According to the “2006 Prepared Foods’ R&D Trends Survey: Functional Foods,” even the participating manufacturers had different definitions of the term “functional foods.” Some 63% said they are foods marketed to provide a specific health benefit. Roughly 56% said they are foods that are nutritionally beneficial.
Of respondents, 29% and 35%, respectively, described them as foods that have any nutritional fortifiers and foods with nutraceutical ingredients, such as herbs and bioactive medicinals.