All news articles for January 2009

High purity chondroitin ‘can prevent joint degradation’: Study

Long term administration of high purity and concentrated chondroitin sulphate may prevent degradation in the joint structure of people suffering from osteoarthritis, says a new study.

Final sugar high for Danisco pending sale

Danisco has reported a good result for its 2008/9 sugar campaign, which should be the last before the sale of its sugar division to Nordzucker receives regulatory go-ahead.

EFSA says yes to zinc, no to calcium and magnesium forms

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has given the thumbs up for the use of the relatively obscure zinc form, zinc methionate, but found safety issues with calcium and magnesium methionate forms.

Cognis says sale rumours taken out of context

Cognis has told NutraIngredients.com the German ingredients giant will not be sold in the near-future despite suggestive statements emanating from the German press.

Low-fat dairy linked to blood pressure improvements: Study

Consuming low-fat dairy-based products may improve blood pressure in older people at risk of heart disease, according to a new study from Spain.

Apple juice may offer Alzheimer’s protection: Study

Apple juice consumption may play some role in helping to prevent the onset of age-related cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new animal study.

EFSA defends independence against ‘toxic toothpaste’ attack

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has responded to criticism from a pan-European trade group that its opinions are being influenced by political forces by highlighting its “transparency and independence”.

Lipogen sees bright lipid future

Phosphatidyl Serine is the world's only brain health ingredient to have an approved US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) health claim. Israeli-based Lipogen is one of the world's leading suppliers. President David Rutenberg speaks with Shane Starling about an ingredient building both science and awareness.

News in brief

Review backs CoQ10 safety rep and levels

Coenzyme Q10 is “highly safe for use as a dietary supplement”, and has an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 12 mg per kg per day, says a new review from Kaneka.

Opportunities for growth in gluten-free foods

New gluten-free rules from Brussels may well incur incremental costs for bakers and snack manufacturers but with one in a hundred UK consumers estimated to be gluten intolerant, unlocking the market for gluten-free products could reap strong financial gains for industry players.

EU VMS maximum levels draw closer

A meeting held yesterday in Dublin has confirmed European Commission/European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientific safety substantiation principles in the setting of maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for vitamins and minerals in food supplements.

Broccoli and cabbage’s anticancer benefits probed

Texan researchers have identified a pathway to explain how a compound in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli may protect against pancreatic cancer.

News in brief

New president at Frutarom USA

Ingredients and flavors firm Frutarom has announced the appointment of Rafi Friedman as president of Frutarom USA.

Heart health market big in Asia too

DSM says the buoyancy of the European heart health ingredients market is being matched by some Asian countries where western-style diets and lifestyles are taking hold and bringing concomitant health problems.

Soy isoflavones heart benefits again under question: Study

Questions have again been raised concerning the consumption of soy isoflavones for improved blood flow and heart health, following publication of a joint Anglo-Australian study.

Kosher botanicals: Rabbis, insects and quality control

Regular visits from a rabbi to ensure Kosher certification are part of doing business for almost all ingredients suppliers in Israel. For SDA Spice, the largest botanicals supplier in the Middle East, Kosher is very much about quality control. VP of sales and marketing, Gila Menahem, tells Shane Starling why rabbis with entomological knowledge are increasingly sought after.

Green tea may protect against breast cancer: Study

Regular consumption of green tea may reduce a woman’s risk of breast cancer by about 12 per cent, according to a new study from the US and China.

Gum technology links functionality and indulgence

Innovation in centre-filled technology for chewing gum could be a key to boosting category sales, according to Danish market player Gumlink.

Phytosterols for cholesterol cuts supported by review

Phytosterol-enriched foods are efficacious for reducing levels of LDL cholesterol, with no differences between stanols and sterols, or delivery in fat or non fat foods, says a new review.

Where are missing article 13 health claims? asks EHPM

A major European trade group has chimed in with criticism of the latest version of the European Union health and nutrition claims article 13 list, adding to industry concern that claims are being removed or modified without clear explanation from authorities.

Green tea catechins linked to weight loss: Study

Antioxidant compounds in green tea could help promote exercise-induced abdominal fat loss, according to a new study from the American Society of Nutrition.

European heart health market in ‘exceptional’ shape

The European heart health ingredients market is set for buoyant growth despite a climate of regulatory uncertainty, according to market research conducted by Frost & Sullivan, which valued the market at €421m in 2007 and growing at 20 per cent.

ANH questions EFSA scientific approach

The Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) has criticised the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) over its food and supplement additive assessment methods after the assessor recently approved sodium monofluorophosphate for use in food supplements.

Weekly comment

Time to quieten the nutrition label noise

Everyone from government to grocers seems to have their own idea of how best to inform consumers about foods’ nutritional content, but a labeling free-for-all has resulted in a clamor of nutrition labels which are actually getting in the way of comprehension.

News in brief

Pycnogenol player picks up research prize

Pine bark specialist Horphag Research has won a gong from Frost & Sullivan for excellence in research for its proprietary ingredient, Pycnogenol.

Low vitamin D linked to higher risk of dementia: Study

A new large-scale senior population study has found that a lack of vitamin D in the elderly could be linked to cognitive impairment.

EU trade group criticises health claim list

The European Responsible Nutrition Alliance (ERNA) has criticised the recently updated 4000+, article 13 health and nutrition claim list for containing re-worded claims or omitting them completely.

Comparative cost of enzymes is boon to Novozymes

The high cost of inputs that has dogged the food industry in recent times looks to have helped raise the profile of enzymes as cheaper alternatives to other ingredients, according to Novozymes’ annual report.

Chr Hansen buys out women’s probiotics specialist

Danish ingredients giant Chr Hansen has purchased Urex Biotech, a Canadian company it has long worked with to bring probiotic supplements to a market demonstrating growth rates of more than 10 per cent internationally.

Novel Foods approval sought for nutritive sweetener

Alberta, Canada-based Bioneutra has applied to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) for European Union Novel Foods approval for a prebiotic, isomalto-oligosaccharide sweetener.

Acai superfruit tops sweet flavour projection for 2009

Superfruits top the bill for sweet flavour predictions in 2009, suggesting confectionery formulators mindful of innovation in a testing climate should increasingly consider exotic flavours in their new product designs.

Synbiotic may improve gut, immune health in elderly: Study

Consumption of a combination probiotic and prebiotic supplement for two weeks was found to improve the gut and immune health of a group of seniors, according to a study conducted by Danisco.

EFSA approves Danone children’s bone health claim

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has affirmed the importance of calcium and vitamin D for bone health by approving an article 14 children’s health claim submitted under the EU health and nutrition regulation by Danone’s Spanish arm.

News in brief

IADSA adds Russia and Brazil to global network

The Russian Council of Dietary Supplement, Nutrient and Healthy Food Producers (CDSP) and the Brazilian Association of Foods for Special Dietary Uses Industry (ABIAD) are the latest groups to join the world’s eminent international food supplements trade body.

News in brief

Enzymotec wins Israeli phytosterol patent

Israeli-based lipid specialist, Enzymotec, has been granted a home turf patent for the composition and production of its phytosterol ingredient, Cardiobeat.

Chinese milk safety targeted in multinational team-up

DSM has announced its intentions to work with players from throughout the Chinese dairy industry in attempts to ensure improved safety throughout the country’s milk supply chain.

EC registers vitamin upper limit concerns

The Irish Association of Health Stores (IAHS) has come away from a European Parliament Petitions Committee meeting confident its concerns about appropriate maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for food supplements are being listened to at European Union level.

Reduced CoQ10 shows superior bioavailability: SGTI study

A reduced formulation of Coenzyme Q10 was better absorbed than a standard commercial formulation in a senior population sample, suggests a small company-sponsored study.

Herbal medicines should be regulated: UK survey

A Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) commissioned survey has found 77 per cent of adults believe botanical medicines should be regulated.

New study backs soy’s bone protection benefits

Soy protein consumption could help protect against bone loss in post menopausal women, suggests a new study that adds to previous findings linking soy to bone health in women.

European herb group issues fact file to clear botanical air

The European Botanical Forum (EBF) has released a “communication tool” it says will “correct some commonly-held misapprehensions about botanical food supplements”.

Unrefined sweeteners bring antioxidant boost to bakery: Study

Fresh evidence from researchers in the US suggests that substituting refined sweeteners with unrefined equivalents in food formulations could raise disease-fighting antioxidants in consumer diets.

Vitiva moves into UK market

Slovenian ingredients firm Vitiva has spied great potential in the natural-hungry UK market, and has set up a subsidiary office there to cater to it.

EFSA tells Unilever black tea not proven to focus attention

The European Food Safety Authority has turned down Unilever-submitted health claims linking black tea consumption and improved mental focus because they failed to demonstrate causality.

Prebiotic may offer ray of light for IBS sufferers: Study

A novel mixture of prebiotic galactooligosaccharides may selectively boost levels of friendly bacteria in the gut, and ease symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, says a new study.

News in brief

Nestle launches new research web portal

Nestle has launched a new website to provide information and news about its global R&D.

T&L fibres could hold weight, diabetes benefits: Study

Maize-based dietary fibres have been found to help lower glycemic and insulin responses, potentially opening up opportunities for their use in foods for weight management and diabetes control, reports a new study from the University of Toronto.

Weekly comment

In praise of pesticides

Who likes pesticides? Misunderstood by consumers and misrepresented by pressure groups, pesticides are a soft target for legislators. The latest blow to that soft target could have hard consequences for the European food industry and for developing countries.

Psychological function scarce in EU supplement push - Mintel

While psychological and behavioural functions form one of the key areas under article 13 of the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) health claims regulation, product launches in the segment appeared scarce last year, says Mintel.

Pre-term omega-3 may boost brain development for girls, not boys

Supplements of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA may boost the neurodevelopment of prematurely-born baby girls, but premature boys don’t get the same benefits, says a new study.

Coffee may decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s: Study

Drinking between three and five cups of coffee a day in middle age could decrease the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease by 65 per cent, says a new study from Scandinavia.

Danisco agreement to squeeze grape polyphenol demand

Dansico says it has strengthened its hand within the market for polyphenol-rich ingredients through a new cooperation to globally supply a range of grape extracts.

EFSA publishes list of functional article 13 health claims

EFSA has published the list of functional health claims it has received from the Commission to be assessed under article 13 of the new health claims regulation; while the publication has been cautiously welcomed by industry, doubts remain about meeting the January 2010 deadline.

News in brief

Sales boosted by consumer fear of healthcare costs, says Fenchem

Chinese ingredient group Fenchem has said it has remained unharmed by the global economic environment partly because consumers have been embracing health foods and supplements as they try to avoid high medical costs.

The short-sightedness of clinical trials

The results of randomised clinical trials to test nutrients continues to grab the headlines, and more often than not the titles are not positive. Is the emphasis on a trial model anchored in drug testing a good thing for nutrition? Stephen Daniells talked to Prof Jeff Blumberg from Tufts University for this views.

Carotenoids may boost bone health: Study

Antioxidant pigments from plants may protect against bone loss in older men and women, according to a new study funded by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.

Snack Size Science: Fish oils and milk proteins drive nano-vehicle innovation

FoodNavigator's Snack Size Science brings you the week's top science. This week we look at Israeli research into how whey protein can spontaneously bind omega-3 fatty acids to create transparent nano-vehicles for the health-boosting ingredients.

Fibre-rich ice-cream gets formulation boost: Study

Dietary fibres may control crystallisation and recrystallisation in ice creams, and offer new formulation possibilities for formulators, according to new research from Greece.

Aker BioMarine says Krill oil key in 2009

A European supplier of health supplements says that the launch of a branded Krill oil product onto the Norwegian market will be a key launch for 2009 ahead of potential further rollouts in Europe, the US and Asia.

Heart health-growth defying regulation restrictions - analyst

Demand for functional food and drinks has ensured that the European market for ingredients with proposed cardiovascular benefits is in rude health, despite restrictions on claims allowed on such products, says new research.

Low selenium levels may increase anaemia risk in the elderly

Low levels of the mineral selenium may increase the risk of anaemia in older people, according to a new study from the United States.

Probiotic 'bar-code' could boost strain identification

Identifying the bacteria in a food product – be they probiotic or pathogenic – may be as easy as reading a bar-code, according to a novel technique called optical mapping.

Draft novel foods opinion on touchi extract

A Japanese bid to introduce a new black bean extract to Europe to block the absorption of carbohydrates has received a boost, as the FSA has issued a draft positive opinion.

Vitamin C may improve blood pressure: Study

High intakes of vitamin C may protect against blood pressure increases in young women, according to a new study from the US.

Probiotics may improve alcoholics’ liver health: Study

A pilot study from Russia and the US indicates that supplements of Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus plantarum 8PA3 may improve the health of an alcoholic’s liver.

InterMed investment targets Malaysia’s functional secrets

A provider of proprietary developments for nutraceutical and cosmeceutical ingredients has extended an existing cooperation for discovering new functional materials sourced from the jungles of Malaysia.

News in brief

Journal of Functional Foods launched

Elsevier has published the first issue of the Journal of Functional Foods, providing a focused scientific forum for research into functional foods, nutraceuticals and natural health products.

CoQ10 bioavailability boost from soft gels: Study

Delivering co-enzyme Q10 in its reduced form and in a soft gel capsule may increase the bioavailability of the nutrient, according to a new study.

Weekly comment

The invincibles – recession proof food and healthy eating

There are fears that in the economic crisis consumers will put on “recession pounds” by eating unhealthily. Rightly or wrongly, food manufacturers may suffer the blame but “unhealthy” and “recession proof” do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.

Common hydrocolloid may reduce cholesterol levels: Study

The commonly used hydrocolloid hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) may reduce cholesterol levels by over 20 per cent, suggests new research from the Dow Chemical Company.

Weight management may gain from health claim challenges

European regulation on permissible health claims may well be slowing down development of novel dietary supplement products, requiring greater industry cooperation in providing strong science, says one industry association.

Omega-3 and the search for alternative sources

Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the industry's star performers, being added to a wide variety of food types as well as supplement capsules. But searching for alternative sources continues behind the scenes. Stephen Daniells talks to Prof Ski Chilton from Wake Forest University about future possibilities for the industry.

Fonterra supports safety of probiotic ingredients

The probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 are safe and well-tolerated, according to a new study from New Zealand.

Distribution deals drive Scandinavian supplier expansion

A Scandinavian supplier of dietary supplements, natural remedies and natural cosmetics is entering a distribution agreement to push new and existing products into Europe, with further expansion possibly ahead.

Study supports folic acid fortified tortillas to boost intakes

Fortification of corn masa flour with folic acid could produce enriched tortilla chips and corn chips, and serve as a new vehicle for the B vitamin, says new research.

Black raspberry compounds may prevent throat cancer: Study

Compounds from black raspberries called anthocyanins may inhibit the growth of cancer cells of the oesophagus, according to a new study with rats.

Whey protein promises nano-encapsulation of omega-3

The whey protein beta-lactoglobulin may spontaneously bind the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and offer nano-encapsulation potential for formulators.

Uncertainty marks new year weight control development

While weight control may be on many consumer’s minds following the customary indulgences of the holiday period, the concern appears less pressing amongst supplement manufacturers, suggests recent findings.

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