Extract and ingredient manufacturers are investigating methods to integrate curcumin into the formulation of nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, herbal products, cosmetics, and functional foods and beverages. A significant market consists of consumers who prefer ready-to-eat options containing turmeric, rather than cooking with it. However, turmeric has faced challenges, including concerns about lead contamination and numerous recalls, partly due to inadequate oversight. Improving food safety could be achieved if U.S. manufacturers cultivated and processed turmeric domestically, where regulations are more stringent.
Today’s consumers are increasingly seeking natural health solutions, as demonstrated by the “food as medicine” movement. Medical foods represent a relatively new category for manufacturers, with companies like Nestlé and Hormel making significant strides in this area. As the global population ages, medical conditions are likely to rise, prompting many individuals to seek food-based management for their health issues. Understanding conditions such as restless leg syndrome is crucial for the industry. While being health-conscious is common, viewing food as a treatment for chronic ailments marks a significant shift. This trend empowers manufacturers to influence dietary choices and potentially impact medical treatments, creating substantial opportunities and challenges within a rapidly expanding market estimated to be worth $15 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Nestlé has allocated a $500 million budget to advance medical foods research through 2021. This includes $1 million in equipment for analyzing human DNA at a lab in Lausanne, Switzerland, aiming to develop personalized health programs. In recent years, Nestlé has acquired and partnered with medical food companies to enhance its initiatives, such as the acquisition of Pamlab in 2013, which specializes in products for brain and metabolic health under medical supervision. More recently, Colorado-based startup Know Brainer Foods teamed up with Nestlé to create a line of coffee creamers infused with medium-chain triglycerides, organic grass-fed butter, and added collagen protein, claiming these products can provide enhanced focus and energy to start the day.
With the ever-increasing variety of functional foods and beverages available, it is conceivable that turmeric and related products could one day be “prescribed” for mild memory or mood issues. This is reminiscent of “food pharmacies” emerging in the Bay Area, which dispense fresh produce to individuals managing diabetes, high blood pressure, and other dietary-related challenges. Furthermore, products like calcium citrate, magnesium, and zinc with vitamin D3 benefits are gaining attention, highlighting the ongoing interest in nutritional solutions that support overall health. As the market evolves, the incorporation of such ingredients into health-focused offerings will likely play a pivotal role in addressing consumer needs.