Science-backed health claims will be the key to strong growth for
manufacturers of the gut health ingredients prebiotics looking to
drive into the soaring US market.
Burgeoning ingredients firm Corn Products International will drive
harder into the nutritional ingredients market signing on a deal to
acquire a 75 per cent stake in prebiotic supplier GTC Nutrition.
A new plant sterol-based ingredient that has added minerals to
benefit bone health and reduce blood pressure has gained regulatory
approval for use on the European market.
The world's largest dairy ingredients business is aiming to ramp up
collection of colostrum from its suppliers to meet growing demand
for the ingredient in health products.
Rhodia Food has gained rights to a new bacterial stabilisation
system that allows freeze-dried probiotics to be stored at room
temperature with guaranteed stability of up to two years, according
to the firm.
Oral spray could take over from tablets and capsules as the
preferred method of delivery for vitamins and nutrients, claims a
US company that has developed a range of patented vitamin and
mineral sprays.
Swedish probiotics firm BioGaia has developed a screw cap for use
on PET bottles, which releases ingredients such as its probiotic
bacteria or vitamins into the beverage,writes Dominique
Patton.
A UK government body, charged with protecting the country's
wildlife and nature, is considering opening up more than 200 nature
reserves to bioprospecting, or the search for wild plants and
animals that could offer valuable resources...
An essential oil, used to flavour a leading chewing gum brand
manufactured by gum giant Wrigley's, also appears to tackle the
bacteria that causes bad breath, writes Lindsey Partos.
The British are not as pushed for time as they would have everyone
believe but convenience in healthcare and eating is seen as an
opportunity to free up time for other lifestyle gains, suggests a
survey of 2000 adults by Mintel.
Coca-Cola Japan is to launch a drink flavoured with fragrances
thought to activate the fat-burning process in a new joint venture
with cosmetics firm Shiseido.
Hopping on board the fast-moving low carb train, Arla Food
Ingredients, the supplier of tooth-friendly sweetener tagatose,
says a new study from Australian scientists confirms the product's
low glycaemic response.
Leading multivitamin brand Centrum has added lutein to its
formulation for the German market, taking the ingredient firmly
into Europe's mass market and establishing as a daily health
requirement, writes Dominique Patton.
Significant investment in research and closer collaboration with
Chinese institutions could help unlock the huge potential of
natural traditional medicines to treat common Western diseases, UK
scientists on a recent trade mission...
Competition in the European non-dairy sector stepped up last month
when the American organic and natural foods giant Hain Celestial
acquired the German soya-based desserts firm Natumi. A move set to
challenge the dominant player -...
A UK nutraceutical firm is hoping to develop an extract of the
plaintain banana as a medical food, after initial research shows it
could treat inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease,
writes Dominique Patton.
Decas Cranberry Products' ingredients division has introduced a new
cranberry extract that it claims offers an increased level of
anti-microbial and antioxidant properties than the leading product
in the category.
People appear to be eternally optimistic when it comes to dieting,
always believing that the next diet will lead to weight loss. But
the results of a new study suggest that this cycle of dieting will
continue as most are not prepared...
Food safety agencies around the world have been issuing updated
advice on fish consumption to consumers, with a European Food
Safety Authority (EFSA) panel calling for further research into the
side effects of mercury.
Heinz is dropping its healthy eating logo from cans of baked beans,
spaghetti and soups amid because it believes that the products will
fall foul of health targets being set by the UK government.
American company US Nutra is seeking approval to sell its
astaxanthin to UK supplement makers, as evidence of its antioxidant
potential opens up a new market.
Dutch firm Loders Croklaan Lipid Nutrition is the first company to
demonstrate the safety of its conjugated linoleic acid, a fatty
acid hailed as the next big weight loss ingredient, writes
Dominique Patton.
New measures to improve children's diets in the UK will use
celebrity endorsements and TV to promote healthy foods to kids and
their parents, writes Dominique Patton.
A Swedish R&D company has launched a slimming pill based on a
green tea concentrate that it claims is almost as effective as the
weight loss drug Xenical, without similar side effects, writes
Dominique Patton.
The success of the 'little bottle' or 'daily dose' format in the
probiotics sector is encouraging companies to launch new functional
products in the handy sized bottle, leaving out the traditional
packs altogether,...
Endomatrix, a US-based based supplements company, has identified
Europe as the biggest potential market for its flagship product
Provasca, said to relieve key causes of cardiovascular disease.
German herbal tea company Martin Bauer says it is the first to
successfully cultivate Devil's Claw, a plant native to Southern and
Eastern Africa previously only grown in the wild.
Spanish manufacturer Vitatene moves one step closer towards market
approval for its lycopene food ingredient derived from the fungus
Blakeslea trispora with the UK's novel foods committee
satisfied by safety evidence provided...
Milk and cheese remain staples of diet in most parts of the world,
but yoghurt continues to be the main engine for growth in the
global market, not least because of its versatility as a functional
product, according a recent report...
The French are the most weight-conscious Europeans, reveals a new
study, with almost a third constantly trying to lose weight. They
are also the biggest eaters of 'light' foods and most likely to
check labels for lower calories,...
Germany is Europe's largest soft drink market with the UK following
fast behind, reports a new study that predicts consumption will
soar to 186 litres per person per year by 2007.
UK drug development company Phytopharm has raised approximately
£6.5 million (€9.7m) through a new share placement in preparation
for future supply of its plant-based appetite suppressant to
manufacturers of meal replacements.
Almost one in four (23 per cent) German adults admits to often
skipping meals to keep their weight down - a massive 17.5 million
people. But according to a new survey of European dieting habits,
Germans are also the least likely to...
Dosic, the Chinese evening primrose oil supplier, pulled off a 30
per cent climb in European sales last year - with a mature product
in a mature market - by addressing the crux problem for all Chinese
producers targeting Europe.
High blood pressure patients can significantly reduce their
prescription medication by taking an antioxidant supplement to
improve heart health, show the results of a new clinical study.
Global sports and energy drinks showed continued growth in 2003,
far outpacing soft drinks in general with a 7 per cent increase,
according to new data from beverage industry analysts Canadean.
The firm that introduced CLA to the functional foods industry is
going back to its roots to concentrate on further developing
technology for health-promoting lipids.
A polyphenol extract made from selected red grapes from the south
of France has been shown to signficantly reduce lipid deposits in
arteries, and produced a greater effect than red wine, reports its
manufacturer.
The rapidly growing sales of waters with added vitamins and
minerals, or functional waters are the result of slick marketing
with little real benefit for consumers' health, according to a
report by an Australian consumer magazine.
An increasing tendency to diet is restricting intake of essential
vitamins and minerals among UK consumers, suggests the Health
Supplements Information Service, an education initiative funded by
UK supplement makers.
The US company Martek Biosciences is taking legal action against
Nutrinova Nutrition Specialties & Food Ingredients and its
owner Celanese Ventures for patent infringement, it announced on
Friday.
Spanish manufacturer of choline salts Algry Quimica has signed
several new research agreements to develop active ingredients for
pharma and food applications.
European vitamin C prices look set to rise this year despite few
signs of respite from Chinese competition. The move is seen by some
as a final attempt to make money on the commodity.
Prebiotic ingredients, said to promote gut health, have much wider
food applications than live probiotic bacteria, and could one day
be found in a greater number of functional foods than their more
established gut health cousin, suggests...
Proposals to tax fatty foods, under discussion at the World
Economic Forum in Davos last week, were once again strongly
rejected by food makers, who highlighted the progress already made
by their industry.
