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WHAT'S HAPPENING GLOBALLY WITH PRODUCT INNOVATION OFFERING IMMUNITY
BENEFITS? ............................................................................................................................................ 4
[Graph] Global: % of food, drink and healthcare launches with immunity claims, by super category,
Apr 2014-Mar 2019 ........................................................................................................................... 5
[Graph] Global: share of food, drink and supplement products launches with immunity claims, by
top subcategories, Apr 2014-Mar 2019 ............................................................................................. 7
[Graph] Global: % of food, drink and healthcare launches with an immunity claim, by demographic
claim, Apr 2014-Mar 2019 ............................................................................................................... 12
[Graph] Global: top ingredients in food, drink and healthcare launches with immunity claim, Apr
2014-Mar 2019 ................................................................................................................................ 20
[Graph] Global: top 10 micronutrients and related products, % of food, drink and healthcare
launches with an immune system functional claim, Apr 2014-Mar 2019 ........................................22
[Graph] Global: select herbal ingredients, % of food, drink and healthcare launches with immunity
claims, Apr 2014-Mar 2019 ............................................................................................................. 24
Mintel recommends
Support immunity needs at every life stage
Support immunity as part of a long-term healthy ageing strategy for health protection and prevention.
Nutrition and lifestyle are found to play a critical role in balancing the immunity
response and reducing incidence of immune-related illnesses. Consumers consider
strong immunity important for achieving a healthy lifestyle and are looking for
products that can protect their body against immunity concerns.
Physical inactivity
Physical exercise helps increase blood flow and supports the body in removing waste. The improved
blood flow also provides circulation of antibodies.
Source: Experimental Cell Research; Frontiers in Immunology; Journal of Sports and Health Science
As consumer interest for improved immunity grows, they will look for products that meet immunity needs.
10
10%
5%
2
0.58
0%
Asia
34% 34%
Pacific
North
11% 53%
America
Latin
9% 14%
America
Middle
East & 6% 20%
Africa
Source: Mintel GNPD
31
30%
20%
10% 6 5 4 4 4 3 2 2 2
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Drinking yogurt
Beverage mixes
Rasna Native Haat Badam Vita Beverage Food Mix contains selenium
and copper said to be good for the healthy functioning of the immune
system (India).
Juice shots
For pets
The KORA Organics Rose & Noni Daily Hand Cream contains noni
extract that is rich in more than 100 vitamins and minerals to enhance
immune performance and protect the skin from environmental damage
caused by free radicals (Germany).
VIVAIODAYS Organic World Secrets for Baby & Kid Turmeric Broad
Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 contains organic sea buckthorn pulp oil
that helps naturally strengthen skin immunity (US).
A healthy immune system is relevant at every life stage. Brands should support
immunity as part of a long-term healthy ageing strategy. They can target all
consumers from infants to seniors with products for health protection and
prevention.
Base: 800 seniors aged 55-74; 3,000 internet users aged 20-39 who have children aged 0-3; 3,000
internet users aged 20-49 who have a child aged 4-12
Source: KuRunData/Mintel
Base: US: 345 internet users aged 35-44; UK: 400 internet users aged 55-64 who have eaten/drunk
yogurt or yogurt drinks in the last month; Germany: 1,003 internet users aged 16+ who have used
functional food and drink in the last six months
Source: Lightspeed/Mintel
15%
13
10
10%
5% 4
0%
59% of Chinese parents would feel encouraged to buy food and drink products that can improve
immunity for their kids.
Seniors would be interested in products with immunity benefits, but there are few on the market.
Base: China: 800 seniors aged 55-74; Europe: internet users aged 16+ who have used functional food and
drink in the last six months (1,045 in France; 1,003 in Germany; 1,212 in Italy; 1,431 in Spain; 1,458 in
Poland)
Source: KuRunData/Mintel; Lightspeed/Mintel
There is a link between a healthy gut and better immunity. Brands could offer
several functional properties beyond gut health, including protection of the immune
system with probiotics.
The balance of bacteria in the gut influences the balance of the immune system. Around 70% of the
immune system lives in the gut, and gut bacteria helps immune system cells develop, teaching them the
difference between an antigen (which is an important factor in being at risk of chronic inflammatory
disorders), autoimmunity, infections and the body's own cells and tissues. As research has progressed,
researchers have taken particular note of the link between gut health and immunity as they try to find ways
the intestinal environment can be enlisted to boost immunity more effectively.
While each person's gut microbiota is unique, which also varies with age, the most influential factors for a
healthy gut are environmental, including diet. Knowing this, consumers are focused on the idea of taking
supplements to improve the probiotic (ie intestinal) environment and look for more food and drink
formulations with probiotics, fermentation and prebiotics to improve their own wellness.
According to the Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology Journal, consumption of probiotics significantly
reduced the incidence of upper respiratory infection and flu-like symptoms, with an oral temperature higher
than 38°C compared to the placebo group.
Though still niche in global food, drink and healthcare products, brands are starting to explore and
leverage the functional benefits of probiotics. For example, Vedanta Biosciences has developed a new
category of therapies for immune-mediated diseases using live human microbiome-derived bacteria. Also,
Chr. Hansen's probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis ssp.lactis (BB-12) has been granted a patent in
South Korea for enhancing immune response in conjunction with an influenza vaccine and in infant milk
formula.
In non-dairy yogurt
In powder supplement
In fruit snacks
According to a recent study conducted by Trends in Food Science & Technology, postbiotic is a newly
coined term for metabolic byproducts or "beneficial waste products" of probiotic bacteria. Forms of
postbiotics include organic acids or short-chain fatty acids, peptidoglycans and polysaccharides. These
bacteria produced in our digestive tracts could be key regulators of gastrointestinal (GI) health and help
decrease inflammation and boost immunity.
Mostly applied commercially in personal care products, postbiotics potential is now appearing in
pharmaceutical and functional food and drink categories. Though still in its infancy, big brands are starting
to dive into this niche trend. For example, Danone Nutricia have started research on postbiotics. They have
reformulated their Aptamil follow-on formula that contains a combination of 'prebiotics and postbiotics'
which provide infant with immunity and digestive health benefits.
Source: Trends in Food Science & Technology; Journal of Applied Microbiology; Aptamil
Mentions of postbiotics on US
social media sites have seen a
91% monthly increase over the
last year. Brands should
educate consumers about this
latest gut microbiome ingredient
trend.
* social media mentions of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics on Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter, July
2018-July 2019
Source: Infegy/Mintel
Micronutrients like vitamins A and C and zinc are some of the most common and
recognised ingredients for products with immune-boosting benefits. To meet the
demand for natural products offering holistic healing benefits, brands should
consider expanding into botanicals that foster inspiration from traditional and
ancient medicine.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, there is some evidence that various vitamin and mineral
deficiencies such as of zinc, selenium, iron, copper, magnesium, folic acid and vitamins A, B6, C and E
change immune responses in animals. However, the impact of these on the animal's health is less clear,
and the effect of similar deficiencies on the human immune response has yet to be assessed.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has authorised a set of immune-boosting nutrients that can
be used in a wide variety of products with immunity claims including copper, folate, iron, selenium, vitamins
A, B12, B6, C and D and zinc.
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Zinc
Bertil's Kelasin Zinc Acetate Mouth Spray is a fast and long-acting zinc
supplement that is said to promote the normal functioning of the
immune system and increase resistance to viruses (Finland).
Vitamin C
Iron
Antioxidants
Biostime SN-2 Bio Plus Stage 3 Premium Organic Toddler Milk Drink
contains vitamins B6, B12 and zinc to support normal immune system
function (Australia).
In the same period, 58% contain vitamins and 48% contain minerals as an ingredient.
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IN CHINA
Expand into botanicals and draw on
43%
inspiration from traditional and ancient
of consumers would medicine
like to have energy The recognised ingredients for immunity is going beyond familiar
drinks with natural immune-boosting micronutrients including vitamin A and C and zinc.
ingredients Brands are now shifting towards the use of natural sources of nutrients
like botanical substances for immunity such as ginger, camu-camu,
elderberry and medicinal mushroom.
Base: 2,942 internet users aged 20-49 who have drunk soft drinks in the last three months
Source: KuRunData/Mintel
Global: select herbal ingredients, % of food, drink and healthcare launches with
immunity claims, Apr 2014-Mar 2019
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* select ingredients include herbal substances, herbal preparation, fruit and fruit products, vegetable and
vegetable products
Source: Mintel GNPD
Echinacea extract
Maca
Macarena Punch Maca, Quinoa, Passion Fruit, Carrot and Apple Drink
contains maca that provides natural energy, mental agility and bodily
resistance (Peru).
Reishi Mushroom
Base: 2,942 Chinese internet users aged 20-49 who have consumed soft drinks in the last three
months; 2,000 US internet users aged 18+; 625 UK internet users aged 16+ who have used sports
nutrition products in the last three months
Source: KuRunData/Mintel; Lightspeed/Mintel
Native to the Americas and Europe, the sweet and sourish fruit is low in
calories and is packed with vitamin C, dietary fibre and antioxidants in the
form of phenolic acids, flavonols and anthocyanins.
Supplement
Jam
Disclaimer
This is marketing intelligence published by Mintel.
The consumer research exclusively commissioned
by Mintel was conducted by a Chinese licensed
market survey agent (see Research Methodology
China for more information).
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