The US Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) organised the Nutrition Seminar 2026 – ‘Science behind blueberries: Latest research and practical applications’ in Chennai, bringing together more than 100 participants including nutritionists, dietitians, healthcare professionals, food processors and research and development professionals, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. The programme combined global research, clinical nutrition perspectives, culinary applications and an expert panel discussion focused on translating scientific findings into responsible and practical dietary guidance.
Seminar brings together health and food stakeholders
The event, reported on August 25, 2026, was designed to engage nutrition professionals, healthcare practitioners, chefs, food manufacturers and other stakeholders in India through scientific education, research communication and practical applications, said Raj Kapoor, India Representative of USHBC. J Radhakrishnan, Director General of Training and Director of Anna Institute of Management, Government of Tamil Nadu, highlighted the importance of credible nutrition education and the responsibility of professionals and institutions to communicate scientific information in a way that is accurate, practical and understandable to consumers.
Research highlights anthocyanins and health effects
Leslie Wada, Senior Director, Nutrition and Health Research at USHBC, presented a review of the evolving body of research on blueberries and their naturally occurring plant compounds, particularly anthocyanins, which contribute to their characteristic blue colour. Her presentation covered research relating to cardiometabolic health, gut microbiota, exercise and immune response, and psychological well-being, while also emphasising the importance of understanding the quality and type of scientific evidence.
Kavitha Reddy, CEO and Founder of Sreya Nutrition, discussed the nutritional profile of blueberries, including dietary fibre and naturally occurring phytochemicals such as anthocyanins. She reviewed research relating to glucose metabolism, cardiovascular health, oxidative stress, brain health and gastrointestinal microbiota.
Culinary applications across blueberry formats
Krithika Radhakrishnan, chef and culinary consultant, demonstrated how blueberries can be incorporated into familiar Indian and contemporary preparations across breakfast, beverages, snacks, savoury foods and desserts. She explained how different blueberry formats — including fresh, frozen, dried, puree, powder and concentrate — can be selected according to the application. Kavitha Reddy also highlighted the versatility of blueberries across these formats and discussed how nutrition professionals can incorporate them into practical dietary guidance.
| Presenter | Affiliation | Area covered |
|---|---|---|
| J Radhakrishnan | Anna Institute of Management, Government of Tamil Nadu | Credible nutrition education and science communication |
| Raj Kapoor | USHBC India Representative | USHBC stakeholder engagement in India |
| Leslie Wada | USHBC Senior Director, Nutrition and Health Research | Anthocyanins, cardiometabolic health, gut microbiota, exercise, immune response, psychological well-being |
| Kavitha Reddy | Sreya Nutrition | Nutritional profile, glucose metabolism, cardiovascular health, oxidative stress, brain health, gastrointestinal microbiota |
| Krithika Radhakrishnan | Chef and culinary consultant | Blueberry culinary applications in Indian and contemporary preparations |
Panel discussion on translating research for Indian consumers
A panel discussion examined how research can be translated into practical recommendations for Indian consumers and patients, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. Panellists discussed the role of blueberries within a balanced Indian diet, possible applications in hospital diets and post-discharge meal planning, ways to encourage children to consume a wider variety of fruits, and practical factors such as portion size, individual dietary requirements, availability, affordability and product format.
The Nutrition Seminar 2026 reflects USHBC's ongoing efforts to expand understanding of blueberries among India's nutrition and food-processing community, according to the report. For commodity stakeholders tracking soft agricultural demand, the event signals continued investment in building India as a market for blueberries through scientific education and product-format awareness, even as no price or supply data were disclosed in the reported proceedings.
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