“Functional Food”: potential, market development and consumer behavior
Experts met at the 5th International Fresenius Conference “Functional Food” in Frankfurt am Main
Functional foods are expected to provide benefits for health, wellbeing and performance in addition to their nutritional value. The growing number of companies and innovations in this sector illustrates the great influence of functional food on the health and food market. Are such products the solution to diet-related illnesses? What are the difficulties? And what are the future prospects? Experts from industry and science discussed market developments and changes in consumer behavior at the 5th International Fresenius Conference “Functional Food” from October 28th to 29th, 2010 in Frankfurt am Main.There are many indications that probiotic preparations are able to influence microbacterial structures and toxic reactions in the intestine, Kristin Verbeke from the Medical Faculty of the University of Leuven informed the specialist audience. In addition, probiotics could act on the breakdown of bile salts and the immune system by activating specific immune cells or changing the production of cytokines. These mechanisms are said to have a positive effect on certain diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, gastrointestinal infections and colon cancer. Clinical studies have confirmed some of these effects; however, other positive effects - for example in colon cancer - could not be clearly demonstrated.
Health Claims Regulation and Functional Foods
Functional foods play an important role in consumer behavior, said Professor Dr. Hannu J. Korhonen from MTT Agrifood Research Finland. He noted that the functional foods category is only officially regulated in Japan, while European Union legislation does not provide an official definition. However, there are many products on the European market that are labeled as functional foods and are labeled with general or specific health claims. Precisely for these products, accurate evidence for health claims (health claims) is necessary, said Korhonen. In order to harmonize the markets and protect consumers from misleading market claims, the European Union introduced the Health Claims Regulation (EC) 2006/1924 in 2006. One of the key objectives of this regulation is to ensure that every designation on a food label is clearly scientifically proven. Korhonen is convinced that health claims regulations will influence the development of functional foods worldwide: “Useless products will be taken off the market and products with real added value for health will gain momentum. Functional foods will continue to be a globally expanding food category aimed at improving the health and well-being of consumers as part of a specialized diet.”
Functional foods against obesity and iodine deficiency?
Obesity (obesity) is a major risk factor for many diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and dyslipidemia. This often leads to cardiovascular diseases and strokes. dr Susanne Römer (Allianz Private Krankenversicherung APKV) showed that obesity has become a disease of affluence and a major problem in many industrialized countries: In Germany, half of adult men are overweight (body mass index over 25) and 18 percent are obese with a body -Measure Index over 30. In the female population, 35 percent are overweight and one-fifth are obese. Römer recommends that any therapy should include not only eating, but also physical activity and behavioral changes. In order to reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases through weight loss, overweight people should consume less fat and more vegetables, fruits, whole grain products and low-calorie drinks.
In addition to obesity, iodine deficiency is another example of a widespread disease in Germany and other industrialized nations, which is now easy to control. Iodine is important for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. As a result, iodine deficiency can lead to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) - miscarriage, mental disability, developmental delays or goiter (goiter) are possible consequences. Natural sources of iodine are fish, seaweed and seafood. Likewise, the use of iodized salt is now common and risk groups such as pregnant women are prescribed iodine tablets. In Germany, the iodine supply is “functionally” supplemented due to the low natural supply: “With success, as current studies show. Nevertheless, many people still suffer from goiter – with the APKV alone in 2009 it was five percent of those with full insurance,” Römer explained.
Conference documents
The conference documentation including scripts from all the presentations can Fresenius Conference for the price of 295, - EUR plus VAT at the Akademie Fresenius be based...
Source: Dortmund, Frankfurt am Main [ Fresenius Academy ]
