|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Need in clean label nutraceuticals getting stronger
|
|
Saturday, 18 October, 2025, 12 : 00 PM [IST]
|
|
Dr K. Anitha
|
Nutraceutical Industry
Nutraceutical industry is fast developing as a hybrid of nutrition and pharmaceutical industry providing products beyond being a substitute to daily dietary intake, which also brings about enhanced health and prevention of disease chronicity. In the recent years, the market of nutraceuticals has significantly increased due to the factors of awareness of people about health, emphasis on prophylaxis, and the widespread appearance of lifestyle-related health problems. Nutraceutical global market, which at the current state is estimated to reach more than US$500 billion by 2025 has been growing at a steady pace and the leading contribution has seen the growth of dietary supplements, functional foods and health beverages. India also is putting its footprint in this field, and with the increasing investment on product development, scientific investigation, and regulatory status. Industry trends also include the movement around traditional formulations to products using clean label those that made using labels that are easy to read and have few additions in experiments to match the changing demands of the present-day health-concerned population.
Rationale behind Clean Label Adoption
Clean labels are a relatively new term that has also been on the rise in nutraceutical industry over the most recent years, alongside the general trend in consumer habits that is becoming more open, health-sustainability-conscious and environmentally minded. The characteristics of the clean label products are simple, natural, and minimally processed ingredients that do not contain synthetic additives or artificial colours, preservatives, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The need in clean label nutraceuticals is getting stronger as the health aware consumers are highly questioning the creation of their supplements and functional foods and paying more attention to ingredients used in these products.
The major motivation behind the use of clean label formulations based on the increasing demand to adopt approaches that can create a safer food and health landscape through long-term health implications of using artificial additives and chemical excipients widely utilised in food and health products. People today are increasingly paying attention to chronic lifestyle diseases, and they are becoming well aware of the role that diet plays in health. As a result, they have adopted several priorities in terms of the products that they consume today. These include those products that offer results in addition to enabling the overall health and wellness of a person, as well as match personal values, including environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and ingredient integrity. Further, strain on the need to switch to clean label alternatives has come in the form of greater attention paid to regulation practices by regulatory agencies, as well as the general trend towards safer and more transparent supply chains across the globe.
The Rise of Clean Labels: What Do Consumers Want?
Clean label products designed using simple, natural, and familiar ingredients, avoiding the use of synthetic additives, preservatives, and chemical substances. Today’s consumers are more knowledgeable and selective, seeking products that reflect their values—particularly in terms of health, environmental responsibility, and product integrity. This growing demand signifies more than a temporary trend; it marks a major transformation across the nutraceutical industry, affecting everything from ingredient selection and sourcing to product packaging and labelling practices. As a result, manufacturers face the challenge of creating formulations that are not only safe and effective but also meet clean label expectations. This often involves the incorporation of plant-based ingredients, bioactive compounds, and naturally sourced excipients. Moreover, ensuring ingredient traceability, adopting eco-friendly practices, and obtaining third-party certifications like USDA Organic, Non-GMO, and vegan labels have become critical for maintaining a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Market Drivers: The Role of Technology
Technological advancements have become a driving force behind the growth of the clean label movement within the nutraceutical industry. Innovative methods such as eco-friendly extraction processes, microencapsulation techniques, and AI-driven formulation tools are enabling manufacturers to preserve product effectiveness while meeting clean label requirements. In addition, sophisticated analytical technologies facilitate the accurate identification of bioactive ingredients and ensure traceability throughout the supply chain. Furthermore, the use of digital technologies and intelligent labelling systems allows consumers to quickly access detailed information about ingredient origins, clinical validations, and environmental impact. Features like QR codes and mobile applications are enhancing transparency and building consumer confidence in clean label products.
Future Prospects: Nutraceuticals Driving Outcome of Cosmetics Industry
Nutri-cosmetic or the combination of nutraceuticals with cosmetics - This area too is becoming popular with products that are antidote to skin, hair growth and anti-aging. Collagen peptides, hyaluronic acid, astaxanthin, are some of the most popular ingredients in functional beauty supplements, which contributes to the popularity of the market. The international cosmetics market estimated to increase with a CAGR of 6-7 percent growth rate with nutri-cosmetics playing a big role as well. The trend further increased by the concept of clean label, where consumers are looking forward to attaining the solutions to their beauty issues internally with the support of natural and scientifically proven ingredients. Clean label movement is not only changing the manufacturing process of the nutraceuticals but also changing perception. The age-old tradition of technology, consumer confidence, and sustainability will remain to dominate the future of the industry as the industry matures. Those brands that go transparent, invest in research and plan to respond to the needs of satisfied customers will not only gain a competitive advantage, but, also will have an immense positive impact on the global health and well-being.
In the future, the clean label nutraceuticals is likely to take over the global wellness market. What will come in the future is probably biotechnological-based innovation such as actives produced through fermentation, Artificial Intelligence formulation, and block chain used in ingredient traceability. In addition, intelligent packaging and online labelling will experience further development, providing real-time information regarding the place of origin and quality of a product. Basically, not only is the clean label trend not a fad, it is a paradigm shift in nutraceutical that involves the formulation, production and perception of nutraceuticals. In the quest going forward, accommodating the clean label concepts is going to be important in connecting to the expectations of the modern consumer, creating innovations in the industry, and securing success of industry health economy long-term.
(The author is assistant professor, Department of Pharmacology,
School of Pharmacy and Technology Management (SPTM),
SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) Deemed-to-be-University, Shirpur)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|