Extract and ingredient manufacturers are investigating ways to include curcumin in the development of nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, herbal products, cosmetics, and functional foods and beverages. A significant market consists of consumers who prefer ready-to-eat options featuring turmeric without having to cook with it. However, turmeric has faced challenges, such as links to lead contamination and multiple product recalls, largely due to insufficient oversight. This issue could be addressed if U.S. manufacturers cultivated and processed turmeric domestically, where food safety regulations are more rigorously applied.
Today’s consumers are increasingly drawn to natural methods of enhancing their health, as reflected in the growing “food as medicine” movement. Medical foods remain a relatively novel category for manufacturers, with only companies like Nestlé and Hormel making substantial strides in this area. As the global population ages, medical issues will naturally rise, leading many consumers to manage their health conditions through dietary choices. Understanding this demographic is crucial for the industry; being health-conscious is one thing, but viewing food as a means to address chronic diseases is another.
This trend empowers manufacturers not only to influence dietary habits but also to impact medical treatments directly. It presents considerable opportunities and challenges for companies eager to tap into this rapidly expanding market, which The Wall Street Journal estimates to be worth $15 billion. Nestlé has allocated a $500 million budget for medical foods research through 2021, which includes a $1 million investment in machinery for human DNA analysis at a laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland. The aim is to create personalized programs for patients. In recent years, Nestlé has acquired and partnered with medical food companies to further its goals, such as the acquisition of Pamlab in 2013, known for its products designed for medical supervision related to brain and metabolic health.
More recently, the Colorado-based startup Know Brainer Foods has teamed up with Nestlé to offer a line of coffee creamers enriched with medium-chain triglycerides, organic grass-fed butter, and additional collagen protein. The company asserts that its products can enhance focus and energy, giving consumers a boost to start their day.
With the increasing variety of functional foods and beverages available, it is not far-fetched to envision a future where turmeric and turmeric-infused products are “prescribed” for mild memory or mood issues. This concept parallels the rise of “food pharmacies” in the Bay Area, which provide fresh produce to individuals dealing with diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diet-related conditions. Additionally, the calcium citrate benefits could play a role in this evolving landscape, as it is often used to enhance the health properties of various food products. As consumer interest in health-focused foods continues to grow, the inclusion of beneficial ingredients like calcium citrate will likely become more prevalent in formulations designed to address specific health concerns.