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from heart-friendly margarines to sugary cereals that strengthen bones, once-demonized foods are being spiked with nutrients to give them a healthier glow — and consumers are biting, even on some that are little more than dressed-up junk food.a report released thursday finds that even in a weak economy, people will pay a premium for products seen as preventing a health problem or providing a good alternative to sodas and empty-calorie snacks.

in spite of the global downturn, 2009 turned out to be an eventful year for the food industry. economic recovery, albeit a slow and slightly faltering one, should bring equally if not more interesting times. ben cooper looks at what is likely to be dominating the headlines in the coming year. as 2009 closes and the food industry prepares for a well-earned break - and a chance to consume far too much of its own product - attention inevitably turns to what might be dominating the headlines over the next 12 months.

convinced that the principal growth area for dairy lies in nutraceuticals and that value-added functional foods will shift from a premium niche to a mainstream category, irish dairy giant glanbia is investing heavily in technological innovation, reports functionalfood wire. the demand for functional food - foods with enhanced health properties or nutritional benefits - mushroomed during the 1990s to the extent that irish consumers now look for a healthy option in virtually every food category, according to glanbia.

understanding the science of how the human gut functions and the role that diet plays in human health will be explored at a major international functional foods conference in cork, this week. foods have an enormous role to play in keeping people healthy and many foods have properties that can enhance the health of those that consume them. a ‘functional food’ is one that serves a purpose beyond basic nutrition, promoting health or reducing the risk of certain diseases.

last week’s withdrawal of a high-profile functional food in france is disappointing for the company concerned and maybe for the healthy/functional foods industry, but you may be led to think differently if you happen to be a reader of the uk broadsheet, the financial times . danone’s decision to pull its beauty yoghurt essensis from french retail shelves due to withering sales amplified by the economic slow-down (click here to read about the withdrawal) prompted the ft journalist covering the story to write: “the withdrawal could signal the end of the so-called ‘functional foods’ movement of the past few years in which staid food companies experimented with unusual kinds of products, including flavour and vitamin-enhanced waters.

ocean spray has reported huge growth in sales of cranberry ingredients to the asia-pacific market in the past 12 months, as health-conscious are tuning in to the red berry's health benefits. the company's ingredient technology group (itg) has been putting in place structures to help it make the most of the asian potential. according to global marketing manager arun hiranandani, it has well-established links with agents across the region, and it has built on these this year with new representatives in vietnam, south korea and the philippines.