Digestive health a top trend heading into 2019
Digestive health is set to become a significant trend in 2019. Food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers are developing new products and expanding a marketplace that has been evolving during the past decade. What was once a category dominated by fiber and probiotic ingredients is now seeing prebiotics and fermented foods making inroads. The consultancy New Nutrition Business identified digestive wellness as its No. 1 trend for 2019, and The Kroger Co., Cincinnati, listed gut-healthy foods as one of its five leading trends heading into the new year. “Medical studies show that a healthy gut is the foundation of overall wellness, and more than ever before, consumers are seeking foods that support self-care and healthy immune systems,” Kroger said. Whole Foods Market, Austin, Texas, a business unit of Amazon Inc., also has tapped digestive health as a trend in 2019. In 2017, the retailer identified naturally occurring probiotics in fermented foods like kimchi would be a trend. In 2019, the retailer said probiotics in shelf-stable products will catch consumer attention. New strains of probiotics such as Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 and Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 are making more shelf-stable applications possible, according to Whole Foods. Wellness-focused brands are adding functional probiotic ingredients to consumer’s pantry staples through products like granola, oatmeal, nut butters, soups and nutrition bars…… Read