New Product Development: Seasoning Powders for Toddlers and Herbal Honey

Abstract

Along with increasing need for energy and nutrients, toddlers start to develop control over their food choices, mostly leading to picky eating. To avoid negative consequences of picky eating, caretakers often enhance the meal’s flavor through seasoning powders to spark the appetite of toddlers, proven by e-commerce sales. Meanwhile, herbal honey products are gaining attention in the current market due to their health benefits. Seizing these opportunities, PT. Inovasi Pangan Nusantara started to develop mushroom and chicken seasoning powders and herbal honey products for relieving stomach problems and improving children’s well-being. Hedonic tests after product formulation to compare the degree of liking of the developed products with competitors showed their palatability to float in the current market. The next course of actions to further boost the success potential of seasoning powders based on preliminary findings and market survey include slightly tweaking its current formula to reduce additives, sugar, and salt, as well as having certification from regulatory bodies with attractive packaging and branding. These products have been close to being launched. As for herbal honey products that are still in the early stages of development, finalizing the formulation is the main priority. More reliable results can be obtained through a sufficient number of participants for the market survey and hedonic test. Having a bona fide sensory evaluation layout and children as the participants for testing children-related products are recommended for future hedonic tests.