Farr D R
Nestec Ltd., Research Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Cancer Lett. 1997 Mar 19;114(1-2):59-63. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(97)04626-0.
The concept of functional foods containing specific physiologically active components originated in Japan as a means of improving the health of the nation and thus, reducing the drain on the economy caused by escalating health costs. Some aspects of the Japanese physiologically functional foods programme will be discussed. There is a growing interest in this area from food manufacturers both in Europe and the USA, and a few functional food products are appearing on the market. It is likely that there will be competition between the food industry and the pharmaceutical industry in the grey area of overlapping interest. The regulatory aspects concerning functional foods have yet to be satisfactorily resolved, both in Europe and the USA, but consumer pressure promises to accelerate the incorporation of the concept of functional foods into western food regulations. There are early indications that in Europe, consumer perception of the benefits of functional foods compared to normal foods will not be the same as in Japan, nor will the consumer be as receptive. Some consumer groups question the necessity of such foods from a health point of view and see the concept rather as a marketing tool. We are likely to see a number of foods for which anti-carcinogenic and other well defined properties are likely to be claimed. The active components will be present in the raw materials or produced or enhanced by the manufacturing process.
含有特定生理活性成分的功能性食品概念起源于日本，是一种改善国民健康、从而减少因医疗费用不断攀升给经济带来消耗的手段。本文将探讨日本生理功能性食品计划的一些方面。欧洲和美国的食品制造商对这一领域的兴趣与日俱增，一些功能性食品已出现在市场上。在双方利益重叠的灰色地带，食品行业和制药行业之间可能会存在竞争。在欧洲和美国，有关功能性食品的监管问题尚未得到令人满意的解决，但消费者的压力有望加速将功能性食品概念纳入西方食品法规。有早期迹象表明，在欧洲，消费者对功能性食品与普通食品相比益处的认知与日本不同，消费者的接受程度也不会像在日本那样高。一些消费群体从健康角度质疑此类食品的必要性，认为这一概念更像是一种营销手段。我们可能会看到许多声称具有抗癌和其他明确特性的食品。活性成分将存在于原材料中，或通过制造过程产生或增强。
