Magazine: What will our grandchildren eat?

NESTLÉ, one of the biggest food companies in the world, is 150 years old this year. On this occasion their experts have examined the state of play in eating, which factors influence dietary trends and what people will eat in the next 150 years. Gastronomy expert Csaba Salamon told our magazine that while 150 years ago food was simply a means for survival, today’s consumers think of it as something that can contribute to their health. In addition to this, gastronomy has become trendy and this makes people want to try new types of food. Demand is growing for fresh, organic food products. Many consumers are looking for wholemeal baked goods and ‘slow eating’ has turned into a movement. As the number of consumers living with various allergies is on the rise, there is also increasing demand for gluten- and lactose-free products.

According to Bernadett Kiss-Tóth, a dietitian with Nestlé, the changes in consumer needs influence present and future innovation directions in the food industry. Future researcher Árpád Rab is of the opinion that the price of meat will grow in the future, therefore masses of consumers will turn to cheaper vegetables and cereals. Coffee is also likely to become a luxury product: its price might surge 45 percent in the next 10 years. In order to help farmers produce coffee in a sustainable way, Nestlé created the Nescafé Plan. Mr Rab added that thanks to the proliferation of modern production technology, fewer people will work in production and more will work in services. This means that workers’ calorie intake need will decrease (as they will use less energy in their work), so people will eat less, but better-quality food.