Opportunities and Challenges Facing the Canadian Functional Foods and Natural Health Products Sector

As far back as 2,400 years ago, Hippocrates recognized the connection between food and health when he counselled, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. Today, whether based on choice or necessity, consumers are seeking food ingredients that will go beyond basic nutritional benefits to enhance general well-being and even disease prevention. In response, food scientists are developing ingredients from plants, animals, marine sources and micro-organisms with the promise of improved health outcomes. Growing consumer interest, combined with a greater understanding of food–health relationships, rising healthcare costs, and an aging population, are factors driving the insatiable market for functional foods and natural health products (FFNHP) (see Glossary for definitions).