Breaking News on Supplements & Nutrition - Europe US edition

Germans appeal glucosamine health claim rejection

The European Food Safety Authority should reconsider its methodology about relevant target populations, a German firm has stated in response to EFSA’s rejection of a health claim linking glucosamine and reduced risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Eurofins puts profit hope in upgraded labs

Eurofins is expecting that its investment in upgrading its laboratories in the last two years will pay off in increased profitability in 2010, according to the chief executive.

Vitamin D may protect against Crohn’s disease

Low levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of developing Crohn’s disease, suggest results of a new cell study from Canada.

News in brief

Israel’s Anlit signs deal to take kids’ supplements to Poland

Polish company Polpharma Ltd has signed an exclusive agreement with Israel’s Anlit to market the Israeli company’s supplements for toddlers and children in Poland.

Lycopene supplement boosts skin carotenoid levels

Oral supplements of lactolycopene may boost skin levels of lycopene and beta-carotene, says a study from Nestlé and L’Oreal.

Danone's nutrient enriched yoghurt boosts satiety, study

Low-fat dairy yoghurt enriched with protein and guar gum fibre can significantly reduce short-term appetite, claims a new study.

Omega-3 may reduce risk of dental disease: Study

Increased levels of omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) may decrease the risk of dental diseases, suggests a new study from Japan.

UK consumers embrace alternative medicines

Sales of complementary therapies such as traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines are booming in the UK as increasing numbers of people turn away from prescription drugs, according to Mintel.

Frutarom wins big in weight management

Israeli supplier, Frutarom, has won a gong from Frost & Sullivan for its “scientifically-backed product line based on natural extracts with different modes of action” in the weight management area.

News in brief

Scientists explore importance of antioxidant balance

Too many antioxidants may interfere with cell signalling, and that a balance between anti- and pro-oxidants is best for optimal health, US-based researchers report.

More folate may mean less depression: Study

Higher blood levels of folate may reduce the risk of depressive symptoms in men, but not women, says a new study from Japan.

Bio Serae goes organic with cactus offering

French supplier Bio Serae is offering an organic version of one its marquee cactus ingredients, Cacti-Nea, which it says is increasingly sought after by its food supplement and functional foods clients.

SMEs target of new health claims guide

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the target of a new guide on how to achieve a health claim approval in the EU.

Antioxidant uptake from coffee unaffected by milk: Nestlé study

Adding milk to coffee does not reduce the bioavailability of antioxidants, says a new study from the Nestlé Research Center.

Indian nutraceuticals attract big pharma

The growing Indian nutraceuticals market is attracting the attention of pharmaceuticals players such as GlaxoSmithKline, Dabur, Cadila Healthcare and Novartis, according to Indian press reports.

No FSAI backing for Irish high dose supplements campaign

Ireland’s chief specialist in public health nutrition is at odds with natural health care practitioners and health shop representatives over pending EU regulation on high potency supplements, according to a report in the Irish Times.

News in brief

Internet opens up Europe to counterfeit Alli

The arrival of counterfeit weight loss drug Alli in the US has led to warnings in Britain of the danger of buying OTC medicines from unregulated websites.

Inulin could speed up baking time for breads, study

Adding inulin to white breads increases its nutrition quality but also accelerates the baking process and the crucial Maillard reaction, according to new research on the fibre.

Yakult to commence US production in 2012

Japanese probiotics pioneer, Yakult Honsha, will commence manufacturing its little probiotic dairy bottles in the US for the first time in 2012, the company has announced, as it seeks to move into eastern seaboard US states.

Pomegranate oil-seaweed mix may improve liver health and waist size

A blend of pomegranate oil and brown seaweed extract may produce weight loss of about five kilos, as well as improvements in liver health, says new study.

Special edition: Weight management

Supply: Supporting the weight management products

In the final article in our weight management series, NutraIngredients looks at the companies behind some of the key ingredients in the sector.

Probiotics player ‘puzzled’ by EFSA health claim response

Swedish probiotics player, Probi, is pursuing “unofficial” dialogue with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) after the scientific agency closed the formal process by rejecting its probiotic health claim appeal.

News in brief

Puleva Biotech up for sale?

Spanish dairy, Ebro Puleva, may sell off its functional foods and ingredients division, Puleva Biotech, as it seeks a cash injection and reduced exposure to low-margin products.

IPO considered for Chr Hansen

The private equity owner of Chr Hansen, PAI Partners, is evaluating the possibility of publically listing the company, the Danish ingredients company has confirmed.

Weekly comment

Cheesed off – jingoism takes the spoils in the Cadbury battle

Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated, quipped Mark Twain. Predictions of the demise of Cadbury following the approval of Kraft’s offer are premature and are flawed by knee-jerk anti-Americanism.

Will nutrient profiles ever be confirmed?

How usable are the health claims that have already been approved? First, companies need to see if there is any wiggle room around EFSA’s scientific language. Then, the thorny nutrient profiling is unclear. According to a food lawyer, if agreement can’t be reached nutrient profiles could end up withdrawn altogether.

News in brief

Sterol/stanol claim can be used with food supplements

General cholesterol reducing health claims can be utilised on all food products including food supplements even if the authorised specific cholesterol percentage reduction cannot.

Vitamin D may cut colorectal cancer risk by 40 per cent

Increased blood levels of vitamin D may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by as much as 40 per cent, says a study with people from 10 European countries.

Green tea antioxidants more bioavailable than thought?

The bioavailability of antioxidant catechins from green tea may be more than previously thought, says a new study from Italy.

Special edition: weight management

Regulation: Claim making and claim taking

In a world with a chronic ‘globesity’ problem spreading beyond western shores to places like India and China, products that promise to help individuals manage their weight via calorie control, fat burning, satiety, or some other mechanism, enjoy rampant demand.

New nutra player set to exploit Israel biotech potential

The growing level of innovative Israeli incubator projects focused on nutritional product development is behind a seasoned industry player’s decision to establish a consultancy aimed at taking these start-ups to the next level.

Special edition: Weight management

Science: Slimming ingredients beyond satiety

In the third part of our series on weight management, NutraIngredients looks at how nutritional approaches may boost body-shaping, and how our gut microflora may be the future of weight management.

Slow progress on food labelling regulation

Progress has been painfully slow in the discussions over the new food information regulation, says food lawyer Owen Warnock of Eversheds, and many of the same big issues are unsolved after two years of debate.

Indian probiotics market to quadruple by 2015

India’s probiotics market has been highlighted by researcher Frost & Sullivan as a “major growth market of the future”, with annual growth of 22.6 per cent until 2015.

Danisco enters niche probiotic juice category

Beverage manufacturers seeking to extend their health and wellness portfolio can now incorporate a clinical dose of an immune boosting probiotic strain to their refrigerated fruit juice range while keeping their all-natural positioning, claims Danisco.

Omega-3 linked to younger biological age: Study

High blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids may slow cellular ageing in people with coronary heart disease, suggests a new study.

Danes unite to mine infant formula prebiotics

Danisco and Arla are taking part in a €2.5m+ business/academia research project to isolate and develop some of the oligosaccharides naturally present in human breast milk for use in infant formulas.

Special edition: Weight management

Science: Backing up the satiety and metabolic claims

In the second part of our focus on weight management, NutraIngredients looks at the science behind the claims – from boosting fullness to energy burning.

No safety concerns over Ferric sodium EDTA, finds EFSA

Ferric sodium EDTA can be safely used in food supplements, a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel has found after reviewing the nutrient.

Tea compounds may boost attention span: Unilever

The tea compounds L-theanine and caffeine at levels obtained in a single cup of tea may improve attention, says a new study from Unilever.

Nestlé target elderly with high-dose drink

Nestlé has launched a 200mL nutrient drink in Switzerland targeting the malnourished elderly – a segment of the population it says is deficient in key nutrients such as vitamin D, calcium and protein.

Special edition: Weight managment

Asia proving growing market in weight control sector

As levels of obesity continue to rise on a global scale, Nutraingredients looks at the market for weight management dietary supplements, food and beverage products.

Antioxidant-rich fruit and veg may cut lymph cancer risk

Increased intakes of antioxidant-rich vegetables may reduce the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma by about 30 per cent, says a new study.

Weekly comment

Why Haiti must stay on the CSR agenda

50,000 and counting. We'll probably never know exactly how many perished in the 7.0 earthquake that brought Haiti, quite literally, crashing down last Tuesday, 12th January 2010, just before 5pm. But for those who survived and who make it through the hard days, weeks and months ahead, getting enough to eat will be a long term challenge.

Dried fruit show potential as green tea extract carriers

Fortifying dried fruit pieces like apple with green tea extracts may boost the antioxidant content of the finished product by four-fold, suggests a joint study from the US and Italy.

News in brief

Winter Olympics garner DSM nutritional support

Dutch ingredient supplier DSM will sponsor the Dutch bobsled team, as the company continues to push its “Innovation is our Sport” programme.

Czechs ban American and Chinese supplements

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) has pulled two food supplement products from store shelves over contamination concerns.

Low viscosity soy protein developed for snacks and cereals, says Solbar

A new soy protein isolate with a bland flavour profile, which has low viscosity when subjected to the heat and shear of extrusion, was developed to meet the demands of the soy crisps, extruded snacks and cereals market, said Israeli firm Solbar Industries.

Grapefruit juice may boost CoQ10 uptake: Study

A glass of grapefruit juice may improve intestinal absorption of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) by almost 50 per cent, says a new study from Japan.

Vitamin D plus calcium may protect everyone from fracture: Study

Daily supplements which combine vitamin D and calcium may reduce the risk of fractures for everyone, regardless of age or gender, say the results of a huge study.

Omega-3 supplement does not reduce hot flushes, says EFSA

A health claim, under Article 13.5, for a French fish oil-based dietary supplement Catalgine that it can help to reduce the frequency of hot flushes in middle aged women has been rejected by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

News in brief

Gene breakthrough unlocks pink tomatoes

Israel-based researchers have identified a gene in tomatoes responsible for a pink fruit, popular with Far Eastern diners.

Green tea may slash lung cancer risk

Smokers who did not drink green tea at all may have a 13-fold increased risk of lung cancer, compared with those who drank at least one cup per day, suggests a new study from Taiwan.

News in brief

Weight loss products lead Korean approvals

Body fat burning products intended for weight loss were the largest portion of recent Korea Food and Drug Administration functional foods authorisations.

EFSA denies sterol/stanol claim expansion appeal

The European Food safety Authority (EFSA) rejected a submission from a Dutch plant sterol supplements firm calling for the EU approved, cholesterol-lowering health claim to be expanded to food supplements and other food categories.

Nutritional alliances proved M&A alternative in 2009, report

A difficult funding climate resulted in more licensing and joint venture transactions than outright acquisitions in the health and nutrition sector in 2009, according to a new report focusing on M&A trends in the industry.

Vitamin D levels not enough for winter: Study

Current recommended intake for vitamin D during winter months and need to be at increased by five, says a new study from California.

Vitamin E may boost brain health after stroke

Tocotrienols may prevent nerve cell death in the brain following a stroke, suggests new research on this emerging form of vitamin E.

Multivitamins may cut lung cancer risk in smokers

Multivitamins, folate, and green leafy vegetables may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer in current and former smokers, says a new study from the US.

Study: EU vitamin level-setting methods ‘fatally flawed’

Models being utilised by European authorities to determine upper safe limits (USLs) for vitamin and minerals used in food supplements are flawed and should be subject to “proper scientific validation”, say the authors of a study published in Toxicology.

Soy protein innovation may lead to functional food gel advances

Hydrogels made from soy protein could protect functional food ingredients through the gut, tapping the ever-growing health and wellness segment.

Heinz infant formula advert misleading, says ASA

A complaint from viewers about a TV advert implying health claims with regard to a follow on formula from Heinz has been upheld by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Pine bark extract may ease haemorrhoid problems

Supplements of French maritime pine bark extract may reduce the intensity and duration of haemorrhoidal pain and bleeding, says a new study.

Erythritol may boost whey-sports drink formulation

Adding common ingredients to whey-based sports beverages may improve the clarity of the finished product and allow greater consumer acceptance of this type of sports beverages, says a new study.

Poland embraces pre- and probiotic supplements

Gut health, along with weight management, are driving the Polish food supplements market, with pre- and probiotic supplements experiencing strong growth, according to market researcher, PMR.

Industry views sought on baby milk ingredients

Feedback from manufacturers is being sought on new standards being proposed for inclusion in the Food Chemcials Codex (FCC) which aim to ensure the quality and enhance the safety of key ingredients widely used in infant formulas.

Weaning food labelling laws consistent with EFSA opinion, says EC

The current EC labelling legislation on complementary food such as processed cereal-based foods for infants are consistent with the recent European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) findings that complementary feeding at four months poses no risk to infants, claims the Commission.

Blueberries may boost memory in older adults: Study

Supplemental blueberries for only 12 weeks may boost memory in older people with early memory problems, says a new study from the US.

Blueberries may boost memory in older adults: Study

Supplemental blueberries for only 12 weeks may boost memory in older people with early memory problems, says a new study from the US.

News in brief

French food safety agency to be merged

The French Food Safety agency (AFSSA) is to be merged with the French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (AFSSET).

Czechs: EC must clarify food supplement enforcement policies

The European Commission needs to let the European supplements industry know how the Food Supplements Directive (FSD) will be enforced across the 27-member bloc, as companies deal with existing stocks that contain now prohibited nutrients, a Czech trade association has said.

Natraceutical: Cocoa fibre shows potential for blood pressure cuts

A fibre from cocoa husks may reduce blood pressure and boost heart health, suggests new research with rats from Natraceutical.

New UK battle to save high dose supplements

Time is of the essence to ensure vitamins and minerals in food supplements across the EU bloc are set at levels that will not decimate national industries and restrict consumer choice, claims a UK supplements lobby group as it kick starts a fresh campaign.

Weekly comment

Cold snap could last longer for food sector

“More snow on the way.” So say the weathermen, and Europe is stocking up and hunkering down for a long, cold winter. But while the fluffy flakes will halt, at least come Spring, for the food sector the chill could be felt throughout 2010.

Industry ‘too secretive’ about nanotech research

Food manufacturers’ reluctance to disclose what research they are carrying out on products using nanotechnology risks a public backlash similar to that which occurred against genetically modified (GM) foods, The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has warned.

Grape juice may boost memory in elderly: Study

Daily consumption of Concord grape juice may enhance memory in older people with mild impairment in the brain function, says a new study from the US.

Food industry ‘too secretive’ about research into nanotechnology

Food manufacturers’ reluctance to disclose what research they are carrying out on products using nanotechnology risks a public backlash similar to that which occurred against genetically modified (GM) foods, warned the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee.

Brazilian fruit oil shows sports supplement potential

Oil from the pequi fruit may reduce inflammation following exercise, as well as reducing bad cholesterol levels in older men over 45 years of age, says a new study from Brazil.

Scope of health claims regulation for beauty is a grey area

Whether beauty foods and supplements fall under the EU health claims regulation is still a significant grey area, according to a new FSA consultation document.

Food Supplements Directive: Stay positive (or bans may follow)

Products containing nutrients that don’t appear on the EU Food Supplements Directive (FSD) positive lists are now officially illegal and can be stripped from store shelves after the derogation period expired on December 31, 2009.

Krill oil – hope or hype for the omega-3 market?

Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the nutrition industry’s big fish, and an emerging presence in the market is omega-3 sourced from krill oil. Stephen Daniells casts his net for opinions on the rise of krill oil.

Pomegranate extract may lower breast cancer risk

Compounds from pomegranate may reduce the incidence of hormone-dependent breast cancer, says a new study from California.

UK FSA updates health claims guidance

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has tweaked its EU nutrition and health claims guidance to take into account deadline changes and clarify how charities and national associations can endorse claims.

Cognis boosts its Malaysian presence

Cognis has set up an affiliate in Malaysia to maximise what it views as the growth potential for wellness products in that country.

News in brief

EFSA, FDA, Health Canada to discuss health claims

The European Food Safety Authority, US Food and Drug Administration, and Health Canada will share a platform at an upcoming Cantox-hosted health claims conference.

Vitamins and minerals may slash bladder cancer risk

Increased intakes of vitamin E may reduce the risk of bladder cancer by about 35 per cent, says a new study from an international team of researchers

Beneo backs functional price premiums

The recession has not dented the will of consumers to pay price premiums for products that deliver digestive, bone and other benefits, according to European consumer research conducted by global inulin and oligofructose leader, Beneo-Orafti.

News in brief

Glanbia expects 2010 earnings return of 8 per cent

International cheese and nutritional ingredients company Glanbia has said it expects a return to earnings growth in 2010 of 6 to 8 per cent.

Review supports omega-3 for liver health

Increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acids from marine sources may benefit people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), says a new review of the literature.

Acai benefits cholesterol levels: Rat study

The pulp of açai berries may counter the effects of a high-fat diet and reduce the risk of developing high blood cholesterol levels, says a new study with rats from Brazil.

UK issues herbal viagra warning

Following global product recalls, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has warned the public off all herbal products offering to treat erectile dysfunction.

St John’s wort not effective for IBS: Study

Daily supplements of St John’s wort are not effective for improving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to a new study from the Mayo Clinic.

Alert widens over iodine-tainted soya milk

Ireland has become the latest country to issue a food safety alert over iodine-contaminated soya milk from Japan believed to have sickened 10 people in Australia.

Nestle opens biscuit research centre in Chile

Nestle has opened a new research and development centre in Chile to help the company create healthier biscuits and cereal snacks.

Study questions ginkgo biloba for brain health

Daily supplements of Gingko biloba do not slow the decline in brain function that occurs naturally with age, according to the largest study of its kind.

Tea prices could prompt over-supply, warns FAO

Record world tea prices in 2009 could cause some tea producers to plant more crops and lead to eventual oversupply to the market, the FAO warns.

Beneo: EU health claim ‘scientific agreement’ remains unclear

Belgian ingredients giant, the Beneo Group, says new European Union health rules favour ‘active’ health claims such as phytosterols, while discounting ‘passive’ claims such as those that replace ingredients with healthier versions to make products healthier.

Unilever explores vegetarian iron for fortification

Iron compounds from vegetable origin that mimic iron from animal sources may enhance the bioavailability of the mineral and boost fortification programmes, says a new study from Unilever.

Global functional drink growth eases in recession

Global sales of functional drinks continue to rise but the recession has dampened progress, according to a new Zenith report.