Dairy industry

Dairy industry

Dairy industry

Introduction

The rapidly growing market for functional or health enhancing foods has emerged as a response to global trends in demographics, patterns of health and disease, innovation in food and health related research, and globalisation. In developed countries, with increases in the ageing population and the increasing prevalence of lifestyle related diseases, consumers are becoming increasingly interested in health enhancing foods and diet to reach and maintain optimal health.

Although it is possible to achieve a balanced diet by eating a variety of foods, it is clear that there is a gap between the ideal and the reality of what people actually eat. Excess saturated fats and sugars have been identified as one of the main causes of heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Not solely concerned by this are the older population but that too of the younger generation. From 60% to 85% of the world population in both developed and developing countries are not physically active enough to gain health benefits, while there are more than 1 billion overweight adults worldwide and at least 300 million who are clinically obese.(WHO World Health Report, 2002) For individuals particularly in the latter stages of their life food selections may often concede optimal nutrition. Nutrient dense foods, including fortified foods also known as functional foods or health enhancing foods can serve however as an efficient means of ensuring nutritional requirements.

1.2 Justification for Research

Calls to adopt a healthier diet are a key part of current health policy. We are encouraged to cut down on fatty, salty, sugary foods and urged to include more fibre enriched, starchy foods and fresh fruit and vegetables into our diet. This new occurrence includes that of health enhancing foods into our nutritional regime. In the next 25 years, the population aged 65 and above is likely to grow by 88% - almost a million people a month - compared to an increase of 45% in the working age population (WHO, 1998). The food needs of this ever increasing sector of the population have been largely neglected until now and will therefore require and demand health promoting foods more than any other group.

This research provides the opportunity to see how consumers view their own diets, their efforts to improve them, and their understanding of the components of their diets. In order to effectively communicate with consumers, health professionals and others both manufacturers and marketers are also analysed. By crafting communication programs detailing the benefits of health enhancing foods would therefore help consumers implement changes to their daily diets.

1.3 Research Question

The research question guiding this study is:

“To assess the knowledge and awareness of the 'everyday' and rly consumer segment, correlating to health orientated food products”.

Questionnare

What is the relationship between administrative burdens, innovation and competitiveness in the dairy industry?

What is the relationship between administrative burdens, food safety & quality

What is the deployment and competitiveness of the dairy industry?

what is the relationship between administrative burdens, food labelling requirements and

How dairy industry can be improved?

What initiatives ...