EU article 13 health claim compliance D Day: December 14, 2012

25-May-2012 - The controversial European Union article 13 health claim list has this morning been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, giving companies until December 14 to get their claim-making in order.

EU article 13 health claims register

222 EU health claims become law; experts predict “tsunami of cheap innovation”

16-May-2012 - It’s official. Companies have six months – until December – to comply with the controversial European Union article 13, general function health claims register which today won final approval from the European Commission.

Comment

Vitafoods: EU nutra space wriggles into new health claims clothes

15-May-2012 - Vitafoods celebrates its 15th birthday next week. It’ll be my 11th consecutive May visit to Geneva for the jamboree and promises to be one of the most intriguing chapters with the (partial and belated) resolution of years of ambiguity regarding health claims in Europe.

Probiotics have benefits for antibiotic induced diarrhoea: Meta-analysis

10-May-2012 - Consumption of probiotics is associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, according to a review and meta-analysis of previous studies.

Prebiotics may reduce severity of colitis, say researchers

04-May-2012 - Prebiotic supplements could help to reduce bacterial infection and inflammation so reducing the severity of colitis, according to new research.

Gut bacteria could hold key in obesity fight

26-Apr-2012 - Altering the bacterial profile of the gut could help to alter the risk obesity, according to new research in rats.

Probiotic research must better combine technology and functionality, argue researchers

25-Apr-2012 - Probiotic research needs to change in its basic paradigm, so that it takes an over-arching approach to addressing issues with both technology and functionality, according to new research.

Chr Hansen shares jump 9% on strong H1 profits

19-Apr-2012 - First half EBIT profits for 2011-12 surged 19% to €83m at Chr Hansen as it shrugged off the effects of severe fluctuations in the price of red colorant carmine, and ongoing probiotic health claim uncertainty in Europe – its biggest yet most stagnant market.

Probiotic BLIS K12 may protect against oral yeast growth

17-Apr-2012 - Supplements containing the probiotic BLIS K12 ingredient may inhibit the growth of the yeast responsible for oral thrush, suggests new in vitro data that supports the oral health potential of the ingredient.

Israeli firm launches lactose-free probiotic chewables in Finland

04-Apr-2012 - Israeli omega-3 and probiotic supplements manufacturer Anlit has teamed up with Finnish supplements marketer Axellus Group on a lactose-free probiotic chew aimed primarily at children.

Scandinavian CROs merge; eye health claim success

27-Mar-2012 - The key to submitting a successful health claims dossier under the EU Heath and Nutrition Claims Regulation (NHCR) lies in focusing on one single risk factor, and is the main reason why probiotic claim applications have been knocked back, advises Essi Sarkkinen, COO, clinical research, with newly formed contract research organisation (CRO) Foodfiles AB.

Indian market shows Eastern promise for probiotics

26-Mar-2012 - Indians are dosing up on probiotics to counter gastrointestinal health problems, reports Swedish biotech company Probi, as it announces a deal that will see its Probi Digestis probiotic formulation dispensed to millions of Indian consumers.

Chr Hansen signs probiotic stabilisation deal

15-Mar-2012 - Danish ingredients supplier Chr Hansen is teaming up with Maryland firm, Advanced BioNutrition, to better stabilise its probiotic strains.

Biofortis unites global nutrition research activity in western France

09-Mar-2012 - Nutritional researcher and trial designer Biofortis has opened a new HQ that will centralise its four main operations near the western French city of Nantes.

Pre and probiotics in formula could boost infant immunity

06-Mar-2012 - The addition of pre and probiotics to infant formula could help to boost immune responses by colonising newborn babies’ guts with a stable population of beneficial bacteria, say researchers.

DuPont eyes increased food and nutrition focus to boost 2012 sales growth

05-Mar-2012 - An increased focus on food and nutrition is expected to become a major sales growth driver at DuPont in 2012, according to the company’s executive vice president James Borel.

Global Alliance for Probiotics: There is a “discord” between science and claims

02-Mar-2012 - The newly formed Global Alliance for Probiotics (GAP) has issued its first public statement, affirming that a complete rethink of probiotic health claim rules is required in the European Union, and forwarding industry rights to take part in that process.

Lesaffre submits probiotic ‘intestinal comfort’ health claim to EFSA

22-Feb-2012 - The human nutrition division of French yeast and probiotic specialist Lesaffre says a new probiotic dossier will win Europe’s first ever probiotic health claim due to the existence of, “3-4 proprietary studies”.

Danone launches new global probiotics group to “talk with lawmakers”

22-Feb-2012 - Danone has formed the Global Alliance for Probiotics (GAP) with other sector giants like Yakult, DuPont-Danisco and Chr Hansen as the frustrated industry seeks to win a first European Union health claim.

Convergence ‘megatrend’ will marry soft drinks to dairy in 2012, Rabobank

22-Feb-2012 - Consumer demand for health and wellness beverages worldwide is leading to greater convergence between soft drinks and dairy beverages, according to Rabobank.

UK Dept of Health: ‘Contains glucosamine’ an implied health claim

20-Feb-2012 - The UK Department of Health has indicated nutrition-style claims like ‘contains glucosamine’ or ‘contains probiotics’ will be deemed implied health claims if they are the subject of negative EFSA opinions.

Nestlé invests €50m in 5-year probiotic licensing deal

15-Feb-2012 - Swedish probiotics player BioGaia is welcoming a 5-year, €50.8m extension to a licensing deal with Nestlé for use of its Lactobacillus reuteri probiotic strain in infant nutrition products.

Dispatches from Probiotic Summit

Danone: “Probiotics category could disappear”

07-Feb-2012 - Global probiotics leader Danone continues to prepare for the worst under the European Union’s uber-strict health claims regime that may this year deliver a barren, claimless landscape to the world’s biggest-selling functional food category, an official said today.

Danone: Characterisation may be least concern for probiotic health claims

06-Feb-2012 - A Danone official has said the resolution of characterisation issues may not be enough to win positive opinions for a batch of probiotic health claims just resubmitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).