ThinkUSAdairy, the U.S. Dairy Export Council’s (USDEC) customer-facing website, is a constantly updated resource for food and beverage manufacturers. As part of ThinkUSAdairy, the Dairy Spotlight blog helps manufacturers and marketers stay informed on consumer trends, market insights and dairy updates so their products stay relevant and desirable.

Like their counterparts around the world, Vietnam's young and upwardly-mobile consumers are increasingly craving the creamy, indulgent taste of chocolates. The chocolate confectionery market in Vietnam recorded a 14.5% compound annual growth rate from 2009 to 2014 according to Euromonitor figures, growing from $33.2 million to $65.3 million during that span. Growth is projected to continue over the next five years, potentially reaching $85.9 million by 2019 as the number of chocolate-lovers multiplies.

According to the study's senior author, Stuart Phillips, "the greatest metabolic health benefits resulting from weight loss are achieved with retention of muscle and loss of fat." Although higher protein diets promote muscle retention, some proteins, like whey protein, affect MPS better than others, Phillips noted. He surmised that the amino acid leucine in whey might be the difference maker, but said more research was necessary to pinpoint the ultimate cause.

People around the world love cheese, both consumers and formulators alike. In 2012, one quarter of all cheese consumed in the United States was used in industrial production, or approximately 2.6 billion pounds (1.2 million metric tons). As U.S. production continues to grow, key markets around the globe are demanding more cheese, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.

Dairy proteins are examined for their positive contributions in human nutrition, manufacturing and global demand of dairy ingredients. The peer-reviewed March 2015 Journal of Food Science Volume 80, Supplement 1 is available online. Publication of this supplement was made possible by the National Dairy Council and U.S. Dairy Export Council and includes papers from subject matter experts on the following topics:

Dairy plays a central role in healthy childhood development around the world, including delivering improved nutrition to children in low-income countries at risk of stunting and wasting due to malnutrition. Leading international researchers will present the latest scientific advancements on the role of dairy in food aid programs at the Dairy for Global Nutrition Symposium on Protein Quality, Growth and Malnutrition, to be held March 30, 2015 in Boston. Held in conjunction with the prestigious Experimental Biology (EB) conference, the symposium will highlight the expanding scientific body of research on dairy's health and nutritional benefits for vulnerable populations, as well as new methods to measure protein quality. Click hereto view the agenda.