In recent years, a greater emphasis has been placed on
the link between diet and the prevention of chronic diseases.
This ‘‘changing face’’ of food has given way to the
rise and development of novel functional foods (Hardy,
2000). The terms functional food and nutraceutical are
used interchangeably and are defined as substances which
may be considered a food, or part of a food, which provides
medicinal or health benefits, including the prevention
and treatment of disease (Clydesdale, 1997). Nutraceuticals
represent the fastest growing segment of today’s food
industry with increases in both consumer demand and
development expanding at a rate of 12.8% per annum