The Food Trends of 2024: What You Need to Know

Food trends of 2024

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) releases its yearly food trends forecast in response to the dynamic nature of the food industry, which constantly changes to accommodate new technologies, cultural norms, and economic conditions. In 2024, there will be an increase in functional beverages, a surge in botanicals, a focus on food labelling, a growing acceptance of artificial intelligence (AI), and an increase in demand for foods that enhance emotional well-being, according to its team of food, nutrition, and health experts as well as its consumer research findings.

Food trends are frequently the starting point for culinary innovation. Food By Design is constantly researching food trends, and a vital component of that research is understanding how our eating and producing habits are changing. We provide an early look at some upcoming cuisine trends every year. These thus are our five food trends for 2024. Please do not hesitate to contact us for the complete story customized for your product, market, or segment.

Food Trends of 2024 #1: Plant-based proteins’ future

Following a spectacular ascent, we are seeing a pause in growth for the “meat replacer” sector. But this is the beginning of a new generation of meat alternatives, not the end of the road for this category. The Gartner Hype Cycle is the term for this trend that frequently appears with new inventions and technology. We are at the “trough of disillusionment” right now, but we expect growth to pick back up and success and winners to become evident.

We purposefully refrain from referring to these new plant-based proteins as “meat replacers,” yet they will overcome significant obstacles like cost, flavour, and overprocessing. The one-to-one replicating of meat strategy will become less critical, and the emphasis will be on the abundance of edible plants. Instead of isolates and concentrates, recipes will be created using whole foods from plants. Well-known components like fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, legumes, seaweed, mosses, seaweed-derived spices, herbs, and flowers will take center stage.

Concurrently, a new stage in meat replication will arise when “super-mimickers” appear that meticulously mimic more unique meats and seafood, such as foie gras, bacon, scallops, premium entire cuts, and sashimi. Suppliers of ingredients are likewise not standing still; they are adding more creative components to accurately mimic the exquisite marbling of animal fat or the taste of blood high in iron.

Food Trends of 2024#2: AI-Powered Recipes and Food Design

AI has made significant progress and is now widely available this year. The latest pizza variation from the global pizza business, Dodo Pizza, was created for its Dubai location by Chat GPT and featured a paneer, tahini, and za’atar spice blend. Instagram blogger Ghislaine from Veggilaine also requested a recipe in Chat’s manner, and in only three seconds, Chat produced a recipe for paratha stuffed with spicy potatoes. The blogger was pleased with this simple recipe, which fit her idea of good yet simple food. As part of our experimentation this year, we also asked Chat GPT to create a cake for a bakery congress modelled after the Bossche Bol, a specialty from’s-Hertogenbosch. We were shown the Bosschie Bollicious tart seconds after Midjourney had helped us imagine it.

Food trends of 2024 #3: Spicy Cooking

Although spices and herbs usually comprise only 1% to 2% of cuisine, they can define its personality, transforming an eggplant dish into uniquely Lebanese, Italian, or Indian. They established the mood and enthusiasm of the meal! Nestlé purchased Simply Cook, a startup with a good understanding of this. Rather than sending bulky food boxes, they send out little mailbox parcels that include recipes for three to four meals, spices, and herbs. Claiming the dish’s core ingredients. With the growing importance of vegetable preparations, we are moving toward blends made just for this purpose, like Magic Spice from the Californian restaurant Botanica, which adds magic to every vegetable meal.

Aleppo pepper (which is always sold out), umami enhancers like kelp and mushrooms, smokey tastes, and African spices like tart berbere, chakalaka, and iru (fermented locust beans) are among the famous spices and blends in 2024.

Food trends of 2024 #4: K-Food Gains Popularity

Though it has been coming for some time, K-food is finally making a splash! Our favourite international culinary palette now includes creative and fiery Korean cuisine. Nowadays, cities like Paris, London, Amsterdam, New York, and more have restaurants, fast-food chains, and supermarkets in South Korea. Popular Korean dishes like bibimbap, bulgogi, and the renowned fried chicken are becoming increasingly common. We anticipate a sharp rise in their popularity in the upcoming years as new Korean favourites like japchae (sweet potato noodles) and tteokbokki (rice cakes) gain more excellent traction.

Furthermore, particular focus is placed on the relatively recent Korean pastry and bakery tradition. For instance, the Hyatt Paris’s Korean pastry chef, Narae Kim, crafts exquisite sweets that deftly combine French and Korean flavours. One treat combines slices of Asian Nashi pear marinated in bergamot oil and European Williams pear in au de vie.

Food trends of 2024 #5: Rich yet reasonably priced food

The cost of living has increased due to inflation and skyrocketing energy prices. As a result, people are becoming more frugal with their money and meticulous when buying groceries. This emphasis on affordability, however, does not mean that only low prices are important. Conversely, we see that in these challenging times for finances, people try to feel as comfortable as possible. There is a growing trend of “affordable luxury” food themes. The remarkable 80% brand recognition Lidl’s festive brand Deluxe (previously Delicieux) enjoys in the Netherlands is no accident.

We find a fascinating sub-trend called “Budget Green,” the intersection of sustainability and frugal living. Who said being environmentally conscientious had to be expensive? Significant savings can be obtained by reducing the amount of meat, fish, and cheese consumed, reducing food waste, and creating delicious meals with leftovers. This applies to manufacturers and customers, as manufacturers usually include these components in finished goods. In addition, customers can continue to have a sense of “mental wealth” by improving the world.

We considered the “eat more beans” New Year’s resolution of the well-known culinary blog and community “food52” in this context. This delightfully exciting resolution for 2024 is based on a straightforward and tasteful concept that has captivated our thoughts. Is that so?

Would you like to know the whole trend story? If so, get in touch with us. Looking forward to assisting you in exploring your food future. More importantly, we’re here to help you turn these trends into innovative, consumer-friendly food products and brands.

Menu Items by Mood

According to Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, RDN, MS, Chief Executive Officer of IFIC, a paradigm shift is occurring in our eating habits and the items we purchase. “The belief that the food we eat directly influences not only our physical, but also our emotional and mental well-being continues to gain traction,” she says.

Most Americans think what they eat and drink affects their mental and emotional health, with 74% holding this belief, as reported in the IFIC 2023 Food & Health Survey. In contrast, over half of all adults also think that their emotional and mental health significantly or moderately affects the food and drink they choose to consume.

Supplements for women’s health, foods and drinks to help with sleep, stress reduction, and mood support (search for ingredients like ashwagandha and turmeric), and a heightened focus on how nutrition can support mental and emotional health are all things the International Food Information Council (IFIC) anticipates happening in the coming year.

Botanicals, which include herbs, flowers, and roots, will be used more frequently in teas, seltzers, and some foods to meet the demand for wellness-related items.

Determining the Purpose of Hydration

So far, bubble water has managed to avoid bursting. The premium hydration category was pushed into the zeitgeist in 2023, and there was a boom in flavoured sparkling water (#WaterTok got over 960 million mentions on TikTok!), as explained by Jenny Phillips, IFIC’s Senior Manager of Communications.

In 2024, functional drinks will still be all the rage, changing the game regarding staying hydrated. Beverages that help with sleep, those with “clean caffeine,” and those with pre- and probiotics added to them all fall under this category.

An overwhelming majority of Americans (24%) who try to eat probiotics find them in wellness drinks, as shown in the IFIC Consumer Insights on Gut Health and Probiotics Survey. About a quarter of people attempting to eat more prebiotics look for them in health drinks.

The drinks we consume are only one example. More emphasis will be placed on water conservation in 2024. “Consumers are seeking out beverages and foods that use less water in their production or cultivation,” remarks Tamika Sims, Ph.D., Senior Director of Food Technology Communications at IFIC.

Protein Snacking & Plant-Based Innovations

While plant-based cooking have been around for a while, a more recent development is merging protein-fortified goods with snacks that are heavy in protein. Even while people are warming up to new plant-based food options, plant-based seafood will be the game-changer.

Things like rice, pasta, baking mixes, nut protein powders, and snack foods have been fortified with protein. Reasonable enough, considering that the IFIC 2023 Food & Health Survey placed “high-protein” as the top eating pattern (18%), followed by mindful eating (17%), calorie-counting (12%), clean eating (12%), and intermittent fasting (12%).

An increase in interest in protein-rich diets has been noticed, and consumers are looking for ways to increase their protein intake, even if it means trying something new, according to Alyssa Pike, RD, the senior manager of nutrition communications at IFIC.

Explosion of Third-Culture Dishes

The term “fusion” will give way to the more inclusive “third-culture” cuisine that will be all the rage in 2024. This trend is perfect for the resurgence of monosodium glutamate, an ingredient that has had a bad rap, and it’s popping up everywhere, from cookbooks to restaurants.

Scientific studies have disproved the myth of “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome,” and MSG’s long history of misinformation is finally coming to light. Now, both professional and amateur cooks are flocking to this umami-rich ingredient.

It’s been way too long since MSG was rightfully vilified. Consumers, particularly those trying to cut back on sodium without sacrificing taste, will likely keep questioning its utility, according to Tony Flood, senior director of food ingredient communications at IFIC.

A Label That Speaks Volumes

In 2024, there will be a stronger push for clear food labels so consumers can make educated choices about the food and drink they buy. The health-conscious consumer-associated terms like “clean,” “cold-pressed,” and “fermented” will remain prominent.

The United States is getting closer to a modernized concept of a “healthy” diet thanks to moves made by the Diet and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the IFIC 2023 Meal & Health Survey, “fresh” (37% of consumers), “low in sugar” (32% of consumers), and “good source of protein” (29% of consumers) are the traits that consumers believe constitute a healthy meal.

In 2024, the United States Food and Drug Administration will implement a new plan emphasizing front-of-package nutrition labelling. This initiative aims to assist consumers in making better, more convenient food choices. “The proposal will start a national conversation about how important it is to read food labels, both on the front and the back of the package, and how many other factors besides labels affect our personal food choices,” says Kris Sollid, RD, the Senior Director of Nutrition Communications at IFIC.

AI at Your Dish

Customers rapidly seek health, nutrition, and food safety information in today’s digitally connected world. The use of ChatGPT and other AI features to enhance consumers’ eating habits, answer queries regarding food safety and nutrition, assist in creating meal plans, and more is expected to grow shortly.

“Artificial intelligence will revolutionise the food and information industries, from farm to fork,” says Reinhardt Kapsak. AI can improve supply chains, cut down on food waste, increase precision farming, and create new products, according to IFIC’s predictions.

Tap, Like, Consume

“Let us not overlook the ‘girl dinner’ craze that swept the nation last summer, or the potato chips and caviar combination that revolutionized high/low snacking,” Phillips remarks. “We anticipate that the snacking and cooking trends that have been influenced by social media will persist far into the year Food trends of 2024.”

Social media material has prompted 51% of Americans to try a new recipe, 42% to try a new brand or product, 29% to try a new restaurant, and 28% to review their relationship with food, according to IFIC’s data. Six out of ten people claim they have changed their eating habits because of what they read on social media. The ability of social media to influence people’s eating, cooking, and purchasing habits should not be underestimated, as pointed out by Phillips.

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