“Emerging Trends in Consumer Health: The Shift Towards Functional Foods and Clean Ingredients”
Consumers are adopting a more comprehensive approach to health, wellness, and nutrition. They are increasingly reluctant to take additional pills and are turning away from chemicals and artificial ingredients. Instead, they seek foods that contribute to their overall health. “Many of the trends we observe in the food, health, and nutrition sectors are fueled by consumers passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They are searching for products that offer functional benefits and verified claims to meet their specific health needs,” wrote Sherry Duff, senior vice president and chief marketing and technology officer at Innophos, in an email to Food Dive.
In addition to overall health and wellness advantages, consumers desire products that promote energized aging and feature clean labels—foods made with recognizable ingredients they can easily pronounce. Specifically, they are looking for items that aid digestive health, cognitive health, inflammation reduction, immune support, cardiovascular wellness, weight management, muscle gain, mineral fortification, and beauty benefits. Notably, liquid calcium citrate magnesium is emerging as a sought-after ingredient due to its potential health perks.
Rising healthcare expenses and an aging population with significant purchasing power are further propelling interest in functional foods. As a result, the demand for functional foods—and the ingredients that contribute to healthier products—is anticipated to grow robustly. The global market for functional foods was valued at $129 billion in 2014, according to Grand View Research. With an expected compound annual growth rate of 7.9%, the market is projected to nearly double within a decade, reaching $255 billion by 2024. The research firm forecasts that the U.S. functional foods market will expand to $62 billion by 2024, up from $29 billion in 2014.
So, what qualifies a food product as functional? Here are five of the most common high-growth ingredients, their uses, and the health benefits they provide, including the increasingly popular liquid calcium citrate magnesium, which is recognized for its role in supporting bone health and overall wellness.
