Functional foods & beverages

Do consumers really weigh-up on-pack claims?

Danone blasts no claim no gain theory

By Lynda Searby

Dropping hard health claims in favour of softer claims or no claims at all has not had any detrimental impact on sales of Danone’s probiotic yogurt Activia, begging the question of how much weight consumers actually give to on-pack claims.

Picture Copyright: Volac

UK whey protein market hitting ‘critical mass’ - Volac

By Ben Bouckley

Mark Neville, head of lifestyle ingredients at Volac, told BeverageDaily.com that the UK market for whey protein was hitting “critical mass”, since everyone knew someone who used such ingredients, with word spreading as to their benefits.

Is the term 'probiotic' set to disappear?

Dispatches from Probiotic Summit

Danone: “Probiotics category could disappear”

By Shane Starling in Brussels

Global probiotics leader Danone continues to prepare for the worst under the European Union’s uber-strict health claims regime that may this year deliver a barren, claimless landscape to the world’s biggest-selling functional food category, an official...

Red Bull fights Pit Bull filler to EU court defeat

Red Bull fights Pit Bull filler to EU court defeat

By Ben Bouckley

Simply filling a soft drink bearing a trademarked brand name does not itself violate an EU directive regarding use of that sign, according to the European Court of Justice (CJEU) in a high-profile ruling involving Red Bull.

CSIR has pooled research about hoodia while the San people have attacked a damning study that prompted Unilever to drop its €20m hoodia project

Kalahari tribe throws weight at Unilever over hoodia rejection

By Shane Starling

South Africa’s San people say food giant Unilever was working off inaccurate research data when it decided to bin a €20m investment in hoodia gordonii, the Kalahari cactus the San have used for centuries to curb hunger pangs.

Western diets drive Asian functional foods development

Vitafoods Asia 2011 preview

Western diets drive Asian functional foods development

By Shane Starling

Asia Pacific markets are ripe for functional foods development as a response to the increasing prevalence of western diets, says Katrina Diamonon, consumer analyst at market researcher, Datamonitor.

Marmite could be back on Danish shelves in three months...if Unilever applies for permission

Unilever on unauthorised Danish Marmite sales: “We are innocent”

By Shane Starling

Marmite, recently withdrawn from the Danish market after it became apparent the fortified, yeast breakfast spread did not possess a fortified food authorisation under the Scandinavian country’s strict laws, could be back on-market in three months, Danish...

No cause for change: EFSA affirms its rejection of Danone and Yakult dossiers

EFSA rejects Danone and Yakult probiotic appeals

By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claims panel says there are no grounds for alteration of its rejection last year of probiotic health claim dossiers submitted by Danone and Yakult.

Arla sees whey protein concentrates as an important growth market

Arla and DMK form new €44m whey joint venture

By Jess Halliday

Arla Foods is to establish a whey processing joint venture with the merged Nordmilch-Humana company DMK to produce whey protein concentrate (WPC) and lactose for the food industry.

Unilever takes another leap into open innovation

Unilever builds R&D with designer molecule partnership

By Shane Starling

Unilever has entered an undisclosed two-year partnership with New Jersey-base drug molecule designer and developer BioLeap, but says it has no intention of moving into drug-related activity.

Danone says there is not enough claims clarity to make a submission for Actimel and other products

EFSA gut/immune health meeting

Danone tells EFSA: Health claims “learning experience” is too costly

By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has repeatedly emphasised that the 2006 EU nutrition and health claims regulation is a learning experience for everyone involved – from its health claims assessment panel to industry stakeholders, to the member...

Linguistic flexibility needed when using health claims on packs, Unilever

Dispatches from NutraIngredients Health Claims 2010

Linguistic flexibility needed when using health claims on packs, Unilever

EFSA’s opinions on health claims are couched in scientific language that food and beverage manufacturers would be unlikely to use on product packaging. Unilever’s director of external affairs explains the need for linguistic flexibility.

Innéov failed but Unilever hopes for skin health claim win

Innéov failed but Unilever hopes for skin health claim win

By Shane Starling

Unilever has submitted a health claim dossier to the European Food Safety Authority for a skin health food supplement composed of a similar formulation to the market leading Innéov product that had its skin health claim rejected in May this year.

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