Functional Foods

Demand for functional foods within the developing countries is growing, presenting a lucrative opportunity to develop domestic markets . The economic returns from functional foods can offer improved opportunities for all members in the supply chain: from raw material producers and processors to retailers. Functional foods can be an opportunity for economic growth for many developing countries endowed with rich biodiversity and traditional knowledge of the health effects of certain indigenous plant species. Some developing countries can also be competitive in production due to lower labor costs.

Why functional foods in India?

Food and nutrition science has moved from identifying and correcting nutritional deficiencies to designing foods that promote optimal health and reduce the risk of disease (IFT expert report).

WHO report claims that the largest cause of death in India by 2020 will be due to cardio vascular disease 2.6 million Indians are predicted to die due to coronary artery disease and half of these deaths are likely to occur in young and middle aged between 30 –69 years.

WHO : “India is one of the countries in the world that has highest prevalence of anemia”

It is imperative that the Natural Indian foods with added health benefits are promoted. With its strong tradition of eating healthy foods, India ranks among the top ten nations in buying functional foods and the market size is expected to nearly double in the next five years.

Challenges

1. Lack of awareness

2. Lack of in-depth understanding of science

3. Processing bottlenecks

4. Cost of production