DECLINE OF PROCESSED FOOD INDUSTRY ON THE CARDS?-INNOVATE OR PERISH!

There are dire predictions that processed food industry would not survive the present "crisis of confidence" prevalent amongst consumers in many affluent countries. But does the consumer has an alternative? The new movements promoting organic foods, local foods, whole foods etc have limited clout and the mainstream consumer will continue to depend on processed foods because of compulsions of the life style. A trend is slowly emerging where consumers are becoming more and more demanding and if the major industry players do not respond adequately there could be new players willing to radically change the profiles of products to be more healthy and wholesome. Here is a commentary on the changes that are taking place in the US and what needs to be done if industry is not to stagnate, threatening its very survival.

Speaking at the Nutracon conference in Anaheim, California last month, CEO and president of Blue Pacific Flavors Donald Wilkes said that the future of food formulation lies in clean labels and nutritious, whole food ingredients. Wilkes predicts that concern about food from farm to table will intensify, as part of what he calls 'the whole foods movement'. And he suggested that with an increased interest in whole foods and whole ingredients, the supplements industry could also find itself in a difficult position. "The processed food industry, and anything that has a functional ingredient, is under question from consumers right now, and it's not going away; it's only going to get bigger," Wilkes said. "…I think today is the age of the unthinkable for the processed food industry, unless the industry reacts." He urged food manufacturers to move toward simpler products, and to communicate health benefits of foods and supplements within the context of a whole-food based, balanced diet, and an exercise regime. "So many food manufacturers want to put structure/function claims on food products these days, but it is a barrier to consumption," he said. "People don't want their diet to be a medicine chest…If you want to talk about health benefits, talk about them as part of health and wellness, rather than death and disease."

The million dollar question is whether the food industry will ever take the cue and mend itself for becoming more consumer friendly not in terms of taste and flavor of its products but tune to their well being. The dramatic growth of organic food industry and the specialty products industry during the last decade sends a strong message that in order to survive, the main stream food industry must change its present mindset, focused on profit and in stead replace its product basket presently predominated by calorie dense, fat rich, sugary and salty foods with more healthy alternative ones without sacrificing the eating quality drastically.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE-FOOD INDUSTRY IN THE DOCK

Massive spending on health care systems in Europe and the US, is assuming alarming proportions and paucity of resources is excluding many low income populations from universal health care. Many are fortunate that health insurance cover give them some security against diseases which require high expenditure to treat. It is a tragedy that many of these diseases are "courted" by the consumers because of their wrong eating habits and unacceptable daily diets. By now it is well established that most of the chronic diseases are linked to diet and a vast majority of the consumers are lured to cheap but unhealthy foods by the food industry which offers high calorie, high fat and high sodium processed food products at prices much lower than that commanded by fresh and whole some foods.

Look at the American situation as a recent report has highlighted. "We're spending $147 billion to treat obesity, $116 billion to treat diabetes, and hundreds of billions more to treat cardiovascular disease and the many types of cancer that have been linked to the so-called Western diet. One recent study estimated that 30 percent of the increase in health care spending over the past 20 years could be attributed to the soaring rate of obesity, a condition that now accounts for nearly a tenth of all spending on health care".

With three fourths of health care spending going for treating preventable chronic diseases brought about by consumption of wrong foods, there is a case for the health insurance companies to become pro-active in discouraging such a life style and reign in the food industry. Linking insurance payouts to food consumption habits either through exclusions or higher premium, consumers can be persuaded to cultivate new eating styles that will be predominated by more and more fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, whole cereals, milk etc. With pharmaceutical industry more interested in treating diseases than preventing them and food industry more inclined to develop and market cheap but unhealthy foods, health insurers will only be able to arrest the current trend of growing number of people affected by obesity, diabetes, CVD, blood pressure, cancer and other life threatening disorders.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

FOOD-GOOD, BAD AND INDIFFERENT!

Day in and day out we hear the monotonous claims by health pundits that eating wholesome foods is more 'profitable' in the long run, though junk foods, rich in calories, fat and sugar give 'immediate' benefit by way of sensory satisfaction. A drug addict is unlikely to concede the point that drug abuse can be dangerous in the long run and on same analogy a calorie-dense food addict also may have similar mindset. It is a paradox that good foods such as whole grain based, fresh fruits and vegetables, pulses and nuts cost much more than processed foods rich in sugar and fat. Probably the very survival of food industry is linked to this distortion in market place!

Linking bad and indifferent foods to diseases like CVD has to be drilled into the minds of the consumers, especially youngsters through vivid messages. Here is an example. "There is no denying that diets based on fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, "good" fats and lean animal protein are diets that infer "good health." And guess what? Your health is worth the investment. Pay for it now, as in, buy "quality" food, or pay for it later, as in, "pay for your angioplasty" — your call".

The mundane question is who will do the 'messaging' and at what costs? With a majority of the citizens covered under health insurance, Americans may be slow to respond but in India where hospitalization cost is becoming astronomical, such messages may still have some impact. Where does one start? Of course at the kindergartens and primary schools where children, at the most impressionable ages of their life, congregate for 'learning', either voluntarily or through government incentives.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com