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Is the U.K. Functional Foods Boom Over?

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By: Sean Moloughney

Editor, Nutraceuticals World

Functional foods have been one of the strongest sectors within the broader food industry for more than a decade but the good times may be coming to an end—at least in the UK, according to Mintel research.

It says consumer disillusionment with supposedly functional ingredients they don’t understand and the trend towards whole foods and all things ‘natural’ has put a dent in the sector’s otherwise rampant growth.

“Confused consumers couldn’t tell which products were doing what after a raft of new launches that had different health claims and price points,” said Mintel analyst, David Bird. “Focus moved instead to naturally healthier products such as superfoods like blueberries and pomegranates.”

By way of example, it noted the sales of blueberries had risen 132% in two years.

…Despite progress being made with pan-European Union health and nutrition claims legislation that will make it more difficult for companies to make claims that aren’t backed with credible science, consumer skepticism toward claims remained high.

—Shane Starling, Nutraingredients.com, 4/23/2008

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