Functional in focus

摘要

Functional foods are increasing in global popularicy as we witness the launch of more and more products supporting functional claims. A search performed in July this year, using Mintel's CNPD (Global New Products Database), looking at new food and nonalcoholic beverage products launched in the last six months, listed over 2,600 new products launched with functional claims.rnCurrently there is no official definition of what constitutes a 'functional food' that is recognised by either the US FDA or EFSA, although both bodies have an established set of criteria which food manufacturers with functional claims must adhere to. There are however a number of working definitions in place which help both the food industry, media and consumers to understand what is meant by a functional food. Both the Institute of Food Technology (IFT) and the International Food Information Council Foundation (IFIC) in the US use very similar working definitions. Functional foods are considered as 'foods and food components that provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition (for the intended population).