Beverage Trends in 2022: Active Nutrition & Functional Drinks – Volume 4 – (Article 4 of 6)
by Dr. Marli Botha
When it comes to buying food and beverages, consumers are paying increasingly more attention to their health. Foods and ingredients related to a strong immune system continue to be in high demand.
To understand which health and wellness benefits are most important to consumers right now, Mintel surveyed consumers about their functional food and beverage consumption.
The top functional benefits (based on their consumption of foods and beverages making a benefit claim) are: Hydration (34 %), Energy-boosting (26 %), Calming/relaxing (25 %), Immunity (23 %) and Digestive aid (22 %).
Functional nutrition is in demand, and beverages offer a quick and easy way for consumers to gain these benefits. Although functional beverages may be best known as go-to sources of energy ingredients (such as caffeine and B vitamins) and performance ingredients (such as protein, amino acids, and electrolytes), consumers’ ingredient demands continue to expand.
Ingredients for relaxation (such as chamomile and L-theanine) and for immunity (such as vitamin C and probiotics) have become particularly sought after during the pandemic.
