Baking & Snack - December 2024 - 98

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
Act Bar and Upcycled Foods Inc. partnership aims to feed more and waste less.
Act Bar flavors
include Cashew
Coconut, Peanut
Butter Cacao Nib
and Pecan Smores.
Act Bar
D
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Amelia Allen came
to understand the magnitude of the United States' hunger
crisis and its impact on children while she was living
with her sister, a schoolteacher. More than 30 million
children - 60% of those attending public schools
- rely on free or reduced-cost lunches, according to
the Natural Resources Defense Council. As per a report
published by Recycle Track Systems, the world wastes
about 2.5 billion tons of food every year, with the US discarding
more food than any other country in the world
at nearly 120 billion lbs, or 30% to 40% of the entire US
food supply. This problem prompted Allen to act.
Partnering with Upcycled Foods Inc., Allen launched
Act Bar, a line of premium snack bars aimed at combating
food insecurity and waste. For every snack bar purchased,
the Hermosa Beach, Calif.-based company donates
one meal to the Los Angeles Food Bank.
Approximately 18 million US households experience
food insecurity every year, according to the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA). On June 12, the
US Food and Drug Administration, USDA and US
Environmental Protection Agency announced the
" National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste
and Recycling Organics " as part of the Biden-Harris
administration's approach to meeting a national goal of
reducing 50% of food loss and waste by 2030.
" If we learn to upcycle more, (especially) the by-product
of foods we already love that are being produced on
a mass scale, and give this food a second chance, we can
have a more sustainable food system and also make our
98 Baking & Snack December 2024 / www.bakingbusiness.com
food go further, " Allen said. " If more people knew about
this, then that's how we could really resolve this issue because
I just had no idea. "
The Upcycled Foods Lab supports Act Bar's product line
by providing its ReGrained SuperGrain+, an ingredient repurposing
the grain left over from beer brewing.
" Working with Upcycled Foods has been transformational, "
Allen said. " Not only did they provide access to
their ingredients, but they offered expertise and guidance
that has strengthened our entire approach to innovation. "
The partnership will help those who need it most.
" We're excited to partner with Act Bar and bring a
sustainable and delicious snack bar to consumers that
support those in need, " said Dan Kurzrock, co-founder
and chief executive officer of Upcycled Foods. " Our mission
is to support brands in creating innovative products
that are better for the planet and for people. This product
brings that promise to life in a new category. "
More than 300 gallons of water are required to process
just one pound of virgin grains. By using upcycled
grains as a key ingredient, each Act Bar will eliminate
three gallons of water waste with every bar produced.
Act Bars come in three flavors - Cashew Coconut,
Peanut Butter Cacao Nib and Pecan Smores. The bars
are vegan, non-GMO, upcycled-certified and packed
with 12 grams of protein and 9 grams of dietary fiber.
The retail price per bar is $3 to $3.49. Bars are available
for purchase at www.actbars.com and limited retailers in
southern California.
- Taryn Parker
http://www.actbars.com http://www.bakingbusiness.com
Baking & Snack - December 2024

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