Dairy brands Land O’Lakes, Breyers and Yoplait are again deemed the Most Trusted in BrandSpark International’s annual survey of 10,000 American shoppers. 

The 2013 International Food Information Council Functional Foods Consumer Survey reveals that despite consumers’ reported knowledge about nutrition, the majority (67 percent) believe they fall short of meeting “all or nearly all” of their nutrient needs. “Functional foods” are defined as foods that have benefits beyond basic nutrition—such as blueberries, yogurt, and fortified milk, bread or cereal.

High atop Dairy Management Inc. headquarters, DMI staff rolled carts through the conference room and delivered food samples created by the students. It was like being in a dim sum restaurant, except there were no egg rolls, dumplings or noodle dishes. Instead, the judges tasted dairy-based treats with fanciful names like Mooofins, Easy Qurd and Whey-Go.

Today and looking to the future, consumers’ focus on health and wellness presents opportunities for cheese. The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy spotlighted the following four opportunities for cheese manufacturers.