It’s a new year and that means trend-time across most industry – whether it’s fashion, technology or food, publications across the world look at what’s ‘hot’ and predict what’s going to be popular in the coming year. Food Insight, the International Food Information Council Foundation dedicated to effectively communicating science-based information on health and food safety, ran their Food and Nutrition Trends earlier this month, and these are their highlights for 2017.
Protein Remains Tops
Great news for Johannesburg and Cape Town meat wholesalers – meat, fish and poultry will retain its health halo in 2017. According to Food Insight’s 2016 Survey, nearly 66% of Americans are trying to eat more protein, which is up from 54% in 2015 and 50% in 2014. Similarly in South Africa, with the likes of Banting and Low Carb hitting its stride, protein continues to play an integral part in our dietary choices.
Functional Foods Keep Growing
We all know some foods are far better for us than others, but certain foods have taken on almost super-power-status and functional foods – foods that have a potentially positive effect on our health beyond their basic nutrition – will continue to find their place in the sun this year. A perfect example is turmeric, which is said to carry anti-inflammatory properties and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Sustainability a Rising Star
Food Insight’s 2016 Survey also drew attention to the fact that sustainability – defined as the production of food products using farming techniques that protect the environment, public health, human communities, and animal welfare – is featuring more and more, and continues to play a role in affecting consumer decision-making and spend. The majority of people surveyed believed that food should be produced in a sustainable way, but cost continues to be a factor.
Other trends identified closer to home via Eat Out, include an increase in Foodie Meal Kits – home delivery services where everything you need to cook a meal is readily prepared and delivered right to your door; an ever growing love affair with coffee – similar to Food Insight’s trends which sees the demand for coffee growing in the US far more quickly than in other markets; and a continuation of ice-cream hybrids to die for – think monster milkshakes dressed to the hilt, and ice-cream mashups that boggle the mind.
Whatever the trends may be for the year, remember that N1 will always deliver the best in high-quality Halaal certified meat, fish and poultry, along with a wide range of wholesale frozen vegetables and other food products. So, if you want the best meat wholesalers in Cape Town or Johannesburg, call N1 today.
