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Factors that influence trends related to food ingredients - Current outlook
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Wednesday, 14 July, 2021, 12 : 00 PM [IST]
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Siddhesh Valvekar
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Determining the factors that influence trends related to food ingredients are based on studies of complex patterns and observations that have been recorded over a period of time.
During the World War era, people were facing wartime food shortages which forced them to adopt new eating habits which changed the course of food production for the forthcoming future. Factories and establishments were set up during Industrialisation that helped countries manufacture and produce the ingredients that would be otherwise imported at high prices from around the world.
Trade flourished making it easier for products to be transported not only across borders but within states lying in the same territories, for example the moment canned fish was available in America, it became more inclusive in the cuisines away from the coast.
Pick out any event or example related to food trends and most will source back to one of the following: advancement in food technology, the economic activity and progressing food preferences. The Covid-19 pandemic has more or less affected all of the above causing a significant shift in the way we look at food ingredients now and further more.
Plant-Based Diets
Although the origin of the Covid-19 virus is being disputed over by many countries, one thing is certain that the disease has risen from the way society harvests, processes and consumers animals, hence many say that diseases such as SARS, swine flu, avian flu and Covid-19 comes from animals. Hence, we can notice that people are familiarising with plant-based diets and veganism and their inclination towards incorporating organic and natural ingredients in their food is also increasing day by day.
Around 30% of the world’s population accepts plant-based diets as a climate policy as it is produces minimal waste. After several years of research, scientists and innovators have made it possible to produce plant-based substitutes that taste similar to meat and it has positive environmental effects.
Restaurants and supermarkets were quick at accommodating vegan options in their racks and menus and the same is projected to be happen with plant-based options which is going to make easier to find a café around which serves plant-based meat burgers on their table. They also come packed with the nutritional presence of naturally occurring fibers, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory micronutrients and a low-calorie count which is most likely to be the choice of health-conscious individuals.
The global plant-based meat market size is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 19.4% from 2020 to 2027. Increasing health concerns coupled with awareness about animal rights is expected to set this trend at a position in the meat dominated market.
Healthy Alternatives
We’ve always tried to focus on striking a balance of nutrients, vitamins, carbohydrates and proteins in our daily meals. While that continues to be on everyone’s list, there has been an upsurge of obtaining the maximum health benefits from ingredients in a recipe. When the world was locked in their homes and restaurant meals weren’t as easily available, a majority of people had to switch to home-cooked meals. When the pandemic fat and fatigue started developing stronger implications, the consumer viewership towards food bloggers hiked where users started filtering out recipes that carried additional health benefits and helped in keeping the calories in track.
Most of the calories we intake can be sourced from refined flour, dairy products, processed food and food with added sugar. When the awareness for finding healthier alternatives kicked developed further in our mindset, ingredients like oats, trans-free spreads, skimmed milk, whole-wheat alternatives to flour were in high demand. Recent findings show a change in eating habits post the pandemic where among all respondents, 44% report eating breakfast at home daily which was 33% in pre-Covid.
Similarly, 31% are eating lunch at home every day compared to the 18% earlier. Since the approach of opting to eating at home has gained, consumers are becoming conscious towards their food preferences and have started questioning on what ingredients goes into their food. To survive the trends of the post pandemic world, restaurants and food outlets have revamped their menus to introduce healthier options.
Organic Food
Companies that produced organic and natural food products have struggled to take up a share of the consumer market but have only recently had the chance to see the light at the end of a tunnel as health concerns have gained importance. According to estimates given by New Hope Network, sales of organic and natural food and beverages grew 13% in United States. Buyers are seeking transparency regarding health implications that processed products carry and continue to look for ingredients that can satisfy their renewed fitness goals.
Natural ingredients improve overall health and prevent illnesses which makes them ideal for a pick for buyers won’t take the extra mile for setting up concrete diet plans. Retailers have capitalised on this opportunity where consumers are looking for nourishing meals to offer convenient and healthy solutions. This behavioral shift is influenced by the consumer’s curiosity and concern regarding the source and origin of the ingredients they buy, use of chemicals during manufacturing as well as the use of pesticides and fertilisers during the harvest.
With an aim to expand in the competitive market, companies are producing a wide range of sustainable and organic options for consumers to fulfill their needs. The next thing in line is naturally sweetened food ingredients. Owing to the increasing awareness regarding heart-related diseases, many people are monitoring the amount of added sugar in their meals and are most likely to abstain from products that have added sugar in it. There are a few companies manufacturing naturally sweetened food products with no or limited amounts of sugar like naturally sweetened oats, no-added sugar yoghurt and other similar options.
The focus is shifting from the attractive front of the packaging label to the back where the ingredients are located and the health-conscious shopper has already started taking notice of what’s desirable to them when it comes to selecting what’s good for their guts.
(The author is former STEP associate with Trident, Chennai. He can be reached at siddheshvalvekar21@gmail.com)
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