Health Claims and Communication of Benefits of Functional Foods – Way of Ensuring the Succes of Those Products on Market and to Protect Consumers against Fraudulent Claims

Expansion opportunity of functional foods on market is positive and consumer interest relatively high. The growth of the functional foods market is related to an aging population, increasing consumer awareness of health issues and a rise in lifestyle related diseases. Functional foods and food components may be available in the market place but in order for consumers to access the benefits of functional foods, they must be informed about them. This study attempted to identify the importance for consumer purchase and consumption of functional foods, but also identify their attitudes about the need for scientific justification and communication of health benefits for functional food. Research results have shown that consumers are beginning to attach greater importance to healthy eating, 32.99% of respondents believing that this criterion is of great importance in their consumption habits. Most consumers have considered it very important to permit health claims for functional foods by authorized agencies (74.29%), the need for scientific support of health benefits (64.94%) and their communication to the public (89.35%).