Global market research company Mintel has released its food and drink trend predictions for the year 2016.

Australian Food News reported that the research firm revealed that consumers can expect several innovations in product development and strengthening of many ongoing trends in the market place from food alternatives going mainstream to matching DNA and diets.

1. Less processed foods, more natural.

Mintel said that consumers will continue to be more concerned with eating natural and food products which are "less processed."

2. Appearance is everything.

"Flavour has long been the core of innovation, but more visual and share-focused societies call for innovation that is boldly coloured and artfully constructed," said Mintel's Global Food and Drink Analyst Jenny Ziegler said.

"Finding inspiration in global foodservice offerings, brands can experiment with vibrant colours and novel shapes to make packaged products worthy of consumer praise and social media posts," she added.

3. Eating for the body and beauty.

Mintel said consumers will have an increased focus on eating for beauty. The research firm also said this will see food companies creating more products with functional substances such as collagen and probiotics.

4. Vegetarian alternatives to go mainstream.

Moreover, people with dietary needs will no longer consume meat alternatives, dairy and gluten. "Veggie burgers and non-dairy milks have escaped the realm of substitutes primarily for people with dietary concerns and followers of vegetarian diets," Jenny said.

"Instead, the growing ranks of novel protein sources and potential replacements appeal to the everyday consumer, foreshadowing a profoundly changed marketplace in which what was formerly 'alternative' could take over the mainstream," she continued.

5. Social media is key.

Mintel also predicted that social media will continue to play a vital role in the way people eat. Consumers will continue to share photographs and stories about their food on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

"The rise of food-centric media has sparked new interest in cooking, not only for the sake of nourishment, but for the purposes of sharing one's creations via social media," Jenny said. "This finds people taking divergent paths: some hope to become well-rounded enough to compete on popular television programmes, while others privately cultivate specialties ranging from cupcakes to curries. Either way, people are cooking to share with friends and social media followers."

Jenny concluded that trends will continually play out differently across the globe based upon a diversity of factors which include cultural norms, societal needs and regional availability. Read more about the food and drink trend predictions for the year 2016 here.