Dive Brief:
- About two-thirds (64%) of consumers said they partake in a specialized diet that restricts the consumption of certain foods, according to Nielsen’s recent Global Health and Ingredient-Sentiment Survey.
- Food allergies of either the consumer or a family member are a major reason for restricted diets, impacting 36% of the global survey population.
- Food is also increasingly used as a preventive medicine, with many people guiding their food choices around chronic diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol or hypertension.
Dive Insight:
The number of people living with food allergies is on the rise, and that has spawned the need for the free-from foods industry. According to Food Allergy Research & Education, up to 15 million Americans—and one in 13 children—have food allergies. More than a lifestyle choice, these consumers make their food and beverage choices around specific parameters that manufacturers have to meet. According to Statista, retail sales for free and free-from foods in the U.S. are expected to reach almost $24 billion by 2020.
Regional diet preferences also play a major role in food purchase decisions, according to the survey. The U.S. remains a critical market to domestic food companies, but it's not the only one. As manufacturers grow and expand beyond international borders, they could find themselves haggling with much different logistics, needs and preferences than previously.
Enjoy Life Foods, a leader in the free-from foods category that Mondelez acquired last year, is opening a new facility in Jeffersonville, ID. The plant is certified to be both gluten- and nut-free and demonstrates the dedication Mondelez and other major manufacturers have to this fast-growing segment of products.