Functional food awareness and perceptions in relation to information sources in older adults

BACKGROUND: The functional food industry has experienced innovative and economic expansion, yet research into consumer perceptions of functional foods and their associated health claims is limited. Among consumers, older adults could benefit from functional foods due to age-related issues pertaining to food and health. The purpose of this research was to identify the need for information related to functional foods among older adults (≥60 years old) and to assess awareness and perceptions of health claims on functional food packages. METHODS: Community-dwelling older adults (n = 200) completed a researcher administered questionnaire designed to collect information about functional foods including current consumption, motivating factors for consumption, perceived need for information, sources of information for functional foods and awareness of health claims. RESULTS: Prevalence of functional food consumption among participants was 93.0%. Increased awareness and knowledge was the most commonly reported factor that would promote functional food consumption (85.5%) and 63.5% of participants wanted more information about functional foods with preferred sources being newspapers/magazines/books (68.5%) and food labels (66.1%). Participants were predominately (93.5%) aware of health claims on functional foods and those with more education were more likely to report being aware of health claims (p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Although functional food consumption among older adults in this sample is high, there is a need for further information regarding functional foods. These results inform stakeholders regarding the potential for information to influence functional food acceptance among older adult consumers

Exploration of the consumption, awareness, understanding and motivating factors related to functional foods in older adults

The functional food industry has expanded yet research into consumer perceptions of functional foods is limited. Among consumers, older adults could benefit from functional foods due to age-related health concerns. This thesis aimed to generate information about the consumption of functional foods among community-dwelling older adults (>60 years old, n=200) using a researcher-administered questionnaire. Prevalence of functional food consumption was 93.0% and yogurt with probiotics (56.0%) was the top product consumed. The primary functional food matrix consumed was yogurt (51.5%) and dietary fibre was the primary functional food bioactive consumed (79.5%). Most participants (86.2%) consume functional foods to improve health and osteoporosis/bone health (67.5%), heart disease (61.0%) and arthritis (55.0%) were the primary health areas identified. Participants wanted more information about functional foods (63.5%) with preferred sources being newspapers/magazines/books (68.5%) and food labels (66.1%). These results inform stakeholders regarding the potential of functional foods to promote improved health among older adults.Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Researc

relation to information sources

Functional food awareness and perceptions i

Translating knowledge into dietetic practice: a Functional Foods for Healthy Aging Toolkit

The advance of functional foods has evolved because of research linking functional foods to health, a regulatory environment that allows health claims on foods, and consumer demand for health-promoting food products. Among consumers, the rapidly growing older adult segment is poised to benefit from functional foods because of age-related health issues that are linked to food and health. Registered Dietitians (RDs) are recognized as food and nutrition experts and are well positioned to communicate the benefits of functional foods. The Functional Foods for Healthy Aging Toolkit was developed to provide guidance and resource materials to assist RDs in communicating with older adults about functional foods. The toolkit provides background on functional foods, including definitions, regulations, and case studies of functional food product labels. The role of functional foods in Canada’s aging demographic is examined and the relevance to disease risk is discussed. The toolkit is appended with educational resource sheets on common functional food bioactives, including antioxidants, dietary fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, plant sterols, prebiotics, and probiotics. This publicly available toolkit can help RDs and other healthcare professionals in their interactions with older adults to maximize the value and health benefits that dietary inclusion of functional foods can offer. </jats:p