Five years ago, you might have asked someone what fermented foods and drinks were. They might not have known. That has changed dramatically, and countries all over Europe have embraced fermentation. Kombucha, kefir, and sourdough are among the most popular. Statista’s business intelligence platform has estimated that the market is worth nearly $575 billion and will grow to over $989 million by 2032.
FoodNavigator reported that Chloe Hall of The Calm Gut Dietitian said: “I have noticed a significant increase in the consumption of fermented foods over the past few years.
Why are fermented foods and drinks so popular? And how will the trend evolve in the coming years?
Why are fermented foods and drinks so popular?
In recent years, fermented foods and beverages have become a major part of food and beverage sales. This is nothing new. If you’ve ever been to Germany, chances are you’ve had sauerkraut, a fermented cabbage that is very popular with Germans. Sauerkraut, the German “superfood,” has been a part of the German diet since the 1600s. Does this mean Germany was a pioneer…? Probably. While many countries have been fermenting foods for centuries, they have fallen out of favor with consumers, especially after the introduction of refrigeration and the end of fermentation, which is necessary for preservation. Fermentation has only recently become popular with European consumers.
In 2018, the modern trend of fermented foods and drinks gained traction. According to Julia Buech of Mintel’s Food and Beverage Analysts, “fermentation has seen a revival within the food and beverage industries.” But that revival seems to have taken off during the pandemic, when people started learning more about gut bacteria, their importance in supporting immunity, and how fermented foods and drinks can support gut bacteria. It was almost like a perfect storm to launch fermented foods into orbit.
Reshma Patel, Marketing Manager at Yakult UK, told FoodNavigator that “consumer awareness of gut health is growing dramatically”. While probiotics are well known around the world, scientific advances have only recently highlighted just how profound an impact gut health can have on your overall wellbeing. There is growing evidence that gut health goes beyond digestion. The interconnectedness of the body’s major organs, and the gut as the central hub, is a complex system. A cultural shift has also led to a shift towards disease prevention, rather than just focusing on treatment. “People are becoming more proactive about maintaining their health rather than just waiting for illness to strike.”
Fermented foods are an excellent source of nutrition and health.
Food Navigator reported that Freya Twigden, founder of Fix8 Kombucha, and Fibe Prebiotic Soda told them, “Fermented foods and beverages are some of your healthiest options.” Sauerkraut, for example, may provide more health benefits than eating cabbage alone. That’s because during fermentation, yeast consumes sugar and converts it into organic acids, probiotics, and B vitamins. These are readily bioavailable to the body. Captain Cook is said to have fed his sailors sauerkraut, not just cabbage. In fact, it contained more vitamin D than other foods and prevented scurvy.
Dietitians warn against excessive consumption of fermented foods and drinks.
Cole says enjoying fermented foods as part of an overall healthy diet can be a good thing. It’s dangerous to eat them in large quantities and hope they’ll work miracles for your gut. They can cause side effects. The foods are high in histamine and can have a negative impact on your body if you have a histamine intolerance.
What is the next step in this food revolution?
What will be the future of fermented foods and drinks?
Fermented foods are a growing trend, with new brands appearing regularly.
Neha Srivastava is a senior patent analyst at Mintel. She says there has been an increase in global patent activity related to fermented foods and ingredients over the past decade.
International travel is a key factor in the development of this trend.
Twigden says fermented beverages are found in every culture. The more cultures we encounter and the further we travel, the more we will learn.
Another clear market trend is the development of fermented food products. precision fermentationIt’s a method of using microorganisms to create specific functional ingredients. It’s so important that Danone recently announced plans to work with Michelin DMC Technologies and Crédit Agricole to create a platform to scale up precision fermentation operations.
Like the Gut health is a trendThe fermented food trend will likely continue to grow as long as the industry continues to be dominated by food and beverage fermentation. Fermented foods and beverages are only just beginning to take off.
What are fermented foods and drinks?
The fermentation process is triggered by adding microorganisms such as yeast or bacteria to food sources. By adding yeast, for example, to sweetened green tea, the fermentation process is triggered, resulting in kombucha.
Fermentation has been around for hundreds of years, but it's gaining popularity today due to its link to good gut health.
What is your gut microbiome?
In our gut, we have trillions of bacteria or microbes. The microbiome is the collective term for these organisms. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria are the two most common species in our microbiome. In order to maintain a healthy digestive system, it is important to maintain a balance between helpful bacteria (good bacteria) and unhelpful bacteria (bad bacteria). The gut, which contains over 70 percent of the immune system, is considered the most central part of the body.
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