Summary
This review addresses the inconsistency in defining and regulating functional foods across different legal jurisdictions and regulatory systems. The authors propose a new conceptual distinction: 'functional foods' should denote products with controlled trial evidence of health benefit, whilst 'functionalized foods' describes enriched or fortified products lacking such validation. The framework is intended to clarify terminology, improve stakeholder communication, and provide a more coherent understanding of the functional food landscape in the context of non-communicable disease prevention.
Regional applicability
The review examines functional food definitions and regulatory frameworks internationally. Its proposed conceptual framework would be directly applicable to United Kingdom food regulation and labelling, which currently operates under EU-derived legislative standards; clarity on these distinctions could inform UK policy development as regulatory frameworks continue to evolve post-transition.
Key measures
Conceptual definitions, regulatory frameworks, validation criteria, product classification categories
Outcomes reported
The review critically appraises existing definitions of functional foods and proposes a new conceptual framework distinguishing 'functional foods' (validated through controlled trials) from 'functionalized foods' (enriched/fortified but lacking human health validation). The framework aims to clarify the functional food landscape and improve communication regarding food product categories.
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