Extract and ingredient manufacturers are investigating methods to integrate curcumin into nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, herbal products, cosmetics, and functional foods and beverages. A significant segment of consumers prefers ready-to-eat options featuring curcumin instead of cooking with turmeric. However, turmeric has faced challenges, including instances of lead contamination and several product recalls. These issues often stem from insufficient oversight, which could be improved if U.S. manufacturers cultivated and processed turmeric domestically, where food safety standards are more rigorously applied.
Today’s consumers are increasingly seeking natural solutions for enhancing their health, as highlighted by the “food as medicine” movement. Medical foods represent a relatively new area for manufacturers, with major developments mainly from companies like Nestlé and Hormel. As the global population ages, the prevalence of medical issues is likely to rise, prompting many consumers to address their health concerns through diet. Understanding this consumer segment is vital for the industry; it’s one thing to be health-conscious, but viewing food as a means to manage chronic diseases is another. This trend empowers manufacturers to influence not just dietary choices but also medical treatments.
This landscape presents both significant opportunities and challenges for companies looking to tap into this rapidly expanding market, projected to be valued at $15 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. Nestlé has allocated a $500 million budget to advance medical foods research through 2021. This investment includes $1 million for machinery to analyze human DNA at a lab in Lausanne, Switzerland, aimed at developing personalized programs for patients. In recent years, Nestlé has acquired and partnered with medical food companies to bolster its initiatives. A prime example is Pamlab, acquired in 2013, which produces products intended for medical supervision relating to brain and metabolic health.
In a more recent collaboration, the Colorado-based startup Know Brainer Foods has teamed up with Nestlé to offer a line of coffee creamers that include medium-chain triglycerides, organic grass-fed butter, and added collagen protein, claiming these products can enhance focus and energy throughout the day. With the increasing variety of functional foods and drinks available, it’s conceivable that individuals might one day be “prescribed” turmeric and related products for addressing mild memory or mood issues, akin to the “food pharmacies” emerging in the Bay Area that provide fresh produce to individuals dealing with diabetes, high blood pressure, and other dietary-related health conditions.
Moreover, the incorporation of specific supplements like tab citrate 1000 mg could further enhance the effectiveness of these food-based treatments, emphasizing the potential for addressing health concerns through innovative dietary solutions. The growing demand for functional foods and ingredients like curcumin and tab citrate 1000 mg underscores the importance of understanding consumer preferences and the evolving landscape of health management through nutrition.