Dosage forms & delivery formats

Top 12 trends for food, nutrition and health

18-Dec-2013 By Michael Stones

Naturally functional products leads the top 12 food, nutrition and health trends identified by New Nutrition Business in its latest infographic.

Dispatches from #FIE2013

‘Shrink it and pink it’? Women deserve better, says UK sports nutrition firm

03-Dec-2013 By Shane STARLING

Putting a male-oriented sports nutrition product into a petite, pink package is a lazy way to meet female needs, says a leading UK firm which is going about things a little differently.

Multivitamin and mineral supplements may help block HIV progression: Human data

27-Nov-2013 By Nathan Gray

Long-term supplementation with multivitamins plus selenium may help delay the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in people with early stages of the disease who are not yet eligible to receive antiretroviral therapy, a new randomised trial...

Dispatches from #FIE2013

Protein has a big ‘ordinary’ future, says Glanbia

27-Nov-2013 By Shane STARLING

Irish dairy ingredients specialist Glanbia Nutritionals once filled its sights almost exclusively with the sports nutrition sector, but the explosion of interest in protein means the ‘ordinary’ mainstream food industry is a bigger and bigger target.

Dispatches from SupplySide West 2013

We don’t see the pre-workout sector going in the right direction post-DMAA: Chromadex CEO

22-Nov-2013 By Stephen Daniells

New ‘suspect alkaloids’ are finding their way into the controversial pre-workout supplement sector, and potentially dangerous products will continue to flourish in the marketplace while there is wider support from the industry, according to the CEO of...

Showtime: 'Manberry' extract takes stage in Las Vegas

14-Nov-2013

French botanicals giant Naturex has debuted a cranberry extract – most typically aimed at women with urinary tract infection (UTI) issues - marketed at with elderly men with similar problems.

Glucosamine: food or drug?

MHRA and HFMA defend glucosamine against pharma attack

13-Nov-2013 By Shane STARLING

The UK’s major food supplements trade association has joined the local medicines regulator in fighting a pharma player-led High Court legal action to ban glucosamine’s right to exist as both a food and a medicine in the UK and potentially other EU markets.

EFSA issues intake advice for vitamin C but stops short of DRV

06-Nov-2013 By Shane STARLING

After years of deliberation the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has handed in recommendations for vitamin C and manganese intakes among European populations.

Kappa debuts double-coated vitamin K2

04-Nov-2013

Norway’s Kappa Bioscience has introduced a vitamin K2 form that comes as the firm has inked a major deal on it with a global vitamin supplement player.

Arla sees protein drink sales soar in Scandinavian C-Stores

24-Oct-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Arla Food Ingredients believes that beverages with added protein have huge growth prospects across Europe, and notes the recent explosion of such SKUs in Scandinavian C-Stores.

Special Edition: Brain-boosting ingredients

Global brain health market pushing $2bn mark as Asia and supplements shine

22-Oct-2013 By Shane Starling

Sales of brain health boosting food supplements like omega-3s, the B vitamin group, vitamin C and phosphatidylserine are driving the category toward sales of €2bn globally, even as brain-boosting foods and beverages have endured a flat period.

Special edition: Brain boosting ingredients

Battling cognitive decline: Where do we stand?

22-Oct-2013 By Nathan Gray

Cognitive impairments have been long linked to the development of dementia and memory problems in the elderly. However, recent research has begun to suggest that nutrition can play a vital role in protecting against such declines. In this special edition...

Incoherent and uncoordinated EU regulators should worry policy makers and industry

18-Oct-2013 By Luca Bucchini, PhD

The stop-and-go, uncoordinated approach of EU-level and national regulators to bans on nutritional supplements including DMAA, dexaprine and synephrine, should be a cause for concern among policy makers and industry alike, warns Luca Bucchini, PhD.

Hospital's decision to discourage supplement use called 'misguided' & 'short sighted'

11-Oct-2013 By Hank Schultz

In another high profile blow to the credibility of dietary supplements, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has removed all but a few dietary supplements from its formulary, meaning parents of children in the hospital will have to sign a waiver in...

Nordic nations up vitamin D and selenium intakes after 8-year review

04-Oct-2013 By Shane STARLING

A 3-year review of Nordic nutrient intakes has recommended daily vitamin D inputs increase from 7.5 microgram to 10 mcg per day for people between 2 and 75 years of age. For over-75s, it set a level of 20 mcg.

Finnish synephrine ban ‘based on unsubstantiated conjecture’: Academic

02-Oct-2013 By Shane STARLING

A dossier of scientific data that convinced Health Canada and Intertek Cantox of the safety of bitter orange extract, synephrine, has been sent to Finnish authorities which recently banned weight loss products containing the stimulant, along with caffeine.

Study backs milk protein micro-particles for probiotic survival

01-Oct-2013 By Nathan Gray

A mixture of casein and whey protein may offer the best encapsulation and survival possibilities for the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, according to new research.

'A critical time for nutrition': New report outlines priorities to address malnutrition

27-Sep-2013 By Nathan Gray

A 'groundbreaking' new report from an alliance of more than 50 nutrition experts and NGOs has identified three key areas of focus in the global battle against malnutrition.

Vitamin D3 disappoints in diarrheal study

23-Sep-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Heavy supplementation of vitamin D does not reduce diarrheal illnesses among children aged three and younger, according to research. 

Special edition: Amino Acids and Protein

Plant or animal: A global protein snap shot

19-Sep-2013 By Shane STARLING

From gym powders and shakes to German ‘evening’ breads to ‘brogurt’ – high-protein yoghurt marketed at men – to the rise of Greek yoghurt in the US, protein bars, meat substitutes and good ol’ ‘trad’ dairy – protein is powering right now.

Ajinomoto gives ‘Koko’ the go-go to better Ghanaian nutrition

13-Sep-2013 By Shane Starling

Japanese supplier Ajinomoto is upping its efforts to battle under nutrition in the developing world by committing to a programme to reach 200,000 weaning infants in Ghana by 2017.

Does Callebaut's EU flavanol claim add health bite or bark to dark choc's image?

05-Sep-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Barry Callebaut's R&D department talks to ConfectioneryNews after winning a blood flow health claim for cocoa flavanols in dark chocolate and cocoa beverages.

Opinion

Fonterra's problem lies mainly in how it communicates with the Chinese

29-Aug-2013 By RJ Whitehead

The longstanding dairy relationship between China and New Zealand ought not to have worked so well, but it has, and will continue to, in spite of two substantial safety scares this year alone.

Smoking gun: The banning and unbanning of a (dangerous?) fat burner

26-Aug-2013

We scan the evolving regulatory saga involving the fat burning supplement, Dexaprine.

Piracy blights fragile global botanicals sector

23-Aug-2013 By Shane STARLING

The global botanical medicines and supplements sector is a fragile one, and one whose fragility is being amplified by a small number of – let’s not beat about the sea buckthorn bush – dodgy players.

HFMA: “The report ignores the significant efforts by UK manufacturers’ to comply with the regulation...”

Industry response: Which? food supplements attack is ‘inaccurate'

22-Aug-2013 By Shane STARLING

The UK food supplements industry has hit back at the consumer watchdog there that today slammed some of Europe’s biggest manufacturers like Seven Seas, Vitabiotics and Boots for deceiving consumers with unsubstantiated health claims.

Does EFSA’s folate-NTD opinion open door to disease claims?

16-Aug-2013 By Bert Schwitters

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) recent backing of folate’s (vitamin B9) ability to reduce the risk of spinal birth defects is a good thing for infant health and the vitamin industry – but is it actually a prohibited disease claim in disguise?...

Everton FC kicks ‘bespoke nutrition’ goal with whey recovery range

12-Aug-2013 By Shane STARLING

English Premier League football club Everton is working with a local sports nutrition firm to develop mostly whey-based recovery products customisable to changing player needs as the long soccer season progresses.

Comeback: European sports nutrition group defends sector against QC attack

07-Aug-2013 By Shane STARLING

Sports supplements are safer and more rigorously tested than regular foods, says Europe’s premier sports nutrition group, after UK athletics authorities questioned their use among elite athletes.

Contamination crisis

Crisis will harm New Zealand more than Fonterra

07-Aug-2013 By William Hao Wei Yang

With Fonterra’s contamination crisis unlikely to die down soon, the fall-out in China is likely to have more of a lingering impact on New Zealand’s continuing trade with the country than it will on Fonterra, say industry experts.

WHO: Infant follow-on milk ‘unnecessary and inappropriate’

01-Aug-2013 By Shane STARLING

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reiterated its position that follow-on milks are unnecessary for 6-24 month old infants and said they are nutritionally dubious.

Sabinsa appoints new CEO to ‘execute a disciplined and ambitious growth pattern’

24-Jul-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Jayasankar (Jay) Nair has joined Sabinsa as Chief Executive Officer, with the company set to 'execute a disciplined and ambitious growth pattern'.

Norway ranks four amino acids as “high risk”

13-Mar-2013 By Shane Starling

The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) has classed four amino acids – histidine, methionine, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and tryptophan – as high-risk and linked to problems like nausea, dizziness and increased blood pressure.

Slow-release niacin backed for lowering cholesterol, finds Lonza study

06-Feb-2013 By Nathan Gray

Slow-release niacin supplements are an effective way to lower cholesterol levels, while intake of inositol hexanicotinate (IHN) is ineffective, according to new research data.

‘Intriguing’ study shows heart health benefits of omega-3-rich yogurt

07-Jan-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily consumption of omega-3-fortified yogurt may help boost heart health, says a new study that may ‘intrigue CPG companies to begin or continue their formulation efforts’.

'Purity' trends, blends for claims and bioinformatics for business: Day 3 at HiE

16-Nov-2012 By Nathan Gray in Frankfurt

Can bioinformatics help to add business value? Is industry innovation being put on hold for blending? And how is a shift towards ‘pure’ products affecting the market.The NutraIngredients and FoodNavigator team reflects on our highlights from the final...

Vitamin K2: Study unlocks which forms have higher bioavailability

15-Nov-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming vitamin K2 in its MK-7 form is better for raising levels of the vitamin in serum than K2 in the MK-4 form, says a new study from Japan and the Netherlands.

Rise of healthy/functional foods behind UK supplements slip

12-Nov-2012 By Shane Starling

The UK food supplements market has shed 3 million users since 2008, a result of the economic slowdown and more savvy consumers choosing functional and healthier foods, according to Mintel.

Barentz drives deeper into health and wellness

22-Oct-2012

€650m Dutch supplier Barentz Europe has paid an undisclosed sum for Italian firm, Prochifar, that specialises in chemicals for the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, food and feed sectors

Grapefruit juice may help anti-cancer drugs to be more effective, say researchers

09-Aug-2012 By Nathan Gray

Consumption of one glass of grapefruit juice per day may allow cancer patients to take lower doses of certain drugs that are used to fight the disease, suggest researchers.

Softgel sterols may cut cholesterol levels by 7.5%: Pharmavite study

03-Aug-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Five weeks of supplementation with plant sterols/stanols softgels in combination with lifestyle changes may reduce total cholesterol levels by 7.4%, report researchers from Biofortis Clinical Research and Pharmavite.

DMAA in the dock

Australian medicines agency adds DMAA to poisons list

16-Jul-2012 By Shane STARLING

Australia’s medicines regulator – the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) - has added DMAA to its Schedule 9 list of prohibited substances and poisons that includes cannabis, salvia divinorum, GHB, heroin, psilocybin and LSD.

Dispatches from Israel

Frutarom partners Novel Creation on liquid supplements

19-Jun-2012 By Rod Addy

Frutarom Health has brought its flavours expertise to the supplements market, teaming up with Novel Creation to launch a line of liquid supplements for consumers pursuing a healthy lifestyle.

EU article 13 health claims register

222 EU health claims become law; experts predict “tsunami of cheap innovation”

16-May-2012 By Shane Starling

It’s official. Companies have six months – until December – to comply with the controversial European Union article 13, general function health claims register which today won final approval from the European Commission.

Who is regulating EU cyber supplement sales?

07-May-2012 By Luca Bucchini, PhD

Food supplements are ideally suited for online sales: stable, light, high-value, popular with consumers. It is therefore no surprise that online food supplement sales are on the rise with the promise of lower prices and home delivery.

New encapsulation system may allow consumers to sprinkle supplements on foods

29-Mar-2012 By Nathan Gray

A new way to encapsulate bioactive nutritional supplements into food-based products could provide industry with the right ingredients to create supplements that consumers can sprinkle on foods, say researchers.

DSM readies €2bn+ acquisitions war chest as 2011 profit jumps 15%

29-Feb-2012 By Shane Starling

Nutrition and polymers were the stand-out divisions for Royal DSM in 2011, a year that saw operating profits rise 15% from €752m to €866m, as the newly life science-oriented ingredients giant singled out Martek buy-out success and committed to ongoing...

New standard for vitamin D test promises more accurate results

27-Jan-2012 By Nathan Gray

Researchers have unveiled the development of new and ‘much-needed’ reference methodolgy that promises to assure more accurate and reliable measurements of vitamin D status.

Special edition: Vitamins

Vitamin health halo set for brighter global glow as claim power grows

16-Nov-2011 By Shane Starling

The first part of this vitamins special edition looks at how increasing government support and ‘industry standard’ fortification programmes, coupled with favourable regulatory shifts, is benefitting the sector.

Nano-resveratrol may boost gut absorption: Study

15-Nov-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Nano-scale emulsions may protect resveratrol from being metabolized in the gut and enhance the absorption of the compound in the intestine, suggests new research.