Photo Gallery: 10 emerging trends in functional ingredients

Jan. 30, 2012 3:51pm

Niche multivitamins

Straight-up multi sales are down, but it’s being more than made up for with vitamins for the 50+ set, for women, for men, for teens. Rainbow Light does a fine job here with its niche multi SKUs.
Clear is in demand on functional beverages

This ranges from CoQ10 to omegas, Vitamin D and even carotenoids—the term used by some is “white carotenoids.” It’s costly but demand seems to be growing.
Calorie avoidance

Everyone is trying to avoid calories. Caloric count is huge on functional food projects—an important question when looking at adding new ingredients.
Brazil

Says Seth Zalkin from global M&A advisory firm Astor Group: “Positive macro trends will drive sustained growth in Brazil’s food and beverage sectors and create even more attention from multinational companies and institutional investors in the years to come. The impact of more consumers, with more money and more credit, cannot be overstated. Brazil is entering its prime.”
NC-518 calcium

Not just any calcium, which got dinged this year in a meta-analysis that postulated calcium, being the main constituent of arterial plaque, is actually bad for you. NC-518 is a novel calcium ingredient from Helios Corp. In phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials, NC-518 demonstrated superior ability to not just maintain bone health but actually improve bone mineral density—even when compared to pharmaceuticals.
The Pentagon

The war machine is studying the effect of fish oil on shell-shocked desert troops. The US Navy got its hands on a half-billion dollars over three years to up production of algae biofuels, which gives a helping hand to algae producers that are otherwise focusing on omega-3 fatty acid oils for nutraceutical and food additive markets.
Soft claims

In Europe, a cloud of uncertainty hovering over health claims has resulted in a drop in numbers of food and drink products launched on an “active health” [food plus] platform, despite growth in “passive health” [food minus] launches.
Fruits & veggies

A revival in fruits and vegetables is apparent as manufacturers go back to basics and focus more on the inherent health benefits available. Packaged fruit snacks, fruit smoothies and juice and water blends are all enjoying considerable activity.
Shots

Best delivery method to get you caught up, shots are beginning to diversify from amino-, B- and caffeine-laden energy shots to nutritional powerhouses from V8 and Bazi. Order up!
Energyfiend.com

This website has great data on caffeine content. Drinks should be voluntarily listing caffeine content—do it now, lest the FDA tell you to (it has the authority to do so, and also require a warning).

From niche multivitamins to calorie and caffeine concern, here are 10 emerging trends Functional Ingredients Editor-in-Chief Todd Runestad sees in the ingredients industry in 2012. But that's not all.

10 emerging trends in functional ingredients

Niche multivitamins

Clear is in demand on functional beverages

Calorie avoidance

Brazil

NC-518 calcium

The Pentagon

Soft claims

Fruits & veggies

Shots

Energyfiend.com

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