Breaking News on Supplements & Nutrition - EuropeUS edition

Disptaches from Microbiota 2011

IPA co-founder: EU probiotic approach is “dirty pool”

Jarrow Rogovin, never a man to mince his words, says it is high time the IPA and other trade groups stepped up to the plate to defend a sector that has been under regulatory siege on both sides of the Atlantic for several years.

Mead Johnson confident in baby formula safety despite share plunge

Mead Johnson shares plunged by nearly 20% at one point yesterday on news that one of its baby formula products was removed from the shelves of the biggest US retailer after being linked to the death of an infant.

2011: The year that was

From health claims to heated herbal disputes to stressed tomato antioxidants, microflora revelations and cranberry wars, 2011 was another eventful year in the European healthy foods and supplements space.

Naturex adds to pectin and juice concentrate portfolio with Polish acquisition

Continuing on its recent acquisition trail, French botanicals group Naturex has bought up Polish pectin and juice concentrates manufacturer, Pektowin, in a bid to strengthen its concentrates portfolio and expand into emerging regions.

Barentz bolsters UK presence with life-sciences acquisition

€650m Dutch supplier Barentz Europe has built on its ever-expanding European and global presence by acquiring UK life sciences firm, Forum Products Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

Red Bull fights Pit Bull filler to EU court defeat

Simply filling a soft drink bearing a trademarked brand name does not itself violate an EU directive regarding use of that sign, according to the European Court of Justice (CJEU) in a high-profile ruling involving Red Bull.

Researchers argue vitamin therapy can still reduce stroke

Reducing levels of the amino acid homocysteine through vitamin therapy still has a role to play in reducing stroke, argue researchers.

Bulgarian authorities bust DMAA shipment worth €1.6m

Bulgarian customs officers have confiscated 2kg of the controversial stimulant,1,3-dimethylamylamine (DMAA), at Sofia airport – believed to have been derived from Chinese sources.

Baby death sees Mead Johnson infant formula stripped off shelves

Wal-Mart says it had withdrawn a batch of powdered infant formula produced by Mead Johnson Nutrition after a Missouri baby fed the formula died of a suspected bacterial infection, according to the Associated Press.

News in brief

Vitae caps changes name to Vitae Naturals

11-year-old Spanish supplier Vitae Caps has changed its name to Vitae Naturals to reflect its natural-sourced business that includes vitamin E – and remove ambiguity around having the word ‘caps’ in its company name.

Yakult never presented the basic evidence for probiotic health claim, says consultant

Yakult failed to present the most basic evidence and sought a too-complicated immunity claim in the controversially rejected immunity health claim for its probiotic drinks, a UK consultant has said.

Exclusive interview

Beneo: Prebiotic health claim rejections have put prospects “on hold”

The second part of this exclusive interview sees Beneo executive board member, Yves Servotte, explaining the cooling but not crushing effect of EU prebiotic health claim rejections on its inulin-chicory business.

Soy compounds may boost cancer treatment effectiveness: Mouse study

Oral supplementation with soy isoflavones could help to make radiation treatment of lung cancer tumours more effective while helping to preserve normal tissue, according to new research.

2012 set to see some heavyweight M&A activity? Definitely, say leading food market analysts

Is there appetite for M&A activity in 2012? Food market watchers reckon the sector could see some heavyweight deals next year despite the on-going credit lending challenges.

News in brief

Researchers discover ‘normal’ function of vitamin E

Scientists claim to have uncovered the first evidence for one of vitamin E's normal bodily functions.

Yakult: Health claim rejection doesn’t affect our claims

Japanese probiotics giant Yakult says the writing into law of its rejected EU health claim for upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) benefits won’t alter its core sell in European markets that remained, “stable”.

Exclusive interview

Beneo board: “Let us not forget that functional food responds to a clear demand of the consumer”

In the first part of this exclusive interview, Beneo Group executive board member, Yves Servotte, explains how European Union health claim rules have informed strategic thinking at one of Europe’s biggest and most vocal ingredient vendors.

Gut microbe diversity is key in fight against allergies, study suggests

Children with a diverse variety of bacteria in their gut may have better protection against allergies, according to new research.

Folic acid plus B12 shows brain function benefits in older people

Long term supplementation of folic acid and vitamin B12 may promote improvements in brain functioning in older people, according to new research.

Dispatches from FIE 2011

Clinical trial design in the new EU health claims regime: “Now we have to work on the borderline”

How to demonstrate health benefits among healthy human beings? That is the challenge new European Union health claim laws have set contract research organisations (CROs) and others involved in trial design. A tough challenge yes, but not an insurmountable one, say two of Europe’s leading experts in the area.

Kalahari tribe throws weight at Unilever over hoodia rejection

South Africa’s San people say food giant Unilever was working off inaccurate research data when it decided to bin a €20m investment in hoodia gordonii, the Kalahari cactus the San have used for centuries to curb hunger pangs.

Dutch industry aims for 100% responsible soy by 2015

Members of the Dutch food industry have jointly announced an intention to move towards responsibly produced soy sourcing by 2015.

Herbalife: Belgian court judgment contains factual errors

Direct selling giant Herbalife says it will appeal last month’s ruling in a commercial court in Brussels stating it had violated Belgian law on unfair commercial practices.

Harvard meta-analysis supports benefits of algal DHA omega-3

Algae-derived docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation may boost levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and cut levels of triglycerides, says the first systematic review and meta-analysis of on lipid levels.

EFSA head votes Yes in our poll - the agency should block its staff from taking up revolving door jobs

Poll results: 66% of readers say the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) should block its staff from taking up ‘revolving door’ jobs …. and the head of the EU risk assessor agrees.

Calcium plus vitamin D may cut body fat levels: RCT data

Daily supplements of calcium plus vitamin D may help slim fat around the waist, according to a new study from Coca-Cola and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dispatches from Microbiota 2011

Nutrigenetics “was clearly a too-focused approach”, says nutrigenomicist

Studying the inter-relation between nutritional inputs and genetics has expanded quickly from five or 10 human genes to five or ten thousand or more. But is that a useful leap?

Fruit and veg consumption may effect colorectal cancer risk: Study

The consumption of different types of fruits and vegetables may have differing effects on the risks of colorectal cancer, and could directly affect the site where such cancers occur, say researchers.

Slovenian firm reaps rewards of “huge” health claims investment

Valens, the Slovenian ingredients and supplements manufacturer, is celebrating its barley beta-glucan, LDL cholesterol-lowering health claims victory, it says would not have been possible without a “huge investment”.

EFSA health claims guidance

Heavyweight comments inform EFSA antioxidant-heart health claim guidance

Input from Nestlé, Kellogg, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, DSM, Unilever, Cargill, Ocean Spray, Kraft, Danone, Health Canada, the University of Milan and 45 other parties has informed fresh EFSA guidance on antioxidant and cardiovascular health claims.

New research boosts case for caffeine in sports performance

The addition of caffeine to carbohydrate could help to boost athletes’ performance of skilled tasks in addition to boosting endurance, according to UK researchers.

Dispatches from Microbiota 2011

Genomics fires Microbiota 2011 to new heights

Mapping the microbiome and the increasing sophistication of gene sequencing and analysis have in just a few years completely changed the research landscape for microbiota, and looks set to answer many to-date unresolved ‘mechanism of action’ questions.

News in brief

Vitamin Angels gets 5 million vitamin A doses from Ocean Nutrition Canada

Omega-3 giant Ocean Nutrition Canada has donated five million doses of vitamin A to Vitamin Angels, and the company continues its longstanding relationship with the charitable organization.

Dispatches from Microbiota 2011

Researchers close in on the ‘black box’ of bacterial vaginosis

Dr Jacques Ravel, one the world’s leading vaginal microbia researchers, says revelations about differing ‘community types’ of vaginal bacteria could drastically improve treatments for the common condition, vaginosis.

EFSA health claim opinions

EFSA issues mixed bag for sugar beet fibre as barley beta-glucan’s claim success

Barley beta-glucan’s have won two separate article 14 opinions for cholesterol lowering and heart health, while its mixed news for sugar beet fibre claims and digestive health in the latest round of EFSA claim opinions.

EFSA scientific reputation at stake? We want your opinion

Following the ruling of the EU Ombudsman that EFSA did not observe the relevant procedural rules and did not carry out a thorough review of the potential conflict of interests arising from the move of an ex-employee to a biotechnology firm, we want to know if you agree.

EFSA opens up on health claims (possibilities) in Berlin, says EHPM

Europe’s leading trade group for small to medium-sized healthy food and supplement purveyors has welcomed signals from EFSA that it is more open than ever to stakeholder input over health claim decisions and methodologies.

Botanical supplements may contain harmful compounds: Study

There is a need for better regulation and quality control of plant-based food supplements and ingredients – as they may contain potentially harmful agents, say researchers.

Dispatches from Microbiota 2011

Big future forecast for pre- and probiotics

The Boston-based Human Microbiome Project is three years into a five-year project that is throwing up revelations about how human microorganisms behave – and its leader predicts a big future for pre- and probiotics.

Grapefruit compound may boost diabetic kidney health

Supplementing the diet with naringenin, a compound from grapefruit, may reduce markers of inflammation and boost kidney health in diabetics, suggests data from a study with mice.

Fish rich diet may protect young women from heart disease, study suggests

Consumption of omega-3 rich fish may help to protect young women of child bearing age from risk of heart disease, according to new research.

Fenugreek seed extracts show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential

The functional compounds that make up fenugreek spice seeds may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits akin to those suggested by traditional medicine, say researchers.

News in brief

Six month rejected health claim transition period will cause stock shortages, says EHPM

The six-month transition period for rejected, article 13, general function health claims is too short to give companies’ the chance to change their labeling and...

UK medicines agency commits to botanicals “crackdown”

Borderline botanical products making medicinal or therapeutic claims but not holding appropriate registrations under new European Union laws, are coming under increased scrutiny from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which says it has instigated a “crackdown”.

Comment

Lobbyists, start your engines: Can a new health claims formula be won in the European Parliament?

Five years ago the European Union nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) became law. Around the bloc, hopeful EU healthy foods and supplements stakeholders submitted more than 44,000 health claim applications.

Probiotics may boost immune health markers for smokers: Study

Daily supplements of the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain may boost activity of key immune cells in smokers, says a new study.

News in brief

Institut Rosell-Lallemand launches probiotic stick in France and Mexico

Institut Rosell-Lallemand has teamed up with local partners in France and Mexico to launch a probiotic stick it markets on stress-busting claims.

Sachets, dissolvable strips and vitamin gum: Which new delivery formats have legs? Part II

Sprinkle and go? Manufacturers are seeking ever more appealing ways of delivering a meaningful dose of what’s good for us without making us pop pills. But which novel delivery formats for dietary supplements have staying power?

Rare gene may link MS to vitamin D

A rare genetic mutation that results in low vitamin D levels appears to be directly linked to multiple sclerosis, according to new research.

DMAA debated on prime time Italian TV

An Italian TV news programme featured USP Labs’ pre-workout supplement Jack3D this week, exploring the safety and origin concerns growing around the stimulant constituent, DMAA (1,3-Dimethylamylamine).

Acai compound shows potent anti-inflammatory activity: Study

The potential heart health benefits of acai and its extracts may be linked to the potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of a compound called velutin, new research suggests.

News in brief

Creatine health claim should be removed from positive list

The positive health claim for creatine and sports performance that was one of 222 that passed to the European parliament for writing into European law, should be put on ice, because it is confounded by conditions of use (CoU), a UK consultant has said.

Krill oil shows colitis potential: Rat study

A diet supplemented with krill oil helps to improve the markers of colitis and IBD in a rat model of the disease, say researchers.

FHI "getting its act together" for positive EFSA opinions

A trial underway will provide the substantiation that EFSA needs in order to get a health claim for a protein mix used in combination with an exercise programme for improving muscle mass in the elderly, claims value-added dairy project Food for Health Ireland (FHI).

Kaneka eyes antioxidant claims with olive oil partnership

Global coEnzymeQ10 leader, Kaneka Corporation, is teaming with Italian olive oil specialist, Costa d’Oro, over a coQ10 olive oil that will make antioxidant and anti-ageing claims.

Men may benefit from omega-3 EPA more than women: Study

Daily supplements of the omega-3 fatty acid EPA may benefit men more than women in terms of their stroke or heart attack risk linked to blood clots, suggests new data from Australia.

MHRA refutes ECJ influence in UK herbal supplements policing

UK regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), says investigations are ongoing into a number of ‘borderline’ herbal products, and that its enforcement actions are not being swayed by recent European Union court decisions.

Taura targets Asian and US markets with fruit and veg inclusions

Taura Natural Ingredients, which was launching is URC Inclusions range at FIE in Paris last week, is aiming to enter both the US and Asian confectionery, snack, breakfast cereal and bakery markets with fruit and vegetable pieces produced by rapid concentration.

Dietary antioxidants may reduce stroke risk in women: Study

Increasing the intake of antioxidants in the diet is associated with a reduced risk of stroke in women, according to new research.

EFSA health claim opinions

EFSA rejects glucosamine, coffee, diacylglycerol (DAG) oil health claims

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has sent an ominous warning that recently-submitted health claim dossiers will fare any better than those that have gone before, with three fresh article 13.5 rejections.

Dispatches from FIE 2011

VP on Bio Serae and CNI merger: “It was difficult for the customer to understand who we were”

When French firm Iranex announced in November that it was merging Bio Serae Laboratoires and Colloides Naturels International (CNI) to form Nexira (an anagram of Iranex), some wondered about the wisdom of scrapping two established and recognised brands.

Pine bark extract shows brain health benefits: Study

Daily supplements of a French maritime pine bark extract may enhance mental performance, according to a new study with Italian university students.

Low vitamin D status may be associated with diabetes development

Obese children with low levels of vitamin D may be at higher risks of developing risk factors associated with diabetes such as insulin resistance, according to new research.

News in brief

Two French food supplement associations to merge after “difficult negotiations”

The two major French food supplement groups – Synadiet and the SDCA – have reached an agreement to merge their activities, commencing January 1, 2012, after months of what one insider described as “difficult negotiations”.

222 health claim winners set for EU law books…and 2000 losers

Five years after the controversial European Union nutrition and health regulation (NHCR) was enacted, an article 13 general function health claims register of about 2200 claims has been OK’d by the European Commission and member states and is likely to be EU law within three months.

Dispatches from FIE 2011

Soy market flat? Fat chance, says Solae CEO, as ‘flexitarian’ eating rises

Growing numbers of part-time vegetarians, or ‘flexitarians’, are feeding demand for soy products, says the chief of the biggest soy supplier in the world, who refutes suggestions the soy market is flattening out in some regions.

Strawberry extracts show heart benefits in obese people

Daily supplements of strawberry powder may improve heart health measures in obese people, suggest results of a new pilot study from the USDA and the University of California, Davis.

Provexis keeps Fruitflow powder dry, axes UK R&D facility

UK plc Provexis plans to shut its UK research and development (R&D) facility, as the company seeks to reposition itself within the sports nutrition market and co-develop a powder version of heart health ingredient Fruitflow with DSM, which it says will be key to striking deals with global brand owners.

Natural red food dye shows potential Alzheimer’s benefits: Study

Orcein – a natural red dye used in foods – could help to reduce neuronal dysfunction and memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease, according to new research

Dispatches from FIE 2011

Beneo: “We need to have a new future now”

Today the European Commission meets to decide whether or not to send the controversial European Union health claims register to the European Parliament – now is no time to abort the process says European ingredients giant, Beneo.

Dispatches from FIE 2011

Cranberry claim winner tells Ocean Spray: “Stay in your bogs”

Last week global cranberry leader, Ocean Spray, announced it was working on settling the long-running and divisive debate about how best to measure the berry’s active constituents – but the move has not been welcomed by the man who won the world’s first-ever cranberry health claim.

Food firms look to sensory claims

Frustrated food and drink manufacturers are considering sensory claims in preference to health claims; few of which have been approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

News in brief

Codex forms online nutrient reference group

International supplement companies are welcoming the establishment of a Codex group to debate nutrient reference values (NRCs) around 28 individual nutrients.

Dispatches from FIE 2011

Oat beta glucan makes claims on European cholesterol market

The European Union cholesterol-lowering market has a new player after an oat beta glucan's claim was written in to European law books this month.

Green tea flavonoid may benefit liver transplant patients

The green tea flavonoid epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) could help in the preventing re-infection with of the virus hepatitis C following liver transplants, suggest researchers.

Polyphenols in apple peel show colitis potential: Mouse study

Oral ingestion of antioxidant polyphenols from apple peels have been shown to suppress inflammatory immune responses that may prevent colitis, according to new research in mice.

Monthly Career Insider

Why is a risk worth taking...? Leading Unilever R&D expert reveals all

FoodNavigator launches a new series - Monthly Career Insider - whereby we profile leading industry lights, asking them how they got to where they are, their key insights into the sector and advice they can impart for anyone wanting to move into their particular field.

Quercetin heart benefits may be linked to genes: Study

Daily supplements of the polyphenol quercetin may boost levels of good cholesterol and decrease blood pressure, but benefits for waist size may be linked to our genetics, says a new study from Germany.

Probiotic ice cream shows oral health potential: Study

Eating ice cream containing probiotic strains may reduce levels of the bacteria in the mouth responsible for tooth decay, says a new study from India.

Dispatches from FiE

Solbar glad new owners can not only count soy beans, but grow them

Israeli soy player Solbar was acquired by the US farmers co-op, CHS last month, an acquisition the company welcomes for more than just financial reasons after some difficult years.

Consumers want back-to-basics omega-3s

Omega-3 consumers are showing a back-to-basics preference, which is favouring natural products, according to research conducted by Finnish market research firm Invenire Market Intelligence.

FiE 2011 Live - As it happens

NutraIngredients and FoodNavigator team bring you the lates news and views and tweets from the Food Ingredients Europe conference and expo. Throughout the 3 day event we will keep you updated with the latest updates from the Twitter-sphere.