Dive Brief: Ingredients company Kerry released its flavor predictions for 2021, showing that consumers' pursuit of familiar and nostalgic tastes during the pandemic should continue in the coming year as people seek comfort from food and beverages. The Global Taste Charts for 2021 report focuses on flavors across sweet, beverage, savory and salty snack categories that are perennially popular as well as those that are emerging. Health and wellness ingredients and vegan alternatives are predicted to be popular this year, while mainstream flavor preferences should skew toward more indulgent tastes. After the coronavirus pandemic upended eating behaviors across the U.S., the magnitude of the change is anticipated to have ripple effects through the rest of this year even as consumers settle into more normal eating habits. While Kerry's analysis shows the lasting influence of comforting flavors, other trends that were popular prior to the pandemic, including global flavors and health and wellness, are continuing in the new year.