BENEO survey shows positive ageing driving demand for healthier nutrition

The Global Trends Study, Q1 2020, featured respondents in 22 countries, and included 12,336 interviews (with a minimum of 500 per country). The identified group of consumers aged 50+ had no children living at home, and showed a specific concern about healthy ageing.

It showed those aged over 50 want to be able to continue with the activities they enjoy and are increasingly looking to food and drink alternatives to support this goal.

Getting the best out of the present and the future is what drives health-conscious over-50s. They want to be the best version of themselves that they can be in every life-stage. This means taking control over future health, whilst being fit and healthy enough to enjoy the present, and nutrition plays a significant part in achieving this for them.

For those over-50s concerned about the issue of healthy ageing, 79% are primarily focused on maintaining their ability to continue with activities as they age. A similar number, 76%, see good physical and mental health and a balanced diet as key to overall health. In particular, the importance of nutrition is reflected by the survey results: 42% think a healthy diet helps to coping better with life's challenges; 74% are making a conscious effort to eat a healthy diet, while 56% choose food and drink products that provide protective or preventive health benefits.

The research findings also show offering “better nutrition” is one of the top influencing factors to consumers trying a new brand (68%), presenting food and drink manufacturers with an opportunity to drive purchases by improving the nutrition of their products.

With regard to health benefits, 60% agree they “accept scientific and technical improvements to foods and beverages if they provide the required benefits.” Although only between 10-20% of these health-conscious over-50s are personally affected by digestive health, bone health or blood glucose issues, half of those surveyed are ‘very or extremely concerned’ about such matters. These consumers are actively looking for food and beverage products that support their aim of staying healthy for longer, with more than half choosing products promoting stronger bones, improving digestion or managing blood sugar levels.

Myriam Snaet, head of market intelligence and consumer insights at BENEO, said, “Today’s over-50s want to be their best self. They want to be proactive in managing their health and want to live their life to the fullest, no matter the life-stage they are in. Being well aware that food choices have an effect on overall health, they are looking for food and drink products that offer additional health support, such as lowering blood glucose levels or improving digestive health. ​

“Manufacturers can help them achieve these goals by developing products that tap into these specific health benefits through the use of BENEO’s functional ingredients, including the slow-release sugar, Palatinose and prebiotic chicory root fibres oligofructose and inulin, that can easily fit into their daily routines without compromising on taste.”​

Steve Walton, president at HealthFocus International, added, “People are taking charge of their health and making serious changes. While some of these new eating patterns and nutritional adjustments happened due to Covid-19, we expect many of them to be long-lasting. We’ve seen a real shift over the past 10 years and now, healthy ageing and the quality of life it can give are top of mind today. Consumers are adopting a long-term approach to health maintenance, which highlights that healthy ageing is relevant for every age. A fact that food and drink manufacturers can use to their advantage when looking at new product development.” ​

For producers looking to make the most of the increasing consumer desire to manage their blood glucose, bone health and digestive health, BENEO said its products offer solutions backed by science. A person’s blood glucose levels are a key way to help promote long-term health, and this is why choosing the right carbohydrate is so important. BENEO’s Palatinose (isomaltulose) is a slow-release sugar occurring naturally in honey and is derived from sugar naturally extracted from sugar beets. It is unique in its ability to deliver a lower rise in blood glucose, whilst providing full carbohydrate energy. It supplies the body with 4 kcal/g and contributes to daily energy intake from carbohydrates, thus making it an ideal ingredient to help support blood sugar management. 

When it comes to digestive health, gut friendly foods - such as prebiotics - can help with nourishing the microbiota as a person gets older. BENEO’s prebiotic chicory root fibers oligofructose and inulin play a role in selectively promoting the growth of good bacteria and this in turn supports a person’s inner defence system. Inulin and oligofructose are the only proven plant-based prebiotics. Orafti Inulin and Oligofructose have been shown to support a healthy microbiota and the selective increase in bifidobacteria in morethan 50 human intervention studies and an increase in stool frequency in 20 human intervention studies.