my country's special medical food market continues to expand

iiMedia Research recently released the "2021 Big Data Monitoring and Analysis Report on the Operation of China's Special Medical Food Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Report")

Driven by multiple factors

Significant growth in domestic and foreign markets

Formula foods for special medical purposes (hereinafter referred to as "special medical foods") refer to formula foods specially processed and prepared to meet the special needs of people with dietary restrictions, digestion and absorption disorders, metabolic disorders or specific disease states for nutrients or diets.

In terms of the global market, the "Report" shows that from 2014 to 2018, the global special medical food market increased from 58.

In the Chinese market, the market size of the special medical food industry continues to expand

The advantages of Chinese-funded enterprises are highlighted

Domestic approved products occupy half of the market

From the current point of view, China adopts a registration system for special medical food, and the policy supervision is very strict, requiring special medical food enterprises to have independent production lines, and have higher requirements in terms of production capacity, research and development capacity, and inspection capacity

From the perspective of enterprises, as of July 19, 2021, there were a total of 954 special medical food-related enterprises in China, of which 864 were in operation or in existence, accounting for 90.

At the same time, 22 domestic companies have obtained registration certificates, and Chinese-funded company Shengyuan ranks third with 5 products approved

Make up for the shortcomings of nutrition education

Expand diversified sales channels

Because the development history of special medical food in China is relatively short, and the product needs to be used under the guidance of doctors or clinical nutritionists, social recognition will be limited to a certain extent

In terms of industry constraints, more than 50% of consumers believe that low social awareness is the main factor restricting the special medical industry, followed by the lack of professional nutritionist guidance, accounting for 48.

iiMedia Research analysts believe that with the improvement of residents' income levels, the public's demand for nutrition and health has increased, but insufficient popular science and nutrition education are important factors hindering the development of special medical food, thus accelerating the clinical and public use of special medical food.

At this stage, most of the sales channels of special medical food in China are concentrated in tertiary and secondary hospitals, and patients need to use special medical food rationally in the form of doctor's prescription and under the guidance of clinical nutritionists

　　The "Report" pointed out that with the implementation of the national hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system, community hospitals play an important role in the treatment and management of chronic diseases, and nutrition therapy is an important part of chronic disease management

　　Industry insiders pointed out that in the future, under the continuous regulation of China's big health market and chronic disease management, the sales channels of special medical food will expand to community hospitals, social pharmacies and online channels

　　(Comprehensive by Zhu Meiqiao)

"China Food News" (September 08, 2021, 06 edition)

(Editor in charge: Zhu Meiqiao)