US Functional Ingredients in Food and Drink Market Report 2025
2025-10-30T10:01:56+00:00
REP47F99C90_9BC1_4400_82EB_BCCBEB2435CA
3695
188045
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Report
en_GB
About a quarter of consumers report that their budget limits their food choices, indicating a level of freedom that the majority have to purchase and explore at the grocery store.
US
Food
Drinks
Health and Wellness
simple
US Functional Ingredients in Food and Drink Market Report 2025
"Consumers have a willingness to invest and an interest to explore functional ingredients. Opportunities continue to revolve around strengthening trust and efficacy."
Kelsey Girard, Senior Food & Drink Analyst
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for functional ingredients in food and drink
Opportunities
Proven benefits will only make the investment easier
Graph 1: behaviors related to functional ingredients/benefits in food and drink, 2025
Ritual engagement is there for the taking, with a focus on trust and efficacy
Position new product trial as explorative rather than reactive
Graph 2: experience and interest with select functional ingredients, 2025
MARKET DYNAMICS
Consumers and the economic outlook
Market factors
Costs climb and consumers make cuts
Find functional accessibility by considering from-scratch applications
Graph 3: consumer eating habits, by financial situation, 2025
Consumers seek control in the midst of uncertainty
Graph 4: current health goals, 2025
Trust and transparency at the forefront of health and wellness
Graph 5: attitudes toward food and drink nutrition claims – NET – Agree, 2024
CONSUMER INSIGHTS
Consumer fast facts
Trended approach to eating
Eating habits have endured, too
Graph 6: trended consumer eating habits, 2023-25
Younger generations seek convenience without a compromise on control
Graph 7: consumer eating habits, by generation, 2025
Functional ingredient usage, frequency of consumption and interest by food/drink category
Take a page from produce’s book to increase functionality and accessibility
Graph 8: consumption of functional ingredients in food and drink, 2025
The power of packing and stacking functional ingredients
Inherent benefits in the spotlight
Men and women tune into functional nutrition differently
Graph 9: consumption of functional ingredients in food and drink, by gender, 2025
Simplify the functional narrative and make discovery feel effortless and fun for younger shoppers
Graph 10: consumption of functional ingredients in food and drink, 2025
Current users catch onto the benefits of ritual consumption
Graph 11: frequency of functional ingredient consumption, 2025
Routes to ritualization
Functional ingredient formats can find pockets throughout the day
Graph 12: interest in functional ingredients in specific types of food and drink products, 2025
Consumption of foods/drinks with specific benefit claims
Wellbeing becomes interconnected with younger women, indicating cross category opportunity
Graph 13: consumption of food and drink products with specific benefit claims, by gender and age, 2025
Democratize wellness to make functional benefits attainable, not aspirational
Graph 14: consumption of food and drink products with specific benefit claims, by financial situation, 2025
Attitudes related to functional ingredients
Build trust by pairing efficacy with empathy
Graph 15: attitudes toward functional ingredients in food and drink, 2025
Take a holistic approach to positioning to match women’s holistic health needs
Graph 16: attitudes toward functional ingredients in food and drink, by gender, 2025
Go offline to position targeted solutions, too
Earn Gen X and Baby Boomer credibility with clarity and care
Graph 17: attitudes toward functional ingredients/benefits in food and drink, 2025
Placing digestible efficacy messaging front and center
Behaviors related to functional ingredients
There’s trust in the concept, but a gap in the experience with functional ingredients and benefits
Millennials stand out in functional ingredient enthusiasm…
Graph 18: behaviors related to functional ingredients/benefits in food and drink, by generation, 2025
Make functional nutrition feel like a smart, value-driven choice rather than an extra expense
Graph 19: behaviors related to functional ingredients/benefits in food and drink, by financial situation, 2025
Experience and interest with select functional ingredients
Interest in functional ingredient trial hovers around one in five
Graph 20: experience and interest with select functional ingredients, 2025
Generational trial and trust creates strong foundation for functional food and drink
Graph 21: experience with specific functional ingredients in food and drink – trial and perceived benefits, by generation, 2025
Bridge novelty with trust and cultural context
Graph 22: experience and interest with select functional ingredients – no current experience, but interest, by generation, 2025
PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Launch activity and innovation
GNPD food launches points to the growth to real food functionality
Graph 23: GNPD launches of food products with functional claims, by category, 2023-24
GNPD drink launches put the fun in functional
Graph 24: GNPD launches of drink products with functional claims, 2023-24
Kroger doubles down on private label protein
Drinks that multitask
The power of suggested wellness experiences
APPENDIX
Market definition
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Generations
Abbreviations and terms
US Functional Ingredients Trends
About a quarter of US consumers report that their budget limits their food choices, indicating a level of freedom that the majority have to purchase and explore at the grocery store.
When it comes to functional ingredients, consumers are currently most likely to stick with more familiar and versatile options (fruit and vegetable superfoods), but exploration will be what drives the future of the market, and younger shoppers will play a large role.
Consumers are willing to invest the extra money in functional foods and drinks, and the connection between food/drink and self care is not lost, either. However, there is a missing link with efficacy, as just 26% report that they’ve noticed the benefits of consuming food/drinks with functional ingredients. Education is not only key to improving these perceptions, but it is something that consumers are seeking out to take their investment further.
Functional products that focus on positioning and formulations that welcome exploration while aiding in benefit maximization can support proactive approaches to holistic wellness in an approachable way.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
Trended approach to eating
Functional ingredient usage, frequency of consumption and interest by food/drink category
Consumption of foods/drinks with specific benefit claims
Attitudes and behaviors related to functional ingredients
Experience and interest with select functional ingredients
Functional food and drink product launches and innovation
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