Functional foods & drinks

Special edition: Protein perspectives

Whistle stop tour: Protein global

24-Mar-2016 By Shane STARLING

Western Europeans are numero uno when it comes to per-capita protein consumption; bread is surprisingly the most popular protein medium; and protein has well and truly invaded the healthy snacking category.

India

Arjuna’s curcumin research investment translates to launches this year

22-Mar-2016 By RJ Whitehead

Indian extracts company Arjuna Natural has been investing heavily in research into the health benefits of curcumin from turmeric ahead of a raft of new product launches later this year.

Special edition: Ayurveda

Ayurvedic expert advocates strongly for using plants in whole form

21-Mar-2016 By Hank Schultz

Ayurvedic principles and ingredients are increasingly accepted in North America among product formulators. But a tension exists: Are these best used in concentrated forms and in isolation or in their traditional matrices?

Poll closes April 22

NutraIngredients Readers Awards are open...cast your vote!

21-Mar-2016

Have your say and vote to decide who will win Readers’ Ingredient of the Year and Readers’ Food Supplement of the Year at this year’s NutraIngredients Awards.

China sees baby food sales double in five years

21-Mar-2016 By RJ Whitehead

Baby food sales in China almost doubled between 2010-15, with the country now estimated to consume around US$19bn worth of infant formula.

Singapore

University-developed eucheuma drinks prepare for market debut

21-Mar-2016 By RJ Whitehead

A new range of beverages based on eucheuma are being readied for launch following a collaboration between food scientists from the National University of Singapore and a local food manufacturer.

Curcumin supplement reduces muscle damage post-exercise: Human data

21-Mar-2016 By Stephen Daniells

‘Optimized’ curcumin may reduce markers of inflammation and muscle damage following excessive exercise, says a new study.

Prestigious Award Ceremony, Geneva, Switzerland, May 11, 2016

NutraIngredients Awards finalists announced. 11 categories, 33 potential winners

18-Mar-2016

More than 120 high-quality entries made choosing finalists difficult but our crack judging panel have done it, and 33 stand-out products and ingredients have made the final cut in the second NutraIngredients Awards.

Algae-derived calcium positively builds bone in older people: Study

18-Mar-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplementation with algae-derived calcium may increase bone mineral density in healthy women with age-related bone loss, according to a long term study.

Probiotic company adds antioxidant claim based on carotenoids produced by spore forming bacteria

16-Mar-2016 By Hank Schultz

Thrive Probiotics is bringing a message of diversity to the probiotics sphere. It’s necessary, the company believes, to increase the number of species in the gut for maximum health.

Australia

Resistant flour could defend against malnutrition and diarrhoea

16-Mar-2016 By By Andrew Spence

A low-cost, flour-like substance could hold the key to reducing infant mortality rates from malnutrition and diarrhoea.

Phood fight continues: Germany & Belgium warn on red yeast rice

14-Mar-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Fresh safety warnings from the Belgian and German authorities highlight the need for member state compromise on the classification of monacolin K from red yeast rice, a consumer group says.

JAMA: Cranberry for UTIs is the only herbal supported by some scientific evidence

09-Mar-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Herbal medications and supplements are lacking clear proof of any beneficial effects, except cranberry for UTIs, states a new Patient Page in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Corbion to open €65m PLA plant in Thailand in 2018

07-Mar-2016 By Jenny Eagle

Corbion will open a €65m PLA (polylactic acid or polylactide) plant in Thailand in 2018.

Fortified olive oil may protect against DNA damage: Study

07-Mar-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Virgin olive oil enriched with polyphenols compounds from thyme may protect our DNA from oxidative damage, says a new study from Spain.

Spice up your life: Cinnamon’s weight loss potential

02-Mar-2016 By Louisa Richards

The active compound in cinnamon may be a more tolerable weight loss ingredient than chilli pepper's capsaicin, a small exploratory clinical trial backed by Nestlé finds.

We're just scratching the surface when it comes to the potential of fermented foods, says Farmhouse Culture CEO

02-Mar-2016 By Elaine Watson

We’re just scratching the surface when it comes to unlocking the potential of fermented foods in the US market, says the new CEO of Farmhouse Culture, a Portland-based firm specializing in fresh organic sauerkraut and novel savory fermented beverages.

Moto aims to tap into Dubai’s energy

01-Mar-2016 By Eliot Beer

Moto, a new Dubai-made energy drink, made its entry at Gulfood and is aiming to leverage the emirate’s growing reputation to carve out its identity in a crowded market.

Taiwan to tweak nutrition labelling regulations

26-Feb-2016 By RJ Whitehead

Taiwan’s regulators plan to revise food labelling requirements in July after a period of public consultation.

Dispatches from Probiota 2016

Must read: Many, many things you need to know about probiotics until 2020

25-Feb-2016 By Shane STARLING

The global probiotics market is worth €32bn according to latest Euromonitor data and analysis presented recently at Probiota in Amsterdam – and that excludes fermented sour milks worth another €5.8bn.

L-citrulline may enhance time trial performance for cyclists: Kyowa study

23-Feb-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementation with the amino acid L-citrulline may reduce time trial completion times by about 10 seconds, says a new study from Kyowa Hakko.

Star fruit juice consumption may improve quality of life of the elderly

22-Feb-2016 By Adi Menayang

Researchers found that 40 healthy elderly subjects who drank star fruit juice daily for four weeks showed lowered secretion of pathological cytokines and increased ability for 6-minute walks.

Green tea compound may form basis for future arthritis therapy

19-Feb-2016 By Will Chu

A compound found in green tea, may prove effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis, as its anti-inflammatory action is expressed without blocking other critical cellular functions, US researchers have shown.

Fenugreek extract shows benefits for the “male menopause”: Human data

17-Feb-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements of an extract from Fenugreek may reduce symptoms of age related androgen decrease and boost testosterone levels in middle aged and older men, say results a new study from Australia.

New raspberry insights show bioavailability crucial for health benefits

15-Feb-2016 By Will Chu

Red raspberries are rich in polyphenols but its health benefits can only be fully understood by studying how the body metabolises these micronutrients and the mode of action of the bioactive compounds that trigger these potential protective effects, a...

Soapbox

Southeast Asia nearing its goal of harmonised supplement standards

12-Feb-2016 By Dr Gloria Mao, Amway principal toxicologist

Last October, the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Asean, completed and agreed to a single set of standards and technical requirements for product labelling, manufacturing, stability testing, limits of contaminants, safety,...

Study supports shelf stability of Sabinsa’s probiotic for functional foods

11-Feb-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Sabinsa’s Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 is shelf stable during processing and storage of functional foods, says a new study from the company.

XOS alters microbiome of pre diabetic individuals in study

27-Jan-2016 By Hank Schultz

In a UCLA study on xylooligosaccharide the prebiotic fiber showed the potential for altering the gut microbiome of pre diabetic individuals.

Approval of IBS claims in Canada to help Taiyo further differentiate Sunfiber ingredient

26-Jan-2016 By Hank Schultz

Japanese supplier Taiyo has bolstered the already impressive scientific and regulatory backing for its Sunfiber gut health ingredient with new approved health claims in Canada and others in Japan.

Researchers in India use curcumin to create ‘functional ice cream’

26-Jan-2016 By Adi Menayang

Researchers from the National Dairy Research Institute in India sought to bring the health benefits of turmeric’s main metabolite—curcumin—into one of the world’s most popular treat: ice cream.

Sesame oil reduces TAG, but not cholesterol: Review

18-Jan-2016 By Louisa Richards

Sesame significantly reduces triacylglycerol (TAG) levels, but does not affect cholesterol, according to a review.

Chitosan may help weight management: Human data

12-Jan-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of chitosan derived from fungus may help reduce body weight and BMI in overweight subjects, says a new study from Belgium and India.

Omega-3 not omega-6 linked with lower depressive symptoms: 2000-strong Japanese study

05-Jan-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Even in countries with higher fish intakes, omega-3 may lower depressive symptoms, according to Japanese research in over 2000 people.

When should pregnant women take folic acid?

18-Dec-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Taking folic acid supplements pre-conception may lower the risk of preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age, but post-conception may be too late to have an effect, according to research in 240,954 pregnant women.

Special edition: Battling malnutrition. Exclusive with Nestlé head of public health nutrition

Nestlé: Profit is not a dirty word in the race against global malnutrition

17-Dec-2015 By Shane STARLING

Commercial and public health gain needn’t be opposed bedfellows in the battle against malnutrition among the world’s poorest people, says the chief of public health nutrition at the world’s biggest food firm.

Start-up incorporates microgel technology in probiotic drink

16-Dec-2015 By RJ Whitehead

A Queensland start-up is testing the market for a non-dairy, low-kilojoule probiotic in selected stores in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Can modified starch be clean label? It's all about perception, says Cargill

07-Dec-2015 By Niamh Michail

Recently showcased at FiE, Cargill's modified starch can reduce the fat content of yoghurt by at least 50% while keeping the taste and mouth feel of full fat yoghurt - but can it meet consumer demands for clean label?

ADM strengthens natural vitamin E range with first ever succinate offering

04-Dec-2015

ADM has added two sunflower-sourced, non-GMO versions to its vitamin E portfolio targeting foods, drinks and food supplements and the “world’s first commercially available sunflower-based succinate form of vitamin E.”

Brown seaweed extract battles cancer

30-Nov-2015 By Lynda Searby

Health evidence for fucoidan stacks up as a new Australian study finds that the seaweed polysaccharide has potential to battle Helictobacter pylori-related diseases and gastric cancer through an anti-adhesion mechanism.

Could kimchi reduce the risk of eczema?

30-Nov-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Increased intakes of fermented foods like kimchi and beer are associated with significantly reduced risks of atopic dermatitis (eczema), says a new study from Korea.

#Probiota16 : Amsterdam February 2-4, 2016

Probiota 2016 is go!...call for scientific abstracts extended until December 14

23-Nov-2015 By Shane STARLING

Probiota 2016 in Amsterdam is extending the deadline to submit abstracts for the Scientific Frontiers competition to December 14. We've had 15 entries but our scientific panel wants to see more...

Far East digest

Wide-ranging B. longum BB536 study shows multiple benefits for elderly

23-Nov-2015 By RJ Whitehead

A nationwide survey of middle-aged and elderly Japanese consumers has found that those who take probiotic milk have better bone health, are less prone to some diseases and remember more than those who choose regular milk.

Could a black raspberry extract help manage blood pressure?

20-Nov-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements containing a dried powder extract from black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) may improve blood pressure and help support cardiovascular health, says a new study.

“It is one of our goals to work more in the major regulatory decision-making centres."

Sterol & stanol giants join to boost cholesterol-lowering category

18-Nov-2015 By Shane STARLING

Six players – Danone, Raisio, Unilever, Cargill, BASF and Arboris – have formed a group to propel cholesterol-lowering plant stanols and sterols science into the media and policy spotlights to raise awareness of the multi-billion global euro category.

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