Chile: Food Processing Ingredients
The Chilean food industry is the main productive activity in the country, with annual sales of $34 billion. Healthy foods, gourmet products, prepared foods and ready-made meals are products that show huge potential for growth in the Chilean market. New ingredients are being used in the production of healthier products especially those adapted to consumers with food intolerances, such as lactose and gluten free products. Consumers have an increasing concern for health issues while the food processing industry is trying to adapt to the nutritional labeling law, higher labor costs and sophisticated customers, all of which present challenges, but also opportunities for U.S. high value added foods and ingredients such as natural additives, preservatives, thickeners and sweeteners.
