Functional foods & drinks

China

New draft law is a step in the right direction for supps exporters

08-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

A recent draft reform of China’s Food Safety Law, which is now available for public comment, is a great improvement for supplements exporters who have been increasingly frustrated at the time and expense required to gain certification in the country. 

Heliae enters joint venture to produce astaxanthin in Japan via hybrid algal technology

03-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

Astaxanthin has been a red-hot ingredient in the United States for several years and demand is ramping up worldwide. To meet that demand in the Japanese market, Heliae, an algae technology company based in Gilbert, AZ, is teaming up with Sincere Corporation...

Australia

Dietician claims world first with “Fodmap” range for IBS sufferers

18-Jun-2014 By RJ Whitehead

A Melbourne-based dietician is claiming a world first with the launch of a new range of low-Fodmap foods, opening up a new “free-from” market segment that she believes has the potential to rival gluten-free products.

A metropolitan detox: Broccoli could be 'frugal, simple and safe' way of reducing risks of air pollution

17-Jun-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Daily consumption of half a cup of a broccoli sprout beverage increased participants' ability to excrete the carcinogen benzene and lung irritant acrolein, according to research in China.

ISAPP consensus: Gut, yes. Immunity, no (for now)

Time to recognise ‘core benefits of certain probiotics’: ISAPP

11-Jun-2014 By Shane STARLING

The evidence has grown so strong for the best-documented probiotic strains that a generic digestive health claim should exist, according to a consensus statement from leading international researchers published this week in Nature Reviews: Gastroenterology...

Indevex to distribute NGCTM formula in Japan through Asahi agreement

10-Jun-2014 By Richard Whitehead

Swedish biotech company Indevex has joined its Symrise KK Far East partner in a supply and licence agreement with Asahi Food and Healthcare to distribute NGCTM Nutrition Formula in Japan, where the product is better known as N&G Nutrition Formula. 

Connell Brothers to distribute Graminex products in Taiwan

10-Jun-2014 By Richard Whitehead

Asia-Pacific’s largest specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor, Connell Brothers, will now manage the sale and distribution of Graminex products in Taiwan, including finished goods and ingredients, such as saw palmetto and cranberry.

Mongolian dairy probiotics may alleviate allergies: Mouse study

09-Jun-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Probiotics isolated from Mongolian dairy products could alleviate allergy symptoms through intestinal immunity and helper cell balance, research using mice has suggested.

Malaysia

Evolva to open Apac centre to explore endangered agarwood production

04-Jun-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Evolva Holding will collaborate with Universiti Malaysia Pahang to establish a scientific centre of excellence for natural products from Malaysia in Pahang state’s Flavour and Fragrance Cluster.

Analysis

‘Lazy’ Malaysian food companies need to learn how to innovate

02-Jun-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Malaysian food companies are lazy in comparison to their counterparts north of the border in Thailand, and are not willing to experiment with formulations the way their neighbours have become accustomed to do.

ACADEMICS SUGGEST SALES BAN TO UNDER 18S

'Adolescents don't know what they're drinking': Energy drinks study warns

27-May-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

Australian academics warn that young adolescents can easily identify energy drinks brands such as Red Bull or Monster, but are unaware of key ingredients including caffeine, guarana and taurine, and in comments that should serve as a wake-up call for...

Extracts from pumpkin seed and soy germ show bladder support potential

21-May-2014 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of extracts from pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo L.) and soy germ may reduce the sense of urgency in women with overactive bladders, and boost their quality of life, says a new study from Korea.

Singapore

Scientists make brain breakthrough with long-term omega-3 potential

20-May-2014 By RJ Whitehead

While research suggests the DHA omega-3 fatty acid is good for the brain, little has been understood about how it is absorbed. But now a new study by researchers in Singapore seems to have identified a transporter protein that is used to carry DHA from...

Global probiotics business is booming, while Europe focuses on blends and 'piggybacking'

19-May-2014 By Nathan Gray

Strong growth in the Americas and Asia is helping the probiotics industry to strong success, while the European market recovers from regulatory challenges by focusing on blends and 'piggybacking claims', say probiotics business experts.

DSM enters olive polyphenol market; hard launches high-dose algae omega-3

16-May-2014 By Shane STARLING

Swiss-based DSM Nutritional Products (DNP) has entered the olive-sourced hydroxytyrosol market that has been hot since the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a rare plant polyphenol health claim approval in 2011.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2014

Omega-3’s newest big fish reveals sector ambitions

15-May-2014 By Shane STARLING

Mid-last year the chief of Norwegian omega-3 player EPAX told us, “We are the last of the big omega-3 independents.” Soon after US agri-food company FMC had snapped it up for $350m. Here FMC Nutraceuticals general manager Daniel H. Rosenbaum talks through...

Biothera’s Wellmune WGP given green light by Korean regulators

28-Apr-2014

The manufacturer of Wellmune WGP, a natural immune booster for foods, beverages and supplements, will begin distribution in South Korea through following approval by the country’s regulators for the functional ingredient.

Exclusive documentary preview: MicroWarriors Special edition

MicroWarriors: Exploring probiotic power (and the powers that be)

25-Apr-2014 By Shane STARLING

NutraIngredients went to LA recently to question two leading probiotic academics about probiotics and the microbiome and which we present exclusively here. The interviews form part of a new documentary to be narrated by Leonard Nimoy, better known as...

Gravity-free probiotics

Space…The final frontier for Yakult probiotics? 6-year study confirmed

22-Apr-2014 By Shane STARLING

Probiotic pioneer Yakult’s little bottles are to feature in a 6-year, gravity-free study at the International Space Station (ISS).

DAIRYREPORTER.COM INVESTIGATION

Nutricia India at ‘risk of non-compliance’ with IMS Act: Danone

10-Apr-2014 By Mark ASTLEY

The Danone Group has acknowledged that its Nutricia India business is still at “risk of non-compliance” with the Infant Milk Substitutes Act (IMS Act), DairyReporter.com can exclusively reveal.

DSM in negotiations to buy Chinese vitamin C manufacturer

09-Apr-2014 By Shane Starling

DSM has ended speculation about acquiring Chinese vitamin C supplier Aland by acknowledging it is in talks with the firm, but asserts no deal has been signed.

Sluggish growth predicted for global packaged foods markets

08-Apr-2014 By Nicola Cottam

A slowdown in global packaged food markets is expected over the next five years as supply in developed countries reaches saturation point combined with insufficient opportunities elsewhere, but health and Asia offer hope.

“Which way up was the umbrella? Did this review collect knowledge or shield us from it?”

BMJ vitamin D research attacked: 'un-nuanced', 'flawed', 'irresponsible'

07-Apr-2014 By Shane STARLING

The ‘umbrella’ review of vitamin D studies that found a myriad of health links for the sunshine vitamin were unconfirmed in the scientific literature, has been criticised for containing too many flawed studies that warped the overall findings.

Responsible supply: IFFO changes fish oil and fishmeal sourcing rules

04-Apr-2014 By Shane STARLING

Non-members of the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organization (IFFO) are able to apply for ‘responsible supply’ (RS) certification, after the body altered its criteria recently.

Scientists SUGGEST USING COFFEE AS 'THERAPEUTIC AGENT'

Two cups of coffee a day keep deadly liver cirrhosis at bay

03-Apr-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Scientists say coffee could be used to treat liver cirrhosis, after finding that drinking two or more cups per day cut death risk by 66% among Chinese subjects when the disease was caused by non-viral hepatitis.

Frutarom jumps into the omega-3 sea

25-Mar-2014

The health division of Swiss ingredients player Frutarom has launched omega-3s for the first time with the company noting their potential in heart, brain and eye health along with inflammation and general well-being.

IPA World Congress, May 9-11 2014, Athens, Greece

Time to renovate your probiotic toolbox? IPA workshop explores how

20-Mar-2014 By Shane STARLING

Companies that manufacture probiotic products can learn much from other fast-moving-consumer-good (FMCG) firms like shower gel, pharmaceutical and smoothie makers in NPD, an expert says.

SE Asian women concerned about bone health but shun beneficial diet

10-Mar-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Southeast Asian women are more worried about the effects of poor bone health than an expanding waistline, according to a new report on opinions towards ageing.

Concept of biomimicry could inform nutraceutical discovery, manufacture, expert says

28-Feb-2014 By Hank Schultz

Biomimicry, or the practice of taking cues from nature for design of products for human use, could transform the way dietary supplments manufacturers interact with their consumers, an expert says.

Indian researchers devise paste for world's most malnourished kids

18-Feb-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Four Indian scientists have developed a ready-to-eat paste designed for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM)—the most dangerous level of hunger.

Legalising hemp for food would realise big benefits for Australia

13-Feb-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Food made from hemp has great potential for Australia’s economy, according to the Complementary Healthcare Council, which is urging the country’s regulators to recognise the plant as a legitimate source of food.

Indian court stays FSSAI action on product approvals

11-Feb-2014 By Ankush Chibber

One of India’s highest courts delivered a split verdict on whether the country’s relatively new food regulator had the right to subject existing products to its approval process. 

What do the eco heretics mean for GM golden rice?

10-Feb-2014 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Dr Patrick Moore – Greenpeace founding member and GM defector – represents a fear that lurks in the heart of all ideologists: Am I on the right side of the fence? Am I the goodie or the baddie? 

GM golden rice: Tables turn on Greenpeace

07-Feb-2014 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

A dissident Greenpeace founding member claims the environmentalist group has become “a force for evil” in its campaigns against GM golden rice.

Live from Probiota 2014

Data eater: EU probiotic yoghurt market to drop 4.5% by 2018; supplements on the up

04-Feb-2014 By Shane Starling in Amsterdam

The market for probiotic yoghurt in 20 key European Union markets will fall 4.5% in the five years between now and 2018, but the overall sector trend remains positive, Euromonitor International analyst Ewa Hudson told a packed Probiota congress in Amsterdam...

IFOS opens certification door to omega-3 suppliers

29-Jan-2014

Croda has become the first omega-3 supplier to win a QC certification from the voluntary International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) which has previously focused on branded products.

Singapore research centre seeks to make bread that cuts blood-sugar

29-Jan-2014 By RJ Whitehead

The Singapore government’s scientific agency has joined forces with a university in a US$20m joint-venture to develop a variety of bread that will reduce blood sugar, among other research projects.

GAIN gains NGO status from WHO after it severs big business ties (or does it?)

27-Jan-2014 By Shane STARLING

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) NGO status after it disbanded an alliance with food and pharma firms including Coca-Cola, Cargill and GlaxoSmithKline.

Plant-sourced omega-3 science builds but don’t fry fish oil supply, says IFFO

27-Jan-2014 By Shane STARLING

An international marine ingredients group says overfishing is a concern, but one that is being managed, and fish will remain a sustainable and reliable omega-3 source in the long term future.

“I get personal because they [EFSA] get personal to me"

Fed up: Probiotic research veteran issues global call to action

23-Jan-2014

Veteran probiotic researcher professor Gregor Reid is not a happy man. It’s time the probiotic community fought back against those forces that have for too long denied a perfectly valid body of nutrition science in the form of commercial claims. It’s...

Global probiotic market to add 50% to €33bn by 2018: Analyst

22-Jan-2014 By Shane STARLING

The term ‘probiotic’ may be banned in the European Union – along with its cousin ‘prebiotic’ – but sales remain steady, and the global picture is buoyant, says leading analyst, Euromonitor International.

Nu Skin hits back at ‘hatchet job’ by Chinese government mouthpiece

16-Jan-2014 By RJ Whitehead

American direct selling company Nu Skin has hit back at an article in an official Chinese newspaper that slammed the firm's marketing techniques as tantamount to "brainwashing".

Aging Japanese bring tea polyphenol market to boil

15-Jan-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Aging populations in Japan and Western Europe are expected to boost a world market for tea polyphenols dominated by functional drinks to $367.7m by 2020 says Grand View Research.

Focus on bio-availability and not just label claims to make people nutrient replete: Ashoka fellow

09-Jan-2014 By Stephen Daniells

The food and nutrition industries should be focusing on bioavailablity and bioefficacy of nutrients, and not just on big numbers on product labels, says a leading social entrepreneur who has spent over a decade boosting the nutritional status of the severely...

Nestlé refutes Indian claims it is monopolising traditional medicine

09-Jan-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Nestlé has once again categorically denied it is attempting to patent a black cumin extract that has for generations been used as a traditional Indian remedy for childhood food allergies.

Natural astaxanthin suppliers form trade organization to help differentiate their ingredients from synthetics

08-Jan-2014 By Hank Schultz

Three suppliers of astaxanthin derived from algae have announced plans to band to together to form an ingredient-specific trade organization to publicize the benefits of their ingredients and highlight the differences from other forms on the market. ...

Probiota 2014, February 4-5, Amsterdam

Probiota 2014: The ultimate pre- and probiotic science-business blend

19-Dec-2013 By Shane STARLING

Probiota 2014 – relocated from Brussels to Amsterdam and organised by NutraIngredients – will bring together the finest scientific and commercial minds operating in the pre- and probiotic sector in a 2-day, 2-stream event.

Early study shows artificial sweeteners have no negative impact on gut

18-Dec-2013 By RJ Whitehead

New research from the University of Adelaide has added to the debate about how our bodies respond to artificial sweeteners and whether they are good, bad or have no effect on us.

BRIC healthy dairy boom blooms; Europe down but not doomed

16-Dec-2013 By Shane STARLING

Brazil, Russia, India, China – as well as Mexico – are the fastest growing markets for functional dairy products, according to a Euromonitor International presentation given last week at the Healthy and Functional Dairy event.

WHO’s new complementary medicine strategy draws praise from industry

05-Dec-2013 By RJ Whitehead

The launch of the World Health Organisation’s new strategy for traditional and complementary medicines (T&CM) has met with approval from industry groups.