Extract and ingredient manufacturers are investigating ways to integrate curcumin into the formulation of nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, herbals, cosmetics, and functional foods and beverages. A significant market exists for consumers who prefer ready-to-eat options with turmeric but do not wish to cook with it. Despite its popularity, turmeric has faced challenges, including associations with lead contamination and numerous recalls. These issues largely stem from insufficient oversight, which could be addressed if U.S. manufacturers cultivated and processed turmeric domestically, where food safety regulations are more robust.
Today’s consumers are increasingly drawn to natural methods for enhancing their health, as seen in the rise of the “food as medicine” movement. Medical foods represent a relatively new category for manufacturers, with major announcements primarily coming from companies like Nestle and Hormel. As the global population ages, medical complications are likely to rise, prompting many consumers to manage health issues through diet. This demographic is crucial for the industry to understand; being health-conscious differs significantly from viewing food as a treatment for chronic diseases. This shift empowers manufacturers to influence dietary choices and potentially impact medical treatments, presenting both opportunities and challenges in a rapidly expanding market, estimated to be worth $15 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Nestle has allocated a $500-million budget to advance medical foods research through 2021, including $1 million for machinery aimed at analyzing human DNA at a lab in Lausanne, Switzerland, to create personalized patient programs. In recent years, Nestle has acquired and partnered with medical food companies to bolster these efforts, such as the acquisition of Pamlab in 2013, which produces products for medical supervision targeting brain and metabolic health.
More recently, the Colorado-based startup Know Brainer Foods collaborated with Nestle to introduce a line of coffee creamers containing medium-chain triglycerides, organic grass-fed butter, collagen protein, and potentially beneficial ingredients like calcium and calcium citrate. The company asserts that its products can enhance focus and energy to kickstart the day.
As the variety of functional foods and beverages continues to grow, it is conceivable that turmeric and products containing it may one day be “prescribed” for mild memory or mood issues, akin to the “food pharmacies” emerging in the Bay Area that provide fresh produce to individuals with diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diet-related concerns. In this evolving landscape, the inclusion of ingredients like calcium and calcium citrate may play a role in addressing various health needs, further illustrating the intersection of nutrition and medical treatment.