Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:58:01 -0500 http://www.theingredientpanel.com en-us © 2026 The Ingredient Panel yes 8f0c7b84-dca2-5a77-8f89-c86af8db64b6 Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) food science, food, cpg, R&D, nutrition, gluten-free, grain-free, cooking, product development Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson https://storage.buzzsprout.com/4ycszivg3o6po1cnrkdgat3ldmy3?.jpg http://www.theingredientpanel.com SE2 E08 Where do new product ideas come from? An introduction to how companies (often) come up with new products to launch.  The crew discusses the innovation pipeline,  a bunch of boring processes, and some more fun ways new products come to market.

This week's guest is Imaide Steverango, the R&D Manager for NutureLife, a meal delivery company for kids.

]]> An introduction to how companies (often) come up with new products to launch.  The crew discusses the innovation pipeline,  a bunch of boring processes, and some more fun ways new products come to market.

This week's guest is Imaide Steverango, the R&D Manager for NutureLife, a meal delivery company for kids.

]]> Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson Buzzsprout-8857858 Tue, 13 Jul 2021 12:00:00 -0400 2801 2 8 full false S2 E07 Undeclared! The hidden ingredients not on the label Food processing aids do not need to be  declared on a label according to the FDA. In this episode we talk about what they are, how they are used, and why they don't need to be declared. It's not as boring as it sounds! Plus we talk about insects!

The actual language on processing aids from the CFR
Don't read this link until after you've eaten

]]> Food processing aids do not need to be  declared on a label according to the FDA. In this episode we talk about what they are, how they are used, and why they don't need to be declared. It's not as boring as it sounds! Plus we talk about insects!

The actual language on processing aids from the CFR
Don't read this link until after you've eaten

]]> Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson Buzzsprout-8713443 Wed, 30 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0400 2322 2 7 full false S2 E06 MSG for you, UMAMI! We crave "umami", the fifth taste.  Every global cuisine has a source of umami, yet MSG, monosodium glutamate, is seen as a villain in packaged food. Join as as we discuss MSG, the flavor of Umami, and  glutamic acid, which as glutamate is responsible for the delicious flavor that makes everything taste better!

References:
This American Life Episode about the letter that gave birth to Chinese Restaurant Syndrome
Colgate Magazine's Overview of the Chinese Restaurant Syndrome Letter/Possible Hoax
Redefining Chinese Restaurant Syndrome in the NY Times
Umami Map of World Cuisine
Fermented Locust Beans

]]> We crave "umami", the fifth taste.  Every global cuisine has a source of umami, yet MSG, monosodium glutamate, is seen as a villain in packaged food. Join as as we discuss MSG, the flavor of Umami, and  glutamic acid, which as glutamate is responsible for the delicious flavor that makes everything taste better!

References:
This American Life Episode about the letter that gave birth to Chinese Restaurant Syndrome
Colgate Magazine's Overview of the Chinese Restaurant Syndrome Letter/Possible Hoax
Redefining Chinese Restaurant Syndrome in the NY Times
Umami Map of World Cuisine
Fermented Locust Beans

]]> Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson Buzzsprout-8681992 Wed, 23 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0400 2169 2 6 full false S2 E05 Gums: the low percentage ingredient with outsized impact Why do packaged foods need added gums when the food you make at home never does? Join us as we talk about how gums (also known as hydrocolloids) end up in your food and for what purpose.

Links:
Guest Lela Squire
Gum Primer
FDA Regulations on Gums
Recent Carageenan Study 
 

]]> Why do packaged foods need added gums when the food you make at home never does? Join us as we talk about how gums (also known as hydrocolloids) end up in your food and for what purpose.

Links:
Guest Lela Squire
Gum Primer
FDA Regulations on Gums
Recent Carageenan Study 
 

]]> Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson Buzzsprout-8665995 Wed, 16 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0400 2201 full false S2 E04 Upcycling: A grandma-approved approach to the food waste crisis Have you heard about Upcycling? Join us for a crash course in all things food waste. In this episode we talk with Caroline Cotto, the cofounder and COO of Renewal Mill, an ingredient, mix, and cookie company that is taking a new approach to the circular food economy.  Caroline goes deep into the issues of food waste and how Renewal Mill, and the new Upcycled Food Association, are bringing attention and money into the food renewal space.

Renewal Mill
Upcycled Food Association
RePurpose Global, for plastic offsets

]]> Have you heard about Upcycling? Join us for a crash course in all things food waste. In this episode we talk with Caroline Cotto, the cofounder and COO of Renewal Mill, an ingredient, mix, and cookie company that is taking a new approach to the circular food economy.  Caroline goes deep into the issues of food waste and how Renewal Mill, and the new Upcycled Food Association, are bringing attention and money into the food renewal space.

Renewal Mill
Upcycled Food Association
RePurpose Global, for plastic offsets

]]> Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson Buzzsprout-8550771 Wed, 09 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0400 1860 2 4 full false SE2 E2 Spices and Natural Flavors Finally Jill gets to teach us all about the difference between spices and herbs! We talk about spices, seasonings, herbs and how natural flavors are made - and what their purpose in packaged food is.  This episode the panel is joined by Swapna Mony, a technical sales specialist and account manager for ADM, specializing in their natural portfolio, including flavors. 

https://www.adm.com/products-services/food/flavors-extracts-distillates
https://olamspices.com/

]]> Finally Jill gets to teach us all about the difference between spices and herbs! We talk about spices, seasonings, herbs and how natural flavors are made - and what their purpose in packaged food is.  This episode the panel is joined by Swapna Mony, a technical sales specialist and account manager for ADM, specializing in their natural portfolio, including flavors. 

https://www.adm.com/products-services/food/flavors-extracts-distillates
https://olamspices.com/

]]> Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson Buzzsprout-8550888 Wed, 19 May 2021 14:00:00 -0400 1970 full false S2 E03 The less processed side of plant-based meats In this episode we chat with Kristine Sanschagrin, Vice President of Strategic Sourcing & Sales at Atlast , a company making minimally processed meat analogues with mycelium from mushrooms.  We get deep into plant-based meat substitutes that don't try too hard to be exactly like meat. 

https://www.atlastfood.co/

]]> In this episode we chat with Kristine Sanschagrin, Vice President of Strategic Sourcing & Sales at Atlast , a company making minimally processed meat analogues with mycelium from mushrooms.  We get deep into plant-based meat substitutes that don't try too hard to be exactly like meat. 

https://www.atlastfood.co/

]]> Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson Buzzsprout-8550805 Wed, 19 May 2021 14:00:00 -0400 1606 2 3 full false S2E1 How the Pandemic Changed Our Relationship to Food The Ingredient Panel is back with a 40 minute episode with guests! Join panelists Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson, along with the Editor of Baking & Snack Magazine Charlotte Atchley, for a discussion of all the ways the pandemic impacted the food we were buying, eating, cooking, and developing.

The Ingredient Panel is a podcast about the ingredients in packaged food. Each episode unpacks a category of ingredients and examines how it ends up on your plate and why it is there. We welcome suggestions for future episodes!

References for this episode:
Baking and Snack Magazine: https://www.bakingbusiness.com/publications/1-baking-snack
Nulife Market: https://nulifemarket.com/
Olam Food Ingredients: https://www.olamgroup.com/products-services.html#ofi
Factory LLC: https://www.factory-llc.com/

]]> The Ingredient Panel is back with a 40 minute episode with guests! Join panelists Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson, along with the Editor of Baking & Snack Magazine Charlotte Atchley, for a discussion of all the ways the pandemic impacted the food we were buying, eating, cooking, and developing.

The Ingredient Panel is a podcast about the ingredients in packaged food. Each episode unpacks a category of ingredients and examines how it ends up on your plate and why it is there. We welcome suggestions for future episodes!

References for this episode:
Baking and Snack Magazine: https://www.bakingbusiness.com/publications/1-baking-snack
Nulife Market: https://nulifemarket.com/
Olam Food Ingredients: https://www.olamgroup.com/products-services.html#ofi
Factory LLC: https://www.factory-llc.com/

]]> Linsey Herman, Jill Houk, and Karen Watson Buzzsprout-8466518 Wed, 05 May 2021 15:00:00 -0400 2362 2 1 full false S1E7 Season Finale - Grains or Grain-Free In this final episode, the panel talks about their favorite topic, grains, and the challenges of creating products that may only appeal to people on certain special diets.

]]> In this final episode, the panel talks about their favorite topic, grains, and the challenges of creating products that may only appeal to people on certain special diets.

]]> LINSEY HERMAN Buzzsprout-5858986 Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400 1798 1 7 full false S1E6 Protein Companies seem to be obsessed with protein, and packing it into every single product possible. But do we really need that much protein? And what are the trade-offs of using so much protein in a product?

]]> Companies seem to be obsessed with protein, and packing it into every single product possible. But do we really need that much protein? And what are the trade-offs of using so much protein in a product?

]]> LINSEY HERMAN Buzzsprout-5858941 Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400 2151 1 6 full false S1E5 Fiber Fiber Fiber Fiber Fiber. For a long time, it was something only retirees wanted in their diet, but now it is everywhere. The panel looks at why product developers use it and its functional purpose in food. 

]]> Fiber Fiber Fiber Fiber. For a long time, it was something only retirees wanted in their diet, but now it is everywhere. The panel looks at why product developers use it and its functional purpose in food. 

]]> LINSEY HERMAN Buzzsprout-5858911 Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400 1812 1 5 full false S1E4 Fat Different fats have gone in and out of favor over the years as dietary trends and fads ebb and flow. The panel delves into fat and why companies choose one fat over another and how those choices impact the label.

]]> Different fats have gone in and out of favor over the years as dietary trends and fads ebb and flow. The panel delves into fat and why companies choose one fat over another and how those choices impact the label.

]]> LINSEY HERMAN Buzzsprout-5858863 Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400 1660 1 4 full false S1E3 Sugar Sugar. Why can something so delicious be so problematic? The panel looks at sugar and why it seems to be everywhere in processed food.

]]> Sugar. Why can something so delicious be so problematic? The panel looks at sugar and why it seems to be everywhere in processed food.

]]> LINSEY HERMAN Buzzsprout-5858800 Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400 2265 1 3 full false S1E2 Why You Can't Have It All Food companies promise the world and rarely deliver on it in their new products. The panel discusses why that is, and how making products that truly have it all would never reach mainstream success.

]]> Food companies promise the world and rarely deliver on it in their new products. The panel discusses why that is, and how making products that truly have it all would never reach mainstream success.

]]> LINSEY HERMAN Buzzsprout-5858773 Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400 2202 1 2 full false S1E1 What is the Ingredient Panel? Have you ever wondered why certain ingredients are included or excluded from products you buy at the supermarket?  Product Developer Linsey Herman, Food Scientist Karen Watson, and Chef Jill Houk discuss what's behind all the words on product labels in the food you buy. In this overview, the panel discusses why companies make the ingredient and nutrition choices they do when launching new products. It's a lot less boring than it sounds!

]]> Have you ever wondered why certain ingredients are included or excluded from products you buy at the supermarket?  Product Developer Linsey Herman, Food Scientist Karen Watson, and Chef Jill Houk discuss what's behind all the words on product labels in the food you buy. In this overview, the panel discusses why companies make the ingredient and nutrition choices they do when launching new products. It's a lot less boring than it sounds!

]]> LINSEY HERMAN Buzzsprout-5858704 Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:00:00 -0400 1783 1 1 full false