Milk fermented with Lactobacillus casei may help to alleviate fever caused by norovirus gastroenteritis by correcting imbalances of intestinal microflora, according to a new study.
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).
In the first part of our special series on inflammation, NutraIngredients puts the physiological process of inflammation under the microscope, and casts an eye over the nutritional approaches to counter rising inflammation.
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...
Dietary supplementation with chitin-glucan may beneficially alter the gut microflora and improve metabolic processes associated with obesity, suggests new data from a mouse study.
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.
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.
Researchers from Portugal have developed an optimum process for obtaining whey cheese matrices via thermal processing and inoculating them with probiotic cultures.
A daily dose of dried plums is more effective for constipation relief than the soluble fiber psyllium, say results from a randomized clinical trial that support claims from grandmothers the world over.
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...
Chr Hansen has teamed up with Vietnamese dairy giant Vinamilk to develop bio science-based nutritional products for children – with the first product, containing BB-12 and LLG cultures due for launch.
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.
China-Biotics has filed five new patents for its probiotics as it plans to enter new condition areas like feminine hygiene and infant diarrhea, and microencapsulated probiotics for harsh manufacturing conditions.
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 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.
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.
A number of major food companies are interested in licensing carotenoid-producing bacteria with probiotic benefits, according to a professor leading research into them.
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.
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.
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.
The author of a high-profile study suggesting that a daily Yakult dose could reduce the incidence and severity of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) has hit back at criticism of his paper by EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority).
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.
European launches of probiotic drinks may have declined in recent years but analysts remain confident that the category still has strong global potential.
Increasing consumer awareness of the relation between nutrition and health means there are growing opportunities for milk and dairy products launched on a functional foods platform, say Indian researchers.
Intervention studies, using better clinical biomarkers are needed in order to establish the health benefits of natural and synthetic fibers, according to a new review paper.
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...
French Canadian company Institut Rosell has agreed a seven-year partnership with Swedish probiotic research and the development firm Probi covering dietary supplements based on its bacterial Lp299v strain.
Flavanol compounds derived from cocoa may boost the populations of beneficial bacteria in the intestine, says a new study from Mars and the University of Reading.
It’s been a bad year for good bacteria: A raft of negative health claims opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has left many in the industry predicting trouble ahead for probiotics and prebiotics in Europe. But Professor Tine Rask Licht,...
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) confirmed at its Board Management meeting last week that the resources do not exist to accommodate meetings between its health claims panel and parties before claim submissions are formally made.
Daily supplements of select probiotic strains may reduce the risk of premature birth, and the complications that results from being born pre-term, say two new studies.
Four groups with an interest in pre- and probiotics will today send a letter to the European Commission and European Food Safety Authority spelling out their ongoing concerns with the European Union health claims system that, to date, has unanimously...
Differentiating between disease risk factors and disease reduction in the way that the 2006 nutrition and health claim regulation does is too arbitrary and needs revision, according to a German nutrition professor. But if such a change is needed, who...
Postbiotic ingredients are set to open up a world of opportunities across the human health and nutrition industry, fueled by developing science demonstrating...
