functional food

[ fuhngk-shuh-nl food ]

noun

1. a food that is fortified or enriched to provide beneficial properties beyond the nutritional value of the food in its unenhanced state: in some jurisdictions, as in Canada or Japan, functional foods must be labeled to specify the purported physiological benefits, including disease prevention or treatment.

functional food

noun

1. a food containing additives which provide extra nutritional value Also callednutraceutical

Word History and Origins

Origin of functional food¹

First recorded in 1985–90; translation of Japanese kinōsei-shokuhin, from kinōsei “functionality” (equivalent to kinō “function” + -sei, abstract noun suffix) + shokuhin “food”

Example Sentences

A recent study, which referred to carob as a “neglected legume of the Mediterranean Basin,” called it a functional food due to its fiber and mineral content.

From Seattle Times

Because apples contain many health-promoting bioactive substances, the fruit is considered a "functional" food.

From Salon

An apple's natural dietary fibers are one of the bioactive components that lead to its being classified as a functional food.

From Salon

The industry, which has been expanding into functional food and health ingredients, typically offers strong growth, driven by consumers in emerging markets, with few cyclical swings.

From Reuters

"Sweet potatoes are considered a functional food, as they contain many nutrients that human beings need for optimal health," says Jared T. Meacham, Ph.D.,

From Fox News