In many markets worldwide, consumers are seeking out foods and beverages that impart not just taste and calories but also specific health benefits. This dynamic industry segment is estimated to be worth more than $500 billion USD worldwide. With about $247 billion of that total coming from fortified or “functional” foods. With this category expected to continue its upward trajectory, companies that identify new trends early stand to benefit.
However, despite growing consumer popularity, functional foods present a challenge to food manufacturers. Because individual foods or food ingredients are being touted as having health benefits, the effort to define their potential impact or adequately determine potency often requires a series of lab processes that may seem more suited to analyzing pharmaceuticals than foods.
The good news is that food manufactures are able to rely on a variety of solutions that can support them to achieve their goals, from sample preparation to compound characterization and more.