Nestle plans to invest in a new venture called Nestle Health Science. This division of the food company would try to connect the dots between foods and the pharmacy. They plan to use their know how to fight chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. There are several ways they may try to improve our health with foods.
Natural Occurring Nutrition
Many foods already have extra nutritional value. Chocolate, even the luxury types, have health benefits. Oatmeal has been found to be a cholesterol fighter. Imagine heart healthy extra dark chocolate oatmeal cookies on a shelf near you. You could fight heart disease with every morsel. However, health benefits can't be overstated. Pom brand of pomegranate juice has recently been sued in court over health claims such as these,
Enriched Nutrition
Many foods we eat are already enriched with vitamins. The best examples of these are milk with vitamin D, and salt with iodine. Nestle may start thinking outside the box on enriching foods. Imagine drinks with fluoride, when you don't have time to brush. They already have many lines of food products and candies that the new research could be employed in. Nestle could offer enriched versions of their coffee lines of Nescafe and Tasters Choice. They also have pizza lines of California Pizza, Tombstone, and Digiororno that could have enriched toppings.
Genetically Modified Nutrition
Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms (GMO) are already on the shelf at your local grocery store. Nestle could use genetically altered plants that would have healthier attributes that their normal counterparts. The cocoa plant that is used in making chocolate could have genes spliced into it to give it a healthier type of fat when processed. Their Carnation line would be a great host for new advances in medical nutrition.
While many things are acceptable, the general public is wary of such things as the so called "Frankenfish," that Aquabounty is trying to get approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Going to far with experimentation may only bring a negative light to anything Nestle might create.
An investment in a new department like this will take lots of time for products to hit store shelves. We can only wait to see what Nestle will bring to market. Chocolate lovers may find more to love in their Nesquik or hot cocoa. One thing is for sure, if we can eat our way to healthier lifestyle with foods we love, then Nestle will stand to make a profit.
Ryan Bright - Ryan has had a love of technology since an early age. He first got the home theater bug when he bought his first stereo VCR back in the ...
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