Functional Food Ingredients Market Size, Share and Global Trend By Type (Vitamins, Minerals, Prebiotics, Probiotics, Hydrocolloids, Essential Oils, Omega Fatty Acids, Carotenoids), Purpose (Weight Management, Digestive Health, Cardio Health), Application (Beverages, Bakery, Dairy, Snacks) and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The nutritional status of a population serves as a significant indicator of the overall productivity of that country. It also acts as an indicator for the extent of social and economic development. The present-day globe is reeling under a myriad of lifestyle disorders, leading to an increase in the reported cases of chronic diseases. The need of the hour is thus to establish robust and effective dietary patterns with greater inclusion of foods exhibiting enriched benefits in addition to the macro and micronutrients present in them. Functional food ingredients thus include all those matrices that confer advantage beyond that of the traditional nutrients it contains.

The global burden of disease has been found to further worsened due to micronutrient malnutrition specifically in the developing world, and among disadvantaged populations, the public health initiatives have thus strengthened in the past few years to prevent many diseases in communities that do not consume a nutrient-dense diet. Functional food ingredients carry an inherent advantage of elevating the nutritional profiles of food matrices without drastic changes in the organoleptic profiles.

KEY PLAYERS COVERED

Some of the key companies that are present in the global functional food ingredients market are Cargill, BASF SE, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Kerry Group, Ingredion Incorporated, Beneo, and Global Specialty Ingredients (GSI). Capacity expansion and consequent increase in the product portfolio remains one of the preferred strategies of companies operating in the global functional food ingredients market.

SEGMENTATION

Carotenoids are one of the leading functional ingredients; they are naturally occurring pigments in plants. There have been a plethora of research activities highlighting the significant link between the consumption of carotenoids and the improvement in eye health, along with the prevention of chronic diseases. Similarly, there has been documented evidence of positive effects of prebiotics and probiotics on nutrient absorption, intestinal tract integrity, liver function and the integrity of the immune system.

Among applications, the beverages category has exhibited immense potential for the incorporation of functional food ingredients owing to their on-the-go convenience, the emergence of functional/fortified beverages and robust innovation both in the ingredients as well as the packaging aspects of beverages category.

REGIONAL ANALYSIS

North America is leading the global functional food ingredients market owing to the rise in the number of lifestyle disorders, strong demand for value-added nutritional products particularly from the gym-goers and sports enthusiasts.

The robust urbanization in the Asia Pacific region has led to rapid changes in the lifestyle and dietary patterns of the baby boomer population. The time-pressed schedules have prompted consumers to seek for processed foods with added nutritional and physiological benefits that are principally derived from functional food ingredients. 

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

• In March 2019, Danish-headquartered bioscience company Chr. Hansen has launched nu-trish LGG DA, an adjunct culture that gives a fast and robust fermentation when combined with a starter culture.


• In January 2019, Ginger Shots, Inc. announced the launch of four new organic Probiotic Wellness Shots under their Tulua brand. Each two-ounce wellness shot features 1 billion CFU of probiotics, as well as unique blends of functional ingredients and premium cold-pressed organic juices.