Posts Tagged ‘Functional foods’
Functional Foods And Neutraceuticals
Consumers are increasingly interested in the health benefits of foods and have begun to look beyond the basic nutritional benefits of food to the disease prevention and health enhancing compounds contained in many foods. This combined with a more widespread understanding of how diet affects disease, health-care costs and an aging population have created a market for functional foods and natural health products.
Functional foods and nutraceuticals provide an opportunity to improve the health of Canadians, reduce health care costs and support economic development in rural communities. They also offer a way for some producers to diversify their agriculture and marine-based crops. According to market statistics, the global functional food and nutraceutical market is growing at a rate that is outpacing the traditional processed food market.
Red and Juicy watermelon
Canada is emerging as a leading world supplier in this growing market. The country boasts more than 300 companies – from small start-ups to multinational enterprises – many that are internationally recognized for their bioactive ingredients, such as soluble fibre from oats, barley and pulses; omega-3 fatty acids from fish and flax oil; unsaturated fatty acids from canola oil; plant sterols and stanols from vegetable oils; and protein from soy. Industry is also interested in incorporating into food products functional ingredients, such as probiotic bacterial cultures; prebiotics (e.g. fructo-oligosaccharides) from corn; bioactives concentrated from berries and flax; and novel fibres from pulses.
The following information will make it easier for the functional food and nutraceutical industry to explore market, partnership and research opportunities. It will also shed light on regulations, and point to conferences and other industry events. Although this website is created as a tool for industry, it also contains information that will help the general public better understand the industry.
