IDM ¦ Ingredients
What’s next in dairy?
How brands can develop healthier products that support
optimal immune function
Traditional dairy products remain
consumer favorites, and recent
DSM research – which surveyed
5,000 consumers across 10 countries
to explore current and emerging
food trends – shows that consumption of
dairy-based varieties is still on the rise.1 The
survey also highlighted that improving nutritional
intake was a key motivator behind this
increase, with consumers showing a preference
for dairy foods with added vitamins and
minerals.2 It is clear that people are increasingly
prioritizing their health and wellbeing, and are
making healthier purchasing choices that align
with this trend – but how can dairy brands play
their part in helping to support these needs?
Driving innovation in dairy
The first step to meeting the sophisticated
expectations of today’s discerning consumers
is understanding exactly what they are looking
for from their dairy products, and what
‘health’ and ‘wellbeing’ means to them. DSM’s
research identified, for instance, that 40% of
respondents will seek to buy more lactose-free
products in the coming years.3 This comes as
lactose-free varieties continue to appeal to
not only individuals with an impaired ability
to digest lactose, but also health-conscious
consumers, thanks to their perceived health
benefits.4
Interest in functional food and drink has
also seen a surge in popularity, with fortified
dairy products that offer enhanced nutritional
value increasingly entering the mainstream.
Unsurprisingly, products enriched
with essential, immunity-boosting nutrients
like probiotics, vitamins and minerals5
are particularly sought after in today’s climate.
This trend was highlighted in DSM’s
recent Consumer Immunity Panel (September
2020), which found that 45.4% and
37.5% of people – primarily younger consumers
− are committed to eating yogurt
and milk products with added micronutrients,
respectively6, a clear increase from
the DSM data obtained in 20187. The 2020
study also shows that 36% of respondents
associate probiotics with supporting immune
health. Indeed, food options that
support the immune system are increasingly
at the forefront of the public agenda,
and dairy producers have an exciting opportunity
to differentiate their offering and
tap into this need by delivering nutrientrich
dairy goods with the immune health
benefits consumers are looking for.
What role does nutrition
play in immune health?
The link between good nutrition and optimal
immune function is increasingly highlighted
by scientific evidence. Nutritional immune
support has, historically, centered around
vitamin C supplementation8, but vitamins A,
B6, B12, D and E, as well as nutrients such
as folate, zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium,
copper, and omega-3 fatty acids, have since
all been shown to play a part in supporting a
healthy immune system.9 Vitamin A, for instance,
helps to strengthen the functioning
Nicolas Touillon, Business Director Fresh Dairy, DSM Food Specialties
The link between good nutrition and
optimal immune function is increasingly
highlighted by scientific evidence
(photo: DSM)
32 · May/June 2021 ¦ international-dairy.com
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