“19 Hard Truths About Food” From A Certified Dietitian

It’s no secret that the nutrition industry is currently experiencing unprecedented growth. Increased awareness of how diet affects health and the benefits of healthy eating habits means consumers are more educated than ever.

The Food And Drug Administration has recently released the results of its latest Safety and Nutrition Survey (FSANS) that incorporated 4,400 responses. The key findings showed that most consumers are familiar with the Nutrition Facts label. In fact, 87% of respondents have looked at the Nutrition Facts label on food packages, which indicated that people are getting more conscious about their food choices. The top four items that consumers look for on the label are: calories, total sugar, sodium, and serving size.

Moreover, another finding also confirmed that consumers have knowledge of the front packages of the food products they buy in supermarkets. “Over 80% of respondents have seen claims such as, ‘No added sugar,’ ‘Whole grain,’ ‘Organic,’ ‘Gluten-free,’ ‘Low fat,’ ‘No artificial ingredients,’ ‘Low sugar,’ and ‘No artificial colors,’” states the survey’s findings.

But just like with any booming industry (think of beauty and fashion), the nutrition industry has its own trends that come and go. You probably remember the kale craze that was everywhere not so long ago. Now, in the post-pandemic world, the experts notice new emerging nutrition trends tipped to take off in 2022. This new report from Sainsbury’s Future Brands team and global agency The Food People shows a lot of interesting things about that.

“Beauty and skincare are big business, and consumers have long sought out the secret to looking younger through moisturizers and serums, but it’s now thought the ‘fountain of youth’ can be better absorbed through food and drink,” the Sainsbury’s Future Brands representative Ella Stockton explained to Bored Panda.

“Both collagen and hyaluronic acid are expected to join ingredient lists of staple supermarket products.” Edibles follow the already popular superfood trends where people aim to maximize their nutrition through foods that are rich in nutrients.

Other trends include eating sea crops that are hailed as the latest healthy food trend, clean label consumerism where people actively avoid artificial ingredients, the popularity of pre-biotics and post-biotics, nutrition-dense food and drink, and consuming various seeds.

Shokofeh Hejazi, a senior editor at The Food People, commented: “Consumers are more focused than ever on improving their health and wellbeing and they’re looking to what they eat and drink for solutions to help on that journey. This has led to a surge in functional foods that aim to improve immunity, gut health, energy levels and skin quality.”

Moreover, Hejazi said that consumers are generally more curious and knowledgeable than ever. “It means they are not just thinking about how something tastes, but querying what’s in it, how it’s made and whether it’s healthy.” She added that it’s “amazing to see how much these mindsets have changed in just the space of a year and a half, and where it may be heading in the future.”