U.S. functional sales slow, but category outpaces overall food sector in '09

With their wallets pinched and their minds heavy with recessionary worries, Americans ditched dining out for eating at home last year — and choosing foods and beverages with health and wellness attributes remained a priority for many U.S. consumers. But value and, as always, taste were also highly prized in 2009, as people sought ways to stretch their dollars while meeting their families' nutritional needs and warding off the detrimental health effects associated with increased stress. All of these forces converged to keep U.S. functional food and beverage sales growing in 2009, but at a much slower pace than in previous years. According to...