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(Actuele) publicaties 2006 Algemeen
Supplement market trend based on Health Focus survey
2006/12/15 - Demand for healthier, 'natural' and more individualised products drives supplement market upward
If you've kept a keen eye on the supplements market, then you will know that Capsugel is at the forefront of the consumer-driven demand for healthier, 'natural' products.
With its unique feel for the pulse of the market, Capsugel supplies capsules and consultation services to dietary supplements makers. Growing numbers of consumers are using supplements, and more importantly, increasing numbers are interested in incorporating them as part of a healthy lifestyle. Understanding their motives and drivers is critical to meeting these market needs.
Over the years, the supplement trends analysis by HealthFocus® International found that consumer attitudes about supplements have shifted significantly in the ten years to 2004. Up to 70 per cent in 2004 agreed that a daily supplement is important to their lifestyles, compared to 49 per cent who said so in 1994.
The latest 2005 HealthFocus International survey of the three key European markets - the UK, Germany and France - confirms that general trend. The survey categorised respondents into two core groups: Regular Supplement Users and Supplement Interested Shoppers. A key finding was that the proportionate number of Supplement Interested shoppers identified was significantly larger than the number of Regular Supplement users and underlines a latent market opportunity that continues to grow in potential. Although the ratio of Supplement Interested to Supplement Users differs in each country, they ranged between 3 to 2 and 2 to 1 indicating that market potential for supplements may be at least double the current levels and more.
Addressing untapped consumer market
The data shows there is a large and growing untapped market of supplement consumers with their own particular sets of needs and motivations. The HealthFocus International Forecast identified fundamental trends toward individualisation and the desire for more natural products that are influencing consumer choice and impacting all health related categories. These trends were also evident in the latest 2005 European survey by HealthFocus International and they provide some clear direction for supplement manufacturers on how to market their products in order to reach these consumers.
With the Nutrional Individualisation or 'iNutrion' trend, personal needs, choice and preference are key influencers and dietary supplement makers will need to communicate to consumers that their individual needs are being met and that the product is attuned to their particular requirements.
They will also have to offer natural products in their markets. The growth in preference for the "natural" category no longer comes from people who believe in organic values or who are active vegetarians.
"Now, the growth is coming from mass-market consumers who see natural as a product that is free from worries", says HealthFocus International. Supplement users and supplement interested shoppers in the HealthFocus 2005 trend survey were found to have a higher interest in natural, organic and vegetarian properties than those who said they were not interested in such products.
Desire for mental health and well-being
It's not just about physical health; it's a desire for mental health and well-being. Purity, freshness, natural and organic qualities are seen as wellness benefits. This perception is driving the thriving organics and herbal medicines markets.
"When you relate this back to the development in the health area it may mean that Nutrigenomics will be to the food, health and supplement market in the 21st century what convenience was in the 20th", says HealthFocus.
HealthFocus also found supplement users and "supplement interested" shoppers placed a higher importance on "clean and green labels" like "all natural", "GMO-free" and "free from preservatives" than those who are not interested in taking supplements.
Supplement manufacturers should therefore look at their respective markets and product offering and work these attributes into their product and brand marketing efforts. The growing interest in more natural products opens up market opportunities, and successful products will be those that reflect the individual qualities to convey the impression that this is 'right' or 'made for me' to the consumer.
Capsugel's range can address market demand
To provide supplement makers with the flexibility and options to meet this untapped market potential and growing consumer segmentation, Capsugel offers a range of capsule products for these markets supported by extensive know-how.
Capsules provide a proven safe and cost-effective dosage form for the different ingredients used in many supplements. Some of them, as natural anti-oxydant for example, loose their activity if they are compressed into a tablet form.
Key Capsugel products aimed at the natural area include our Vcaps® and NPcaps™ ranges, two plant-based (non-gelatin) capsule forms that allow consumers to enjoy supplements without compromising their individual cultural or vegetarian preferences.
Our products are backed up by comprehensive technical and service support, as well as providing you with access to our industry-first online Nutritional Supplements Reference Guide to assist formulators and marketers in new product development, product positioning and marketing initiatives.
FROM: http://capsugel.onlinemore.info/article.asp?id=1128
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Mintel identifies key trends for 2007
2006/11/10 - Sustainability and age-specific products are key trends that will shape the consumer packaged goods industry in the year to come, according to Mintel.
The market researcher last week revealed "ten hot trends" that it expects to impact the global food and beverage market, as well as the cosmetics and personal care market.
And one of the themes that underlies a number of these trends is sustainability and a responsibility to the environment, said Lynn Dornblaser, director of Mintel Custom Solutions.
"It seems that we are seeing a renewed consumer interest in the wider world, and this includes a better understanding of the broader impact of products on the environment,"
she told FoodNavigator-USA.com.
This concern will be manifested through a growing commitment to ethical products, fair trade and sustainable ingredients, which will continue to expand into mainstream product groups, according to Mintel.
"This will help highlight local and seasonal products, symbolizing a return to fresher ingredients that have more community-oriented ties,"
it said.
Biodegradable packaging is also expected to regain popularity, especially as more companies reformulate packaging to be more environmentally conscious.
The market researcher also believes that refillable packaging has a strong opportunity to make a mark as consumers are increasingly looking for more opportunities to save natural resources. Manufacturers in diverse product categories are responding with products and packages that are better for the environment, reducing the quantity of materials used and continuing to care for ethical and social issues.
But an increased consumer interest in the wider world is also seen through a stronger focus on other parts of the world for unique ingredients or flavors, said Dornblaser. And this is reflected in one of the key trends identified by Mintel: the Amazonia movement.
This will see consumers increasingly turning to products that feature plentiful indigenous resources from the Amazon rainforest.
"This trend is closely tied to increased interest in natural products and exotic ingredients. Botanicals from the region linked to wellness and natural functionality, with exotic fruits such as açaí and cupuaçu, will continue their rise to fame due to their anti-aging benefits and link to the 'superfoods' concept. We can expect to see more of products such as Happy Monkey Açaí Brazilian Rainforest Superberry Juice Drink in the UK, which is made from all natural ingredients, blended Açaí berries and red grapes,"
said Mintel.
But Dornblaser says it is important to keep in mind that there is "a lot more going on" than just sustainability and an interest in exotic products. Another major issue that is set to impact the direction of consumer packaged goods is an interest in age-specific product launches.
"There are many consumer groups out there, each with different needs, and that means there's a lot of opportunity to target a number of types of consumers, no matter what kinds of products a firm is marketing,"
said Dornblaser.
The two major consumer groups for specialized marketing efforts remain teens and baby boomers, she explained. For the latter group, there is a marked lack of products combining the specific needs of this generation together with easy-to-handle packaging.
And when it comes to teens, there is a missing opportunity within the snacking sector, as this consumer group has often been ignored in favor of younger kids.
"But teens also wield substantial spending power,"
said Mintel.
"In addition, key avenues for companies lie within a new focus on products 'growing up' with teens, converting teen users into adult loyalists,"
it added.
Another key trend is expected to be a "fresh start for breakfast".
"Finally, the day's most important meal will continue to see new innovation and development. Beyond convenience, companies may find themselves looking for ways to bring more traditional aspects of the meal back into play. Dominated by bars and juices, companies are predicted to look for ways to resurrect other items that have been diluted by the on-the-go trend."
Other trends identified include a return to simplicity, marked by clean lines and traditional ingredients; technologically advanced packaging and the use of cell phones to advertise products; and increased internet marketing.
FROM: http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=72185&m=2ICTN30&idP=18&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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Ontario pushes traditional medicine regulation
2006/10/04 - The credibility of traditional Chinese medicine has been called into question by a contentious bill that has passed to a second reading in the Ontario legislative assembly in Canada, with professional associations polarized over the issue.
Members and professionals from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) community in the province say they are in favor of regulation but are against a bill they say discriminates against the Chinese medical tradition. The main bone of contention is that it makes it legal for anybody to perform acupuncture, but the matter has relevance to supplement and herbal companies in North America because it illustrates issues of regulation and credibility that frequently dog the industry, which has strove to be taken more seriously by mainstream healthcare.
Ontario's proposed Bill 50 on the regulation of the TCM was put to a first reading in 2005. It defines the art in the following terms:
"The practice of traditional Chinese medicine is the assessment of body system disorders through traditional Chinese medicine techniques and treatment using traditional Chinese medicine therapies to promote, maintain or restore health."
This includes acupuncture, herbal therapy, tuina massage, and therapeutic exercise.
"We are proceeding with our promise to protect Ontarians who choose alternative health care like traditional Chinese medicine,"
said health and long-term care minister George Smitherman of the proposed bill.
"If passed, this legislation will ensure that traditional Chinese medicine is delivered by practitioners with a high level of competence."
But its detractors say that who the government judges to have a sufficient level is a grey area, as the bill would permit a variety of healthcare professionals to administer acupuncture while simultaneously removing some of the rights and privileges of TCM doctors.
As such, members of the alternative medical community in Ontario have been protesting the bill, citing it undervalues the TCM profession and even puts public safety at risk.
"Our concern is that there will be people practicing out there without enough hours of training and practice,"
the Ontario Association of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine president Marylou Lombardi told NutraIngredients-USA.com.
Ontario's ministry of health and long-term care did not respond to NutraIngredients-USA.com's questions in time for the publication of this article.
The principal arguments against the bill among trade associations pertain to the perception that performing acupuncture or compounding and prescribing natural health products could now be opened up to all health professionals - such as pharmacists, radiologists and chiropractors. And this leads critics to proclaim the bill as dangerous.
However, opponents also raise the issue of TCM practitioners' rights and privileges being restricted under Bill 50. They say if the bill is implemented, the title of TCM "doctor" will merely be an honorary one without any of the rights and privileges granted to regulated health professionals.
The Canadian Association of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine declined to comment to NutraIngredients-USA.com for this article.
Ontario is not the first province in Canada to propose a TCM regulatory body. The Government of British Colombia established the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Colombia in 1996. The College is a self regulatory body operating under the provincial government.
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=71011&m=2FLGO12&idP=5&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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Special alfatoxin measures target repeat offenders
2006/09/15 - Updated EU rules on aflatoxin contamination crack down on repeat offenders such as Egypt, China, Iran and Turkey, and will affect imports of supplies such as peanuts, pistachios, and dried fruit.
The new measures, due to come into force on 1 October 2006, means processors will have to ensure their supplies of such products meet the requirements, of face having the shipments sent back or destroyed. Under the rules, they will also have to bear the costs of such regulatory actions.
Aflatoxins have been shown to cause cancer in animals and aflatoxin B1, the most toxic, can cause liver cancer in humans. The are formed by certain moulds on foodstuffs, particularly peanuts and edible nuts and products made from them. The moulds need warm, humid conditions to grow and are therefore mainly found in imports from hot countries.
A Commission regulation of 2001 already sets maximum levels for the permitted level of aflatoxins in foodstuffs. However the limits have been regularly exceeded in peanuts, pistachios, dried figs, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts from countries like Brazil, China, Egypt, Iran and Turkey, leading the Commission to impose stricter control measures on imports from those suppliers.
Now, the European Commission has decided to consolidated the stricter import requirements on such foodstuffs into a single regulation.
The conditions require the specified commodities be imported into the EU through specific designated points of entry into the bloc. All health certificates would have to be valid for import no later than four months from the date of issue of the certificate.
The health certificate now has additional sections which must be completed by an enforcement authority when identity and physical checks on a consignment are carried out at the point of entry.
If a consignment is not accompanied by the health certificate and the results of sampling and analysis, the consignment is barred from entry into the EU. The consignment must be re-dispatched to the country of origin or destroyed.
All costs resulting from official measures taken on non-compliant consignments of unshelled Brazil nuts from Brazil, and pistachios from Iran, will be charged to the importer or food processor.
Five per cent of consignments of hazelnuts, and mixtures containing hazelnuts and hazelnut flour meal or powder from Turkey are now required to be sampled and analysed. The percentage of products to be tested from other countries remains unchanged.
Food business operators would be required to have enough workers and logistics on hand to unload the consignment of foodstuffs and to allow inspectors to take the samples.
When special transport and specific packaging forms are used, the importer must have the necessary equipment to allow inspectors to take the samples.
In 2005, the EU's rapid alert system received a total of 947 notifications from regulators on aflatoxins. A total of 498 of the notifications related to pistachio nuts, primarily originating from Iran. Aflatoxins were also regularly reported in peanuts and derived products (219 notifications) originating from China (79), Brazil (32), Argentina (22) and Ghana (14).
Within the group of nuts and nut products, 64 notifications concern hazelnuts and derived products originating from Turkey (53) and Azerbaijan (11). A total of 33 notifications concern almonds and derived products, primarily originating from the US (28).
Within the group of fruits and vegetables, 48 notifications concern dried figs and derived products primarily originating from Turkey (46). Another 13 notifications relate to melon seeds primarily originating from Nigeria (10).
Within the group of herbs and spices, chilli (27), paprika (10), curry (4) and nutmeg (4), were also stopped at the border for high aflatoxin levels The products originated primarily from India (27) and to a lesser extent from Turkey (5) and Pakistan (5).
Due to the ongoing problem with Iran the European Commission cracked down on imports from the country and put in place new measures. All consignments from the country are required to be analysed twice, the first time prior to export by Iran's regulators and the second time prior to import by the EU member state.
FROM: http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=70601&m=2FLG927&idP=3&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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Legislation: Microbiological Criteria
2006/08/31 - The new Microbiological Criteria for foodstuffs harmonise the legislation throughout Europe and lay clear guidelines for food manufacturers
Food borne illness remains a significant cause of ill health arising from a range of pathogenic micro-organisms, both via purchased foods and poor home hygiene practices. European food safety legislation establishes a framework of controls within which the food industry must operate to reduce the risk of contamination of foods.
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Previously, microbiological criteria were only set in EU legislation for certain microbes in certain foodstuffs of animal origin, while some Member States set their own national criteria for other foodstuff-microbe combinations. Regulation 2073/2005 harmonises the criteria that must be met throughout the EU, offering benefits for intra-community trade and third country exporters to the EU.
The criteria are a small but important aspect of the whole hygiene package implemented to protect consumer health by the reduction of food borne disease. They are not intended to signal a return to end product testing as the means of achieving product conformity, but to set the standard that preventative strategies must achieve
Do I need to employ a microbiologist?
Throughout the Hygiene Regulations and associated guidance there is emphasis on flexibility in approach to achieving the desired end result-safe food.
It has been clearly stated by the Commission that there is no desire to compel food businesses to comply with rules or implement procedures not relevant or adapted to the specific context for their activity. The legislation leaves room for the judgement of the individual food business whilst making it clear that it is the responsibility of food businesses to ensure food safety throughout the life of their product.
A food business must, however, provide training to its staff which must inevitably include in certain circumstances a clear understanding of the microbiological hazards relevant to the company's particular products.
Food business operators must ensure that food handlers are supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their Job. Training is required in application of HACCP principles for those responsible for maintaining the food safety management system.
What do the different entena mean?
A microbiological criterion is defined in the Regulation as meaning a criterion defining the acceptability of a product, a batch of foodstuffs or a process, based on the absence, presence or number of micro-organisms, and/or on the quantity of their toxins/metabolites, per unit(s) of mass, volume, area or batch.
The criteria are formulated as an objective to be reached - the food business determines the appropriate means of reaching the objective.
The criteria are clearly separated into two types: firstly, food safety criteria, which define the acceptability of a product or batch of foodstuffs and apply to products placed on the market throughout their shelf life; and secondly, process hygiene criteria, which indicate the acceptable functioning of the production process and apply at specified production stages
How should the criteria be applied?
The food safety criteria indicate, for the purposes of Regulation 178/2002, when food is unsafe and thus has to be withdrawn/recalled from the market. Samples exceeding the food safety criteria must be reported to the food authority and it is important that businesses are prepared for a product recall.
The process criteria support food safety management systems in providing a means for verifying that HACCP procedures and other hygiene control measures are achieving their desired effect and are adequate to ensure the supply of satisfactory food. Any indications that process criteria are not being met must be investigated and corrective action implemented and documented.
Officers of the competent authority will use the criteria when carrying out official controls under The Official Food and Peed Controls (Regulation 882/2004). Microbiological samples may be taken by officials to monitor and verify food safety management plans, to check food suspected of being unsafe, or in the context of risk analysis, to check monitoring and surveillance systems. The clarity of the criteria removes the need for subjective assessment of whether food is so contaminated as to be deemed unsafe. They clearly indicate the actions required to take in the event of unsatisfactory results.
Must I take samples, and if so, how often?
Food business operators must include sampling and testing plans within their food safety management procedures. There is, however, flexibility on the frequency and manner of testing proportionate to the size and nature of the business. Specific testing frequencies are only laid down for certain products e.g. carcasses, minced meat, meat preparations and mechanically separated meat.
It is understood that the safety of food is not guaranteed or controlled by micro testing due to the inherent problems of obtaining a representative sample.
I responsible for the actions of consumers?
The requirement is that foodstuffs meet the micro criteria throughout their shelf life. The food business is responsible for determining that shelf life based upon their knowledge of the product. Manufacturers must consider, where relevant, cooking instructions as both a food safety step as well as a final operation in achieving the optimum sensory qualities for the product. Instructions for use on foods may well constitute a listericidal process, thus having an impact on food safety. The role of clear storage instructions for foods must also not be overlooked both for consumers and for those involved in the transport and retailing of foods.
Production of pathogen free food makes economic sense for business, is demanded by consumers, and required by law. The Microbiological Criteria provide assistance to industry in assessing their food safety management systems and clearly define for certain pathogens when food is deemed unsafe from a microbiological viewpoint. The Regulation should therefore be viewed positively as an added food safety tool rather than a burden on business. Improving harmonisation in food hygiene is also of benefit in setting a level playing field and allowing for consistency of enforcement. If you do not nave a copy of the Regulations yet, get one!
FROM: http://www.thefoodworld.com/show_article/23/
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Consumers want 'familiar' new products, says market researcher
By Lorraine Heller
2006/07/20 - Whatever consumers say they are doing when it comes to making food choices, their actual eating habits reveal something very different, according to industry expert Harry Balzer.
Vice president of the market research firm NPD Group, Balzer maintains that Americans' eating habits are slow to change, and on the most part any changes are simply extensions of previous trends.
"We change what we talk about more than what we eat. We often mistake our willingness to try something new as a trend- but it's not, it's just trying something new! People like to think they are being adventurous, but in reality they are just eating the same things over and over,"
he said at last month's IFT show in Orlando.
What this boils down to in practical terms is a willingness to try different versions of the same familiar products, such as different beverage flavors, he said.
So the opportunity for food and beverage manufacturers is to pinpoint what Americans eat most and to develop new versions of these, which can involve new flavors, new added benefits or even new packaging.
And when it comes to the products that feature most frequently in American diets, chicken is at the top of the list, followed by sandwiches. The most popular breakfast items remain coffee and cereals, with yogurt also growing in popularity despite not being a traditional option for breakfast, according to NPD figures.
But the true forces behind consumer choice remain convenience, price and freshness, said Balzer, and these are likely to affect the long-term performance of any new products brought onto the market.
"The driving force in the long run is 'can you make my life easier?' And I always say that if you ever forget that, then you're forgetting why you're doing business,"
he said in an interview with FoodNavigator-USA.com.
"For example, cereal at one time was a convenient, hearty, healthy breakfast. But because of modern-day time constraints, it's just not as convenient as it was perceived to be 20 years ago, primarily because it can't be eaten on the go,"
he said.
Cereal bars went part of the way to addressing this concern, but consumers need a "fuller" breakfast, he said, adding that one way to make cereal an on-the-go item is to serve it with yogurt instead of milk. This is already being seen in certain restaurants, but the key is to market the product as a cereal rather than as a yogurt.
And when it comes to sandwiches, which have seen "outstanding growth" , the opportunity is to make the ingredients fresh.
"Fresh is becoming more and more important in the market place today, and it is almost at odds with processed foods. But this doesn't need to be the case."
Foods positioned for their health benefits also tend to attract consumer attention only temporarily in their attempt to try something new, according to Balzer.
"When it comes to health products, manufacturers were looking for an avenue of growth. And people try them, they just don't stay with them. Americans just want the latest way to deal with health. Every food and beverage category has a healthy counterpart, but these have never overtaken the regular varieties."
"In my opinion, manufacturers should offer healthier product within their product lines, but they should realize that 'healthy' for the most part is about 'new'. They should have a line-up of different products for this category, and as soon as one starts to weaken it should be pulled off and the next one put in its place,"
said Balzer.
In his concluding remarks, Balzer stressed the importance of taste-
"which takes generations to change" ; new products - "but don't mistake this for a trend" ; convenience- "we've always moved towards making our lives easier" ; and cost- "we've never let food costs rise faster than our incomes" .
Balzer was speaking as part of a "Trending Toward Tomorrow" presentation at the IFT. The event included talks by AC Nielsen's Robert Gannon, who presented a global overview of growth markets, and NMI's Maryellen Molyneaux, who spoke about the growth of the healthy foods market.
FROM: http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=69295&m=2ICT728&idP=18&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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Korea, ASEAN to Start Free Trade in July
2006/05/16 - South Korea Tuesday signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with nine of the 10 member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The agreement is expected to become effective as early as July.
This is Korea's fourth FTA after pacts signed with Chile, Singapore, and the European Free Trade Association which includes four countries.
Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong reached a final agreement with nine ASEAN counterparts over the FTA in Manila. However, citing Korea's willingness to exclude rice, Thailand objected to the accord and did not sign.
It has been 15 months since the two sides began negotiations.
``The agreement will free up trade in goods by 2010. It will also create a new borderless market of 548 million people with a combined economy of more than $1.4 trillion,'' a ministry official said.
In a prepared statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Korea was successful in protecting sensitive items from the FTA.
The signing is unlikely to bring severe, negative impacts to the local agriculture industry, it said. The agreement is expected to provide fresh momentum for the government to press ahead for an FTA with the United States and other countires.
Korea and ASEAN excluded 45 agriculture and fisheries including rice, garlic, onions, red peppers, tangerines, bananas, pineapples, green tea and several raw fishes.
But the two agreed to gradually lower tariffs on a number of agricultural products, including beef, pork, chicken, potatoes, sweet potatoes, ginseng, peanuts, corn, honey, mangos, chestnuts, dates, pine nuts, laver, crab and cuttlefish until 2016.
The maximum tariff on imported apples and pears will be lowered to 50 percent by 2016.
Korea is expected to gain competitiveness in its automobile exports to the nine agreeing countries, compared to Chinese and Japanese carmakers, the trade ministry said.
Products from the Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea will be regarded as South Korean products under detailed pacts. The South's Hyundai Group runs the industrial park.
FROM: http://search.hankooki.com/times/times_view.php?term=ginseng++&path=hankooki3/times/lpage/biz/200605/kt2006051617183211860.htm&media=kt
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Well-being fascination drives health foods market
2006/01/18 - Health and wellness has become a hobby for many consumers and is a major contributing factor in the rapid growth of the functional, organic and health foods markets according to a new report from Euromonitor International.
Although obesity and related health conditions are causing huge concern on a global scale, the market researcher says that this is only part of the reason why global sales of 'better for you' foods reached almost $129 billion (€106 billion) in 2004.
Rather than waiting to become sick or overweight, many consumers are looking at their diet in an effort to prevent that from happening in the first place.
Although the 'better for you' category is dominated by global brands like Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi and Wrigley Orbit, sales are also being pushed up by local brands and private labels.
Euromonitors says that, to some extent, functional ingredients have moved in to fill the void left by the demise of the low carb trend. Global sales of functional foods and beverages having increased by 20 percent between 2002 and 2004 to be worth $68 billion (€56 billion), leading it to conclude that "research suggests that the sector would seem a logical choice for manufacturer investment".
In particular, it identified two ingredients that emerged in 2005 that have risen to massive popularly on both sides of the Atlantic: omega-3 and wholegrains.
Research into the link between wholegrains and heart health has led cereal makers to reformulate their product offerings on both sides of the market. Additionally, wholegrain yoghurts and yoghurt drinks have been proving popular in western Europe.
As for omega-3, the report says: "National legislative differences mean that some potential functional ingredients may never make it onto the mass market, but omega-3 has cleanly jumped this hurdle to become the big hit for 2005."
In the UK it seems that supplements are the preferred delivery form for fish oils, accounting for 50 percent of fish oil supplement sales in Europe. In other European countries however omega-3 foods like milk, yoghurt, cheese and bread have become popular.
While at present omega-3 foods are aimed mostly at children, Euromonitor says there is scope for age-specific products, both in foods and supplements, to meet the needs of ageing populations.
Indeed, this is a trend that has been identified in the global dietary supplements and vitamins market as a whole, which experienced 6 percent growth in 2004.
Contrary to the general wellness trend in foods, customers are demanding age-specific supplements, which have led to the reformulation of multivitamins to meet the needs of, say, over 50s or young women. Disease specific supplements, such as lutein and zeaxanthin for eye health and glucosamine for joint health, have also grown substantially.
FROM: http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=65181&m=1FNU118&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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