Health and well-being

Functional food and phytonutrient have become popular words in the food and drink sectors because they immediately correlate to food having value in promoting healthy lifestyle.

They associate our need for quality ingredients that could allow us to obtain optimal health benefits. The phytonutrients on offer include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, caratonoids, lycopenes and flavonoids that act as antioxidants in our bodies mopping up free radicals. Such processes are linked to 'keeping people young', providing anti-carcinogenic benefits and improving several specific organ functions.

Understanding the impact of these nutrients on health is an important aspect of innovative New Product Development. This is why many of these issues are reviewed here with other issues that associate themselves with health and well-being. It is crucial that companies developing products with these viewpoints adhere to regulations and guidelines on making health claims.

Optimal personalised nutrition is a further area where health and well-being will drive innovation in New Product Development. The relationship between genes, metabolism and diet is extremely individualistic and products will begin to address specific and ethnic needs globally.

Some commentators have said it is the basis of a second 'green' revolution where the first aimed for calorific and food supply goals, the second will aim for qualitative goals. These will be more closely linked to improving health of nations that have reached calorific sustainability.

This in itself has brought new issues into the food and drink industry including how to tackle diseases associated with food over-sufficiency such as diabetes, CVD, specific cancers and obesity.