Meat + Poultry - January 2006 - 64

FUNC TIONAL FOODS

ence is finally catching up.
"Science has skyrocketed in
terms of what we know about
foods now compared to even
five years ago," she says.
The research confirming the
nutritional benefits of grass-fed
animals is substantial and increasing
all the time, Fulton says, clearly
showing that grass-fed animals have
higher levels of conjugated linoleic
acid and a much-improved omega
6:3 ratio.
CLA, which is four to five times
higher in grass-fed beef than in
grain-fed beef, Fulton explains, is a
nutritional component that increases
fat metabolism, thus increasing lean
body mass. CLA has also been associated with decreasing the risk of cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis and arthritis. "This is a very marketable and

Serving benefits,
sunnyside up
Most functional foods are sold
at retail or online, but at least
one company is branching into
foodservice with its functional
eggs. Restaurants are now
using Sauder's Gold Eggs,
which are enriched with omega
3s, lutein and vitamin E, as a
way to bring value to customers, says Paul Sauder, president
of Sauder's Eggs. "We think it's
a great opportunity for restaurants to promote a more
healthy egg on their menu."
One restaurant using Sauder's
Gold Eggs uses table tents and
a wait staff educated on the
benefits of the eggs to communicate the nutritional message
to its customers.

12 FSI

FOOD SYSTEMS

ınsıder

Eggland's Best and Sauder's Eggs
alter their hen's diets to increase
beneficial nutrients such as omega-3
fatty acids, lutein and vitamin E.

functional component of grass-fed
beef," he says. "In the future, I can
imagine products being labeled as
'CLA-Enriched Beef' or 'OmegaBalanced Beef.'"

Dairy as a leader
CLA is also a well-known component
of dairy, which is the most prominent
player in the functional-protein category. Dairy's versatility in a wide variety of food and beverages, as well as
its numerous byproducts such as
whey protein, positions it to play a
significant role in the growth of the
functional-foods market, according
to Alan Reed, vice president of business development for Dairy Management Inc.
"The biggest challenge is making consumers aware of the health
benefits of dairy products and ingredients," Reed says. Science shows
that the mix of nutrients found in
dairy foods may be responsible for
helping the body break down and
burn fat, and the general public is
just now understanding the emerging health benefits of dairy ingredients like whey protein, he says. Reed
points to research suggesting that
whey protein, long used by weightlifters as a muscle builder, may offer
weight-management attributes,
blood-pressure-lowering benefits
and immunity-enhancing qualities.
But in today's market, it's not
enough for a product just to be
healthy - consumers also want taste,
convenience and a good value. The
fastest-growing functional dairy
food/beverage is smoothies and

JANUARY 2006

drinkable yogurts, Reed says. "I think
we are going to see more segmentation in this category based on age,
lifestyle, and particular needs and
benefits."
But many companies are waiting on direction from the government before delving further into the
functional-foods category. The USDA
has yet to come up with daily recommended allowances for many of the
nutrients (such as omega 3s) that
companies are looking to enhance.
Eggland's Best, for example, is currently testing 24 different diets for
hens but must hold off on moving
forward until the government develops more dietary guidelines, says
Bart Slaugh, director of quality assurance for Eggland's Best.
The functional-foods category
has moved slowly thus far, waiting
for the government and for science
to get a grasp of the subject. However, this category is set to mature
quickly as industry research and development take off and as consumers become increasingly aware of the
benefits of certain nutrients in health
and wellness. ■
By Kristal Arnold
Food Systems Insider
FOR MORE INFORMATION

* www.aeb.org
* www.eatnmove.com
* www.egglandsbest.com
* www.fulton-farms.com
* www.ific.org/nutrition/functional
* www.innovatewithdairy.com
* www.saudereggs.com

http://www.aeb.org http://www.eatnmove.com http://www.egglandsbest.com http://www.fulton-farms.com http://www.ific.org/nutrition/functional http://www.innovatewithdairy.com http://www.saudereggs.com

Meat + Poultry - January 2006

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