Manufacturers launch ‘functional food’ forum

Cadbury Schweppes, Coca-Cola, Nestlé, Masterfoods and Kraft Foods have teamed up with other food and drink manufacturers to launch an industry group that will keep track of the latest consumer and regulatory trends for functional food.

The Lifestyle and Dietary Trends Industry Group will focus on “enhanced nutritional foods”, a market which grew by 523 per cent between 1997 and 2003 and is now worth more than &£1.2bn, according to IGD.

The group, set up by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), will keep members up to date with the latest consumer and market trends; share information on key research and product developments; and host debates and seminars on this emerging market. It will work closely with FDF’s scientific and regulatory affairs division.

Danone, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare and Premier International Foods have also joined the group, which is open to all full FDF members.

FDF director general Sylvia Jay says: “The group will not only act as an essential cross-sector discussion forum for manufacturers, but will enable FDF to serve its members better in this highly complex and fast developing regulatory area.

“Consumers are increasingly interested in the health benefits that food and drink products can offer, and manufacturers have responded to that challenge.”