The improving economy, an East Coast location, and a tie-in to consumer drivers with a keynote speaker from the Food Network's test kitchens boosted this year's Research Chefs Association conference and expo, says RCA president Janet Carver.

The latest version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans includes a new focus on the importance of total diet. FoodNavigator-USA spoke to Cynthia Harriman of Oldways to get the perspective of the organization behind the Mediterranean diet pyramid.

Nestle Prepared Foods Company is one of many food manufacturers to announce a bold sodium reduction strategy, recently pledging to slash sodium in its products by ten percent by 2015. The company's manager of marketing communications told FoodNavigator-USA why now is the time to talk about sodium reduction.

The Coca-Cola Company has accelerated its launches of 'better for you' beverages in recent years but consumers often have conflicting preferences - how does Coca-Cola keep ahead of new trends?

Six weeks ago a Kansas State University nutrition professor started a calorie-controlled diet based on high-fat snacks. FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Mark Haub and found that he is doing remarkably well.

Americans are becoming increasingly interested in the food that's prepared in their own neighborhood - and as their palates become more sophisticated, flavor companies are responding with authentically local flavors.

FoodNavigator-USA's team on the ground at IFT in Chicago give their impressions of the trade show so far on award-winning innovations, new omega-3 and gluten-free ingredients, and great taste improvements in stevia sweeteners.

Ingredients companies packed the expo hall at the Research Chefs Association meeting in Phoenix last week, with innovative ingredient systems to inspire creative new foods.

As more food companies have entered the gluten-free market, manufacturers have sought to differentiate their products by improving flavor and nutrition.

At the Research Chefs Association conference in Phoenix, RCA president Harry Crane spoke to FoodNavigator-USA about industry's intensifying focus on health and wellness.