A rational definition for functional foods: A perspective
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 in...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-09-01
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Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.957516/full |
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author | Norman J. Temple |
author_facet | Norman J. Temple |
author_sort | Norman J. Temple |
collection | DOAJ |
description | 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. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:03:43Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-8352730acfec40e78cfee44c2a88d5f9 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2296-861X |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:03:43Z |
publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
record_format | Article |
series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
spelling | doaj.art-8352730acfec40e78cfee44c2a88d5f92022-12-22T03:18:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2022-09-01910.3389/fnut.2022.957516957516A rational definition for functional foods: A perspectiveNorman J. TempleMany 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.957516/fullfunctional foodsbeyond basic nutritionnovel foodshealthy foodsphytochemicals |
spellingShingle | Norman J. Temple A rational definition for functional foods: A perspective Frontiers in Nutrition functional foods beyond basic nutrition novel foods healthy foods phytochemicals |
title | A rational definition for functional foods: A perspective |
title_full | A rational definition for functional foods: A perspective |
title_fullStr | A rational definition for functional foods: A perspective |
title_full_unstemmed | A rational definition for functional foods: A perspective |
title_short | A rational definition for functional foods: A perspective |
title_sort | rational definition for functional foods a perspective |
topic | functional foods beyond basic nutrition novel foods healthy foods phytochemicals |
url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.957516/full |
work_keys_str_mv | AT normanjtemple arationaldefinitionforfunctionalfoodsaperspective AT normanjtemple rationaldefinitionforfunctionalfoodsaperspective |