This week: Upton's Naturals launches vegan Thai meal kits | Terry Naturally puts olive oil's benefits in a pill

Upton’s Naturals is introducing shelf-stable, vegan meal kits to the natural food marketplace. Made with real, whole-food ingredients, this lineup of Thai-inspired dishes are ready after just one minute in the microwave. Pre-cooked noodles, fresh (never freeze-dried) vegetables and flavorful spices can be found in the fully cooked and composed Massaman Curry, Pad See Ew, Thai Spaghetti and Thai Curry Noodle meals. Each provide a convenient and inspiring lunch solution that is 100 percent vegan and free of trans fat, cholesterol, GMOs and preservatives. The meal kits will be available at natural and specialty stores nationwide this summer.

This summer, Hain Celestial will debut Terra Red, White and Blues, which combine a flavorful blend of beet-dipped sweet potatoes, naturally blue potatoes and Yukon Gold to bring a satisfying crunch. This patriotic blend includes the delicious Terra Blues and is made with non-GMO ingredients. Like all Terra real vegetable chips, Red, White, and Blues are gluten free and Kosher certified.

Firmenich has been recognized with the 2017 Ethical Business Award from the Better Society Network for its achievement in advancing social, environmental and ethical best-practices in business. The company has developed technologies that reduce sugar, salt and fat from the food and beverages that consumers love, without compromising on taste. It's also joined forces with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to address the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge, and developed breakthrough technologies that effectively counter mal-odor. In addition, it is committed to operating all of its 35 manufacturing sites with 100 percent renewable energy sources or offsets.

Less than two months after introducing its new organic line of gourmet pumpkin seeds, SuperSeedz announced it has received the ChefsBest Quality in Craft Award, an award presented to brands that surpass quality standards established by independent professional chefs. The three new SuperSeedz organic flavors—Pink Himalayan Salt, Garlicky Dill and Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt—were introduced earlier in the year. Each is organic certified, Non-GMO Project verified, vegan, allergy-friendly and contains up to 8 grams of complete, plant-based protein.

Kemin Industries supplement ingredient Neumentix Phenolic Complex K110-42 has received self-affirmed GRAS status after an intensive review of safety by an independent panel of scientific experts. The water-extracted spearmint can now be used in a variety of functional food and beverage applications. Neumentix contains more than 50 phenolic constituents and is naturally sourced from non-GMO lines of polyphenol-rich spearmint developed by Kemin. It is a clinically studied botanical ingredient that has been shown to support cognitive health, working memory performance and healthy sleep patterns in adults.

Probiotic brand Culturelle launched new Pro-well Immune + Energy, with ingredients that work naturally with the body to sustain optimum levels of energy and support immune health without caffeine. Each packet contains 10 billion colony forming units of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus GG and 100 percent of the daily value of vitamin C—equivalent to over three tangerines—which support the body's natural defenses.  Lastly, it includes 100 percent daily value of vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, and is an excellent source of B3, that work with the body to help build and sustain optimum energy levels.

BI just introduced a new ingredient featuring one of the oldest and most nutritious known vegetables, sweet potatoes. BI’s new Sweet Potato Powder provides an excellent nutritional profile with essential vitamins and minerals, protein and fiber. With up to 35 percent dietary fiber, the new powder can reach quadruple the fiber available in conventional sweet potato powders. And, the mildly sweet aroma and flavor with notes of raisin, dried fruit and honey make the powder a complimentary addition to a variety of applications, from baby foods to beverages and snacks.

What if you could get all the health benefits of olives (and olive oil) with a fraction of the calories? EuroPharma has launched O’live in its Terry Naturally brand of supplements. It's a proprietary blend of olive leaf, fruit and fruit oil extracts that provide all of the health benefits of olives (and olive oil) with a fraction of the calories. One softgel (5 calories) delivers the equivalent of two tablespoons of olive oil (120 calories), but without the volume of fat. O’live delivers the concentrated components of olives and olive oil for full spectrum benefits, including polyphenols, oleuropein, oleanolic acid, maslinic acid, tocopherols (vitamin E), triterpenic compounds, omega-9 fatty acid (oleic acid) and beta-sitosterol. 

VeganSmart is a new plant-based nutritional shake with no dairy, eggs, soy, artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors, preservatives or cholesterol. It contains five different non-GMO proteins, nine fruits and vegetables, prebiotics, 6 grams of fiber, 22 vitamins and minerals and 5 grams of sugar. 

Nut butter brand Wild Friends Foods announced the appointment of James Moss as vice president of sales. Moss joins Wild Friends Foods from Hail Merry, a Dallas-based organization focused on snacking and desserts, where, in the role of senior vice president of sales, he was responsible for growing incremental distribution beyond the brand's natural channel roots. 

Frutarom Food Protection Business Unit expands its organic oxidation management solutions line with an organic rosemary extract designed to prevent oxidation and increase shelf-life of food products. This natural Mediterranean botanical has been made possible through collaboration between Hishtil Nurseries in Israel and organic farmers in Spain.

The latest creation from Expresco Foods is ProSticks, a line of grilled chicken-on-a-stick refrigerated snacks with 23 grams of protein. The 3.5 oz. snack comes in three varieties: Mediterranean-Style, Sweet Sriracha-Style and Chipotle-Style.

Activ'Inside's Memophenol is a proud winner of the NutraIngredients Awards 2017 "Ingredient of the Year" in the healthy aging category. Memophenol is formulated with a unique bioavailable association of French grape and North American wild blueberry extracts, having demonstrated, published and patented synergistic effects on human cognitive performances.