Chicago — Value and environmental callouts on food and beverage introductions increased in 2009, while product launches dropped 30 percent.

Mintel International Group, Ltd. reports ethical and environmental claims on all products launched in 2009 increased eight percent from 2008. Particularly, environmentally friendly packaging claims grew six percent during the same period.

The increase in ethical and environmental claims can be attributed to manufacturers knowing what’s important to consumers and communicating this through their packaging, a spokesperson says.

Posting decreases in 2009 were products with all-natural and organic claims. Both of these dropped two percent from the year prior. According to Mintel, while natural and organic products saw significant gains in 2008, their higher price points made them less attractive in 2009.