Paris Food Fair highlights health-focused products

At the Paris Food Fair, a major event for the global food industry, health-focused products took center stage. The fair, which began in 1964, saw for the first time the inclusion of laboratories that produce dietary supplements. Items on display ranged from fiber-enriched drinks to probiotic-laden ice cream and functional foods with specific health claims.

Functional foods blur boundaries

Products showcased included German biscuits labeled "menstrual cycle bites" for "menstrual well-being," Estonian drinks made from adaptogenic mushrooms, and Spanish bowls with potassium and magnesium for "blood pressure" and "psychological balance" regulation. These items reflect a growing trend where food products are increasingly marketed with health benefits traditionally associated with supplements.

Industry adapts to health trends

Amande Valladier, a small Breton producer of seaweed balls for bubble tea, noted that she is being asked to incorporate collagen into her products. She stated that the trend is ongoing and that she plans to continue exploring other nutrients if demand increases.

Health claims inspired by supplements

Grégory Dubourg from the Nutrikeo consulting firm explained that the rise of health-focused food claims is influenced by the dietary supplement industry. These claims can be aimed at compensating for nutritional deficiencies or promoting longevity, an idea that is now appealing to a broad range of consumers, including younger generations.

Food and supplements merge

Xavier Terlet from ProtéinesXTC noted that the distinction between food and supplements is becoming less clear. He mentioned that dietary supplements are now appearing in food formats, such as soups and gummies, while food products are increasingly making health-related claims. The success of these products, he said, lies in their ability to offer both health benefits and enjoyment.

Health claims require regulation

Professor Irène Margaritis of the National Agency for Food Safety (Anses) warned that nutritional deficiencies in France are rare, with the exception of Vitamin D and fiber. She emphasized that no single food additive can replace a balanced, varied diet and that adding nutrients to food does not compensate for poor eating habits.

EU regulations on health claims

Since 2006, the European Union has maintained a list of approved nutritional and health claims for food and supplements. These claims are evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa) and must be specific, excluding vague or therapeutic claims. However, Xavier Terlet noted that companies can still creatively use approved claims, such as citing vitamin C content to support related health benefits.

Challenges in health claims

Margaritis explained that the European authority requires rigorous clinical studies to support health claims, which can be a challenge for manufacturers. She noted that some claimed effects may only apply to a small group of people or be based on studies that do not reflect typical consumer experiences.

Diet diversity remains key

Margaritis emphasized that a diverse diet naturally covers all nutritional needs, even for athletes. She noted that there is no additional benefit to consuming more of specific nutrients and that deficiencies in France are limited to vitamin D and fiber. She warned that enriched foods cannot replicate the complex benefits of a balanced diet.

Limitations of enriched foods

Margaritis questioned the usefulness of enriched foods for people who lack time to cook but stressed that no single product can balance a diet. She explained that the intricate combination of vitamins, minerals, and other substances in food cannot be artificially replicated and that fiber, for instance, comes with other protective components found in whole foods.