Covid-19 boosts immune support market
6 Apr 2020The novel coronavirus outbreak has had some unexpected side effects, including a sales boost for manufacturers of immunity-focused foods and supplements – although there is no evidence that any product can protect against the virus itself.
The market for products that support immunity was already one of the strongest segments in functional foods and supplements, and in the context of Covid-19, consumers are turning to products that promise to improve their immune systems more than ever, with companies and brands around the world reporting significant sales spikes in view of the ongoing crisis.

Globally, vitamin C is one of the most well-known nutrients for its role in immune support, and many companies have reported increased demand. For instance, Singapore supermarket chain Fairprice and Chinese e-commerce giant JD both reported up to a five-fold rise in sales of the vitamin in February, while JD said other products intended to boost immunity, such as herbal formulas and those based on Traditional Chinese Medicine have also seen increased demand.
DSM has a vitamin C production site in Jiangshan, China, and shipped 50 tonnes from its facility to Hubei in February to help improve residents’ immune response in the face of the outbreak. It also has a facility in Scotland, where demand has been higher than usual, according to the company. Chinese company Angel Yeast reported increased demand for glucan, lactoferrin and selenium-enriched yeast, while some suppliers of CBD oil, probiotics and mushroom extracts positioned for immune support have also said sales have risen.
Eating a healthy diet and ensuring sufficient intake of micronutrients is linked to greater resilience to infection and illness in general, as good nutrition helps ensure that the body has the tools it needs to produce an appropriate immune response. Someone with a suppressed or weakened immune system is more likely to suffer serious repercussions from any infection – and poor diet is one factor among many that could lead to a weaker immune response. That said, it is important to note that nothing can prevent a person from contracting Covid-19, other than avoiding exposure to the virus.
Nutrients thought to be beneficial for the immune system include vitamins A, B6, B9, B12, C and E, and certain minerals like zinc, copper, iron and selenium. For all of these nutrients, EFSA considers that a cause and effect relationship has been established between dietary intake and their contribution to the normal function of the immune system. Other promising nutrients, including probiotics, have not been successful in convincing EFSA of their efficacy for immune support – although many studies have linked increased gut microbial diversity with improved immune regulation.
Food and supplement manufacturers should take care that their products do not make any kind of unapproved implied health claim when it comes to immunity, however, particularly during the ongoing outbreak, as they could find themselves in regulatory hot water. Regulators worldwide, including the US Food and Drug Administration and European Food Safety Authority, have issued warnings to manufacturers making false claims in relation to the novel coronavirus.
Related news

Chickpea revolution? Companies looking to innovate could face higher prices as global shortage hits
5 Aug 2022
From coffee to ice cream, recent product launches demonstrate how companies are betting on chickpea in the plant-based revolution… but could a global shortage scupper innovation?
Read more
Swedish food packaging company Tetra Pak exits Russia amid mounting sanction-led supply chain pressures
4 Aug 2022
Tetra Pak has become the latest big company to exit its remaining operations in Russia as the country faces increasing shortages under ongoing sanctions.
Read more
European soft drinks industry celebrates sugar reduction milestones as the ‘war on sugar’ continues
3 Aug 2022
The European soft drinks sector has achieved a 17.7% reduction in average added sugars since 2015, says its industry association, UNESDA. However, experts warn that the “war on sugar” will intensify from both consumers and governments in the next few y...
Read more
Diageo unveils plans for €200 million carbon-neutral brewery in Ireland
1 Aug 2022
Diageo has unveiled plans for a €200 million carbon-neutral lager and ales brewery in Ireland – the country’s first.
Read more
Mexican packaged food companies to feel profit squeeze as inflation continues
29 Jul 2022
Mexican packaged food companies are set to feel bigger profitability pressures over the next year as commodities price inflation and slowed growth continues, said credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings.
Read more
Gut health is the biggest growth area for US personalised nutrition brands
28 Jul 2022
Gut health will be a key growth area for personalised nutrition brands in the US throughout 2023, fuelled by the development of more user-friendly microbiome testing kits and the importance of gut health for US consumers, according to the Nutrition Bus...
Read more
How (and why) should food brands leverage social media?
27 Jul 2022
Social media is a powerful and far-reaching tool which allows brands to get closer than ever before to their consumers. To reap its value, brands should closely monitor consumer attitudes on social media and proactively engage with them.
Read more
Canada rolls out new front-of-pack ‘magnifying glass’ label for high salt, sugar and fat foods
26 Jul 2022
Canadian authorities have launched a new front-of-package nutrition label designed to help shoppers make more informed product selections as they purchase groceries by highlighting foods high in specific ‘unhealthy’ nutrients.
Read more
Shifting trends: Analysing the impact of high inflation in India
25 Jul 2022
Despite food and beverage categories in India feeling the pinch of increasing inflation, the overall outlook remains upbeat as governmental support steps in and evolving consumer purchasing patterns shape the sector.
Read more
A switch to alternative proteins could be cheapest and highest impact solution to climate crisis – report
22 Jul 2022
Shifting to alternative proteins could be the “most capital-efficient and high-impact” solution to today’s climate crisis, according to a new report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which suggests more than 30% of consumers are willing to fully swap...
Read moreAre you a supplier?
Here's what we can do for you
- Generate quality leads for your business
- Stay visible for 365 days of the year
- Receive product inquiries and respond to meeting requests directly
- Improve company online presence through Search Engine Optimisation