Gut Health: A retail perspective

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1 Gut Health: A retail perspective Samara Foisy RD, MHSc March 23, 2017

2 Agenda Gut Health: A retail perspective Who we are Consumer interest in gut health Market examples Overview of functional ingredients Product development Considerations Regulatory claims What needs to happen next 2

3 Overview of Loblaw companies Loblaw'Companies'Limited'is'Canada's'largest'food'and'pharmacy'retailer,' with'more'than'2,300'stores'across'the'country' Almost'200,000'full>time'and'part>time'Loblaw'employees''

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5 Our Brands We have over 8000 Sku s across 30 brands Core Brands Multicultural & Tertiary Brands Partners With

6 The Evolving Consumer Gut Health = Food as medicine Globally many people suffer from certain types of digestive disorders One of the first places consumers are likely to look, is to food and drink products that that can bring about a gut health makeover In the US, 20% of consumers with GI issues currently eat packaged foods with digestive claims to manage their digestive health or treat their GI issue (Source: Mintel. Nutrition Insight: Digestive Health, January 2016) Concept of food as medicine evolves as research unveils how different ingredients support our digestive wellness 6

7 Products with Digestive Claims Digestive wellness is a major trend for 2017 Opportunity communicate which products prevent gut discomforts or contribute to gut health Few food products make a digestive claim with most claims within the health care category 7

8 Dairy category drives probiotic use Probiotics start moving beyond dairy to other categories 8

9 The Market Novel or new foods with digestive health claims 9

10 Functional Ingredients What is typically used for digestive wellness Probiotic Most familiar to consumers because of the role they play in yogurt/ association with gut health Bacteria or yeast Almost all foods with a probiotic claim use bacteria as the probiotic ingredient Directly added to product or encapsulated Some use both bacteria and yeast: Kombucha Prebiotic Non digestible fibres fermented by gut bacteria Inulin, polydextrose, fructooligosaccharides Lesser known prebiotics: dandelion root, baobab, tigernut, yacon Typically used as fibre or as a binder Potential for symbiotic products using both prebiotics and probiotics Resistant Starch Indigestible starch Behaves more like a dietary fibre than a carbohydrate Imparts a prebiotic effect Launched in a small number of food and drink products Likely not used as a prebiotic even though it imparts that effect. 10

11 Emerging ingredients Consumers are including or avoiding these ingredients to enhance gut health Plusbiotics: Launched by GCI Nutrients in the USA, Plusbiotics works to rebuild the intestinal mucosa and claims to repair damage and strengthen the lining Digestive Enzymes Actazin- Kiwifruit extract to support digest health and help manage IBS Tolerase G: enzyme ingredient designed to break down residual gluten present in gut Free from diets to treat digestive discomfort Lactose free, gluten free, soy free, red meat FODMAP diet Artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers, carrageenan Intestinal inflammation, disruption of gut microbiome 11

12 Product Development 12

13 President s Choice Products with probiotic claims 13

14 Working with Probiotics Key considerations for product development Delivery systems, strain selection for specific applications, stability of the organisms and shelf-life Create delivery systems that ensure survival in the product to end of shelf life Susceptible to heat, air, light and moisture Strains used should have good technological properties Be suitable for product Work well together Not produce off flavours or textures Resist stomach acid Viable not growing Demonstrated health benefits Pasteurization Needed for food safety Cost Pasteurization kills off friendly bacteria Most products are pasteurized before probiotic strains are added More probiotics are added than claim suggests to maintain number at end of shelf life 14

15 Working with Prebiotics Key considerations for product development Consumers are less familiar with prebiotics, benefits and doses For many prebiotics (and probiotics) rigorous testing that establishes how effective they are and how much is needed has not been performed Conflicting information on healthfulness of inulin Leads to gastric upset or discomfort Using other prebiotic fibres Chicory root (inlulin) hard to rival as provides one of the most concentrated food sources of prebiotic fibre Other natural sources of prebiotic fibre may be more challenging as they contain much less concentrated sources Benefit: not affected by temperature, acidity, time 15

16 Regulatory Claims: Canada Key considerations when working with probiotics and prebiotics No strain specific claims for probiotics are currently allowed Can t speak to the specific health benefits of the probiotic strains being used Only a specified list of 16 bacteria are allowed to be used Impact innovation as other potentially more resilient strains could allow probiotics to move into more product categories No prebiotic claims are currently used Need evidence to support the use Usually fibre claim Cannot educate consumers on health benefits of prebiotics Nomenclature for prebiotics is not consumer friendly E.g. fructo-oligosaccharides Consumer friendly class names 16

17 Things to consider To enhance development of products with digestive claims Advocate for more scientific studies Expand beyond digestive health benefits (e.g. Inflammatory response, maintaining normal blood sugar, etc.) Support the development of strain specific health claims and inclusion of other probiotic strains in regulations Health effects of prebiotics = claims Research and promote the secondary metabolites of fermentation Combine probiotics and prebiotics Increase effectiveness and awareness Educate the consumers that not all probiotics are the same Different probiotics have varying health benefits at different doses How they know the probiotic is working for them Outcome: products communicate relevant benefits and increased understanding of ingredients connected to gut health 17

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