Report: 10 Key Trends in Food, Nutrition & Health 2009

Posted: December 22, 2008

The Centre for Food & Health Studies’ New Nutrition Business has released its annual report of predicted food, nutrition and health trends for the upcoming year. “10 Key Trends in Food, Nutrition & Health 2009” gathers research data over the course of the year and an estimated 350 interviews with industry executives. (Full report available here.)

The 10 trends identified in the report are:

• Digestive health
• Feel the benefit
• Weight management
• Energy
• Naturally healthy
• Fruit: the future of functional foods
• Kids’ nutrition
• Snacking
• Target the loyal niches
• Packaging and premiumization

This year’s report also added five “Micro-Trends,” that are referenced as “secondary opportunities and challenges which are not essential but useful to understand.” These are:

• Movement
• Omega-3
• Skin and beauty
• Mood food
• Antioxidants

According to the report, the unpredictable economy re-emphasizes the importance of coupling science with the ingredient and flavor industry as well as effective marketing and education techniques. In fact, New Nutrition Business cites the current economic downturn as a major factor in the future of food, nutrition and health, believing that it could provide a sort “cleansing” process for the industry by “reinforcing” core nutrition trends and principles while likely abolishing “fads.” This notion supports the report's constant emphasis on combining proven science with quality ingredients and effective marketing.