Packaged Facts projects the market will exceed $22 billion in 2013, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% between 2004 and 2013. “Consumers in developed countries are becoming increasingly aware of their ability to treat health concerns and problems with diet. Combined with knowledge that allows consumers to address these concerns without conventional medical involvement is driving interest in nutrition as it relates to digestive health and digestive health as it relates to overall wellness,” says Tatjana Meerman, publisher of Packaged Facts.
Aside from yogurt, leading categories of food and beverage introductions containing probiotics and/or prebiotics through the first six months of 2009 included milk, functional drinks, breakfast cereals, cheese and cookies. And though the probiotics category is more established in the digestive health market, the prebiotics sector is growing faster with a presence in an array of products that range from pudding to frozen chicken dinners.
Working hand-in-hand with probiotics, digestive enzymes can be used in the manufacture of foods to address specific health concerns such as acid reflux, gas and heartburn. They are the new frontier when it comes to digestive health, and evidence suggests beverages, candy, dried goods, fruit juices, margarine, snack bars and other common foods would serve as good delivery vehicles for active digestive enzymes.