Digestive health claims are leading functional claims globally. Functional foods and beverages providing digestive health benefits are growing, both in the traditional categories where the claim emerged — yogurt and dairy-based beverages — and in truly unique and new categories, such as prepared meals and snack mixes. 

As digestive health has become a mainstream health concern, fiber has received more attention and gained an increasingly prominent healthy halo. 

In the beverage category, the rise in energy drink introductions is noteworthy. As brands fight to gain entry into the marketplace, the ability to differentiate themselves is vital.

Attendees of Prepared Foodsí R&D Applications Seminar-EAST heard about healthy ingredients for different consumer groups; thesupplier/food developer relationship; and effective new product development methods.

Is the importance of health destined to become a Holy Grail of sorts for food manufacturers?  

Flax use up as health benefits better realized