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Vital insights from Vitafoods 2009

The NutraIngredients team caught up with industry executives, regulatory experts and trade groups at Europe’s biggest functional foods and supplements event. We bring you the latest developments from an industry facing up to a global economic downturn and European health claims uncertainty.

Niche markets and recession-busting strategies

Consumers express their own values when they shop, and the LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) market is no different. Jeff Hilton, the managing director of Utah-based Integrated Marketing Group, tells Shane Starling how companies can make the most of this market's potential.

Round table: Nanotech and nutraceuticals

Food and nutrition is a 'hot spot' for nanotechnology, experts have said. Stephen Daniells talks to two such experts and asks where the developments are, is enhanced bioavailability a good thing, and whether we should be concerned by nanotech.

Vertical integration: omega-3 from sea to supplement

Bjørn Refsum, chief executive officer at leading omega-3 supplier EPAX talks to Shane Starling about the benefits vertical integration has brought to the Norwegian supplier.

Vitamin E tocotrienols' coming of age

Vitamin E tocotrienols are dwarves in a land of tocopherols – the vitamin E giants. But the tocotrienol market is growing. Stephen Daniells talks to Lipid Nutrition’s John Kurstjens, and Carotech’s Sharon Ling, about entry to the market, the benefits of competition, and new areas for tocotrienol science.

E for emerging nutrient? The growth of vitamin E tocotrienols

Vitamin E tocotrienols are slowing coming out of the shadow of tocopherols. Stephen Daniells talks to Dr Barrie Tan from American River Nutrition, about new sources of tocotrienols, new entrants to the market, and where the health benefits lie.

Inside DSM’s quality commitment

Philipp de Simone, human nutrition and health regional sales director for the east, south east and middle east at DSM Nutritional Products, tells Shane Starling why DSM’s Quality for Life initiative reaches all the way from the factory floor to finished products.

Probiotics under the microscope

In this NutraIngredients-USA.com round-table discussion, leading figures in the global probiotics industry examine the state of play in the category, and what we should expect in the coming years.

Synbiotics may cut infant infections: Lallemand study

A combination of probiotic strains and prebiotic fibre may reduce the incidence of childhood infections by about 25 per cent, according to a new study from Lallemand.

Are cranberry PACs all they are cracked up to be?

In a NutraIngredients.com round table discussion, three leading cranberry suppliers discuss the merits of proanthocyanidins (PACs) in benefiting urinary tract infections(UTIs).

Time for an EU health claims rethink

In a NutraIngredients.com round table discussion, DSM’s Bas van Buijtenen expresses widespread industry concern with the EU nutrition and health claims process, while Cantox’s Nigel Baldwin tells us what we should expect from next month’s meeting with EFSA.

New high bioavailability DHA reaches North America

A concentrated DHA ingredient that claims to closely resemble DHA found in human breast milk has been launched on the North American market, following a distribution agreement between Spanish firm Brudy and New Jersey-based Xsto Solutions.

What NutraIngredients took away from Vitafoods 2009

Last week, executives in the functional food and dietary supplement industries gathered in Geneva for the sector’s biggest European trade event. Here, NutraIngredients reveals some of the key messages it took away from Vitafoods 2009.

Glanbia guns for sports and infant nutrition market

Chief operating officer at Glanbia Nutritionals Dr Raimund Hoenes sat down with Shane Starling at Vitafoods in Geneva and shared insights into some of the challenges the sub-division of the Irish dairy giant has faced since its inception two years ago with a brief to develop an infant and sports nutrition ingredients portfolio.

Danone plays waiting game on health claims

After taking part in a Pharmanager seminar at Vitafoods in Geneva, Dr Jean-Michel Antoine, a 30-year research and development veteran at Danone, tells Shane Starling why the French dairy firm has pulled three article 13.5 probiotic yoghurt claims from the European Union nutrition and health claims process.

The true cost of health claims and why patience is a virtue

Are health claims dossiers really that expensive, and has the ‘wait and see’ approach to submitting dossiers won? Stephen Daniells speaks to Joerg Gruenwald, PhD, President of Analyze & Realize, about how much it costs to compile a dossier, and why it’s better to wait than rush a health claims proposal.

Hydrolysed collagen may boost beauty from within: Rousselot studies

Daily supplements of a hydrolysed collagen may improve skin hydration by 28 per cent, and reduce the wrinkles by 30 per cent, say two new studies from Rousselot.

EFSA scientist offers rejected health claim hope

The presentation of science backing some health claims, as well as problematic wording, have been the culprits behind some European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) article 13.5 and article 14 health claim rejections and not the science per se, according to an EFSA scientist.

Moving towards a cranberry PACs pact

Julie Rosenborg, from Lallemand Health Ingredients, and Diana Naturals' Mathieu Besnard spoke with Shane Starling about some of the issues surrounding the proanthocyanidin content of cranberry and how the French urinary tract infection health claim passed in 2004 has influenced scientific development and the market.

How the EU health claims process could impact US

How will the new health claims system in Europe impact the state of play in the North American market? Lorraine Heller speaks to a leading international ingredients supplier about the potential marketing and regulatory implications.

NutraIngredients Twitter from Vitafoods

Keep up to date with all the latest industry and science headlines from this year’s Vitafoods by following NutraIngredients' journalists on Twitter.

NutraIngredients previews Vitafoods

As the doors open on Vitafoods 2009 at PalExpo in Geneva this week, NutraIngredients’ Shane Starling and Stephen Daniells share their insights ahead of the Europe’s biggest nutraceutical event.

Elixi promotes dairy-free probiotic yoghurts

Finnish biotech firm, Elixi Oil Oy, says a patent-pending, probiotic-based fermentation system can produce probiotic, yoghurt-like products derived from flax and other grains that are suitable for the lactose intolerant, those with celiac disease as well as vegans.

Astaxanthin launched in softgel capsules

Global leader in human-use astaxanthin, Algatechnologies, is launching 4mg softgel astaxanthin capsules at the Vitafoods trade show in Geneva next week.

Lipid Nutrition enters vitamin E market

Lipid Nutrition has launched a branded version of rising vitamin E form, tocotrienol, which a growing body of science is backing as one of the most powerful in antioxidant payload.