Not that long ago, if you were trying to come up with examples of soy-based foods, products such as tofu, soymilk, tem-peh, soynuts, and soy sauce would come to mind. Today, however, the applications of soy ingredients cover an ever-broadening range of mainsteam foods, including pretzels and other snacks; breads and bakery products; bottled water and other clear beverages; infant formula; nutrition bars in a wide variety of flavors; meatless items ranging from burgers to chili to lasagna; mashed potatoes; coating systems; frozen desserts; soups, sauces, and dressings; and many, many others. In fact, according to the Global New Products Database of Mintel Inc., a leading market research firm, more than 435 products with soy as a key ingredient was introduced in 2004—up from 329 in 2003. "Manufacturers and marketers behind these products ... have managed to expand the category year after year," noted Erik Thoresen, Senior Research Analyst at Mintel.
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