Market Size (2018)
2018
$14.64B
Vertical: HealthcareBase Year: 202112 Sections
Market Size (2018)
2018
$14.64B
Projected (2030)
2030
$34.76B
CAGR (2018–2030)
7.5%
7.5%Key Players
104+
Medical foods are foods that are specially formulated and intended for the dietary management of a disease that has distinctive nutritional needs that cannot be met by a normal diet alone. The key factors attributing to drive the market growth are by increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and growing nutritional deficiency among people. However, a lack of awareness regarding medical food is a threat to the growth of the market. In contrast, increasing product launch initiatives and constant innovations in developing products is likely to create a market opportunity for the global market leaders.
The Medical Foods Market market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2018 to 2030.
Historical performance and future projections (2020–2030, USD Billion)
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View Subscription PlansMedical food is defined as food that is articulated to be consumed or administered enterally under the direction of a physician and which is envisioned for the specific dietary management of a disease or condition for which distinguishing nutritional requirements, based on predictable scientific principles, are recognized by medical evaluation.
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View Subscription PlansThis report applies a rigorous multi-stage research process combining primary interviews, secondary data sources, and bottom-up market modelling to ensure accuracy and completeness across all segments and geographies.
Base Year
2021
Historical Period
2018 – 2021
Forecast Period
2021 – 2030
Primary Interviews
150+
Historical data (2018–2021) and forecast period (2021–2030)
Our research process spans primary interviews with industry stakeholders combined with comprehensive secondary data analysis, validated through triangulation across multiple independent sources.
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View Subscription PlansThreat of New Entrants
It is mandatory for companies that are trying to enter the market to accept and abide by the standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), and others. Moreover, it is certain that the new firm in the medical foods industry faces hindrances owing to the brand image of existing players such as Nestle S.A. (Switzerland) and Danone (France), the product suitability of existing brands with safety and efficacy, and the broad network of existing players with top hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, and other offline and online stores. However, there are several start-ups working to bring personalized medical food products owing to growing rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes without any adverse effects. Additionally, the exempt from getting pre-marketing approval for medical foods, decreasing the barrier to entry to some extent, proving that the threat of new entrants in this market to be moderate.
Bargaining Power of Suppliers
The market players are huge, and at the same time, the consumers are also large owing to the high incidences of chronic diseases across the globe, including heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and diabetes. Moreover, researchers revealed that continuously using a medical food product may lead to the development of resistance in the body. Further, the low-price differences among the market players in the market enable consumers to easily switch products. Also, the number of suppliers is large owing to the availability of the huge patient pool, making it difficult for the supplier to establish themselves in the market. Therefore, the deciding factor is the quality of outcomes the products provide. Hence, the bargaining power of suppliers in the Global Medical Foods Market is moderate during the forecast period.
Threat of Substitutes
Substitutes pose a moderate threat in the Global Medical Foods Market due to the availability of substitutes for medical foods such as over-the-counter nutritional supplements. As well, there are price differences among the medical food products of different market players; however, consumers' high demand for the same brand is high owing to the brand's image of the product with safety and efficacy. There are a huge number of market players, and the number of consumers is also high; however, the well-known products to the physicians that seem best at curing any chronic diseases will increase the demand for the same product. Additionally, the lack of awareness among end consumers and lack of the ability to differentiate between medical foods and supplements further increases the threat of supplements. Therefore, the threat of substitutes in the Global Medical Foods Market is high.
Bargaining Power of Buyers
The low number of manufacturers as compared to the number of consumers puts buyers under pressure to buy the medical foods product because demand for the same brand is high. There are other medical foods available in the market from competitors with a lower price; however, when it comes to efficacy and safety, physicians and patients both prefer products from few brands only, which increases the demand for the same brand. Furthermore, there will be no brand switching because the medical products will be given based on patient suitability and diseases and assist in curing diseases. Thus, the bargaining power of buyers is projected to be low in the Global Medical Foods Market during the forecast period.
Intensity of Rivalry
A huge number of products are available that can assist in curing a single disease, owing to a large number of suppliers. The demand for food products is high owing to the increasing number of sports players, rising rates of chronic diseases, and growing awareness of the importance of keeping health a priority. As well, there are price differences among the products of the players in the medical food market that provide the same efficacy, which means there may be high chances of brand switching. There is a larger number of market players and products available in the market, and consumers are also in high numbers, which puts manufacturers under pressure to launch a type of product with a comparable price and high efficacy, which shows that the competition seems high. Hence, the overall level of competition among players is high.
Market estimates by geography (2030)
InsightNorth America leads with $15.61B by 2030, while Asia Pacific is projected to grow fastest at a 10.1% CAGR.
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View Subscription Plans| REGION | 2018 | 2021 | 2030 | CAGR | SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | $6.00B | $10.20B | $15.61B | 8.3% | 45% |
| Europe | $5.09B | $7.35B | $9.46B | 5.3% | 27% |
| Asia Pacific | $2.11B | $3.98B | $6.70B | 10.1% | 19% |
| Rest of the World | $1.45B | $2.24B | $2.99B | 6.2% | 9% |
| Total | $14.64B | $23.77B | $34.76B | 7.5% | 100% |
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View Subscription PlansTotal Market Size
$34.76B
| APPLICATION | REVENUE ($B) | GROWTH RATE | MARKET PENETRATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proteins | $10.03B | 7.5% | 89% |
| Vitamins and Minerals | $8.06B | 7.5% | 81% |
| Omega-3 | $7.25B | 7.5% | 72% |
| Others | $4.87B | 7.5% | 53% |
| Isoflavones | $2.47B | 7.5% | 89% |
| Phytosterols | $2.08B | 7.5% | 66% |
* Revenue projections based on 2025 estimates. Growth rates represent CAGR 2024–2030. Market penetration indicates current adoption rate within addressable market segments.
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Analytical insights on Medical Foods Market covering market dynamics, competitive landscape, and strategic outlook.
The Medical Foods Market market is projected to reach $34.76B by 2030, growing at 7.5% CAGR. The Proteins segment holds the largest share.
The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, growing nutritional deficiency among people, and raising awareness about prebiotics and probiotic products are major factors driving the growth of the Global Medical Foods Market. However, lack of awareness regarding medical food is expected to hamper the growth of the Global Medical Foods Market. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that the increasing product launch initiatives and constant innovations in developing products will create lucrative opportunities for the players operating in the Global Medical Foods Market.
Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, neurological, urological, and infectious diseases are increasing globally. Heart disorders are becoming more common than other chronic diseases due to a lack of physical activity, being overweight, poor nutrition, or having a family history. People over the age of 60 are at a higher risk of developing diseases such as cardiovascular and neurological issues. Some people with these conditions or diseases must undergo surgery. Therefore, an increase in cardiovascular and neurological issues is expected to boost the demand for medical foods. Furthermore, medicinal foods are meant for specialized dietary management with unique nutrient needs to address specific illnesses, which will drive the market. Moreover, rising interest in medical foods to manage and regulate diabetic neuropathy and diabetes is anticipated to drive market development. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses, and its incidence is steadily increasing. According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics released in 2019, diabetes is responsible for roughly 1.5 million deaths and is the ninth top cause of death. The main reasons of diabetic neuropathy are an unhealthy lifestyle and diet, and medicinal foods can help to better and control these conditions. According to the International Diabetes Federation, 463 million people in 2019 have diabetes, and this figure is expected to increase to 700 million by 2045.
Manufacturers' increasing product launch activities and continuous innovations in product development are expected to drive product demand. For instance, Nestle Health Science (Switzerland), in October 2020, introduced protein-based ready-to-drink nutritional food in China for special medical purposes. (FSMPs). The drink's primary ingredient is galactomannan, a highly soluble dietary fiber that can help and prevent gastrointestinal intolerance and diarrhea. Furthermore, in June 2018, VAYA Pharma, Inc. (US) launched Vayarin Plus, an extra-strength formulation, and extended its medical food product offerings, which provide clinical dietary management for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) adults weighing more than 97 lbs. and adolescents. Therefore, increasing product launch initiatives and constant innovations in developing products will create lucrative opportunities for the players operating in the Global Medical Foods Market.
Due to a lack of appropriate information sources and awareness level about food and nutrition security in today's world, several health problems such as overweight, malnutrition, and noncommunicable diseases now coexist in many regions, nations, and even households. The lack of awareness about medical food in many areas is a market constraint. Many areas are still unsure about the need for and benefits of medical food. The medical foods market may suffer from a lack of knowledge. Adoption of these medical foods may decrease because of less exposure. Furthermore, the main players are raising customer awareness to increase demand. Moreover, the lack of awareness is further amplified by the lack of availability of medical foods in low- and mid-economic countries as well.
In several countries, initial and ongoing uncertainty about the nature of COVID-19 spread led to the implementation of strict lockdown and physical distancing policies. These measures slowed economic activity significantly and disrupted supply chains. The major impact of COVID-19 was on the medical food industry, owing to a gap in supplying raw materials on time. The raw materials include whole and milled grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats, and oils. Key companies, such as Danone (France), Nestlé (Switzerland), Abbott Laboratories, Inc. (US), and Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (UK), have manufacturing plants for medical foods across the globe. These companies faced raw material shortages for medical food manufacturing owing to transportation restrictions.
Moreover, the demand for medical foods was high in 2020 and 2021 owing to the greater impact of COVID-19 on chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. COVID-19 deteriorates the conditions of chronic disease patients as well; it has impacted everyone’s immune system because people staying at home slows down the immune system, and COVID-19 also weakens the immune system. Therefore, owing to the above factors, the demand for nutraceuticals was high to manage other chronic diseases as well as COVID-19 itself.
In order to meet consumer demand, players in the market started to strategize for the workforce to increase production so that consumer demand could be fulfilled. Moreover, the high benefits of medical foods in developing an immune response against the COVID-19 virus increase the demand for nutraceuticals. As well as market players, the online sales and marketing team was able to spread awareness associated with medical foods' advantages to not make worse other chronic diseases as well as to develop immunity towards the COVID-19 virus. These key strategies assisted in recovering the supply chain. Thus, the impact of COVID-19 on the medical food market was positive.
The procurement of raw materials is the first step in the production of medical foods. Raw material sourcing has become more difficult as a result of global emergency measures. In order to fight the pandemic, the entire world was put on lockdown. As a result, certain governments took emergency measures, such as physical separation and transportation restrictions, to combat surge capacity. However, increased demand for nutraceuticals to manage chronic diseases and COVID-19 itself, along with pharmaceuticals, put market players under pressure to increase the production of medical foods. Moreover, in November 2022, as per Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (India), the nutraceutical market was growing annually by up to 22% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the American Society for Microbiology revealed that there had been a 16% increase in dietary supplements and nutraceuticals since May 2020. As well, a similar trend has been shown in France, New Zealand, India, and China owing to people's perception that medical foods are immune boosting, boosted the production of medical foods.
The initial phase of COVID-19 was complex for market firms as COVID-19 infection numbers were continuously increasing. Countries that rely heavily on providing other countries for raw materials for instance, as per the research India and China are the major raw material supplier for nutraceuticals. This dependency led to a gap in production for the first two months. However, the demand has increased since mid-2020 for medical food products, with the positive consequences of using medical foods to manage COVID-19 and other chronic diseases fueled market growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, there has been an increase in the use of online purchasing rather than retail shops for medical foods, which further forces companies to develop strategies for online marketing and sales as well as workforces to promote and enhance the production of medical foods. The social media platform team assisted several key players to spread awareness about the medical food advantages associated with treating COVID-19, increasing the revenue of the market players. Furthermore, the market players' revenue also increased through offline stores as the COVID-19 vaccination increased and decreased in COVID-19 cases.
Profiles of 104 companies operating in the Medical Foods Market market, including revenue, employee count, and market positioning where available.
Showing 104 of 104 companies
Medtrition Inc.
Company Headquarters: Pennsylvania, US Founded: 1986 Workforce: ~50 Company Working: Medtrition Inc. is a provider of specialty medicinal food products. The business offers products for specialized medical purposes like kidney dialysis, protein malnutrition, wound healing, and bowel management. The company's supplies its products to the dietitians, nutritionists, clinicians, directors of nursing, infection control, and wound care nurses as well as the food service departments of hospitals, nursing homes, oncology centers, dialysis centers, and home infusion businesses. The company serves its customers throughout the entire US and in more than 35 other countries around the world.
Metagenics LLC
Company Headquarters: California, US Founded: 1983 Workforce: ~ 1,000 Company Working: Metagenics LLC is the fastest-growing medical food company that is engaged in the manufacturing of various medical foods for the treatment of chronic diseases. The company offers products under the category of healthy blood glucose support, cardiometabolic health, gastrointestinal health, immune health and function, men’s health, muscle, bone & joint health, neurological health, and stress management. The company distributes its products in North America. Europe, and Australia.
Fresenius Kabi AG
Company Headquarters: Hessen, Germany Founded: 1999 Workforce: ~316,078 Company Working: Fresenius Kabi AG is a pharmaceutical company with a wide portfolio that includes intravenously administered drugs, infusion therapy, clinical nutrition, medical devices, and transfusion technology. Its product portfolio also comprises a comprehensive range of infusion therapies, I.V. generic drugs, clinical nutrition products, and the medical devices for administering these products. Within transfusion technologies, Fresenius Kabi provides products for gathering and managing blood components and for the therapeutic treatment of patient blood by apheresis systems. They have a production network that spans around 70 production sites, including compounding centers in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc
Company Headquarters: Slough, UK Founded: 1999 Workforce: ~40,000 Company Working: Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (Reckitt) is a manufacturer and distributor of food, toiletries, personal care, home products and specialty products It produces medications to address the cold, cough, pain, sore throat, digestive issues, and analgesics. Enfamil, Nutramigen, Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Mucinex, Durex, Lysol, Dettol, Harpic, Cillit Bang, Finish, and Vanish are just a few of the well-known brands that the business offers. Its operations cover 68 countries across six continents, and its products are sold all over the globe. Through its subsidiary Mead Johnson Nutrition Company, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc. participates in the worldwide market for medical foods. The business operates in Americas Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.
Nestle S.A.
Company Headquarters: Vevey, Switzerland Founded: 1866 Workforce: ~ 275,000 Company Working: Nestle produces and sells food products and beverages. It sells infant foods, bottled water, cereals, chocolates, candy, coffee, kitchenware, chilled and frozen foods, dairy, ice cream and accessories for animals. The business also offers direct-to-consumer meal delivery services, medical foods, sausages, and nutritional products. The company also offers Aero, Alpo, Milkybar, Nestle Ice Cream, Cerelac, Nescafe, Nespresso, Nestea, Milo, Maggi, Buitoni, Cailler, Movenpick, Freshly, Purina, Boost, Gerber, and Kit Kat. Furthermore, the company operates in North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Middle East.
Danone SA
Company Headquarter: Paris, France Founded: 1919 Workforce: 104,843 employees as of December 2017 Company Working: Danone SA is engaged in the manufacturing of various baby food products, medical nutrition products and dairy products. The company operates in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific region. Also, the company has a presence in 130 countries and operates 250 around the world. The company generated their maximum revenue from the dairy products segment. The company is headquartered in Paris, France. it offers packaged natural, flavored, and vitamin-enriched water; and fruit juices and vitamins under the evian, Volvic, Badoit, Aqua, Mizone, Bonafont, Villavicencio, Villa del Sur, Fontvella, Lanjarón, and Zywiec Zdroj brands. Danone SA was founded by Isaac Carasso in the year of 1919.
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Medical Foods Market