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Functional Foods with Bioactives, Nutra and More
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Monday, 26 August, 2019, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Trupti Bhat
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Food and nutrition science have advanced significantly over the years, progressing from the introduction of fortified foods to the construction of foods that promote health. Consumer demand for foods with benefits beyond basic nutrition has created commercialisation opportunities for food manufacturers; functional foods containing bioactive ingredients and nutraceuticals are becoming more prominent in the marketplace. The creation and application of functional food ingredients and nutraceuticals require knowledge and understanding of complex processes. Food scientists, nutritionists and manufacturers are all confronted with issues related to consumer expectations and confidence.
The functional food market is one of the most promising ones in recent times. However, this market is not without its share of challenges. The common man today fears sickness, yet lacks the much-needed awareness about the healthy habits and health benefits of any product. The Indian grandma’ s wisdom question often asked across generations when the younger generations changing lifestyle is observed by the experienced elderly is, “In fact for those who follow the right diet where is the need for medicines and for those who do not follow the right diet what is the use of medicines?”
Ancestral wisdom puts it across very clearly that the after effects of a faulty lifestyle and not following the right diet are the origin of many diseases. With the changing disease pattern and lifestyle diseases, consumers are shifting toward prevention. Thus, a consumer is either influenced to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) products or, on the basis of his experiences, sometimes returns to the traditional medicinal products or grandma’s products as they are often cost-effective and more easily available. The utilities of both food products and functional foods and nutraceuticals products today coexist for the complete wellness of a consumer. Usually the physicians, dietitians and nutritionists make their patients aware of lifestyle changes and advise them to make the necessary changes in their lifestyle and diet.
Steps towards clarity
Initially there was confusion amongst the consumers because of ambiguity of understanding the difference in pharmaceutical, nutraceuticals and functional foods, however with the rapid development of the regulatory authority the steps towards clarity emerged. While we discuss functional food, it is important to note that now the discussion is not just about the scientific properties, functions benefits and impacts but most importantly the inclusion of this specific category under the Nutraceuticals Regulations, 2016, under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The Section 22 of the Act specifies the scope and is a base for Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food), which was operationalised on November 24, 2016. Enforcement on the nutraceuticals regulation started since January 2018.
There is a better clarity on the understanding of concept as per Section 22 of the Act, foods which are specially processed or formulated to satisfy particular dietary requirements which exist because of a particular physical or physiological condition or specific diseases and disorders and which are presented as such. Where in the composition of these foodstuffs must differ significantly from the composition of ordinary foods of comparable nature, if such ordinary foods exist. It can be in form of capsules, granules, syrup or tablets. It does not claim to cure or mitigate any specific disease, disorder or condition.
The composition of the food stuff in functional foods differs from the composition of the ordinary foods on account of the different types of technologies utilised for obtaining functional foods and bioactive or extracts. The procedures involve physical and chemical processes such as centrifugation, filtration, membrane separation, precipitation, chromatography, solvent extraction, crystallisation, evaporation, and supercritical-CO2 fluid extraction.
Functional food additives
To overcome the detrimental effects of conventional extraction techniques, a rapid separation process is needed to avoid any significant loss in quality of the natural components and their stability. Most bioactive components used as functional food additives are used in concentrated form.
A quantum leap in the supercritical-CO2 fluid extraction technology is made by its applications in decaffeinating coffee, tea, and other bioactive (essential oils from spices). The other example of technology utilised are membrane technologies which when generally processed allow separation at lower temperatures and therefore, they are of very high interest for application in extraction of bioactive compounds for functional foods and nutraceuticals in which not only improved taste, flavour, and colour are required but also for increasing absorption and bioavailability of functional foods, nutraceuticals and health supplements.
Specialty foods
The categories under the regulation cover health supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods, food for special dietary use, food for special medical purpose, specialty foods containing plant or botanicals, foods containing probiotics and foods containing prebiotics. No hormones or steroids or psychotropic ingredients are allowed to be added in any of the articles of food specified in these regulations. No parenterals are allowed under this regulation. Mere food forms such as vegetables, cereals, spices, pulses shall not constitute ‘health supplement’ or ‘nutraceutical’ or ‘food for special dietary use’ or ‘food for special medical purpose.’
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India may suspend or restrict sale of such articles of food as have been placed in the market that are not clearly distinguishable from articles of food for normal consumption and are not suitable for their claimed nutritional purpose or may endanger human health, in accordance with the provisions of the Act. No treating, curing, preventive and even mitigating claims are allowed.
“Evidence-based” functional foods
One of the most important fields of focus today is the need to have “evidence-based” functional foods. When deriving evidence-based functional foods, it is important that they are studied scientifically, supported on a clinical level, and contain standardised new ingredients derived from plants, herbs and botanicals and so on and also meet the regulation. Food business operators are allowed to make ‘nutritional’ or ‘health’ claims provided there is direct or implied relationship between the nutrients or ingredients used.
Claims can be made on basis of nutrient or ingredients and health benefits. Types of health claims include nutrient function claim, health maintenance claim, enhanced function claim, immunity claims, anti-ageing claim and disease risk reduction claims. Every new product that is manufactured from the start to end-of-batch safety and quality, must be focussed and monitored no matter how tough the process is. It is of utmost importance as the decision to purchase a product is made by consumers.
The consumers search for options and are in need due to health concerns, may decide to choose a functional food on their own. Hence, the onus of quality and safe products and providing consumers with adequate information to make informed decisions is on the manufacturing industry.
(The author is consultant, nutritionist and food safety trainer. She can be reached at truptione@gmail.com)
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