Fibres & carbohydrates

Food supplement found to alter gut in resolving effects of malnutrition

19-Apr-2021 By Will Chu

Research into a food supplement for malnourished children is offering insights into how gut bacteria may affect growth as it appears to ‘repair’ disrupted microbiomes and effectively address the effects of malnutrition.

Recall round-up: Infant formula, food & fibre supplements

16-Apr-2021 By Will Chu

As 2021 approaches Spring, April sees a number of recalls concerning food and supplements that involve an infant formula product and a fibre-based supplement.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Dutch authority publishes nutrition and health claims handbook

13-Apr-2021 By Will Chu

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has made available guidance on how food firms can best display nutrition and health claims on their products according to the latest advice.

Global study finds gut bacteria swap genes at different rates, depending on living situation

12-Apr-2021 By Danielle Masterson

A new study that examined the microbiomes of people living around the world has found that gut bacteria continuously acquire new functionality—depending on host lifestyle and industrialization.

Food science potential: How fibre-rich formulations could minimise gut and kidney harm caused by processed foods

07-Apr-2021 By Gary Scattergood

Scientists have shown how shown how chemical compounds found in highly processed foods play a role in chronic kidney disease, and are now turning their attention to new formulations and prebiotic ingredients that could help minimise the risk.

Rural versus urban microbiome: Village dwellers have healthier gut composition than those in city slums – India study

30-Mar-2021 By Guan Yu Lim

People living in India’s rural villages were found to have a richer fibre diet and healthier gut microbiome composition compared to those living in urban slums.

Corn cob waste the basis for extracting anthocyanins for supplement use, say researchers

29-Mar-2021 By Will Chu

A biorefinery approach that produces a dye and a possible nutraceutical for use in supplements has been outlined by scientists, who think there may be commercial value from these natural waste products.

Plant-based RG-I ingredient may support immune function, modulate the microbiota: Study

25-Mar-2021 By Stephen Daniells

Pectin-derived rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) polysaccharides from bell pepper and carrot may stimulate the immune system and modulate the gut microbiota, says a new study from Europe.

Research links Dutch Healthy Diet to lower risk of depression

25-Mar-2021 By Nikki Hancocks

Adherence to a Dutch Healthy Diet could be linked with a lower risk of developing depressive symptoms, according to research which compared the impact of popular dietary patterns.

Does a plant-based diet lead to poorer bone health?

19-Mar-2021 By Flora Southey

Scientific assessments seeking to identify the risks and benefits of following a vegan diet indicate the regimen could affect bone health.

RiceBran Technologies refocusing on excipients, other specialty items

09-Mar-2021 By Hank Schultz

RiceBran Technologies says it plans to move more aggressively into speciality markets, including dietary supplement excipients, to help stem losses. The company has stumbled trying to compete as a high volume food ingredient supplier.

The role of citrus in brain health: ‘Citrus bioactive compounds improve general cognition’

03-Mar-2021 By Katy Askew

Eating citrus fruit and drinking citrus juices can have a positive impact on brain health, particularly during ageing, according to new research.

Shelf life, stability make postbiotics attractive alternative to probiotics

02-Mar-2021 By Danielle Masterson

Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics — we are living in the age of ‘biotics.’ But there’s one that you are likely to start hearing more about: postbiotics.

Tate & Lyle offers gut health teachings in launch of digital nutrition resource

01-Mar-2021 By Will Chu

UK ingredients supplier Tate & Lyle has made available a new digital resource that looks to provide clarity on the research behind ingredients used in the firm’s offerings in sports nutrition and gut health.

Mushrooms make up shortfall in dietary nutrients, study suggests

08-Feb-2021 By Will Chu

Mushrooms are able to make up a shortfall in dietary nutrients without increasing calories, sodium or fat, says a group of researchers, who highlight the potential benefits to the diets of children.

Ketone supplements taken with carbs or protein enhance post-exercise recovery

01-Feb-2021 By Nikki Hancocks

Ketone supplements can eliminate performance disadvantages associated with keto diets and enhance the speed and quality of recovery, according to a new review.

Mediterranean diets linked to delayed onset of Parkinson’s

22-Jan-2021 By Lynda Searby

New research from the University of British Columbia has added to a growing body of evidence linking Mediterranean diets with slower neurodegeneration.

Sugar blocker: Evolva’s new ingredient obstructs the body’s ability to digest sucrose

21-Jan-2021 By Flora Southey

Swiss biotech company Evolva is launching a natural sugar blocker for food and drink applications. L-arabinose is also a reducing sugar, the company’s head of investor and corporate relations tells FoodNavigator.

EFSA says mealworms safe for human consumption: ‘An important milestone towards commercialisation’

14-Jan-2021 By Katy Askew

The European Food Safety Authority has published its first scientific opinion on an insect-derived food. The conclusion? Mealworms are safe for human consumption.

NEW DATES FOR UK FOOD & DRINK SHOWS

Government update forces delay of The Ingredients Show

14-Jan-2021 By Will Chu

The Ingredients Show, part of the UK Food & Drink Shows, has been postponed until 5-7 July 2021 in response to the UK government’s latest efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Scientists create international definition for fermented food

07-Jan-2021 By Nikki Hancocks

A team of scientists organised by ISAPP has created the first international consensus definition for fermented foods.

Avocados and gut health: Study supports link between daily avocado consumption and increased gut microbiota diversity

06-Jan-2021 By Mary Ellen Shoup

Eating avocado as part of a daily diet may help improve gut health by increasing the abundance and diversity of microbes in the human gut, according to recent research from the University of Illinois (U of I).

German report: Vegan diets have no ‘ubiquitous deficiency’ in vitamins and minerals

24-Dec-2020 By Shane Starling

The common perception that vegan diets are deficient in key nutrients has been dispelled by German food safety authorities.

Swimming study fails to find efficiency boost from carbs

17-Dec-2020 By Hank Schultz

A study done on trained recreational swimmers showed a high carbohydrate diet did not improve swimming efficiency at moderate paces. But a nutrition expert observed that the intensity level was too low and duration too short to show the differences the...

Resistant starch plus LactoSpore may reduce inflammation in IBD: Mouse data

16-Dec-2020 By Stephen Daniells

A synbiotic combination of green banana resistant starch and probiotic Bacillus coagulans MTCC5856 (LactoSpore by Sabinsa) may reduce gut inflammation in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), says a new study from Australia.

Polish footballers short on carbs, critical nutrients, study finds

09-Dec-2020 By Hank Schultz

A recent study done on professional soccer players in Poland concluded that the players were not consuming enough carbohydrate and were deficient in several important nutrients. But an expert cited some flaws in the study’s design, highlighting the...

JollyGut: This new smart food scanner is ‘reinventing the shopping experience’

09-Dec-2020 By Flora Southey

In the short-term, JollyGut aims to simplify and personalise the shopping experience for consumers both in-store and online. In the long-term, CMO Dmitry Dubovik says the start-up is setting its sights further afield: “We want to become an Amazon for...

Mystic Meg for the market: Top 10 Trends for 2021

09-Dec-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

FMCG Gurus has revealed its predictions for the top 10 consumer trends that will impact food and drink brands in 2021.

Nutrition labelling: Who is for and against a harmonised EU-wide approach?

07-Dec-2020 By Flora Southey

While some Member States and food makers are backing a harmonised approach to nutrition labelling, others have called for coexistence between regional schemes.

Superfoods part of a healthy diet for almost half of Germany, says survey

01-Dec-2020 By Will Chu

Vitamin and mineral-enriched chia seeds and fibre-packed goji berries are now part of a healthy diet for around half of Germany’s population, says a survey by the country’s institute for risk assessment.

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY SURVEY

Download & digest survey: State of the Supplements, Health & Nutrition sector in Europe 2020

30-Nov-2020 By Will Chu

How has Covid-19 affected business? How will Brexit affect thinking? Does social responsibility or e-commerce fit into company expansion plans?

Duckweed and green tea found to boost health benefits of Med diet

25-Nov-2020 By Oliver Morrison

A ‘greener’ Mediterranean diet consisting of more vegetables, less meat and topped up with water lentils, walnuts and green tea, may be even better for cardiovascular and metabolic health than the traditional version, suggests research.

Enzyme gives bread 'superfood' nutritional benefits, say scientists

25-Nov-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A small addition during bread production can unlock the full potential of wholegrain bread, putting it on a par with other ‘superfoods’, according to researchers.

Study links vitamin E and carotenoids to reduced cognitive decline

23-Nov-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A diet rich in vitamin E and carotenoids, including lycopene, may reduce the speed of cognitive decline, according to a large prospective cohort study.

Study finds excessive iodine status in macroalgae consumers

20-Nov-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

People in Norway who eat seaweed regularly are likely to have excessive levels of iodine, according to a new report.

Heart health heroes: Whole grains combination recommended for lowering cardiac disease risk

18-Nov-2020 By Pearly Neo

A new Australian study has revealed that different types of whole grains have particular benefits for lowering different areas of heart disease risk – but refined grains are also still recommended as part of a balanced diet.

Probiota Champions: In conversation with Prof Glenn Gibson

16-Nov-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Purported prebiotics must show efficacy in in vivo studies to be worthy of the term, and that currently only applies to an exclusive list, says Prof Glenn Gibson, the scientist who co-coined the term in the mid-1990s.

Study: Fructose syrup disrupts gut microbiome but fruit can undo negative effects

11-Nov-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A high-fructose syrup diet negatively disrupts the gut microbiome but a diet high in fruit modulates it favourably, supporting digestive health and counteracting harmful effects of excessive fructose, according to a pilot intervention study.

Three sweetened drinks a day has 'minimal effect' on gut microbiome, says study

06-Nov-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

High consumption of sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose over a two week period has minimal effect on gut microbiota composition or SCFA production, according to the secondary outcomes of a double-blind RCT.

Ketogenic drink boosts brain in cognitively impaired, says Nestlé study

06-Nov-2020 By Will Chu

A Nestlé-produced ketogenic (kMCT) drink could improve cognitive function in individuals suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), the firm's study suggests, as the product is set to be launched in Europe by the end of the year.

UK updates food and drink labelling changes from 1 January 2021

05-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

Defra has published an update to information on labelling of food products for sale in the UK and the EU, applicable once the Brexit transition period comes to an end.

Allergen-free fungi protein a ‘breakthrough’ in food ingredients: ‘We have a unique proposition from a sustainability and economic perspective’

04-Nov-2020 By Flora Southey

This week, The Protein Brewery announced a €22m Series A investment to help scale up production of its fungi-based alternative protein Fermotein. FoodNavigator asks founder Wim de Laat what benefits the novel food ingredient will bring to manufacturers,...

Kraft Heinz partners with APC Microbiome Ireland to unlock the ‘ultimate natural and clean label opportunities’

28-Oct-2020 By Katy Askew

The Kraft Heinz Company has entered into a research partnership with APC Microbiome Ireland aimed at developing new natural cultures for fermented foods. This could unlock the ‘ultimate natural and clean label opportunities’ for product development, the...

UEFA-backed consensus sets out best-practice nutrition for elite football

28-Oct-2020 By Will Chu

Nutritionists from FC Barcelona and AFC Ajax are amongst a group of experts, who have published a UEFA-backed statement that sets out best-practice nutrition recommendations for elite footballers.

Effect of ‘super pea’ on gut may benefit those at risk of diabetes, study claims

27-Oct-2020 By Will Chu

A wrinkled type of ‘super pea,’ containing higher levels of gut-friendly ‘resistant starch,’ may prove beneficial to those at risk of type 2 diabetes, due to its ability to control blood sugar levels, a study thinks.

High flavanol diet may lead to lower blood pressure: Study

21-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

While dietary recommendations for high blood pressure prevention have focused mainly on dietary patterns and macronutrients, increasing attention has been given to bioactives, a group of non-nutritive dietary compounds that are thought to exert a physiological...

Researchers zero in on supplement use among college athletes

08-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The high prevalence of dietary supplementation use in the athletic population means there is a risk of inadvertent doping for those users who don’t do their research or get their information from reliable sources.

Mouse study reveals positive connection between dried plums and bone health

07-Oct-2020 By Danielle Masterson

A new study is adding to the growing research on the benefits of prunes on bone loss associated with spinal cord injury.

Almond-rich, low carb diet can reduce depression risk in diabetics, says RCT

06-Oct-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A low-carb diet which is also rich in almond consumption could reduce depression and glycometabolism in patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) thanks to the diet's impact on the gut microbiota, according to a newly published RCT.

Study: Habitual low fibre consumption in IBD exacerbates dysbiosis

25-Sep-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Most patients with IBD, particularly males, habitually consume inadequate amounts of dietary fibre which may have negative effects on the gut microbiome and contribute to dysbiosis, a cross‐sectional study has concluded.