he term functional foods, also called health- enhancing foods, was first introduced in Japan in the mid-1980s and refers to processed foods containing ingredients that aid specific bodily functions in addition to being nutritious. To date, Japan is the only country that has formulated a specific regulatory approval process for functional foods.

The number of functional foods is potentially very large and encompasses natural foods, isolated components from these foods that are added to other foods or packaged as dietary supplements, and food components synthesized in the laboratory.

Examples of just a few of the functional foods or food components that already exist include: fruits and vegetables of enormous variety, black and green tea, cranberry juice, garlic and onions, edible mushrooms, etc.

On this web site you will have the opportunity to know some of the most important functional foods from Peru.