Maternal & infant health

Over 75% of Spanish GPs prescribe synbiotics & omega-3 oils to kids, study says

30-Sep-2019 By Will Chu

Research looking into the use of dietary supplements among Spanish paediatricians finds over 75% prescribe synbiotics, omega-3 oils and others to their patients.

Early Bird Deadline Is Tonight

Don't Miss Out: Probiota 2020 early bird tickets end today!

26-Sep-2019 By Nathan Gray

After its sell-out 2019 edition in Copenhagen, Probiota will be heading to Dublin in February 2020. Check out the key themes and outline agenda for the leading probiotic, prebiotic and microbiome event … and register now for the three-day festival of...

Israel champions personalised nutrition in FoodTech incubator launch

17-Sep-2019 By Will Chu

An Israeli collaboration of investors, food and beverage manufacturers are launching a FoodTech incubator focusing on improving food’s nutritional value as well as advancing personalised nutrition.

EFSA update: ‘No single age to introduce infant complementary feeding’

17-Sep-2019 By Will Chu

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) says there is no single age to introduce complementary infant feeding in Europe, citing individual characteristics and development as deciding factors.

EFSA expresses concern over thyroid effects of Moringa leaf extract

17-Sep-2019 By Will Chu

A technical report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) details safety concerns the Agency has for placing leaf powder of Moringa stenopetala on the market as a traditional food (TF).

UK NHS to limit probiotic, vitamin & mineral prescriptions in cost-cutting proposals

16-Sep-2019 By Will Chu

Probiotics, vitamins and minerals are under scrutiny by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) as a governing body proposes their removal from a list of routinely prescribed remedies.

EFSA finally establishes safe sodium and chloride values after ten years

12-Sep-2019 By Will Chu

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) finally publish dietary reference values (DRVs) for sodium and chloride marking the culmination of a decade’s work by the Agency’s nutrition scientists.

Study looks to aid formula makers with gut role in breast milk sugar uptake

10-Sep-2019 By Will Chu

Researchers detail the role of transport proteins in nutrient uptake from breast milk, which the team say will aid formula makers to enrich their product with the sugars breast-fed children receive.

High fat diet during pregnancy linked to Alzheimer's prevention in babies

30-Aug-2019 By Nikki Hancocks

A high-fat diet during pregnancy could help protect babies against brain changes associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Pilot study: Pomegranate juice shows promise for baby brain development

23-Aug-2019 By Nikki Hancocks

Consuming pomegranate juice daily during pregnancy may protect brain development and brain connectivity in growth restricted babies, a new pilot study has revealed.

Influence of father’s folate intake on offspring health underestimated, study finds

21-Aug-2019 By Will Chu

Paternal folate intake may influence a baby’s health and gestation period as a study thinks preconception care should shift from a woman-centric to a couple-based approach.

Research reasserts delivery mode influence on kids' skin microbiome

20-Aug-2019 By Will Chu

The delivery mode affects skin microbiome diversity, researchers assert as a new study shines a light on the influence of maternal factors that shape the bacterial population on a child’s skin.

Norwegian Authority warns pregnant women to avoid ginger supplements

19-Aug-2019 By Will Chu

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority warns pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant to avoid ginger supplements and ginger-containing shots.

High aluminium levels found in matcha tea samples, warns German government agency

05-Aug-2019 By Will Chu

Investigations by The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) finds a selection of matcha tea samples to be high in aluminium, exceeding levels set by the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA).

Danish Food Agency increases iodine in salt to combat rising deficiency

02-Aug-2019 By Will Chu

The Danish Food Agency is to increase the amount of iodine in salt in a move that looks to address a deficiency in pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as in the country’s general population.

Coffee overload? New data backs up link between caffeine during pregnancy and baby's liver damage

01-Aug-2019 By Nathan Gray

Consuming high levels of caffeine during pregnancy could hinder liver development of your baby and increase the risk of liver disease in adulthood, warns new animal data that backs up previous suggestions.

NEWS IN BRIEF

MHRA provides update to IV nutrition supply issue

31-Jul-2019 By Will Chu

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has stepped in to ensure the safety of patients using total parenteral nutrition (TPN) bags supplied by Calea UK.

Editor's Spotlight

High cost of ‘health foods’ helps drive malnutrition: Study

26-Jul-2019 By Nathan Gray

The high prices of healthy foods, coupled with an abundance of cheap unhealthy foods, remains a prime contributor to malnutrition globally, warn researchers.

Malnutrition progress ‘too slow’ as Africa and Asia shoulder burden, says UN report

17-Jul-2019 By Will Chu

A United Nations (UN) report says progress made on eradicating malnutrition is too slow to achieve the 2025 and 2030 global nutrition targets as Africa and Asia continue to bear the brunt of food insecurity.

Researchers hail promise of gut microbe-boosting food for malnourished children

16-Jul-2019 By Will Chu

A new therapeutic food designed to repair the gut microbiomes of malnourished children looks to have reset their metabolic and growth profiles on a healthier trajectory, researchers conclude.

Corporate marketing and ‘misinformation’ undermining breastfeeding efforts, say researchers

16-Jul-2019 By Will Chu

Researchers identify the aggressive marketing of baby formula as one obstacle preventing mothers from breastfeeding, which can help prevent diarrhoea and pneumonia in children.

Microbiota and pregnancy: Short-chain fatty acid fermentation linked to reduced risk of complications - Australian study

16-Jul-2019 By Gary Scattergood

A mother’s gut bacteria and diet are crucial in promoting a healthy pregnancy, with reduced levels of the short-chain fatty acid acetate – produced by fermentation in the gut – being linked to an increase risk of preeclampsia.

Kaneka moves to acquire AB-Biotics in non-hostile takeover bid

15-Jul-2019 By Will Chu

AB-Biotics is the subject of a €38m takeover bid by its largest shareholder Kaneka Europe, who are looking to acquire the remaining 60% of the Spanish probiotic specialists, valuing the firm at €63m.

French nutrition guide to tackle chronic diseases in young, elderly and mothers

11-Jul-2019 By Will Chu

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) looks to prevent chronic disease by publishing updated nutritional guidance for children, elderly and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Supplement regulation delay puts consumers ‘in jeopardy,’ insists Romanian industry group

08-Jul-2019 By Will Chu

The Romanian Association of the Self-Care Industry (RASCI) expresses frustration with the country’s delay in approving food supplement regulation saying it “jeopardises” the safety of its consumers.

Vitamin-enriched “fertility drip” withdrawn after criticism from experts

04-Jul-2019 By Will Chu

A company offering a vitamin and mineral-infused “fertility drip” has withdrawn the product and apologised after doctors expressed concern over claims it could offer fertility benefits to women.

The goat standard: Researchers hail prebiotic and anti-infection properties of goat milk infant formula

28-Jun-2019 By Nikki Cutler

A new lab study has revealed the diversity of oligosaccharides in goat's milk-based infant formula and its similarity to human milk

DuPont promote immune benefits in pregnancy with Lactobacillus probiotic

25-Jun-2019 By Will Chu

DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences’ Howaru platform adds another probiotic product to the stable with the release of Protect Prenatal+ probiotic formula aimed at women during pregnancy.

Pre-pregnancy micronutrient supplementation may be crucial to maternal health while expecting: RCT

25-Jun-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Multiple micronutrient supplementation before pregnancy may be necessary to minimise the incidence of micronutrient deficiency among rural Bangladeshi women, according to an RCT by researchers in the US, Bangladesh and Thailand.

Probi’s ‘pregnancy probiotic’ proves potent in preventing anaemia

24-Jun-2019 By Will Chu

Swedish bioengineering company Probi reveals its probiotic-focused product improves iron status in pregnant women in a study that highlights this gut-related approach in tackling a growing problem

Nutrition Asia

WATCH: How will China's e-commerce and infant formula regulations shape the future for foreign firms?

20-Jun-2019 By Cheryl Tay

China's food and nutrition regulations have been closely watched by brands, suppliers and consumers alike, with infant formula and e-commerce being particularly important issues for both domestic and overseas players.

EFSA opinion deems HMO blend safe for infant formula use

19-Jun-2019 By Will Chu

The European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) report no safety concerns with the use of a 2’‐fucosyllactose/difucosyllactose (2’‐FL/DFL) mixture in infant formula and food supplements.

Nestlé looks to boost breastfeeding with probiotic solution

18-Jun-2019 By Nikki Cutler

Nestlé has launched a probiotic solution for lactating mothers to help reduce the risk of breast pain and mastitis and allow them to continue breastfeeding.

UK Government to press ahead with folic acid flour fortification

17-Jun-2019 By Will Chu

The UK government are proposing plans to fortify flour with folic acid in moves to stem the number of birth defects linked to the dietary deficiency of the vitamin.

Researchers reveal issues with WHO recommended pregnancy supplements

17-Jun-2019 By Will Chu

Prenatal supplements containing micronutrients such as zinc, iodine, and vitamin A, could prove more effective than the iron-folic acid supplements suggested in current health policies, say researchers.

'Little association' between iron and pregnancy likelihood, finds study

14-Jun-2019 By Will Chu

Supplementation with iron does not generally increase the chances of conception, but may help women who are already iron-deficient, say researchers

DuPont further streamlines operations with Nutrition & Biosciences unit creation

31-May-2019 By Will Chu

DuPont Nutrition & Health and Industrial Biosciences Businesses are to merge in €5.6bn creation of the Nutrition & Biosciences business unit spread across 70 manufacturing sites and 25 innovation centres worldwide.

Supermarket lighting may negatively affect milk nutrient content

29-May-2019 By Will Chu

Lighting found in supermarket dairy cabinets reduce essential nutrients found in milk, such as vitamins A, B2 (riboflavin) and D, according to research from the UK.

EC follows EFSA opinion and lowers vit D levels in infant formula

24-May-2019 By Will Chu

The European Commission (EC) has amended regulation that dictates vitamin D and erucic acid requirements for infant and follow-on formula.

Study linking vitamin D to autism retracted over reliability issues

21-May-2019 By Will Chu

Journal editors have withdrawn a paper said to be the first randomised controlled trial looking into vitamin D supplement links to autism after concerns over the findings’ reliability.

EC adds protein-rich yeast biomass to the Novel Foods catalogue

16-May-2019 By Will Chu

The European Commission (EC) confirms Yarrowia lipolytica yeast biomass’ inclusion to the Novel Foods catalogue intended as a key ingredient for use in food supplements.

New products in infant nutrition sift through limited number of ingredients

15-May-2019 By Hank Schultz

The infant nutrition market is characterized by few new ingredients, but lots of new players, according to information shared at a recent event hosted by ingredient supplier DSM.

OmegaQuant omega-3 tests gain European approval

15-May-2019 By Nathan Gray

US-based OmegaQuant is aiming for European growth, as the company celebrates its recent EU medical device approval by setting up a new lab in the UK.

News in brief

ESI Nutrition’s infant nutrition powders now approved for export to China

14-May-2019 By Jim Cornall

ESI Nutrition, a division of French dairy cooperative Laïta, has received approval from Chinese authorities (GACG - General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China) allowing it to produce infant formulas in powder for China at...

And the winners of the NutraIngredients Awards 2019 are...

Revealed: Find out who won at the NutraIngredients Awards 2019

09-May-2019 By Nathan Gray

More than 270 industry leaders helped 34 finalists in 12 categories to celebrate success and innovation across the nutrition and wellness industry … as the NutraIngredients Awards 2019 shone a light on nutrition’s brightest stars.

NutraIngredients-USA Awards 2019: And the finalists are…

08-May-2019 By Stephen Daniells

NutraIngredients-USA is pleased to announce the finalists for the NutraIngredients-USA Awards 2019... the winners will be announced at our awards evening in New Orleans on June 3rd.

Current methods to develop nutrition guidelines ‘not fit for purpose’ argue researchers

29-Apr-2019 By Will Chu

Nutrition guidelines must ask the right questions and include a degree of complexity to improve their relevance and quality, according to a research team writing in the BMJ.

Heinz reels from latest probiotic health claim rejection by EFSA

18-Apr-2019 By Will Chu

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has rejected a health claim related to a probiotic that claims to boost the immune system against pathogens in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts.

NEWS IN BRIEF

EFSA asks for industry views in setting complimentary infant feeding age

18-Apr-2019 By Will Chu

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are asking the industry’s view on the Agency’s decision that deems the appropriate age to introduce complementary infant feeding to be 3-6 months.

NEWS IN BRIEF

EFSA deem protein isolates safe for extended use in infant formula and supplements

16-Apr-2019 By Will Chu

The European Food and Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) concludes that whey basic protein isolates are safe under new proposed conditions of use.