Around 300 BC, ancient Greek philosopher Hippocrates wrote, “Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Nearly two millennia later, consumers still turn to food as not only a source of nourishment, but a source of nutrition and even medicinea. Food plays a vital role in our health and well-being, and as science progresses, our understanding of the nutritional aspects of food become the catalyst for major food trends that impact the entire industry.
Around 300 BC, ancient Greek philosopher Hippocrates wrote, “Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Nearly two millennia later, consumers still turn to food as not only a source of nourishment, but a source of nutrition and even medicinea. Food plays a vital role in our health and well-being, and as science progresses, our understanding of the nutritional aspects of food become the catalyst for major food trends that impact the entire industry.
Health-forward
One recent example is the trend of reduced-sodium foods. While it is one of the foundational building blocks of nearly all foods and beverages, salt is often over-used to make unhealthy or poor-tasting foods palatable, or even to help mask the unwanted flavor of food that has been frozen or shelf stable for an extended period. The result is a supermarket full of foods and beverages that are packed with sodium, and it’s having a serious effect on the health of consumers worldwide in the form of high blood pressure, increased risk for heart disease, strokes, obesity and other complications.
In October 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued new voluntary guidanceb on sodium reduction to lower intake by 12% through 2023, which is encouraging American consumers to take sodium consumption seriously and prompting food brands to explore new formulations and flavor development techniques that deliver great taste with minimal sodium.
In a recent Mintel surveyc, more than 37% of survey participants cited “low sodium” as an important attribute in trying to make a healthier dip/spread choice—more than any other attribute such as low calories, low sugar, organic ingredients and more.
Footnotes:
aMintel, Food as Medicine, What Do Consumers Look For? February 21, 2021
bwww.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-issues-sodium-reduction-final-guidance
cMintel, Patent Insights: Innovation in Salt Reduction, 27 October 2021
For the full article, please check out the Perfumer & Flavorist+ August 2022 issue.
![The Made For [You] trend is all about unbridled experimentation – evolving that which is simple into something that brings personal joy. The above photo is based on the color inspiration for this trend.](https://img.perfumerflavorist.com/files/base/allured/all/image/2024/10/AdobeStock_1008376107.670f12c644440.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=191&q=70&w=340)
