The main focus is to minimize undesirable ingredients in traditional foodstuff and/or add desirable ingredients to food and, thus, promote the Icelandic public health.

Traditional foodstuff is modified in such a way to achieve a favorable ratio between undesirable and desirable ingredients such as lower salt-, saturated fat-, and/or sugar and increased amounts of desirable factors such as omega-3 fatty acids, iron, and antioxidants without affecting processing, quality or cost of production.

Projects are focused on research and development, consultation and dissemination and these projects are most often collaboration between Matis and food production companies, cafeterias, local authorities, associations, governmental agencies and other foreign parties.

Sodium (salt, Natrium) can negatively affect blood pressure causing it to rise over desirable limits but high blood pressure is one of the factors for coronary heart diseases (CHD). It is thought that 80% of the salt that we consume is originated from processed foods and it is therefore clear that the food industry can have a huge impact on the health of Icelandic consumers. Many highly processed food products are also high in fat and energy and the ratio of saturated fats has increased at the same time as the unsaturated fat content has changed. The amount of omega-6 fatty acids in the diet of Icelandic consumers has increased at the same time as the amount of omega-3 fatty acids has decreased. This is a very unfavorable change but can be address with a decrease in the amount of hard fat (saturated fat) or a change in ingredients in recipes (i.e. more soft fat and less hard fat) as well as a change in feeding of livestock.

Proteins are not only a source for essential fatty acids. Results from research over the last years or decades indicate that proteins are an important factor in control of risk factors for CHD, risk factors such as body weight and high blood pressure. Proteins also play an important role in the health and well being of the elderly as well as for athletes of all levels.