Breaking News on Supplements & Nutrition - Europe US edition

FSA opposes omega-3 claims that would ‘mislead consumers’

01-Oct-2009 - With the doors closed on an EC meeting due to decide the future of omega-3 nutrient content claims, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has suggested it opposes the proposed labelling.

Scientists unite to stop omega-3 ‘Euro-mad rush’

30-Sep-2009 - Twenty one of the world’s leading omega-3 scientists have petitioned the European Commission in a last-ditch effort to convince EU rule makers its omega-3 nutrition labelling plans are flawed and should be significantly revised.

News in brief

EFSA to publish first 13.1 opinions tomorrow

30-Sep-2009 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has again pushed back the deadline for the publication of its first article 13.1 health claim opinions – but has confirmed that these will be released tomorrow.

Exclusive interview

How tomatoes are informing Danone's probiotic claims

29-Sep-2009 - Danone’s newly submitted article 14 probiotic, diarrhoea health claim, is a product of the ongoing learning process that is occurring as companies come to grips with the reality of the European Union’s new health claim regime, according to the French dairy giant’s regulation chief.

Life under the Food Supplements Directive

29-Sep-2009 - The reality of the recently finalised Food Supplements Directive (FSD) positive list for vitamins and minerals is kicking in, as ingredients suppliers and supplements manufacturers reformulate to meet the Directive’s requirements.

News in brief

Correction: Kraft moves closer to sterol approval down under

29-Sep-2009 - Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has recommended that Kraft be given approval for plans to use plant sterols in reduced fat cheese but no final permission has been given.

Mutual recognition key to overcoming trade barriers: EAS

29-Sep-2009 - The newly effective mutual recognition regulation has again been praised by experts in the nutritional food industry as a means to overcome the challenge of a lack of harmonisation for certain ingredients across Europe.

News in brief

Finland: Ginger supplements dangerous for pregnant women

28-Sep-2009 - The Finnish food safety agency, Evira, has recommended warning labels for ginger supplements, after its Risk Assessment Unit highlighted dangers for consuming them for pregnant women.

Special edition: Brain health

Regulation: Communicating cognitive health

25-Sep-2009 - In the sixth article in our series on brain health, regulations governing the area are explored.

Kraft moves closer to sterol approval down under

23-Sep-2009 - Kraft Foods is a step closer to becoming the first company to win approval to use plant sterols in reduced fat cheese in New Zealand and Australia after a positive regulatory assessment.

Mutual recognition a must for ‘traditional’ novel foods

23-Sep-2009 - The amended novel foods approval must reinforce the principle of mutual recognition between member states if the fast-track process for traditional foods eaten outside the EU is to work, says an expert.

Danone to resubmit bolstered article 13.5 dossiers

22-Sep-2009 - Danone will resubmit withdrawn article 13.5 European Union probiotic health claims by year’s end with additional trials added to the dossiers to strengthen their claims, according to a health claims expert working with the company.

Codex can unite Asian food regulations

22-Sep-2009 - The importance of the Codex Alimentaria in developing regulatory harmony in a region like Asia where rules differ so greatly, has been emphasised at a recent event hosted by the Asian arm of Belgian consultancy, EAS.

Weekly comment

Are health claims curbing freedom of speech?

21-Sep-2009 - The US FDA is being sued over its health claims regime – actions that are unlikely to succeed according to most pundits – but they raise serious questions about healthy food messaging and free speech that are being felt globally.

Supplement has a touch too much Viagra

21-Sep-2009 - A food supplement for men which claims to help prevent erectile disfunction has been withdrawn from the market because it contains substances similar to sildenafil, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Viagra.

ASA rules against ad for weight loss aid

17-Sep-2009 - The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has decided that an advert for the supplement LIPObind does make a weight loss claim and ruled that it must not be broadcast until medical evidence supporting that claim is provided.

Special edition: Market insights

F&S: The danger of overstepping health claim boundaries

17-Sep-2009 - Health claim confusion has never been greater as industry adjusts to the new European health claims process. As part of a NutraIngredients series canvassing analyst insights, market researcher Frost & Sullivan urges caution.

Danone re-enters EU probiotic health claim game

16-Sep-2009 - Global probiotics leader, Danone, has submitted a new disease reduction article 14 health claim linking consumption of its probiotic drinking yoghurt, Actimel, and diarrhoea, after withdrawing three article 13.5 immunity and digestive health claims in April.

News in brief

EFSA botanicals advice does not consider QC, says EHPM

15-Sep-2009 - The guidance on the safety of botanicals published last week by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) does not take into consideration quality control measures industry has taken to address safety concerns, according to an EU trade group.

Special edition: resveratrol

Regulation: Resveratrol from GRAS to novel foods

11-Sep-2009 - As with many relatively new ingredients, resveratrol has had to prove its safety and efficacy to gain regulatory approval in various markets since its widespread commercial availability in the early 1990s.

Martek settles second omega-3 patent dispute in a week

11-Sep-2009 - Capsugel France has agreed to purchase all its algal DHA omega-3 exclusively from Martek Bioscience Corporation in the second patent dispute Martek has settled in a week.

EFSA issues long-awaited herbal product safety guidelines

11-Sep-2009 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued long-awaited safety guidance for botanicals use in food supplements that proposes a lenient approach toward non-clinical and history-of-use data.

Menopausal herb wins EU herbal registration

09-Sep-2009 - UK start-up, Bio-Health, has won its second herbal products registration in a year for a sage product that reduces excessive sweating in post-menopausal women.

Health claims focus

European Union health claims: where to now?

09-Sep-2009 - By this time next year, one of the central ambitions of Europe’s brand-spanking new nutrition and health claims system may well be in place – a centralised list of approved claims available for all to use across the European Union bloc.