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Our consumers our focus

Who eats these foods?
Anyone may, at some stage in their life!

Throughout life, Foodstuffs intended for Particular Nutritional Uses (products covered by the PARNUTS Directive such as: infant & follow-on formula, weaning food, foods for special medical purposes, slimming foods, sports foods, etc...) give nutritional protection and support when people need it most: when they are vulnerable or ill; or at times when they have special dietary needs that foods intended for general consumption cannot meet.
Consumers depend on PARNUTS foods like no other foods: they need to have absolute confidence in what they consume. Companies work with doctors and nutritionists to provide the right products and the right support, while attaching the greatest importance to food safety and quality to ensure the highest possible standard for our products.

Changing lifestyles and the constant development of scientific and nutritional knowledge have led to a better understanding of the particular needs of special groups:

• Babies double their birth weight in five months; for those babies who are not breast-fed¹, for various reasons, infant formula offers the only safe and nutritious alternative.

 ¹ WHO strongly recommends breast-milk feeding and IDACE is very supportive of this recommendation as well. 

• Young children grow faster in the first three years of life than at any other time. The follow-on formula and baby-foods are developed to help meet their nutritional needs.
• People who want to lose weight need healthy and balanced nutrition but reduced calories. Many people struggle to maintain a healthy weight: slimming foods help people lose weight safely and avoid the dangers of irrational diet programmes.
• Sportspeople can benefit from specific nutritional support before, during and after physical activity.

• Some people are born or become unable to thrive on a normal diet, due to an allergic reaction to general foods.
• Sick people in hospital or at home who suffer from diseases like cancer or respiratory disease, or those who are recovering from major surgery, often need a special diet to help them fight their illness and recover.  Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) are a lifeline to these consumers.

The special dietary requirements of all these people are met by dietetic foods.

FACTS & FIGURES

	About 5% of turnover is invested in research: the food industry average is 1%
	The annual turnover of the European dietetic foods sector (including exports) is around €24bn
	The dietetic foods sector is a world leader: each year, exports total around €8bn

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