Fermented Foods Top 2022’s Superfood List

For the fifth year in a row, fermented foods again top the Today’s Dietitian annual list of superfoods.

The 10th annual What’s Trending in Nutrition survey “reveals a wave of change resulting from the pandemic.” Public relations firm Pollock Communications, who conducted the survey for the magazine, surveyed 1,173 Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) about trends for 2022. The “most surprising change from the past decade,” RDNs agreed, was “the shift from low-carb to high-fat diets…followed by plant-based eating.”

Health- and immunity-boosting food “will be the biggest trend in the next decade that will shape changes in the food industry.” Immunity support, affordability and emotional well-being are consumers’ top purchase drivers; convenience, healthy, taste, low-cost and natural are the top label attributes.

The label attribute “healthy” first made the top three list in 2019 “as consumers began to better understand the connection between food and overall well-being.” RDNs say the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the healthy food trend.

“With the focus on health and immunity in the next decade, and the increased popularity of plant-based eating, nutrient-dense options will be an important part of consumer diets, as [consumers]embrace food as medicine to help prevent disease,” says Louise Pollock, president of Pollock Communications. “In addition, there will likely be an increased interest in functional foods containing ingredients that provide health benefits beyond their nutrient profile.”

Consumer desire for gut-boosting benefits pushed fermented foods to #1 on the list. Changes to the top 10  show salmon is out and ancient giants are in.

“The predictions of RDNs, the frontline experts in food and nutrition, are always reliable to help food and beverage manufacturers and marketers meet the demands of consumers. Our survey has accurately tracked health and wellness trends for a decade,” says Mara Honicker, publisher of Today’s Dietitian. “We are pleased to have been able to share these insights for the past ten years and especially during this chaotic time in our lives, when food is playing such a major role in providing health, wellness and emotional support.”

The full superfoods list is:

1. Fermented foods, like yogurt and Kefir

2. Blueberries

3. Seeds, like chia and hemp

4. Exotic fruit, like acai and golden berries

5. Avocados

6. Green tea

7. Nuts

8. Ancient grains

9. Leafy greens, like spinach

10. Kale

To read all the takeaways from the 2022 survey, check out the Pollock Communications press release. Courtesy of The Fermentation Association.