Maternal & infant health

Reports urges a cultural shift to boost gut health and first 1,000 days of life

17-Jul-2020 By Will Chu

A report believes the reduction of chronic digestive disease risk and improvements to gut microbiome health can be achieved by changing behaviours and attitudes towards food consumption and production.

EFSA welcomes views on new ways to assess nutrient levels in regulated products

16-Jul-2020 By Will Chu

The European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) are launching a public consultation on how best to harmonise the approach for assessing the intake of nutrients contained within regulated products.

3D-printed supplements: Nourished taps vitamin deficiency in Middle East to expand personalised nutrition business

16-Jul-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

UK-based personalised nutrition company Nourished is eyeing the high vitamin deficiency levels in the Middle East region as an opportunity to expand its operations across the region.

Lumina Intelligence report finds potential to extend 1000-day probiotic product range

15-Jul-2020 By Will Chu

There is great potential to extend and blend the first 1000 days of nutrition with products for young children that target the same health conditions like eczema, gut health and immunity.

ISO’s new infant formula standards set out methods to assess nutrient content

14-Jul-2020 By Will Chu

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publishes new standards that help determine the nutrient makeup of infant formula ensuring compliance with regulations are met.

Bacteria in newborn's stool may indicate risk of obesity

14-Jul-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

The bacteria found in a baby's first stool can predict its likelihood of becoming overweight by the age of three, according to a new prospective, population‐based study, suggesting a child's risk of obesity may to start during pregnancy.

HMOs may offer protection from tooth decay as infant formula ingredient

09-Jul-2020 By Will Chu

Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) such as 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL), and galactooligosaccharides (GOS) that are added to infant formula may offer protection against bacterium known to cause tooth decay.

Not for babies: Stricter control over general milk formula marketing needed in China market

06-Jul-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Regulators from China and importing countries should cooperate to arrest the problem of milk formula not intended for infant consumption being marketed as such in the China market, said an industry observer.

Danone plant becomes first official carbon neutral baby formula factory

02-Jul-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Danone's production facility in Ireland is the first baby formula production site in the world to be certified carbon neutral by the Carbon Trust, an independent global climate change and sustainability consultancy.

New study highlights quality variations in commercial colostrum products

30-Jun-2020 By Stephen Daniells

The bioactivity of commercial bovine colostrum samples may vary significantly, says a new study partially funded by colostrum-based nutrition company, PanTheryx, which the company says aims to shine a spotlight on sourcing and handling.

Exposure to prenatal stress modifies offspring’s microbiota: Study

29-Jun-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Women are encouraged to look after their physical health during pregnancy, but mental health may be just as important. When babies are exposed to prenatal stress, they may be predisposed to various adverse health outcomes.

Low evidence on galactagogues’ effects in increasing breast milk production - Cochrane review

29-Jun-2020 By Tingmin Koe

There is currently only low-certainty evidence to show that consuming galactagogues can increase breast milk production in nursing mothers, with a group of Malaysian researchers who conducted a recent Cochrane systematic review recommending further studies...

Pandemic fallout sees quarter of UK adults at risk of malnutrition, survey finds

22-Jun-2020 By Will Chu

Malnutrition remains a risk for one in four adults in UK, according to a newly published survey as the pandemic continues to affect access to food across all members of the household.

New probiotic approvals: China adds three probiotic strains into new food raw material list

22-Jun-2020 By Tingmin Koe

China has approved three new probiotics strains and the plant oriental penthorum as novel food ingredients.

BIOMILQ raises $3.5m to fund mammary cell-cultured human breastmilk platform, disrupt infant nutrition market

16-Jun-2020 By Elaine Watson

BIOMILQ – a startup producing breastmilk by culturing human mammary cells - has raised $3.5m to meet the needs of the four fifths of women who transition to dairy-based formula before the recommended six-month exclusivity period for breastfeeding, but...

ANSES: ‘Limit exposure to nanomaterial-containing foods.’

12-Jun-2020 By Will Chu

France’s National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) is reiterating advice to consumers to ‘limit exposure’ of nanomaterials in food.

Iodine addition to salt can address populations’ deficiencies, says scientific committee

12-Jun-2020 By Will Chu

The addition of iodine in salt can compensate for low iodine intake in adolescents and in women of childbearing age, according to Norwegian’s Scientific Committee on Food and the Environment (VKM).

Study recommends pregnant women take additional choline during pandemic

09-Jun-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Higher prenatal choline levels may help protect the fetus's developing brain, even if the mother contracts a viral respiratory infection in early pregnancy.

Global agencies demand stronger action against ‘harmful’ breast-milk substitute ads

01-Jun-2020 By Will Chu

Countries are failing to protect parents from the ‘harmful’ promotion of breast-milk substitutes, despite efforts by The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN).

NutraCast Podcast: George Stagnitti on colostrum research

29-May-2020 By Danielle Masterson

Colostrum is often thought of as a newborn's first meal — but it isn’t just for babies.

Jennewein researchers hint at HMO’s protective nature against norovirus

29-May-2020 By Will Chu

Research involving Jennewein Biotechnologie suggests breast-fed infants are less likely than bottle-fed infants to contract norovirus infections, adding weight to the protective effects of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs).

Probiotics may improve asthma control in infants – China systematic review

27-May-2020 By Tingmin Koe

While probiotic supplementation cannot prevent asthma or wheezing, it may improve lung function and asthma control in infants, according to a new systematic review.

Baby food sector is neglecting infants’ nutritional needs, says start-up

19-May-2020 By Oliver Morrison

Little Tummy hopes to disrupt the UK baby food sector with paediatrician-developed meals with more micronutrients and less sugar than other brands on the market.

GOED Chief: ‘March was incredible for sales, April may have been slower’

18-May-2020 By Stephen Daniells

As has been reported for other dietary supplement categories, “March was an incredible month” for the omega-3 category, but reports are that those levels have not been maintained through April, said Ellen Schutt, executive director of GOED.

Child experts call for ban on marketing claims used for infant formula

12-May-2020 By Will Chu

Health and nutrition claims used in the marketing of infant and follow-on formula should be prohibited, paediatric experts think as they argue the claims may undermine efforts to support breastfeeding.

New market potential: Huge growth opportunities for infant formula in China’s lower tier cities

11-May-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

A combination of a focus on lower-tier markets and innovative marketing strategies can substantially grow sales of maternal and infant nutrition products, according to Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com.

Age and individual factors for prebiotic influence on breastmilk microbiota, study finds

15-Apr-2020 By Will Chu

Using prebiotics to manipulate the microbiota of breastmilk is possible, says researchers, who also find that the mother’s age can influence this response with these changes varying for each individual.

FSAI guidance best navigates infant formula industry on new EU laws

14-Apr-2020 By Will Chu

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) members publishes guidance for infant formula makers on how best to comply with new EU food law that came into force this year.

Thousands sign petition demanding Holland & Barrett store closures

08-Apr-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Holland & Barrett staff have set up a petition, signed by thousands of staff and customers, begging the company to close its stores during the coronavirus pandemic as they argue their lives and the lives of customers are being put at risk.

Early introduction to solids may set infants up for obesity, study suggests

07-Apr-2020 By Will Chu

Early introduction to solids may make infants more inclined to being overweight at least in part by altering the gut bacterial population, a study suggests, confirming prior studies to this observation.

EC opinion deems HMO safe to place on market as Novel Food

06-Apr-2020 By Will Chu

The European Commission (EC) is to allow lacto-N-tetraose (LNT) to be placed on the market as a Novel Food for use in food supplements and infant product formulations.

Prenatal folic acid supplementation may also offer cognitive benefits for children

26-Mar-2020 By Stephen Daniells

The importance of folic acid before conception and during the first trimester are well established, but new data from Ireland indicates that maintaining supplementation beyond the first trimester may lead to cognitive performance benefits for the child.

News in Brief

New ingredients revealed for natural calcium-rich baby foods

26-Mar-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Omya, the global producer of mineral ingredients based in Switzerland, has developed a natural, easy to process source of calcium that can be added to a range of infant food and formula solutions.

IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas 2020 postponed until November

24-Mar-2020 By NutraIngredients-USA

In light of the ongoing novel Coronavirus (COVID19) public health emergency, IPA World Congress + Probiota Americas has been postponed until November 16-18, 2020 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel, Washington DC.

DuPont bolsters APC Microbiome connection with new infant health project

13-Mar-2020 By Will Chu

DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences and APC Microbiome Ireland further strengthen their existing partnership with a new collaborative project looking into rebalancing babies’ gut bacteria.

‘Errant products’: TGA fines Caruso, Juice Plus, and bars HK weight loss capsules from entering

10-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Australia’s health foods brands Caruso Natural Health and Juice Plus were recently fined for false claims and advertising breaches respectively, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced in a statement.

EDITOR'S SPOTLIGHT: SCIENCE & REGULATION

Spanish authorities aim for greater supplement transparency with online product database

04-Mar-2020 By Will Chu

The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) makes available an online resource that lists details of food supplements and infant formula products marketed in Spain, which they say promotes greater transparency.

Organizers postpone Expo West trade show over COVID-19 cancellations

03-Mar-2020 By Hank Schultz

The Natural Products Expo West trade show has been postponed, the organizers announced late Monday.

Strong growth in China but COVID-19 brings uncertainty to demand and supply chain: a2 Milk

02-Mar-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The a2 Milk Company said revenue from China was “above expectations” in Jan and Feb, but the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak had brought uncertainty to consumer demand and supply chain.

High-dose supplement intake common during pregnancy, study finds

28-Feb-2020 By Will Chu

Calls for healthcare providers to better advise supplement dosage during pregnancy have been made after a study finds intake at high doses common among women in the pregnant and lactating stage.

Taurine supplementation may slow down cardiac and visual degeneration: Study

27-Feb-2020 By Will Chu

A taurine-based food supplement might halt progression of an eye disease and address a cardiac condition by compensating for the amino acid’s deficiency as a result of a gene mutation.

Boosting DHA absorption: Malaysia RCT shows effectiveness of microencapsulated tuna oil for toddlers

26-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Toddlers fed with microencapsulated tuna oil have a higher DHA level and omega-3 index, according to a trial conducted in Malaysia.

DSM acquires HMO firm Glycom in €765m deal

25-Feb-2020 By Will Chu

Royal DSM has reached agreement to acquire Danish Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO) supplier Glycom in a deal worth €765m.

Babies and probiotics: Bill Gates-backed probiotic firm to embark on research in Singapore, Hong Kong

25-Feb-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Evolve BioSystems, the US-based microbiome firm supported by big name investors Bill Gates and Li Ka Shing, will soon embark on local research in the APAC region, namely Singapore and Hong Kong.

Some infant formula milks contain more sugar than breastmilk, study claims

24-Feb-2020 By Will Chu

Findings from a new study suggests that globally, infant formula products are higher in carbohydrates, sugar and lactose than breastmilk with labelling branded unclear and inconsistent between countries.