All news articles for May 2016

'Probiota’s achievements record and the IPA’s powerful membership make this the industry’s must attend event.'

May 31 to June 2 2016, Chicago, Illinois. 270+ signed up

IPA & Probiota Americas partnership set to break records this week

Chicago will witness the biggest ever meeting of experts from the global pre- and probiotics industry, running today (May 31) until Thursday (June 2). The combined IPA World Congress and Probiota Americas event will unite more than 270 academics, business...

© iStock

SPOTLIGHT ON START-UPS

How is Big Food harnessing start-up innovation?

By Niamh Michail

Which food firms are top for scoping out innovative start-ups and harnessing the latest research projects? FoodNavigator takes a look at the different incubator, accelerator and partnering schemes used by industry heavyweights.

Common Sense?

Sensible? First supplement for smokers hits UK market

By Lynda Searby

As the first supplement targeting smokers goes on sale in the UK, its maker is confident that sound scientific formulation will ensure the potentially controversial multivitamin complex stands up to scrutiny.

EFSA health claim opinion

EFSA rejects Tate & Lyle polydextrose-defecation claim

By Shane Starling

The link between polydextrose consumption and maintenance or normal defecation is ‘weak’, EFSA has found in rejecting an article 13.5 submission from agrifood sugar giant Tate & Lyle.

The B vitamin family consists of thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), vitamin B6, biotin (B7), folate (B9) and vitamin B12).(© iStock.com)

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2016

Review: B vitamins, the brain (& deficiencies)

By Will Chu

B vitamins play a significant role in cognitive performance and neurological functioning but deficiencies are common in too many populations, a Vitafoods Europe congress has been told.

IRI: Cocnut milk sales up 67% in the UK. ©iStock

Consumers crazy about coconut, but are they nuts?

By Lynda Searby

Whilst sales data from market intelligence provider IRI shows that UK consumers can’t get enough of coconut products, a leading dietician brands coconut “an expensive con with no authorised health claims”.

'This study will bring together the entire relationship between bacterial viruses and how they can alter the numbers of the good and bad bacteria in the infant gut in a way that has not been assessed before.' iStock.com / leoniepow

Gates Foundation backs African infant microbiota project

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has signed a $100,000 (€89,485) cheque for academics from the University College Cork in Ireland to study the microbiota of infants in developing countries.

SNE: 'Under no circumstances can [infant formula] be compared to tobacco products...infant formula is one of the most highly regulated products in the world...' © iStock

European infant formula makers: We don't need more regulation

By Aurélie Perrichet

With the World Health Organisation (WHO) and respected British journal The Lancet recently calling for tighter regulation and enforcement to better control infant formulae marketing, Aurélie Perrichet executive director of sector group Specialised Nutrition...

Manufacturers should be made to declare how much potassium is in processed food, say campaigners, which could help certain consumers increase their daily intake and allow others to avoid it for health reasons. © iStock

Make potassium labelling mandatory for processed food: UK petition

By Niamh Michail

As new nutrition guidelines make labelling potassium on packaged foods mandatory in the US, a UK petition is urging the government to do the same but for different reasons - it would end the processed food "nightmare" for sufferers of Chronic...

© iStock

Marketing turns off TV & moves massively online: ASA

By Shane Starling

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has highlighted the mega-trend platform shift in marketing activity toward online with the watchdog investigating 8633 cases on the web, compared to 3920 on television in 2015.

Global omega-3 market set for 5% growth in next years according to GOED. © iStock

Special edition: Omega-3s

Omega-3 hits €28bn in 2015 – growth predicted

By Shane Starling

The global omega-3 finished product market was worth €28 billion in 2015 and is set for pan-sector growth in the coming years to add €5bn by 2018, despite sustainability and scientific challenges.

GOED also recommends 700 – 1000 mg for pregnant and lactating women, more than 1 g for people with health conditions like high blood pressure. © iStock.com / morisfoto

special edition: omega-3s

GOED on doubling EFSA’s omega-3 recommendation

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

In April this year the Global Organisation for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) published its first recommendation for EPA and DHA, as an attempt to wade in and bring unity to divergent nutrition advice.

There are a wealth of new studies investigating new efficacies for omega-3s, including a range of health effects not previously explored. © iStock.com / arijuhani

Special Edition: Omega-3s

Omega-3: Latest research developments

By Will Chu

Omega-3s have long been touted as beneficial for a range of areas such as brain, heart and eye health and dry eyes. What's new for these friendly fats? 

Governments should be proactive not reactive when it comes to protecting marine resources, warns Canadian supplier Neptune Technologies & Bioressources. © iStock.com / svega

Special edition: Omega-3s

Carrot vs. stick: What’s the key to securing a sustainable omega-3 supply?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

With around 20-25% of global wild caught fish used for fish meal and fish oil production, environmental certification schemes like Friend of the Sea (FoS) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) have been putting increasing pressure on the omega-3 sector...

Review supports safety of green tea extracts

Review supports safety of green tea extracts

By Hank Schultz

A recent systematic review of clinical trials using green tea extract underscores the ingredient’s overall safety, despite some recent associations with liver damage.

'Our ambition was to offer a very sympathetic message to consumers,' says company following second ASA run-in. iStock.com / Melpomenem

Omega Pharma: 'We weren’t clear enough'

The dangers of normalising a medical taboo

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Food supplements are often presented as a 'softer' alternative to health than pharmaceutical treatments. Yet Omega Pharma experienced first-hand the dangers of trying to normalise a medical taboo when its advertisement for a night time urination botanical...

The WHO says countries aren't doing enough to protect breastfeeding from companies promoting infant formula. Photo: iStock-Renato Borlaza

WHO slams industry over breast milk substitutes

By Jim Cornall

A new report says countries’ efforts to support breastfeeding in the face of infant formula promotion aren’t effective enough, but industry says it is playing by complicated and changing rules.

Symrise-Diana Food has paid an undisclosed sum for Nutra Canada

Cranberry players unite

By Shane Starling

Botanicals firm Diana Food has bought a Canadian start-up to expand its technology and footprint in cranberry and other fruits and pursue novel health domains.

The California-based energy drink giant has been locked in an appeals process for its EU trademark since 2013.

'Green Beans M Java Monster' canned

You’ve got fax: Monster mashed in EU trademark battle

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Monster Energy Company has lost a trademark battle with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for the wording ‘Green Beans’ following a three year argument over a lost fax.

'We’ve been in the health and wellbeing space for a while but this is the first targeted ingredient for sports and for muscle recovery and protection,' says French ingredient firm Seppic. © iStock.com / m-imagephotography

Antioxidant muscles in on emerging sport nutrition markets

By Lynda Searby

Vitafoods saw French ingredient firm Seppic setting out its stall in the sports nutrition category with the launch of a new red wine polyphenol, vitamin E and zinc complex for muscle recovery and protection.

Nutraveris ups game with nutrient-research-health claim online database (© Nutraveris)

DISPATCHES FROM VITAFOODS Europe 2016

Nutraveris showcases its online reference platform at Vitafoods

By Will Chu

French consultancy Nutraveris was at Vitafoods to make available the latest version of its nutrient-health claim database that will better enable clients to source claims and nutrition research materials.

GACS chair Professor Sir Colin Blakemore: expressed 'uninanimous' fears of committee members

Food Standards Agency in row with scientists

By Rick Pendrous

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) board last week decided to go ahead with plans to replace its General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS) with a new Science Council in the face of unanimous opposition from members of GACS, who feared the loss of independent...

© iStock.com / Zerbor

‘Natural viagra’ ruling makes a mockery of NHCR

By Lynda Searby

The Italian advertising standards body has pulled up Forsamax, a supplement for treating erectile dysfunction, for misleading advertising - providing further proof that the European Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (NHCR) has no weight in Italy,...

The ability to extend use levels of krill oil may open up market opportunities for manufacturers and its customers.© iStock.com / PilipenkoD

DISPATCHES FROM VITAFOODS EUROPE 2016

Does the recent approval for high-dose krill leave EU door ajar?

By Will Chu

The European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) authorisation of the use of a lipid extract derived from krill oil at a higher dose is set to "drive a big change for Europe" and open up health claim avenues, says one Norwegian company.