Functional Foods

The role of food in health has been known since ancient times. There is no doubt that food plays an extremely important role for human beings, performing a nutritional function which, in almost any part of the world and in any historic period, is naturally understood to be of primary importance. If the primary function of food is nutrition, the secondary is a sensory function (or hedonistic, or sensory satisfaction). Many studies started in the 1980s showed that there are food substances characterised by a tertiary function, which is physiological. Foods are no longer intended to satisfy humans’ basic physiological needs and provide the necessary nutrients, food is intended to also prevent nutrition related diseases and improve physical and mental well-being. This chapter aims to better understand the origin, evolution, definitions, trends and development of the functional food market and the consumer perspectives on “functional foods”.