Extract and ingredient manufacturers are investigating methods 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 featuring turmeric rather than cooking with it themselves. However, turmeric has faced challenges, including concerns over lead contamination and multiple recalls, largely due to insufficient oversight. This issue could be addressed if U.S. manufacturers cultivated and processed turmeric domestically, where food safety regulations are more rigorously applied.
Today’s consumers are increasingly inclined towards natural health solutions, as highlighted by the “food as medicine” movement. Medical foods are still an emerging category for manufacturers, with only Nestle and Hormel making notable advancements in this area. As the global population ages, the prevalence of medical issues is expected to rise, leading many consumers to manage health conditions through dietary choices. Understanding this critical demographic is essential for the industry; while being health-conscious is one aspect, viewing food as a treatment for chronic diseases is a significant shift. This trend empowers manufacturers to influence not only dietary habits but also medical treatment approaches.
The potential of this rapidly expanding market, estimated to reach $15 billion, poses both opportunities and challenges for companies aiming to capitalize on it, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Nestle has allocated a budget of $500 million to foster medical foods research through 2021. This investment includes $1 million in machinery for analyzing human DNA at a lab in Lausanne, Switzerland, aiming to create personalized nutrition plans for patients. In recent years, Nestle has also acquired and partnered with medical food companies to bolster its initiatives, such as Pamlab, acquired in 2013, which develops products for use under medical supervision targeting brain and metabolic health.
More recently, the Colorado-based startup Know Brainer Foods has teamed up with Nestle to launch a line of coffee creamers that include medium-chain triglycerides, organic grass-fed butter, and added collagen protein. The company asserts that its products can enhance focus and energy, helping individuals start their day on a positive note.
Given the increasing variety of functional foods and beverages available, it’s conceivable that people may one day receive “prescriptions” for turmeric and related products to address mild memory or mood issues. This trend parallels the emergence of “food pharmacies” in the Bay Area, which dispense fresh produce to individuals managing diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diet-related conditions. In this context, products like calcium citrate zinc tablets may also play a role in supporting overall health, as they can be integrated into a holistic approach to wellness alongside functional foods and turmeric-based options.