Regulation & legislation

Cognitive decline as a feature of ageing has become an intense area of research in recent years.(© iStock.com/SI Photography).

Vitafoods Europe 2016 preview

Testing and tracking nutrition in mental health

By Will Chu

The quest to halt cognitive decline as a feature of ageing has become an intense area of research in recent years, and polyphenols can deliver much. 

© iStock.com / leonori

Olive-sourced hydroxytyrosol effective in biscuits: Study

By Lynda Searby

Olive oil phenol hydroxytyrosol has been shown to be highly bioavailable and to lower oxidised LDL (low density lipoprotein) levels when incorporated into biscuits, suggesting functional food applications could be on the horizon for this EFSA-backed polyphenol. 

Ginkgo producers need to gain a detailed understanding of the value chains of their products, say researchers. © iStock.com / Malgorzata Biernikiewicz

How to shut down the illicit ginkgo trade

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Research into the adulteration and poor manufacturing practices of ginkgo products has highlighted the need to reign in unregistered food supplements containing the botanical. 

Biomass marketing: 'Until now, it has been challenging to use the EU-authorised health claims with standard krill oil because you couldn’t go beyond the 250 mg dosage form' © iStock

Aker wins high-dose krill omega-3 approval in EU

By Shane Starling

Krill major Aker Biomarine has won EU approval for high-dose versions of its omega-3/phospholipid offering in food supplements across the 28 nations of European Union bloc.

Bottling it? Probiotic marketing is banned in the EU based on the opinions of 'ill-equipped' experts, according to professor Reid. © iStock

Probiotics expert: 'Disband EFSA' and end destructive category confusion

By Lynda Searby

A leading probiotics academic has called for EFSA to be “disbanded” saying that the effect of the EU’s central food science agency’s treatment of probiotic claims has been “confusion in Europe”, and that the EU could learn from the Canadian approach to...

The fortifiers and the non-fortifiers - who is doing what when it comes to folic acid and neural tube defects? © iStock.com / eyegelb

Special edition: Gender-specific nutrition

Folic acid fortification: The current global state of play

By Lynda Searby

To date 75 countries globally have implemented mandatory fortification programmes for folic acid with the aim of preventing neural tube defects (NTDs) in babies. Yet despite growing calls from NGOs, health experts and researchers, the 28 EU member countries...

'We are trying to take the sleaze out of libido and focus on health ageing,' says the supplier behind Testofen and Libifem. © iStock.com / aquatarkus

special edition: gender-specific nutrition

How to take the sleaze out of libido supplements

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The market for male libido supplements dwarfs that for women – but positioning products as healthy ageing supplements may help shake the sleaze from this niche segment, says one bawdy botanical supplier.

The Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF) voted to back the Commission’s draft proposals in a meeting on Tuesday.© iStock.com / ratmaner

EU committee vote backs 4 caffeine claims

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A member state committee has voted to back the European Commission’s decision to authorise four health claims on caffeine and ban a final fifth. 

© iStock

Berry drink shows skin benefits

By Shane Starling

A polyphenol-rich red and black currant berry drink has shown significant anti-wrinkle and skin smoothing benefits in a 12-week French study.

EU politicians voted today to scrap nutrient profiles. 'We deeply regret the EU Parliament chose to stand by the food industry and let down consumers,' said consumer rights group BEUC. © iStock

European Parliament votes to scrap nutrient profiles

By Niamh Michail

Members of European Parliament (MEPs) voted today to scrap nutrient profiles, a result that leaves consumer rights groups, public health campaigners and some industry players sorely disappointed.

Be part of a special European delegation being sent to Singapore. The city is the venue for the first ever Food Vision Asia. (© iStock.com/anek_S)

Food Vision Asia: Be part of a unique EU delegation

By Will Chu

Are you looking to explore the Asian market for new business opportunities? Food Vision Asia is looking for individuals who are interested in forming a delegation to represent Europe’s trade interests, and form new commercial relationships within Asia’s...

ANSES fails to back nutrient profile-based labelling systems

French find fault in 4 or 5-class nutrient profiling

By Shane Starling

The French food safety agency (ANSES) has concluded two nutrient profiling systems won’t provide people with easily understandable grading of food into four or five classes depending on their healthiness.

Chr Hansen's human health and nutrition division performs well - while animal health faces contract challenges. © iStock.com / horkins

Chr Hansen posts strong Q2 results – but nutrition growth ‘modest’

Downturn in yoghurt probiotic use propped up by supplements: Chr Hansen CFO

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Chief financial officer (CFO) for ingredients giant Chr Hansen says there has been a downturn in use of probiotics in yoghurts over the last five years due to the EU’s ban on the term – but food supplements are weathering the storm. 

Naturex adds chokeberry to suite under its open innovation programme. Others set to follow

Naturex adds chokeberry to botanicals range

By Shane Starling

Naturex has added a proprietary aronia extract to its library after inking a licensing deal with Polish food supplements and OTC player Adamed Consumer Healthcare SA.

Some of the products high in salt, fat or sugar that claim to be healthy. Photo: FoodWatch

80% of surveyed products don't pass WHO nutrient profile

Survey blasts industry & EU for allowing unhealthy foods to make health claims

By Niamh Michail

What’s the difference between a chocolate bar and an apple? Not much if you go by the misuse of health claims on food in Germany and the Netherlands says campaign group FoodWatch, after evaluating over 600 products making prominent claims to be healthy,...

Norwegians enter cholesterol controlling chitosan space

Norwegians enter chitosan space

By Will Chu

Norwegian supplier Marealis is working with fisheries R&D enterprise Nofima and set to enter the EU health claim-backed, cholesterol-controlling space with a shrimp shell extract.

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