Global health and nutrition trends primarily focus on adding ingredients to enhance nutrition, but consumers are also interested in reducing or eliminating undesirable ingredients. This ‘nutrition plus’ and ‘nutrition minus’ juxtaposition in what consumers want—added protein, fibre and other nutritional ingredients and less or no sugar, fat and calories— is just part of the health and nutrition story.
Consumers seek benefits in key areas that often relate to their stage of life: digestive health and blood sugar maintenance for Baby Boomers; simple “free from” labels such as “allergen-free”—with their healthy halo—for Millennials and Gen Xers; and energy and weight management for everyone. Consumers want to feel the nutritional benefits, and products have to be both delicious and affordable.
The complexities for you are enormous. How do you add fibre to cereal and keep it crunchy? What’s the balance of bulk and sweetness when sugar is reduced by half? How can you add benefits and subtract undesirable ingredients—to appeal to a health-conscious parent buying food for the family?
Your challenges are what drive us at Ingredion Idea Labs™ Innovation centres. Work with us to unleash our nutrition expertise, consumer research, clinically proven proprietary ingredients and concept-to-launch capabilities. You will create one-of-a-kind products that taste great and bring consumers the health benefits they desire.
You’ll find a stream of new nutrition plus and nutrition minus product ideas and solutions from the Ingredion Idea Labs™ innovation centres. Our researchers, scientists, nutritionists and regulatory experts are already working on the next trends and health benefits so you can stay ahead with clinical science you can trust. Just collaborate with us.
The challenges within the trends |
The experts of Ingredion Idea Labs™ innovation centres can help you overcome the challenges to meet the trends.
Obesity is a global concern, with more than 1.4 Billion people overweight. While the total percentage of obesity is still relatively low in Asia Pacific, the absolute numbers are high. According to the WHO, one in every two adults in Malaysia is obese, and the number of obese populations is steadily increasing across South East Asia.
While consumers still desire sweetness in foods and beverages, they are starting to reduce sugar intake in their diets due to mounting scientific research linking it to numerous health concerns. At the same time, several Asia Pacific countries have started to promote healthy living and consider the use of legislations to help curb the intake of sugary drinks.
According to our research, digestive health is a top consumer concern, and, with Baby Boomers aging, the market is only going to grow. Mintel GNPD cited digestive claims as the top nutrition claim worldwide from 2010 to 2015.
Parents and caregivers want only the purest and healthiest formulas and milks for infants and toddlers.
With the aging population comes a growing need for products for people with special nutritional needs and intolerances. Help them to get the high-quality nourishment they need.
In Asia Pacific, consumers are increasingly scrutinising labels for simple, familiar ingredients, regarding them as healthier options. Proprietary research shows 80% of consumers globally find it important that they recognise a product’s ingredients. ‘Natural’ is the top claim that would make Asian consumers consider switching from their current brand and Australian consumers are prepared to pay a premium price for clean labels[1].
Solving your product challenges is our purpose. Together, we can boost the nutritional power of your foods and beverages—and create products consumers trust and enjoy. Innovate with us.
Helping you address the challenges inherent in nutrition trends today.