In pharmacies, foods are sold that look exactly like products offered in supermarkets. Their recipes are, however, very different, these products being intended for elderly or sick patients who have difficulty eating. Medical foods, enriched with nutrients, the market for which is growing.
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On the shelves of pharmacies, among the dressings, anti-acne creams and throat syrups, you will sometimes find dessert creams, fruit juices or even cakes, packaged like your supermarket products. However, these are indeed medical foods, intended for a very specific audience: elderly or sick patients who have difficulty eating.
Enriched and more expensive products
To meet the needs of patients, these products are much higher in protein and calories than their supermarket equivalents. But they are also more expensive. Without a prescription, a set of four drinks costs €10 on average. The price of four desserts will be around €9. It’s eight times more expensive than a traditional product. Fortunately for patients, upon prescription, they are fully reimbursed. “In general, it is more medical prescriptions that are made and patients then come to us to pick up these products”explains Béatrice Clairaz, pharmacist in Hauts-de-Seine.
Production invested by agri-food giants
If these products are considered medical prescriptions, it is not pharmaceutical laboratories that manufacture them, but food industry giants. The Nestlé factory, in Creuilly-sur-Seulles, in Calvados, is entirely dedicated to medical nutrition. Bottles of hyper-concentrated cow’s milk are produced in particular. “The first thing that we can guarantee is its protein content. So, we start with milk proteins that we mix with our ingredients. The rest of the recipe is also there to complete, guarantee a calorie content since we are on nutrition, renutrition”describes Philippe Chapet, director of the production site.
This growing market is offsetting the decline in sales of infant products. In just a few years, Nestlé has invested 73 million euros to expand and modernize its production lines. As a result, last year, 350,000 bottles left the Calvados factory. “On “bottle” products, we are practically at our maximum capacity. We still have a little margin, growth continues on our desserts. So the outlook is to continue to increase our production to meet these needs “, hopes Philippe Chapet.
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To sell even more, the brand is developing new flavors. Alongside chocolate products, there are now those with pineapple or cappuccino. The main issue nevertheless remains the protein content, controlled in a laboratory located on the same production site. In order for patients to find their way around and to distinguish themselves from the competition, the group has notably developed a proti-score. “A patient who must take nutritional supplements must take four bars per day. This corresponds to 30 g of protein. This is exactly the quantity that the High Authority of Health recommends to take per day with this type of product”highlights Violaine Meyer, marketing director at Nestlé.
A booming market
Today, at least 2 million French people suffer from malnutrition. A colossal market in which all manufacturers are trying to position themselves. In Utrecht, in the Netherlands, the other giant of the sector, Danone, is working on the formulations of the future. In his laboratory, his teams carry out studies on intestinal health. Researchers are testing new formulations, particularly based on plant-based milk, which is in high demand among patients.
At the heart of this research, scientists can count on a patented machine that imitates the digestive system. “These models really allow us to carry out tests before carrying them out on healthy volunteers and later on our patients. It is therefore a major asset for better understanding the impact of nutrition on health”welcomes Katrien van Laere, research and innovation director at Danone. These new products will soon be manufactured in Steenvoorde, a factory in the north of France, until now specializing in infant milk. The group has decided to invest 70 million euros to convert part of the site to medical nutrition. Ultimately, 150 million bottles will be produced each year.
The editorial staff of TF1info | Report: Olga Lévesque, Jean-François Drouillet, Frédéric Mignard, Axel Charles-Messance
