Breaking News on Supplements & Nutrition - EuropeUS edition

On your radar > Botanicals

Botanicals

The Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive is changing the face of the botanicals extracts and supplements sector – in the European Union at least. The requirement for herbals to demonstrate good science has never been more urgent as health claims scrutiny tightens and consumer interest heightens.

UPDATE: Swedish agency detects (legal) amphetamine-like compounds in sports supplements; not in ‘authentic’ Craze, says manufacturer

A Swedish lab has found amphetamine-like compounds in sports supplements containing a herbal extract that has been touted as a replacement for widely banned stimulant, DMAA. But the lab said...

Live from Vitafoods Europe 2013

Cranberry EU medical devices winner: ‘We will never focus on food supplements’

The Dutch start-up Medical Brands is finding success with cranberry products that have won UTI and vaginal treatment claims via the EU medical devices directive.

Live from Vitafoods Europe 2013

Cranberry veteran gathers forces against EU medical device products

With cranberry health claims rejected in the European Union, some players have ventured down the medical devices route where therapeutic claims are possible that would never succeed under the EU’s...

DSM launches dry powder tomato extract for food supplements

Dutch ingredients giant DSM is launching a dry powder form of its Fruitflow tomato extract which has an EFSA-approved health claim for improved blood circulation – attained in 2009.

Research

Kiwi blackcurrants can reduce mental fatigue

New Zealand’s blackcurrants can help stressed executives manage their busy work days, early research suggests.

Sustainability NGOs back Cameroon cultivation of African cherry tree

Two NGOs responsible for safeguarding plants and forests have positively reviewed the harvesting practices of a prostate-benefitting botanical harvested in Cameroon.

Sabinsa rolls out novel Moringa and Boswellia extracts, hails ‘overwhelming response’ to Curcumin C3 Reduct

Sabinsa Corporation is launching two novel water-soluble ingredients, one from of Boswellia serrata, called Polybos, and the other called MoringIn from Moringa oleifera.

Former EFSA boffin backs ‘traditional use’ for EU herbals

A former EFSA Scientific Committee chairman says the European Union’s stalled assessment of botanical extract claims, safety and use needs a multilateral rethink before any progress can be made.

Q1 2013: Naturex net profit up 67%

Naturex has seen sales rise 13.2% to €83.2m in Q1 2013, with Nutrition its star core business performer, leaping about 33% from €22m to just over €29m.

Plandai announces licensing agreement to bring its highly bioavailable extracts to market

Plandai Biotechnology, a company built on a technology offering higher levels of bioavailability for its plant extracts, has entered into a licensing arrangement with a UK company covering the development...

Grape seed extract's blood pressure benefits extend to beverages, study shows

A study being presented at a conference this week has shown that Polyphenolics MegaNatural BP grape seed extract shows similar blood pressure support effects in a beverage matrix as it...

Belgium, France and Italy unite on positive botanicals list

Belgian, French and Italian authorities have agreed a preliminary list of botanical substances for use in foods and supplements, after a meeting in Rome yesterday.

Special edition: Superfruits - old news or still super?

Superfruits category still booming (but care is needed)

Are consumers experiencing superfruit fatigue? Depends on the fruit…and who you talk to.

Symrise backs sour cherry power for sports recovery

Symrise has launched what it says is the highest polyphenol concentration extract derived from European-sourced sour cherries. Sports recovery is the target market.

Lawyers ponder future of botanicals in EU

Legal and scientific experts will gather in Brussels this week to debate the future of botanical products in the European Union – a category that straddles foods and medicines but...

GSK jolts Lucozade with Champions' Choice caffeine variant

GlaxoSmithKline has debuted a caffeine-boosted version of its isotonic Lucozade Sports range with mental focus the central selling point.

Research first: Soy-rich diet may help women's lung cancer survival

Women who have a diet that is packed with soy prior to diagnosis with certain cancers may have longer survival rates, according to new research.

Sirco sales up 300% as claims and taste receive makeover

Sales of Sirco – the UK juice containing an EFSA-approved, blood flow-benefitting tomato extract – have surged 300% in the past 12 months amid a formula, claims and distribution revamp.

LycoRed's new carotenoid beadlet system enhances stability, flexibility

LycoRed has extended its line of carotenoid coatings with a new beadlet system that will function both for tablets and beverages.

Special edition: New trends in heart healthy foods

Heart healthy foods, the next generation: ‘It’s not just about cholesterol anymore… it’s about healthy arteries’

While LDL cholesterol is one biomarker of cardiovascular disease risk everybody can name, the next generation of heart healthy foods will address a broader range of risk factors from galectin-3,...

Extract boosts nutraceutical potential of baobab, supplier says

Baobab Foods, one of several US companies importing the African ingredient, is making a push into the nutraceutical space with a depectinized extract.

Special edition: Antioxidants and Carotenoids

Easy being green? Tea leads botanical antioxidant charge

Plants are antioxidant-generating machines and, commercially, the biggest return-generating plant extract is green tea. By quite some way if you speak to the biggest suppliers.

Desert Lab's 'Snack Less' 10-piece hoodia gum packs in three flavors (cinnamon, mint and strawberry) and retail at $2.99 each (typical gum retails at around $1.75).
Desert Labs launches hoodia weight management gum

Hoodia gum maker defends satiety effect

The maker of a newly launched appetite suppressant gum claims to be the first to have self-affirmed GRAS status for hoodia in the US and hopes to overcome the negative...

Food Supplements Europe: A small industry needs to be united

Europe’s new multilateral food supplements group says there is no inherent conflict between its big player-small player membership as all share the same goal of amending scientific requirements under the...

Bitter melon may offer 'exciting' cancer promise

Bitter melon juice may prevent the development of pancreatic cancer by cutting off the fuel supply to cancerous cells, according to new data.