-life balance.

Given the perils of visiting brick and mortar grocery stores amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many shoppers have turned to online shopping en mass – revealing gaping holes in many retailers’ approached to e-commerce that threaten profitability and consumer loyalty.

Recognizing that the threat of climate change weighs heavily on many consumers and increasingly influences their shopping habits, the consumer packaged goods industry is exploring how it can reduce the use of limited resources, minimize waste and, in some cases, improve the environment.

Before the threat of COVID-19 prompted Washington, DC, and other US cities to ban large gatherings, nearly 900 school nutritional professionals from across the country converged on the Nation’s capital to brainstorm how vulnerable children can continue to access breakfast and lunch in the event of widespread school closures due to the coronavirus.

Confronted almost daily with images of marine debris filling the bellies of dead whales, headlines about climate change and emerging stories about America’s broken recycling system, consumers increasingly are worried about single-use plastic and packaging waste and are pressuring government and the CPG industry to find solutions.

According to the NPD Group’s Future of Snacking report, Americans ate more than 386 billion snacks last year, and IRI reports the category brought in a whopping $89 billion dollars by the end of 2017 with an addition $16 billion in sales predicted over the next five years.

At the recent International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, GlobalMeatNews caught up with North American Meat Institute vice president of sustainability Eric Mittenthal to discuss the challenges facing producers in this area.

The consumer packaged goods industry may be composed of diverse companies offering disparate products ranging from toothpaste to pet food to canned soup, but a recent survey conducted by the Consumer Brands Association reveals 86% of CPG leaders place the consumer at the center of their worlds, and as such they share many of the same fears and challenges.