A Rational Definition for Functional Foods: A Perspective

Overview

Journal Front Nutr

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2022 Oct 17

PMID 36245478

Authors

Norman J Temple

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Many foods are described as "functional foods". However, the term is poorly defined. A commonly used definition is that they contain substances that have positive effects on health "beyond basic nutrition". However, there are several problems with this definition. In many cases, healthy foods are included under the term functional foods. A new definition is proposed as follows. Functional foods are novel foods that have been formulated so that they contain substances or live microorganisms that have a possible health-enhancing or disease-preventing value, and at a concentration that is both safe and sufficiently high to achieve the intended benefit. The added ingredients may include nutrients, dietary fiber, phytochemicals, other substances, or probiotics.

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