Functional foods & drinks

Guest voice

Regulations are anything but complementary

22-Apr-2013 By Dr Wendy Morrow, executive director, Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia

Something is not right when regulators increasingly opt to assess complementary medicines against medical criteria—in much the same way as pharmaceutical drugs are assessed. 

Health World’s gives TV backing to new-won Cholesstrinol rights

22-Apr-2013

Health science company Health World will take its message to the airwaves in Australia and New Zealand after winning the rights to SourceOne’s Cholesstrinol patented heart health formulation in a long-term deal.

DuPont extends partnership with Mingtai for increased MCC production

22-Apr-2013

DuPont Nutrition & Health will expand its microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) line through an extended agreement with Taiwan-based Mingtai, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of MCC. The agreement includes development, production, distribution,...

Sterol research grants awarded to eight Asian scientists

19-Apr-2013

BASF’s nutrition and health division has presented Newtrition Asia Research Grants to eight scientists in recognition of their work in advancing heart health research.

StarchLite gets Australasia distributor

16-Apr-2013

New Jersey-based Pharmachem Laboratories has signed Pacific Resources of Sydney as its exclusive distributor for StarchLite for the food and beverage markets across Australia and New Zealand. 

Japanese firm seeks EU probiotic approval

21-Mar-2013 By Jane Joseph

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is calling for views on an application from Japan’s Miyarisan Pharmaceutical for European Union Novel Foods status for a probiotic strain.

PS supplements show ADHD benefits in children: RCT data

20-Mar-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may benefit from daily supplements of phosphatidylserine (PS), according to a new study from an international team of researchers.

Honey study

Manuka found to be pivotal in fight against MRSA

08-Mar-2013 By RJ Whitehead

In what has been dubbed a “hugely important finding”, Australian researchers have found that medical-grade manuka honey can be used as a new weapon in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria, such as the MRSA superbug.

Nestlé: Vitamin and mineral deficiencies account for 10% of global health burden

07-Mar-2013 By Shane Starling

Better food fortification initiatives are required to tackle the global problem of hidden hunger that accounts for 10% of health costs, a Nestlé-sponsored congress heard in Germany today.

Herring caviar omega-3 form wins Oz-NZ distribution

04-Mar-2013 By Shane Starling

Norwegian herring-sourced omega-3 specialist Arctic Nutrition has inked a distribution deal in Australia and New Zealand with Pathway International.

Niutang keeping up with demand through fourth expansion in five years

04-Mar-2013

Niutang Chemical, China’s leading producer of sucralose and aspartame, has announced that its core product lines of folic acid, TGIC, sucralose and aspartame saw an 18% increase in sales. As a result of this sustained growth, the company will begin construction...

Special edition: Omega-3 (Editor's blog)

How high can high-end omega-3 go?

21-Feb-2013 By Shane STARLING

Just got off the phone to Ola Snove, the new(ish) CEO of Aker part-owned Norwegian omega-3 specialist Epax. Wanted to know his view on high-end omega-3 prospects that have attracted BASF and DSM to the sector. His word: “Stellar”.

UK venture capitalists eye expansion at Israeli antioxidant specialists

18-Feb-2013 By Shane Starling

Southern Israel-based algae-sourced astanxanthin specialists Algatechnologies has won investment from a UK venture capitalist in a move that will broaden its capacity, R&D and distribution scope for the eye and skin health carotenoid.

Editor’s blog

Which 2 global health brands grew by $1bn in 2012?

15-Feb-2013 By Shane STARLING

Something probiotic? Omega-3? A diet cola? Nope. 

Del Monte partners Forbes to bring Reducol to India and Philippines

11-Feb-2013

Forbes Medi-Tech has signed a three-year licence and supply agreement to grant Del Monte Pacific with exclusive rights to manufacture and sell food and beverages featuring the Reducol name across the Philippines, South Asia and Myanmar.

Global sports nutrition market to top $6 billion by 2018, report says

07-Feb-2013 By Hank Schultz

Revamped, more complete product lines that are connecting with new customers are driving growth in the sports nutrition market, according to a new report.

Baby powder shortage

Hong Kong takes strong measures as smugglers milk formula supplies

04-Feb-2013 By RJ Whitehead

With the Chinese New Year fast approaching Hong Kong is in the midst of formula frenzy, leading authorities to devise new means to safeguard the supply of baby powder to local parents.

Straight talk

Beast of bureaucracy makes logjam hard to avoid

29-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

If there’s one thing India doesn’t need, that’s more bureaucracy. As the saying goes, the British introduced it, then the Indians perfected it post-Independence. And even as the country celebrated its sixty-fourth Republic day last week, all the form-filling...

SE Asia’s first deoiled lecithin plant on the anvil

09-Jan-2013

With Berg + Schmidt’s Indian deoiled lecithin plant in India now working to capacity, the lipid company has joined with its Volkmar Wywiol stablemate, Sternchemie, to invest in a Singapore plant for the production of pure soybean lecithin. 

Chinese formula grab leaves Australian shelves empty

04-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Stores in Australia are fighting to replenish stocks of infant formula following an unprecedented surge in demand from Chinese customers wary of the safety of products at home.

Infant formula with fat blend benefits intestinal flora

24-Dec-2012 By RJ Whitehead

A new Israeli study, published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, claims to have demonstrated for the first time that InFat advanced lipids, a high beta-palmitate fat blend, provides beneficial effects for the health and well-being...

FDA, Chinese agency renew cooperation agreement

12-Dec-2012 By Hank Schultz

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended an agreement with a Chinese counterpart agency to work together on food and feed safety.

Complementary health group hits out at government advisory role snub

21-Nov-2012 By RJ Whitehead

Australia’s leading complementary healthcare association has slammed the government for snubbing it while appointing the new Therapeutic Goods Advisory Council (TGAC).

Oz, NZ get first-step approval for hemp in food

20-Nov-2012 By RJ Whitehead

The decision by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to approve the use of hemp products containing low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the production of food has received widespread approval since its announcement earlier this month.

Infant formula manufacturers opposing proposed Hong Kong promotion ban

20-Nov-2012 By Mark Astley

Six of the world’s leading infant formula manufacturers are opposing a Hong Kong government proposal to ban the promotion of baby food products for children under the age of three.

China seizures raise fears for New Zealand's global dairy reputation

13-Nov-2012 By RJ Whitehead

Numerous consignments of baby formula made in New Zealand have been prevented from entering China after authorities branded them substandard. Now it has come to light, the issue is raising concerns that the ensuing Chinese media coverage might potentially...

DSM buys Fortitech for €495m; “We are done for awhile”

08-Nov-2012 By Shane Starling

Rampant nutrition business acquirer, Royal DSM, has splashed the cash for the ninth time in two years – this time to the tune of €495m ($634m) on US-based multinational nutrient blending giant, Fortitech (€212m/$270m annual turnover).

Q3 wrap: Nutrition stars for DSM and Naturex

06-Nov-2012 By Shane Starling

Royal DSM saw Q3 sales slip 7% to €2.3bn across all divisions with polymer intermediates performing worst, but as has been the case in recent quarters, the Dutch firm’s nutrition cluster held firm with 1% organic growth in difficult economic times.

Nutrition watchdog slams rugby sponsorship deal

01-Nov-2012 By RJ Whitehead

The Infant Nutrition Council (INC) has expressed strong concern over the recent sponsorship deal between the Warriors rugby league club and Chinese-owned New Zealand infant formula company.

Nestlé invests $17m in medical nutrition down under

25-Oct-2012 By Shane Starling

The world’s biggest food player, Nestlé, is investing A$17m (€13.6m) to renovate an Australian facility so it can produce medical foods for its Health Science division.

Asian krill boom drives krill joint venture

23-Oct-2012 By Shane Starling

Australian, Japanese, South Korean, Taiwanese and other Asian consumers are driving rising demand in omega-3 source krill to levels that have prompted Norwegian krill supplier, Rimfrost, to ink a production-boosting joint venture.

LycoRed gets local knowhow for Chinese market

18-Oct-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Further intensifying its efforts to crack the Chinese market, an Israel-based global premix supplier has inked a distribution agreement to ease into the local food manufacturing space.

Retail omega-3s sales to hit $34.7 billion in 2016, report predicts

03-Oct-2012 By Hank Schultz

Global consumer spending on omega-3 products will jump from $25.4 billion in 2011 to $34.7 billion in 2016, according to a new report from market research firm Packaged Facts.

Peering into Asia's health claim progression

07-Sep-2012 By RJ Whitehead

In a freewheeling panel discussion during the second afternoon of the Vitafoods Asia nutraceuticals and supplements show, regulations in food and packaging claims came under the spotlight.

Beneo gets Indian approval for oligofructose in infant foods

07-Sep-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Beneo has received approval from Indian regulatory authorities for the use of its prebiotic fibre, oligofructose, in infant milk powder products in the country.

LycoRed takes aim at Asia with new facility

07-Sep-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Growing awareness of nutritional intake among Chinese consumers has opened the door for Israel-based global premix supplier LycoRed.

GOED chairman: Serious omega-3 supply issues lie ahead as demand rockets

06-Sep-2012 By Shane Starling in Hong Kong

The chair of the international marine-sourced omega-3 trade group has warned the omega-3 sector faces an impending supply crisis as global demand booms for food, pharma and supplement products.

Researchers uncover how green tea compound boosts brain function

06-Sep-2012 By Nathan Gray

The green tea compound epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) provides benefits to memory and special learning by boosting the production of important neural cells, say researchers from China.

Aker's Australian krill composition patent survives challenge

05-Sep-2012 By Hank Schultz

Norway-based krill supplier Aker BioMarine announced Tuesday that Australian authorities have upheld the lion’s share of its Australian krill oil patent over a re-examination challenge lodged by competitor Neptune Technologies and Bioressources.

Go East: Inside Asia’s evolving health claims laws

30-Aug-2012 By Shane Starling

The substantiation and transference into law of varying kinds of data backing food supplements, herbal products and other healthy foods remains a major hurdle in evolving Asian food regulations, an expert has said.

Probiotics in India to grow 11% yearly: Report

27-Aug-2012 By Ankush Chibber

India’s nascent probiotic market is expected to grow at 11% till 2016, but only if manufacturers are able to increase the awareness about these products locally.

Australia confirms safety of re-formulated Nestlé NAN infant formula

13-Aug-2012 By Mark Astley

The New South Wales (NSW) Food Authority has confirmed the safety of a re-formulated Nestlé infant formula product following consumer complaints that the new recipe was making children ill.

Hong Kong to test babies over Japanese infant formula concerns

09-Aug-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Hong Kong plans to test babies over concerns two brands of Japanese infant milk formula were iodine-deficient.

Nestlé first half results: Pros and cons

09-Aug-2012 By Rod Addy

Europe and North America were the worst performing regions for Nestlé according to its first half (H1) results, while Asia, Oceania, Africa and emerging markets delivered double digit growth.

Re-formulated Nestlé infant formula tested after consumer complaints

09-Aug-2012 By Mark Astley

Nestlé Australia has ordered tests on its recently re-formulated Nestlé NAN H.A. 1 Gold infant formula after it received a number of complaints from parents that the 'new, improved' product was making their children ill.

Yakult Light probiotic drink makes US debut

02-Aug-2012 By Elaine WATSON

Japanese probiotics pioneer Yakult has launched a light version of its fermented dairy drink in the US.

Big Food: Data protection a headache for Indian functional food makers

31-Jul-2012 By Ankush Chibber

The fear of Intellectual Property (IP) and data theft among makers of functional foods and beverages in India is real and spread wide, stakeholders at a recent conference agreed.

Chinese challenges: Sparking growth in a slowing FMCG sector

26-Jul-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Manufacturers must refocus efforts on Tier III and IV cities in China and delve into e-commerce to re-ignite consumer spending in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCGs) sector amid a slow, according to analysts.

Nexira dives into India’s hefty health market with new sales subsidiary

24-Jul-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Natural ingredients specialist Nexira hopes to bite into burgeoning opportunities in India’s nutraceutical sector with a new sales office.

Gee Lawson enters China-dominated red yeast rice supply

18-Jul-2012 By Shane Starling

UK supplier Gee Lawson has debuted organic red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) into a sector dominated by Chinese supply and which has won a European Union health claim for cholesterol maintenance.