Health Concerns Boost UK's 'Functional Food' Market

British consumers' increasing concern about healthy diet and lifestyle is bringing continued growth for the 'functional food and drinks' market, according to the latest from Mintel.

Functional foods are defined as those designed to provide a specific benefit beyond their nutritional value with long-term use. 2003 sales are estimated to be more than 500% up on those in 1998, at £835m, and the market is forecast to double in the next five years reaching £1,720m in 2007.

The main health concerns of the British are heart disease and breast cancer, according to Mintel's research among 1,000 adults. The proportion agreeing that a person should be responsible for their own healthcare has since risen from 63% in 2000 to 71%. More than half (53%) in the latest survey agreed that they should do a lot more about their own health.

Almost a quarter of adults claim to 'only eat foods that are supposed to be good for them' and follow government advice to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Around three in ten read food ingredients/nutritional content labels - a rise of 10 percentage points since 2001.

According to Consumer Analyst Amanda Lintott, 'On the whole, Mintel's research appears extremely positive for suppliers of functional food and drink products' with the increasingly health-aware population more likely to be receptive to such products. 'The real challenge facing suppliers.. is to develop products that address specific health concerns'.

More than four in ten Britons are concerned about each of the top two health issues, heart disease and breast cancer. Lung cancer fears are up sharply, rising 14 percentage points in just 2 years to reach 36%, the third biggest worry. 31% of adults say they are worried about prostrate cancer and a further 26% about cancer of the colon.

The company's web site is at www.mintel.com

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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