Special medical food industry will become the next blue ocean

Our reporter Zhu Meiqiao

In recent years, China has made important arrangements for national health and nutrition, and successively issued the "Healthy China 2030" Plan Outline and the "National Nutrition Plan (2017-2030)"

Market size will continue to grow

Formulas for special medical purposes are formulated foods specially processed to meet the special needs of people with dietary restrictions, digestive and absorption disorders, metabolic disorders or specific disease states for nutrients or diets

The report pointed out that from the perspective of consumption willingness, consumers attach great importance to the safety of formula foods for special medical purposes

According to the results of the seventh national census, China's population aged 60 and above reached 264 million, accounting for 18.

In the face of the long-term imbalance between the supply and demand of formula food for special medical purposes in China, China has introduced relevant policies and measures to promote the development of the industry, and also pointed out the future development direction and path

The report pointed out that in the future, driven by factors such as an aging population, increasing downstream demand, and the development of hospital nutrition departments, formula foods for special medical purposes will play an irreplaceable role in clinical nutrition support

The number of products will increase rapidly

Relevant data show that as of June this year, China has registered and approved 81 formula foods for special medical purposes, involving 34 companies

The report pointed out that China's formula food for special medical purposes industry has a weak foundation, low investment in scientific research and technology, and relatively lack of experience accumulation

From the current point of view, lack of awareness and lack of standards are also two major shortcomings that hinder the development of China's formula food for special medical purposes industry

From the perspective of products, under the attention of the state and the improvement of policies, the overall product quantity and diversity of formula foods for special medical purposes will continue to increase rapidly

At present, there are mainly three types of products that are in high demand for formula foods for special medical purposes

Policies support the long-term development of the industry

With the introduction of relevant policies for the formula food industry for special medical purposes in China, the industry has begun to gradually standardize

China's formula food for special medical purpose supervision system is mainly government-led supervision, industry self-discipline auxiliary supervision, enterprise autonomy, and jointly build a new mechanism for the long-term and healthy development of the special medical use formula food industry

The report predicts that with the standardization of policies, more scientific research investment and more products entering the market, people will gradually understand the formula food for special medical purposes, and the use of medical institutions will become more standardized, and the formula food industry for special medical purposes will become the next blue ocean

"China Food News" (06 edition on August 3, 2022)

　　(Editor-in-charge: Zhu Meiqiao)