Recent Advances in Consumers’ Preferences and Behavior toward Healthy and Functional Foods

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, diet-related diseases have gained attention among institutions and researchers since they represent a severe problem for human health and a cost for national health systems. Since a more balanced diet based on the selection and choice of healthier foods can help to reduce the disease, the European Union promoted the health benefits of functional foods by providing specific regulations to govern the adoption of nutrition and health claims on the label (Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 and Regulation (EU) No 432/2012). These labels represent a means to guide consumers toward an informed choice of products, thus providing a fair, competitive environment among food industries. Consequently, it becomes more and more important to inform consumers about the irreplaceable role of functional food consumption. Due to their bioactive compounds and micronutrients, such as polyphenols, vitamins, fibers, omega 3 fatty acids, etc., they produce positive physiological effects on human health, enhancing the metabolic functions of the organism. With the aim to provide safer food and ensure higher sensory and nutritional quality standards, the agro-food industry is called to develop more innovative food products. Therefore, it is of great interest to further explore how lifestyle, social, and psychological drivers move consumers and influence their choice toward these products. Within this context, the aim of this Topic is to collect valuable contributions related to the following topics:

• Healthy and functional food consumption;
• Consumers’ interests toward functional food components;
• Effectiveness of claims in consumers’ choices;
• Drivers of healthy and functional food consumption.

We are grateful for the support of the PhD Student Raffaele Zanchini who contributed to the formulation and development of the topic proposal.

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Antonio Di Vita
Prof. Dr. Gioacchino Pappalardo
Topic Editors