Health Benefits of Foods Quiz

Health: Developing Foods with Health Benefits

• People relate good health status to healthy eating habits, characterized by low fat, low calories, low carbohydrate, low sugar, low sodium, and high fiber.
• Fortified foods with vitamins, minerals, and functional food components provide certain health benefits.

Low Carbohydrate Products

• Atkins' diet limits refined carbohydrate intake, such as bread, pasta, cereal, and starchy vegetables.
• 62% of US consumers regard low-carb foods favorably.
• Examples of low-carb products:
  • High protein, low sugar, low carbohydrate ingredients (e.g., soy grits, wheat gluten, soy protein concentrate, corn starch, corn bran, rice flour, canola oil, natural flavors, evaporated cane juice, freeze-dried strawberries, salt, caramel color, and vitamin E).
  • Donato's Low Carb Pizza with thin crust made of soy protein and other ingredients.
  • Burger King's bunless Whopper served on a plate without ketchup and mayonnaise.
  • Coke C2 by Coca Cola with 50% less sugar and 50% less calories.

Low Fat Products

• Fat has more calories than carbohydrates and protein, and is perceived as a culprit for weight gain.
• 60% of US consumers consider low-fat products favorably.
• Examples of low-fat products:
  • Al Ain Dairy Optimil Drinking Yogurt with 0% fat, extra B vitamins, and calcium, and no added sugar (84kcal/glass).
  • Al Ain Dairy Optimil Low Fat Yogurt (2.5% fat) with strawberries (94kcal/serving).

Organic Foods

• Produced without antibiotics, pesticides, and growth hormones.
• Growing in popularity as price gaps shrink.
• Sales increased 20% in 2002 to $10.4 billion in the US.
• Global sales of organic food and drink increased by 10.1% to $23 billion worldwide.
• Organic foods can gain more acceptance in the UAE and Gulf Region depending on availability and affordability.

Functional Foods

• Provide demonstrated physiological benefits or reduce the risk of chronic disease.
• Examples of functional foods:
  • Probiotic soy milk with benefits from soy and good bacteria colonizing the intestines.

Pleasure: Developing Foods for the Indulgent Consumer

• Premium quality and sensory experience are key factors.
• There is room for developing "guilt-free indulgent" foods.
• Examples of indulgent foods:
  • Al Rawabi YO!Fruit Yogurts with 5% fat and double cream milk.

Convenience: Developing Convenient Foods

• Less time for cooking from scratch, with little or no preparation time.
• Snack foods for on-the-go consumers are popular.
• Examples of convenient foods:
  • Pre-cut, ready-to-eat lean meat, shelf-stable in a retort pouch, with no preservatives and no refrigeration needed.
  • California Garden, Stuffed Vine Leaves, ready-to-eat appetizer, shelf-stable, retorted in a microwaveable polymer tray, with no dishes to wash.

Products Targeting Children

• Kids have more influence on buying decisions.
• Fun foods with cartoon characters on the packages, more color, more flavor, and interesting shapes are popular.