Consumers are taking a more proactive and holistic approach to their personal well-being. Global ingredients company ADM says functional ingredients that nourish the body and mind are rising in popularity as a result.
Whether they are trying to support their overall health, microbiome, or age more gracefully, consumers are increasingly seeking out products containing functional ingredients to help bridge nutritional gaps, target specific dietary needs, support immune function, support mood or cognitive function, and sustain energy.
According to FMCG Guru’s Consumer Trends in Australia 2022, Australian consumers are more attentive to ingredients in food and beverages than ever before. It found 39 per cent were more focused on their health, compared to 22 per cent just two years ago.
On top of that, consumers want to consume nutritional products in delicious and convenient formats that fit into their daily routines, and functional beverages can deliver on all of these needs.
We have observed a growing global and local interest in functional plant-based ingredients like botanicals, as consumers seek more natural ingredients and their association with attributes like energy, relaxation, cognitive focus, and immune health.
Guarana, for example, is a popular ingredient in the energy and active nutrition sectors as a natural source of caffeine, while alternative caffeine sources and ingredients such as green tea, are gaining momentum.
Berries like acerola and açai are also rich in vitamin C, which many people associate with products formulated to support immune function.
Edible flowers like hibiscus and elderflower are associated with positive wellness attributes found in beverages such as calming tea and is also emerging in sparkling beverage categories.
Additionally, consumers associate botanicals with being natural, trustworthy, safe, sustainable and health-forward. Research by New Nutrition Business found consumers perceive these ingredients as having a ‘health halo’.
As consumers look for clean label and natural ways to meet their wellness goals, ADM offers a broad range of botanical extracts that can be applied to beverages. We leverage our global portfolio of high-quality, vertically integrated botanical extracts, functional ingredients and our science-backed microbiome solutions to help brands meet consumers’ wellness needs.
The pandemic also brought immune health into sharp focus, with consumers increasingly aware of the connection between a healthy gut and their overall wellbeing, including immune function.
At ADM, we see this mindset shift to more proactive habits and sustaining health and wellness through nutrition, coming through the changing needs of our customers.
Working with manufacturers on how to enhance their products, we are seeing ingredients that support the gutmicrobiome becoming a keytrend.
Many brands are responding to this by incorporating prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics into functional foods and beverages.
ADM’s BPL1* and its heat-treated counterpart BPL1 HT target factors relevant to metabolic health, and are an example of how our formulation experts are meeting the changing needs of food and beverage manufacturers.
The postbiotic strain contains non-viable microorganisms, so it can withstand high heat, pasteurisation and other harsh processing conditions. This breakthrough enables the inclusion of biotics in a range of innovative beverage options
At ADM, our ingredients are backed by rigorous science and a global network of nutrition scientists, clinical researchers and regulatory experts.
Our comprehensive portfolio from botanicals to microbiome solutions and more deliver both great taste and science-backed functionality, meet the consumers' changing lifestyles, and deliver elevated experiences across various food and beverage applications to not only satisfy the novelty seekers but also addresses the modern health and wellness aspirations.
This article first appeared in the September edition of Food & Drink Business magazine.
* BPL1 is a trademark registered for Biopolis in the EU, the US , South Korea and other countries.
