The idea of assisting the growth and development of a Canadian industry focused on enhancing the health and well-being of Canadians through foods containing bioactive ingredients (functional foods) and natural health products (NHPs) came a step closer to reality with the publication of a sector strategy by Nutri-Net Canada.

 

It’s an important first step as a 2004 MarketResearch.com report, Global Market Review of Functional Foods – Forecasts to 2010, estimated of the 6.6 billion dollar market, 41 per cent is spent on functional foods. This figure translates to over $2.7 billion CAD spent on functional foods per year in Canada, with Canadians spending more than $212.32 per capita CAD on nutritional food products annually. (1) Further, sales of natural health products were estimated at $2.5 billion in 2005 and growing.

Nutri-Net Canada represents an alliance of national and regional groups working together to promote the advancement of Canada’s functional food and natural health products (FFNHP) sector. Its report, Working Together for a Healthy Canada – A Strategy for the Canadian Functional Food and Natural Health Products Sector, April 2008, represents the results of a two-year collaborative effort amongst government, industry, academia and health institutions.