Amsterdam Free From Functional Foods: Industry shifts focus to plant-based diets

24 Nov 2022 --- Plant-based, high protein, gluten-free, locally produced products without added preservatives focusing on health were overall trends spotlighted by industry members at the Free From Functional Foods expo in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

There was a lot of focus on high-protein products. NutritionInsight speaks with Leo Koning, Community Manager for the Protein Community and Food Valley, who explains that vegan food, locally produced plant-based products and ingredients are the main focused areas, and health has evolved to be increasingly important to consumers.

Koning emphasizes that the primary trend he spots at the expo is locally-produced food. The Protein Community and Food Valley provide companies with advice, investments and matchmaking.

“We focus on start-ups, but not only, as we believe that the connection between companies’ experience is important to support their growth. The small companies that we call game-changers are the most innovative. If companies can work together, we think products can grow quickly and become successful.”

Koning details that consumers focus more on health rather than “just the nutritional aspect.” He says that health is becoming an issue, but a good issue as it raises awareness and turns consumers to healthier diets. 

“If you could get food that tastes delicious, is affordable and healthy, it’s a win-win situation.”

Yeasting it up
Continuing on vegan foods, we speak to Karin Miller, a board member at Bon Vegan, Estonia, about the company’s nutritional yeast. She explains that nutritional yeast is popular in the vegan community for its parmesan-like taste and high vitamin and mineral content.

Bon Vegan’s nutritional yeasts, offering vitamins and minerals for vegans.“Nutritional yeast is interesting because it’s yeast, but it’s inactivated, so it doesn’t grow anymore. The yeast itself produces vegan vitamin D, so it’s a good source for vegans that don’t take vitamin D3, which is usually of animal origin.”

“They contain vitamin B12, which might be lacking if people opt for a vegan diet without doing so consciously. Just a spoonful a day will add this to your diet.” Miller continues to explain that many health-conscious people who want to add minerals and vitamins find nutritional yeast as a tasty food item and prefer it to taking pills.  

Since plant-based foods gained popularity, Miller details that there has been an increased demand for the product. However, the Bon Vegan brand has been on the market for 20 years. 

“When we started, it was just a niche thing, but we are protagonists of plant-based foods, and that’s why we have this product in our portfolio because we want to see not only plant-based but health-conscious and sustainable plant-based food.” 

She explains that in Bon Vegan’s 20 years, it has not only seen an increase in demand for plant-based products, but consumers are more educated and conscious, meaning that they don’t want to eat just any plant-based food, but they want to have the best out of products.

Other vitamins and minerals in yeast are zinc, which is essential for the immune system and folic acid, which is important for the immune system as well as nerve-brain and psychological functions.  

Fermenting for gut health
Robert Appuhn, a nutritionist at Cellavent Healthcare, Dusseldorf, Germany, tells NutritionInsight about its new product line FermentLife’s introducing fermented turmeric paste and powders. Turmeric is especially targeting gut health, Appuhn details. The gut affects the mind, mood, energy, blood sugar, weight, skin and hair, according to Willys.

“We offer a fermentation process based on lactic acids, and we have our fermented turmeric powder giving both benefits of the process and the acids, benefiting the microbiome combined with a highly potent organic turmeric powder. In the combination, it gets a higher lactobacillus amount, making it good for the intestines and the gut,” Apphun details. 

He explains that their white-label product can be added to other products, such as food, and the fermentation process can be used on other foods.

Willys also spotlighted the gut health segment with its apple cider vinegar with live probiotics. The company says that the gut affects the mind, mood, energy, blood sugar, weight, skin and hair. Therefore, “it must be understood.”

By Beatrice Wihlander, reporting live from Free From Functional Food Expo in Amsterdam, The Netherlands