Neutraceutical foods

Suraj Prajapati, Premlata Suman, Rashmi Gupta

Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, Kanpur A neutraceutical is any substance that is a food or a part of a food and provides medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. Such products may range from isolated nutrients, dietary supplements and specific diets to genetically engineered designer foods, herbal products, and processed foods such as cereals, soups and beverages. It is important to note that this definition applies to all categories of food and parts of food, ranging from dietary supplements such as folic acid, used for the prevention of spina bifida, to chicken soup, taken to lessen the discomfort of the common cold. This definition also includes a bio-engineered designer vegetable food, rich in antioxidant, ingredients, and a stimulant functional food or pharma food. Since the term was coined, its meaning has been modified. There is minimal regulation over which products are allowed to display the neutraceutical term on their labels. Because of this, the term is often used to market products with varying uses and effectiveness. Members of the medical community desire that the neutraceutical term be more clearly established in order to distinguish between the wide varieties of products out there. There are multiple different types of products that may fall under the category of neutraceutical. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, within the United States, neutraceutical products are widely available and monitored with the same level of scrutiny as "dietary supplements". Within the oversight of the Federal Food & Drug Administration, unlike many other countries such as Canada, the use of broad-based definitions creates inconsistent credibility distinguishing the standards, function, and effectiveness between "neutraceuticals" and "dietary supplements". Within this loose regulatory oversight, legitimate companies producing neutraceuticals provide credible scientific research to substantiate their manufacturing standards, products, and consumer benefits and differentiate their products from "dietary supplements". Despite the international movement within the industry, professional organizations, academia, and health regulatory agencies to add specific legal and scientific criterion to the definition and standards for nutraceuticals, within the United States the term is not regulated by FDA. The FDA still uses a blanket term of "dietary supplement" for all substances without distinguishing their efficacy, manufacturing process, supporting scientific research, and increased health benefits