NeutraHealth, a UK shell company created to buy up nutraceutical
businesses, said today that it has made its first acquisition, the
probiotic supplement maker BioCare.
French probiotics firm Institut Rosell-Lallemand said it has been
included in a new government initiative to pool research into
cancer prevention and treatment.
UK vitamin distributor Quest is launching what it believes is the
first probiotic that has been scientifically shown to target IBS
symptoms, a condition that affects a third of the UK population at
one time during their lifetime,...
A probiotic formulation developed by French/Canadian company
Institut Rosell reduced symptoms associated with IBS in tests on a
rat model, writes Dominique Patton.
The performance of Danisco's cultures last year stands out against
the drop in flavour sales and weak growth in other ingredients made
by the group, thanks to the strong synergies offered by its Rhodia
acquisition, writes Dominique...
The UK's food authority said this week that it will provide up to
£20,000 (€30,000) to pay for external scientists to produce more
dossiers for supplement ingredients not currently on the European
directive's positive list,...
Japanese probiotics leader Yakult and the Kirin brewing and
beverage group have agreed to jointly develop new functional foods
for the domestic market and share manufacturing and distribution
resources to increase efficiency, writes...
A probiotic strain developed by DSM is more stable at room
temperature than competing products, says the company, although it
has declined to disclose numbers to support the claims.
The prebiotic activity of different fibres will be measured and
compared in a new study designed to help food makers decide which
ingredient to select for their gut health products, reports
Dominique Patton.
Fresh from its acquisition of Solgar, the US' biggest supplement
maker NBTY said today that it has also bought the Canadian
supplement maker and distributor SISU, writes Dominique
Patton.
Welsh researchers will study whether probiotic supplements given to
babies can stop them from developing hay fever or asthma,
reports Dominique Patton.
A leading probiotic brand in the UK has been told it does not have
enough evidence to advertise the product's benefits for upset
stomachs experienced during menstruation.
A health claim for the prebiotic effect of inulin will be published
by the French food safety authority tomorrow, giving food
manufacturers in this market the go-ahead to promote the health
benefits of inulin-containing foods, reports...
Sweden's BioGaia says its recent clinical trials are supporting
stronger health claims on products containing its Reuteri bacteria,
which may help it distinguish its probiotics from the competition,
writes Dominique Patton.
The message about the gut health benefit probiotics can deliver is
finally getting through to US consumers, according to a new report
on the state of the functional foods sub-category.
High consumption of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) increases the risk
of salmonella infection in rats, according to new research,
although it is impossible to tell whether the prebiotic ingredient
could have the same impact on humans,...
Adding the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus GG (LGG) to the daily
diet of children with a food allergy helped to reduce eczema
symptoms, report researchers this month.
A drink containing a probiotic strain isolated from infants
relieved symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome to the same extent as
pharmaceutical treatments for the condition, report Irish
researchers.
Japan's Kirin Brewery says it has new animal and human clinical
data showing that one of its lactic acid bacteria strains is
effective at preventing atopic dermatitis.
Complex sugars found naturally in a New Zealand variety of honey
appear to have prebiotic effects, offering food makers a natural
gut health ingredient.
Not all strains of bacteria used in probiotic products on the UK
market survive through the entire digestive system, conclude study
results published this week by the Food Standards Agency, although
at least one strain in each of...
BioGaia has signed an agreement with the Indian company Uni-Sankyo,
giving it the right to produce and sell supplements containing the
Reuteri protbiotic bacteria.
A complex carbohydrate, traditionally used as a bulking agent in a
range of foods, is being offered in several European markets as a
new source of fibre.
Adding value to mature vitamin supplements by combining them with
new ingredients is driving good growth at Merck's consumer health
care business, reports Dominique Patton.
Market analyst Frost & Sullivan has awarded its 2004 Product
Innovation award to Larex for the development of soluble prebiotic
Arabinogalactan (AG) FiberAid.
Changes in gut microflora caused by widespread use of antibiotics
and today's high-fat, low-fibre diet could be responsible for a
major increase in allergies in recent years, say researchers.
A French supplier of konjac gum, most commonly known for its use as
a texturant in food products, is hoping to move into the health
ingredients sector, after preliminary research found that konjac
derivatives may have benefits for...
Probiotic chocolate bars and cereals could emerge on the market
next year as strong demand for the gut health ingredient pushes
food makers to invest in the complex processes required to
formulate with live bacteria.
The controversial issue of nutritional profiles will remain one of
the biggest hurdles for EU legislation on health claims but recent
reports suggest that Germany may be ready to concede some elements
of profiling, reports Dominique...
A major EU research programme, under discussion at a meeting in
Brussels today, could help food manufacturers target the
increasingly affluent, elderly consumer with products designed to
make their lives longer and more comfortable.
Belgian ingredients group Orafti has walked away with three awards
at this year's Ingredients Russia 2004 exhibition, more than any
other company, but major international groups did not have it all
their own way, with a number...
A panel of European experts has for the first time drawn up
guidelines for quality standards for probiotic products in a bid to
improve the quality of the increasing numbers of supplements and
probiotic foods on the market.
A daily probiotic supplement reduced the number of sick days caused
by gastrointestinal illnesses or colds by almost 70 per cent,
according to a new study done by Swedish firm BioGaia.
Delayed product launches will see losses at Swedish probiotics
company BioGaia continue into next year, warned the firm yesterday.
It had been counting on two major contracts to help it back into
the black by the end of the year.
Finnish dairy products company Valio is to acquire Norwegian firm
Synnöve Finden's 42 per cent holding in Estonian cheese producer
Võru Juust, leaving Valio with a 99 per cent stake in Võru Juust.
Growing competition in the probiotics market is forcing cultures
suppliers to increase collaboration with scientists and independent
laboratories that can provide them with strong evidence to support
the benefits of their products...
Millions of women use yoghurt as a natural remedy to prevent thrush
while taking antibiotics but an Australian team says there is no
proof that the bacteria in yoghurt has any beneficial effect.
Scientists from Danish company Chr Hansen say they have developed a
lactic acid bacteria that may lower blood pressure when added to
yoghurt and other foods.
Probiotics company BioGaia saw sales fall and further losses in the
first half compared to last year's six month period but says new
contracts could help it return to the black by the end of the year.
A probiotic treatment almost reversed many of the symptoms of the
gut disease ulcerative colitis in a small trial, report researchers
at the University of Dundee in Scotland.
Changing economic conditions in eastern Europe are boosting sales
and demand for vitamins and dietary supplements, offering major
opportunity for foreign entrants to the market and suppliers of
novel ingredients.