Functional foods & drinks

The ‘missing piece’: Australia food safety technologies must shift from silo approach

18-Sep-2024 By Pearly Neo

Food safety technologies across the Australian supply chain need to enhance interoperability and data integration, and move away from the current silo approach.

Oral nutrition improves protein, calcium, vitamin B12 levels among Singapore elderly – Abbott study

18-Sep-2024 By Tingmin Koe

The use of an oral nutrition supplement for over six months has shown improvements in protein, calcium, and vitamin B12 levels among Singapore’s elderly aged 65 and above, say new findings from a study by Abbott.

Made in Vietnam: Stricter origin labelling regulations for food products to be finalised in 2025

16-Sep-2024 By Pearly Neo

The Vietnamese government has started to draft a proposal for stricter country-of-origin labelling for food products, to prevent fraud and boost international trade.

Broader horizons: China’s EastRoc on shift from energy drink specialisation to multi-beverage portfolio

10-Sep-2024 By Pearly Neo

China energy drink heavyweight EastRoc is moving to a multi-beverage portfolio, hoping to establish itself as a leader in the wider beverage industry and not just the energy category.

Countering antibiotics: How gut microbiota improvement could boost immune protection in exposed infants - Growth Asia Summit 2024

10-Sep-2024 By Pearly Neo

The use of probiotics to improve the gut microbiota of infants that have been exposed to antibiotics has strong potential to boost the extent of immune protection conveyed by vaccination, according to recent research data.

Hot ingredients in Japan’s FFCs: GABA remains in top spot, HMPA is fast-rising

10-Sep-2024 By Audrey Yow

GABA remains prominent the most popular ingredient used within Japan's Foods with Function Claims (FFC) market, rice bran-derived 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) propionic acid (HMPA) moving up to second place, exclusive new data reveals.

Danone launches growing up milk designed for kids born via C-section in Malaysia

09-Sep-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Danone is introducing its growing up milk for children born via caesarean section (C-section) into more South East Asian countries, with the latest launch happening in Malaysia.

Holistic wellness: Menstrual health, prenatal nutrition, and menopause are opportunities for product innovation

04-Sep-2024 By Audrey Yow

There are extensive opportunities for 'holistic product innovation' across three key areas of women’s health: menstrual health, prenatal nutrition, and menopause, says Mintel.

Growth Asia Summit 2024

“Ageing as a disease”: Longevity medicines fraternity builds framework to tackle ageing

02-Sep-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Longevity medicines researchers are working on a framework to diagnose and prevent age-related ailments, including the classifying of ageing as a disease.

Growth Asia Summit 2024

Morinaga Milk tackles Japan’s healthy ageing needs with functional food innovation

28-Aug-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Morinaga Milk Industry has launched a series of functional foods across yogurt, sachet powder, milk formula, and fermented drinks to support the nutritional needs of Japan’s rapidly ageing population.

Growth Asia Summit 2024

Bioactive from blackcurrants found to boost mood in healthy adults – New Zealand research

27-Aug-2024 By Tingmin Koe

New research from New Zealand has identified a bioactive from blackcurrants that could boost mood in healthy adults.

Japan’s functional food trends: Surge in products and new opportunities focused on women

26-Aug-2024 By Audrey Yow

Exclusive data on Japan's functional foods sector has highlighted a growing demand for 'femcare', signalling growth potential in areas such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder and vaginal health.

Singapore’s HaruPlate looks to fill gap in healthy snacks for children amid ‘pervasive’ nutrition issues

22-Aug-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore-based HaruPlate aims to fill gaps in the better-for-you snacks category, targeting children’s nutrition needs and parents’ pain points through reformulation of existing products and development of fortified treats.

South Korea’s red ginseng sector sees export boost amid slowing domestic demand

21-Aug-2024 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s domestic demand for red ginseng has slowed down in the past year, but the sector is seeing opportunities overseas, especially in neighbouring East Asian countries and Vietnam.

Astaxanthin reduces inflammation and cellular stress in PCOS women – RCT

20-Aug-2024 By Audrey Yow

Researchers found that astaxanthin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation and cell stress in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Adults in 20s, 30s most interested in personalised nutrition – Suntory-backed start-up survey

20-Aug-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Japanese adults in their 20s and 30s are most interested in personalised nutrition as compared to the other age groups, a survey conducted by Suntory-backed start-up Rem3dy Health has found.

Healthy ageing in Asia: Nestle highlights importance of personalising health approaches for each life stage – Growth Asia Summit 2024

20-Aug-2024 By Pearly Neo

Experts at the Nestle Health Sciences Institute believe that it is critical to develop personalised health strategies and products targeted to each life stage in order to ensure the best possible healthy ageing outcomes in Asia.

Supplementation of freeze-dried pea more effective than kale for glycaemic control – Saudi study

19-Aug-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

The intake of freeze-dried kale and pea powders both led to improved metabolic profile among Saudi adults with obesity, but the latter was found to be superior for blood glucose control in a cross-over study.

Kava boom in Australia as consumers seek healthier alternative to alcohol – The Calmer Co

19-Aug-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Kava is seeing a rapid uptake in Australia as consumers are looking to replace alcohol with a healthier alternative, says kava firm The Calmer Co.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE TRAILBLAZERS EP 52

In focus: Can Asia’s AI-powered productivity drink find a niche in the market?

14-Aug-2024 By Pearly Neo

Singapore-based Flojo believes that it has found a sweet spot in Asia's beverage market with an AI-powered ‘productivity drink’ targeting consumers who regularly use a lot of brain power.

Kirin plans to acquire another overseas asset if FANCL deal fails

14-Aug-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Kirin plans to acquire another overseas asset or pour more investment into Blackmores if the deal to acquire FANCL does not go as planned.

Growth Asia Summit 2024

Sleep, mental health underlined as top-of-mind concerns among APAC consumers amid cost-of-living crisis

13-Aug-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Sleep and mental health have been identified as the top consumer concerns in Asia-Pacific (APAC) amid the cost-of-living crisis, which consequently spell opportunities for innovation and category growth, says a consumer intelligence firm.

“This is the year of innovation for China”: Danone to beef up infant formula, FSMP range

06-Aug-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Danone is doubling down on its specialised nutrition offerings, including infant formula and Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) for China, a market which it said has delivered “stellar performance” for the first half of 2024.

Gut approach: Morinaga Milk spotlights probiotic strain’s efficacy in counteracting obesity and age-related metabolic issues

05-Aug-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Morinaga Milk Industry zeroed in on the weight management efficacies of Bifidobacterium breve B-3 (B. breve B-3) probiotic strain, and its potential for preventing age-related metabolic issues, at the Growth Asia Summit 2024.

Nutrachampion podcast

E-commerce tougher: Singapore’s nutra start-up to hone AI avatar, product range to meet evolving needs

31-Jul-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Singapore nutraceutical start-up NanoSG is honing up its AI avatar and online tools, as consumers are relying more on data and information to guide their purchase decision.

Halal happenings: Indonesia’s new halal certification system for international companies expected to boost food and beverage trade

31-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

The Indonesian government has launched a new halal certification system dedicated to international companies which is expected to significantly accelerate certified product imports into the country, including for foods and beverages.

'On-the-go innovation': Nestle China’s latest oolong tea contains clinically studied mulberry leaf extract

30-Jul-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Nestle China is expanding its range of products containing white mulberry leaf extract clinically shown to reduce postprandial blood sugar increase, with its latest launch a no-sugar Oolong tea.

China’s GanoHerb looks to capture white spaces for ganoderma products in Middle East

23-Jul-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Chinese firm GanoHerb has identified untapped opportunities in the Middle Eastern market, where awareness and availability of ganoderma products are relatively scant.

Un-confusing probiotics: Life-Space highlights crucial role of healthcare provider education – Growth Asia Summit 2024

23-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

Australian probiotics heavyweight Life-Space believes that it is important to improve the quality and effectiveness of biotics education for healthcare providers in order to ensure consumers can benefit from more precise and efficient prescriptions.

Colourful tea: Artisan teamaker targets health and wellness sector to rebrand Indonesian brews

22-Jul-2024 By Audrey Yow

Artisan brand Sila wants to elevate Indonesian tea by targeting health conscious consumers who will pay for indulgent blends.

HNC / Healthplex Expo 2024

'Food as medicines': Korea’s Kolmar woos China consumers with immunity, blood sugar support formulas

22-Jul-2024 By Tingmin Koe

South Korea’s OEM manufacturer Kolmar BNH is wooing the China market with herbal formulations, as it believes that the concept of 'foods as medicines' is seeing a revival in the country.

Beyond sports: PepsiCo highlights new opportunities for active hydration beverages in APAC – Growth Asia Summit 2024

17-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

Beverage giant PepsiCo believes there is enormous potential to develop a broad and varied portfolio of active hydration beverages for consumers in the APAC market, based on the wide spectrum of active lifestyle needs in the region.

Singapore’s Nyva seeks to expand sales channels of anti-hangover gummy, eyes US and Australia markets

16-Jul-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore start-up Nyva is aiming to broaden sales channels of its AlcoBlock anti-hangover gummies, including convenience stores, while setting sights on expansion to markets like the US and Australia.

Curcumin can help combat inflammatory chronic metabolic diseases – meta-analysis

16-Jul-2024 By Audrey Yow

Curcumin can fight chronic diseases by reducing key inflammatory markers, offering a promising natural intervention for conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to new research.

Mixed results for hydrolysed milk formulas in allergy prevention among children – meta-analysis

15-Jul-2024 By Audrey Yow

Hydrolysed milk formula may prevent certain allergies but increase risk of wheeze as compared to breast milk, according to a new meta-analysis funded by Huhhot Science & Technology Plan and the National Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy in...

Brain booster: Singapore’s Flojo eyes opportunities in cognition and concentration with sparkling functional beverages

10-Jul-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore start-up Flojo has debuted its sparkling drinks formulated with botanical ingredients aimed at supporting cognitive function, strengthening immune system, and improving mood and mental clarity.

Vietnam’s PM instructs health ministry review rules for functional foods advertising

10-Jul-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Vietnam’s prime minister has instructed the country’s Ministry of Health to review rules governing functional food advertising.

Psychobiotics power: Higher consumption of prebiotic, probiotic foods associated with less-severe anxiety – Korean study

09-Jul-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Findings from a Korean study showed that a higher intake of prebiotic and probiotic foods was significantly associated with lower severity of anxiety symptoms.

Kobayashi knock-on effect: Japanese functional foods businesses legally bound to four new rules from Sep

08-Jul-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Manufacturers of Foods with Function Claims (FFC) are legally bound to four newly added requirements from September 1 – the latest move in regulating Japan’s functional foods industry since Kobayashi Pharmaceutical’s red yeast rice scandal broke out.

Hi & Fi Asia-China 2024

Fish oil supply to recover as 2024’s first fishing season ends on a high note – GOED

02-Jul-2024 By Tingmin Koe

The first Peruvian fishing season this year had ended on a high note, with oil yield expected to hit at least 75k tons, said industry body GOED.

Advertising accuracy: South Korea drills down on stricter food product labelling laws to avoid ‘deceptive’ claims

01-Jul-2024 By Pearly Neo

The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has announced new, stricter regulations governing food product labelling, specifically prohibiting links to various types of herbal medicines and other health or nutritional claims.

Fast&Up banks on RTD drinks, powder sachets for a bigger slice in hydration market

25-Jun-2024 By Tingmin Koe

Fast&Up is adding new variations of its electrolytes products, including ready-to-drink and powder stick packs, as it seeks to capture greater market share in the hydration sector.

High nutrient content and antioxidant effect of dates underscore application potential in functional snack bars – Saudi study

24-Jun-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

The bioactive compounds, high nutritional content and antioxidant capabilities of dates make the fruit an effective base ingredient for functional snack bars, says Saudi researchers.

Celestial energy: Moon Juice Kombucha on infusing mystical tradition into quirky health brews

18-Jun-2024 By Audrey Yow

Microbrewery Moon Juice Kombucha says it is combining science and mystical tradition by brewing according to the lunar cycle, and creating drinks that aid digestion, boost hydration, and encourage detoxification.

Fermented food intake during pregnancy could reduce the risk of neurodevelopment disorders in children – Japanese study

17-Jun-2024 By Audrey Yow

Researchers believe that the consumption of fermented food during pregnancy could reduce the risk of some neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

Kimchi-derived probiotic shows potential as functional ingredient due to positive effect on immune regulation – RCT

12-Jun-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

A new study shows that a probiotic strain isolated from Korean kimchi has beneficial effects on immune regulation, particularly in people with a weak immune system, highlighting its potential as a functional health food ingredient.

Nutrachampion podcast

PODCAST: Malaysia postbiotics firm My Myracle sets ambitious goal of reducing import reliance

05-Jun-2024 By Tingmin Koe

A Malaysia homegrown postbiotics company has set the ambitious goal of reducing the country's reliance on imports of overseas “biotics” raw materials, managing director of the firm told NutraIngredients-Asia in the latest episode of our Nutrachampion...

Broadening horizons: China’s Yeyo looks to expand reach beyond Tier 1 cities with nationwide premium supermarket launch

04-Jun-2024 By Pearly Neo

Chinese coconut yoghurt brand Yeyo has set its sights on consumers in markets beyond its Tier 1 strongholds with a new nationwide launch in Ole, the largest premium supermarket chain in the country.

Evolving with the times: Singapore’s Gold Kili ventures into new coffee product format and healthier beverages

03-Jun-2024 By Hui Ling Dang

Singapore-based Gold Kili has launched a new product format for its coffee range and expanded into the thriving healthier beverage category, as part of the firm’s growth strategy.

‘Building consumption’: Unilever India banks on milk deflation, accessibility investments to boost nutrition brands reach

28-May-2024 By Pearly Neo

Hindustan Unilever India (HUL) hopes that recent deflation in milk prices as well as investments to make its nutrition brands such as Horlicks and Boost more accessible will aid its financial performance.