Health and nutrition loom large again on consumers’ radars in 2025. Foods and flavors that address obesity, digestion and aging concerns will be big again, as will those that are perceived to aid in stress, sleep, anxiety and depression.

“Interaction of food and function allows consumers to feel in control of health, diet, and lends autonomy,” said Suzy Badaracco, president of Culinary Tides Inc.

“Everyday health goals for consumers involve a holistic approach, incorporating diverse factors such as nutritional awareness, lifestyle choices, ethical considerations, and personal preferences to achieve a balanced and sustainable approach to well-being.”

Functional foods and beverages and the food as medicine philosophy will continue to be important and will influence innovation in 2025, said Maeve Webster, president of consultancy Menu Matters.

“Gut and gut health will undoubtedly continue to drive a lot of this. The mounting evidence that gut health influences sleep, cognition, beauty and a range of other systems will only drive greater focus on ingredients and elements that support gut health.”

Health/beauty, mood and cognition will also be areas new flavors and foods will hope to influence in the coming year, she added.

Women’s health, particularly perimenopause and menopause, has been slowly emerging as a focus, said Amy Marks-McGee, president of Trendincite LLC. Functional foods and beverages with ingredients that address hormonal changes and alleviate perimenopause and menopause symptoms will target this demographic.

Also keep a close eye on flavors that meet consumer demand for “sensory wellness,” she added.

“COVID-19 impacted our sense of smell and taste, either temporarily or permanently. Sensory wellness is becoming more important in consumers’ health journey: Nurturing, optimizing and expanding our sensory experiences by tapping into scent and taste will enhance our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.”

Consumer packaged goods, she said, will explore and capitalize on the intricate relationship between scent and taste, creating products with multi-sensory experiences.