Article: Health and Wellness Product Development -- February 2010
The last year can
certainly be heralded as a year of change. Seismic transformations were felt by
many, from the spiraling economy, to politics, to proposed healthcare reform,
the environment and scientific advances, all of which can influence consumers’
outlook and decisions to purchase certain foods and beverages. While the
country continues to recover from one of the most detrimental economic
situations in decades, many consumers have embraced the idea of change, not as
a choice, but out of necessity. Accordingly, the International Food Information
Council (IFIC), as an organization that monitors food and nutrition trends,
including changes in consumers’ perspectives, has observed some interesting
shifts that may give insight into where the area of health and wellness is
headed in the future.
Traditionally, having “good health” is about managing a disease or reducing the
risk of developing a specific condition, or improving overall well-being.
Func-tional foods, or foods that can provide benefits beyond basic nutrition,
fit nicely into the “health and wellness” product category. Still, defining
“health” has become rather nebulous in the minds of many consumers today.