Probiotics are best used for their potentially beneficial effects on gut health, but they may also help to boost immune functions – an effect that could benefit sports stars in the future, according to a leading sports scientist.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is calling on researchers to submit projects investigating probiotic benefits in women and children, and has set an August 15 submission deadline.
The European Commission is giving member states the opportunity to submit new data to back general function, article 13.1 probiotic claims rejected for being insufficiently characterised.
Supplementing breast feeding mothers with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and select probiotics may enhance the fat content of the milk, and boost the immune benefits of the breast milk, suggests a new study from Finland.
Frustrated Finnish dairy and ingredients firm Valio says the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) rejection of its probiotic claim contradicted or ignored peer reviewed data in its dossier that included 86 studies.
The European Food Safety Authority has rejected an article 13.5 health claim that sought to link consumption of the probiotic strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, with gastrointestinal benefits.
As the world’s biggest probiotic supplier Danisco has a lot at stake when it comes to the European Food Safety Authority’s ongoing refusal to validate the healthy bacteria’s ability to benefit gut health, immunity and more.
Allegations of financial impropriety against China-Biotics are growing louder with respected investment publications coming down against the company for massaging its financial figures to overstate revenues.
Institut Rosell-Lallemand is demonstrating the value of the blend with a new synbiotic formulation containing pre- and probiotics, along with select vitamins.
Gate2Tech managing director Dr Jean Michel Pommet explains why the Probiotech conference, to be held in Milan on June 23-24, offers something a little bit different as far as probiotic-centred congresses go.
Spanish and British probiotics companies are driving funds into strain and product-specific studies as they attempt to build scientific backing that will survive in the European Union health claims clampdown.
French dairy Danone has built on its 2010 joint venture with Australian co-op Murray Goulburn by belatedly launching its €4bn global selling probiotic yoghurt Activia on the market there.
US chemical group DuPont has successfully completed its tender offer for Danisco, as 92.2 percent of outstanding shares in the Danish food ingredients firm were tendered by Friday’s deadline, DuPont said on Monday.
Daily supplements of two probiotic strains may ease symptoms of bloating in people with bowel disorders, say researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Danisco USA.
Probiotic academics and industry members say there is little new in the gut and immune health claim guidance final draft published this week by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Swiss giant Lonza has plunged into the probiotics sector for the first time by licensing a gut ulcer battling Lactobacillus strain plucked from the 8000-strain strong vats of German contract research organisation, Organobalance.
A leading probiotics researcher says the ongoing uncertainty about endpoints and biomarkers in European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claim evaluations, means the best chance for probiotic products to make claims is to combine them with nutrients...
Daily supplements of probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum may reduce the duration of symptoms of respiratory tract infections in male athletes, says a new study from Australia.
The European Food Safety Authority’s health claims panel this morning issued 442 fresh article 13 general function health claim opinions, causing a run on its site that crashed it for many minutes.
Chr Hansen is anticipating a negative opinion on its 13.1 health claim submission for its BB12 probiotic this week, due to lack guidance from EFSA when it was made, and plans to re-submit under 13.5.
The European Commission today approved DuPont’s €4.5bn offer for Danish probiotics, enzymes and ingredients giant Danisco but the deal remains in doubt as to date only 6% of Danisco shareholders have accepted the offer.
Leading Chinese probiotics supplier, China-Biotics, has pressed a deal with the country’s third biggest dairy to expand the number of probiotic strains it uses in yoghurt products.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claim panellist, professor Seppo Salminen, has co-edited a book investigating probiotic science and health claims, with a focus on regional differences.
The probiotic Bifidobacterium breve may be effective in increasing stool frequency in children with functional constipation, according to a new pilot study.
A 25-year probiotic research veteran says the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) rejection of a diarrhoea C. difficile-reducing health claim for Danone drinking yoghurt Actimel was flawed because it failed to consider the totality of the evidence in...
Global probiotics leader Danone has written a 14-page response to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in which it accuses the Parma-based agency of ignoring positive trial data and demands to see “minority opinions” among health claim panel decisions.
A recently established group of global gut health academics is sending letters to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) as well as national government politicians as the group attempts to alter the application of a regulation it says is, “killing...
A patent-pending probiotic technology developed by Belgian start-up Vésale Pharma is being eyed by major firms keen to develop products employing the technology’s stated bioavailability-boosting potential.
The Probiotics European Scientific League (PESL) is a new group that seeks to improve quality among probiotic supplements by increasing testing and certifying products that pass via a League logo.
A recently completed documentary about probiotics is being welcomed by the probiotics community with Danisco, the world’s biggest probiotics supplier saying it provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the microorganisms among the medical fraternity.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has rejected an article 13.5 claim that sought to link a probiotic cheese called Harmony with heart health benefits.
The pre- and probiotics community is seeking direct dialogue with the European Commission to force a rethink of immunity and gut health claims under the European Union nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR).
Swedish probiotics supplier and product manufacturer BioGaia has seen sales increase 16 per cent in 2010 to €27.77m from €23.08m in 2009, with after-tax profit increasing 31 per cent year-on-year to €5.35m.
Danisco’s executive board and members of its board of directors have accepted DuPont’s offer of DKK 665 per share, corresponding to 28,056 shares with a total value of DKK 18.7m, Danisco said on Wednesday.
European probiotic researchers are welcoming last week’s commitment to probiotic study by a major US government health and nutrition agency, with biomarker development a real possibility.
Pfizer has acquired the consumer healthcare business of Danish firm Ferrosan for an undisclosed fee in what the pharma giant says, “is an excellent strategic fit that strengthens our presence in dietary supplements”.
Danish start-up Bifodan has won the Frost & Sullivan 2010 Global Probiotics Technology Differentiation Award for its ProTarget probiotic protection technology.
Daily supplements of a blend of the bacterial strains Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12 (Probio-Tec AB-25) was no better than placebo for maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis.
Analysts are saying Danisco could be carved up by its new owner DuPont, which they suggest is most interested in the Danish company’s enzymes for biofuels and that the food side of the business may be jettisoned.
Spore-forming probiotics such as Bacillus coagulans with higher heat resistance than commonly used strains have a bright future in sectors such as baked foods, according to a new review study.
Belgian probiotics player Vésale Pharma has applied to the European Patent Office (EPO) for a probiotic microencapsulation technology patent that can deliver probiotics into new blends such as high-dose vitamin C supplements.
In the second part of this special series on global outsourcing trends NutraIngredients explores how the European Union nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) is impacting activity in the contract research organisation (CRO) sector.
The effects of probiotics on gut health may be boosted by a symbiotic partnership with the supplementation of certain micronutrients, according to new research.
DuPont’s €4.9bn acquisition of Danish probiotics and sweeteners specialist Danisco this week is vindication of the increasing economic viability of functional foods, according to analysts.
The mainstreaming of functional foods has created an increasingly sophisticated nutritional landscape that is leading into food choices being driven by genetic expression, according to new market research.
Danish bioscience firm Chr. Hansen is raising its revenue predictions by 11-13 per cent for 2010/11 after what it describes as “strong growth” in its first quarter from the September 1, 2010 to the end of November.
Supplements containing a mix of probiotic bacteria and prebiotic fibers reduced the prevalence of asthma-like symptoms in children at risk of the condition, says a new study from the Netherlands.
DuPont expects to become a ‘premier specialty food ingredients provider’ as a result of acquiring Danisco, and expects it to be particularly complementary to its Solae soy protein business.
Leading European prebiotic and probiotic researchers have begun a campaign to change the EU’s health claims system that has so far unanimously rejected its science.
2010 has been another tough year for the European functional food and supplements industries as health claim rejections have continued to flood in, leaving some in a state of high anxiety, fear and dread. Others are just mildly annoyed at a situation...
