US Food and Drink Functional and Nutrition Claims: 2026
As consumers continue to try to improve their health, functional benefits have become a major tool at their disposal.
As consumers continue to try to improve their health, functional benefits have become a major tool at their disposal.
"Functional benefits and nutrition are more ingrained in modern consumption than ever, providing plenty of opportunities for brands to capitalize on a functional focus."
Jack Doggett, Food & Drink Analyst
As consumers continue to try to improve their health, functional benefits have become a major tool at their disposal. The shift towards functionality has been spearheaded by younger generations – 98% of Gen Z have consumed either a functional food or drink product in the past six months – and their view of functionality is also impacting their view of overall health.
The healthfulness of a food and drink product is no longer solely judged on what a product isn’t including; there is now a focus on what is embedded in them to elevate function. Protein, fiber, and probiotics are major players as consumers seek to improve energy, digestion, and daily wellness performance. These benefits support both the average consumer’s health journey and those focused on weight-loss with GLP-1s, underscoring their versatility across a bevy of health goals.
New product releases have functionally elevated categories historically rooted in simple indulgence, especially redefining perceptions among young consumers. With such momentum from the young consumer and an acceleration in functional releases, added benefits and nutrition figure to continue to be central parts of the modern consumer’s diet.