Extract and ingredient manufacturers are actively seeking methods to incorporate curcumin into the formulations of nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, herbal products, cosmetics, and functional foods and beverages. A significant market exists for consumers who prefer convenient, ready-to-eat options featuring turmeric without the need to cook with it. However, turmeric has faced challenges, including associations with lead contamination and several product recalls. These issues are partly due to insufficient oversight, which could potentially 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 health solutions, as highlighted by the “food as medicine” movement. Medical foods remain a relatively new category for manufacturers, with only Nestlé and Hormel making significant strides in this area. As the global population ages, the incidence of medical complications is expected to rise, leading many consumers to use food as a means to manage their health issues. Understanding this vital consumer segment is crucial for the industry. While being health-conscious is important, viewing food as a treatment for chronic conditions presents a new paradigm. This trend empowers manufacturers to influence dietary choices and potentially affect medical treatments, creating both significant opportunities and challenges in this rapidly expanding market, which is projected to reach $15 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Nestlé has allocated a $500 million budget for medical foods research through 2021, which includes investing $1 million in machinery to analyze human DNA at a facility in Lausanne, Switzerland. The goal is to develop personalized programs for patients. In recent years, Nestlé has acquired and partnered with various medical food companies to bolster its initiatives. For instance, in 2013, they acquired Pamlab, a company focused on products for brain and metabolic health under medical supervision. More recently, Colorado-based startup Know Brainer Foods has collaborated with Nestlé to launch a line of coffee creamers that include medium-chain triglycerides, organic grass-fed butter, and added collagen protein, claiming to enhance focus and energy to kickstart the day.
With the increasing variety of functional foods and beverages available, it’s conceivable that turmeric and related products could one day be “prescribed” for mild memory or mood issues. This is akin to the emergence of “food pharmacies” in the Bay Area that provide fresh produce to individuals managing diabetes, high blood pressure, and other dietary-related concerns. As part of this evolving landscape, products like Citracal Slow Release 1200 mg could play a role in addressing specific health needs, further emphasizing the intersection of nutrition and medical treatment.