Designer food products: health advantage and emerging future trends: a brief review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20254071Keywords:
Designer foods, Health benefits, Public health, Food regulationAbstract
Designer food products, also known as functional or fortified foods, represent a rapidly evolving sector in the global food industry. These products are engineered to deliver specific health benefits beyond basic nutrition, addressing various consumer needs such as enhanced immunity, disease prevention, and improved digestion. This review explores the health benefits associated with designer foods, including omega-3-enriched products for cardiovascular health, probiotic-infused foods for improved gut health, and biofortified crops aimed at combating nutrient deficiencies. The review also discusses emerging trends shaping the future of designer foods, such as 3D-printed food, personalized nutrition, lab-grown meat, and sustainable food production. The intersection of biotechnology, food science, and consumer demand is driving innovation in this field, offering new opportunities for improving public health and addressing environmental concerns. However, safety and regulatory challenges, particularly surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and bioengineered ingredients, continue to generate public debate. As the designer food market expands, it is poised to play a critical role in shaping the future of nutrition, health, and sustainability.
Metrics
References
Arai S. Studies on functional foods in Japan. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1996;60:9-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1271/bbb.60.9
Siró I, Kápolna E, Kápolna B, Szabó E. Functional food: Product development, marketing, and consumer acceptance. Appetite. 2008;51(3):456-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2008.05.060
Hasler CM. Functional foods: Benefits, concerns, and challenges. J Nutr. 2002;132(12):3772-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/132.12.3772
World Health Organization (WHO). Iron and anemia. 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/. Accessed on 15 September 2025.
Saltzman A, Birol E, Naylor R. The role of biofortification in combating global micronutrient deficiencies. Food Policy. 2013;40:36-45.
Zimmermann MB. Iodine deficiency disorders. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(9):2982.
Hercberg S, Castetbon K, Czernichow S. Iron fortification in developing countries. Nutrients. 2023;15(2):402.
Vanlint S. Vitamin D and bone health: A comprehensive review. Nutrients. 2022;14(11):2405.
Mao X, Zhang Y, Chen J. Probiotics and gut health: A review. World J Gastroenterol. 2022;28(15):1715-25.
Gibson GR, Hutkins R, Sanders ME. Prebiotics and probiotics: Definitions and benefits. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2023;26(2):148-55.
Wu F, Wesseler J, Zilberman D, Robert MR, Chen C, Adrian CD. Allow golden rice to save lives. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2021;118(51):e2120901118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2120901118
Kris-Etherton PM, Innis S, Bistrian B. Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular health. Circulation. 2023;147(3):e24-39.
Zujko ME, Witkowska AM. Dietary antioxidants and chronic diseases. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023;12(2):362. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12020362
Sabikhi L. Designer milk: An emerging innovation in the dairy industry. Indian J Dairy Sci. 2007;60(5):337-43.
Hertzler SR, Clouse RE. Lactose intolerance and dairy consumption. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2022;51(2):249-64.
McKeown NM, Decker EA, Hu FB. Low-fat dairy and cardiovascular health: A review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2024;83(7):1256-72.
Simopoulos AP. Human requirement for n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Poult Sci. 2000;79:961-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/79.7.961
Sim SJ, Sunwoo HH. Designer eggs: Nutritional and functional significance. In: Watson RR, ed. Egg and Health Promotion. Wiley-Blackwell. 2002;19-35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470376973.ch3
Bourre JM, Galea F. A new natural multi-enriched egg: Source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins D and E, carotenoids, iodine and selenium. J Nutr Health Aging. 2006;10(5):371-6.
Surai PF, Sparks NHC. Designer eggs: From improvement of egg composition to functional food. Trends Food Sci Technol. 2001;12(1):7-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-2244(01)00048-6
Al-Hooti S, Sidhu JS, Qabazard H. Processing quality of breads supplemented with wheat germ. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2002;57(3):217-26.
Roth C, Magnus P, Schjølberg S, Camilla S, Pål S, Ian WMcK, et al. Folic acid supplements in pregnancy and language delay in children. JAMA. 2011;306(14):1566-73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2011.1433
Johnston KE, Tamura T. Folic acid fortification of grains in the United States. Nutr Rev. 2004;62(6):S18-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1301/nr.2004.jun.S35–S39
Latté KP, Appel KE, Lampen A. Health benefits and possible risks of broccoli – an overview. Food Chem Toxicol. 2011;49(12):3287-93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2011.08.019
Bié J, Sepodes B, Fernandes PC, Ribeiro MH. Polyphenols in health and disease: Gut microbiota, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability. Compounds. 2023;3(1):40-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/compounds3010005
Rathore S, Mukim M, Sharma P, Devi S. Curcumin: A review for health benefits. Int J Res Rev. 2020;7(1):273-90.
Waseem M, Tahir AU, Majeed Y. Printing the future of food: 3D food printing perspective. Food Phys. 2024;1:100003. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodp.2023.100003
Eswaran H, Ponnuswamy RD, Kannapan RP. 3D printed food for personalized nutrition: A review. Ann 3D Print Med. 2023;12:100125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stlm.2023.100125
Ferguson LR. Nutrigenomics approaches to functional foods. J Am Coll Nutr. 2014;33(1):1-8.
Ordovas JM, Ferguson LR, Tai ES, Mathers JC. Personalized nutrition and health. BMJ. 2018;361:k2173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k2173
Huang T, Kwan S, Hsu C, Chen Y. Personalized nutrition: A review. Nutrients. 2023;15(6):1325.
Global Market Insights. Functional beverage trends. 2023.
Poore J, Nemecek T. Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers. Science. 2018;360(6392):987-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq0216
Tuomisto HL, Teixeira de Mattos MJ. Environmental impacts of cultured meat production. Environ Sci Technol. 2011;45(14):6117-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es200130u
Cellular Agriculture Society. Lab-grown meat: The future of sustainable food. 2023.
Foley JA, Ramankutty N, Brauman KA. Solutions for a cultivated planet. Nature. 2011;478:337-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10452
United Nations. Biofortified crops for food security. 2021.
Bajaj I, Singh N. Precision fermentation: A disruptive technology for alternative protein development. J Food Sci Technol. 2022;59(7):2823-30.
Post MJ. Cultured meat from stem cells: Challenges and prospects. Meat Sci. 2012;92(3):297-301. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2012.04.008
Harris WS. Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: A review. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2007;9(6):484-9.
Calder PC. Marine omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2015;1851(4):469-84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2014.08.010
Gupta S, Brashear MM, Johnson WD, Banerjee S. Role of phytosterols in lipid lowering: Current perspectives. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2020;17:7.
Sanders ME, Merenstein DJ, Reid G. Probiotics and human health: Current evidence. Nutrients. 2019;11(7):1602.
Gaskell G, Stares S, Allansdottir A. Europeans and biotechnology: Public attitudes and ethical issues. Eur Comm Rep. 2022.
Haslberger AG. Food safety issues and the introduction of genetically modified crops. Toxicol Lett. 2003;140-141:385-91.
Jaffe G, Nielsen R. GMOs and food safety: Regulatory perspectives. Annu Rev Food Sci Technol. 2022;13:245-61.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Food Safety and Standards Regulations. New Delhi; 2006.
Cui K, Shoemaker SP. Public perception of genetically modified food: A Chinese consumer study. NPJ Sci Food. 2018;2:10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-018-0018-4
Kinnunen M, Bostock L, Mäki J. Economic barriers to accessing designer foods. J Agric Econ. 2024;75(2):256-73.
Harvard Medical School. Antioxidants and aging. 2023.
Mayo Clinic. Probiotics and gut health. 2020.
Grand View Research. Functional foods market size, share and trends report. 2020.
National Institutes of Health (NIH). Calcium and bone health. 2021.
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Golden Rice: Tackling Vitamin A deficiency. 2021.
Cellular Agriculture Society. Lab-grown meat: Sustainable food future. 2023.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Regulation of genetically modified organisms. EFSA J. 2022.
Bauer MW. Controversial technologies: GMOs, stem cells, and nanotechnology. Nat Rev Genet. 2002;3(11):813-9.
Balentine DA, Dwyer JT, Erdman JW. Antioxidant properties of green and black teas. J Am Coll Nutr. 1999;18(5):487-93.
Scalbert A, Johnson IT, Saltmarsh M. Polyphenols: Antioxidants and beyond. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;81(1):215S-7S. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/81.1.215S
Fenech M, El-Sohemy A, Cahill L. Nutrigenomics and personalized nutrition: Science and concept. Ann Nutr Metab. 2011;58(2):88-99.