Microbiome modulation

Probiotic intake linked to fewer birth complications

Probiotic intake linked to fewer birth complications

By Stephen Daniells

Regular consumption of dairy-based probiotic formulations are associated with a 20% reduction in the risk of pre-eclampsia, suggests new data from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

EFSA stands by probiotic cheese rejection

EFSA stands by probiotic cheese rejection

By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) health claims panel says there are no grounds for it to alter its rejection of a claim that sought to link probiotic cheese consumption and healthy blood pressure.

Probiotics is no game...oh, it might be soon...

Probiotic video game in the works

By Shane Starling

The makers of the Microwarriors probiotic and prebiotic documentary that has been raising probiotic awareness since its release at the beginning of the year, are working on a video game set for launch next year.

Protexin buys €2m+ UK pre-probiotic brand

Protexin buys €2m+ UK pre-probiotic brand

By Shane Starling

UK firm Probiotics International (Protexin) has acquired fellow UK digestive products maker, The Healthy Bowels Company, in an undisclosed deal that sees Protexin gain control of €2m+ pre-probiotic combination brand, Lepicol.

UK tabloid labels functional foods a ‘gimmick’

UK tabloid labels functional foods a ‘gimmick’

By Shane Starling

Leading right-wing UK tabloid newspaper the Daily Mail found room in its pages today to slam more than just London’s looters with functional foods also taking a beating for delivering false promises.

Forget it kid, it won't help...

EFSA health claim opinion

EFSA rejects kids' probiotic gut health claim

EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) has turned down a probiotic-children’s gut health claim from Italian company Centro Sperimentale del Latte because of non-characterised strains and a non-beneficial claim.

Dead or alive: Benefits of probiotics need live organisms

Dead or alive: Benefits of probiotics need live organisms

By Stephen Daniells

The potential beneficial effects of select bacterial strains are dependent on the organisms being alive, says a new study that supports the WHO definition of probiotics as being ‘live microorganisms’.

Many positive opinions, many more negative in the latest batch of EFSA health claim missives

EFSA HEALTH CLAIM OPINIONS - ARTICLE 13, BATCH 5 (Complete)

EFSA publishes article 13, batch 5 – winners and losers

By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) this morning published 536 health claims in 73 opinions in the fifth batch of general function claims.

Russian probiotic market booming (with medical backing)

Russian probiotic market booming (with medical backing)

By Shane Starling

Russia’s probiotic market that has shown annual growth rates of around 50% in recent years and settled closer to 10%, is benefitting from medical profession support, according to a leading paediatrician.

Dead probiotics may be useful healthwise

Probiotech 2011

Dead or alive: Probiotics benefits beyond the grave

By Shane Starling from Milan

Dead probiotic bacteria that typically reside alongside live cultures in probiotic formulations, could be contributing to healthful effects, researchers told the Probiotech conference in Milan, Italy, last week.

Probiotics could boost immune functions in athletes, says Prof

Probiotics could boost immune functions in athletes, says Prof

By Nathan Gray

Probiotics are best used for their potentially beneficial effects on gut health, but they may also help to boost immune functions – an effect that could benefit sports stars in the future, according to a leading sports scientist.

India is investing in probiotic research

India calls for probiotic research for women-children

By Shane Starling

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is calling on researchers to submit projects investigating probiotic benefits in women and children, and has set an August 15 submission deadline.

EFSA ha rejected a Valio probiotic gut health claim

EFSA health claim opinion

EFSA rejects 86-study strong Valio probiotic gut health claim

By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority has rejected an article 13.5 health claim that sought to link consumption of the probiotic strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, with gastrointestinal benefits.

Danisco on probiotic health claims: “We have made great progress”

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2011

Danisco on probiotic health claims: “We have made great progress”

By Jess Halliday

As the world’s biggest probiotic supplier Danisco has a lot at stake when it comes to the European Food Safety Authority’s ongoing refusal to validate the healthy bacteria’s ability to benefit gut health, immunity and more.

Start-ups hope EFSA will look more favourably on research designed with the agency's requirement in mind

Probiotic start-ups pushing new research to please EFSA

By Shane Starling

Spanish and British probiotics companies are driving funds into strain and product-specific studies as they attempt to build scientific backing that will survive in the European Union health claims clampdown.

DuPont succeeds in Danisco bid

DuPont succeeds in Danisco bid

By Caroline Scott-Thomas

US chemical group DuPont has successfully completed its tender offer for Danisco, as 92.2 percent of outstanding shares in the Danish food ingredients firm were tendered by Friday’s deadline, DuPont said on Monday.

Gutsy move? Lonza enters the probiotics game

Lonza becomes probiotic player

By Shane Starling

Swiss giant Lonza has plunged into the probiotics sector for the first time by licensing a gut ulcer battling Lactobacillus strain plucked from the 8000-strain strong vats of German contract research organisation, Organobalance.

Probiotic academic: ‘Just add water to probiotic health claims’

Probiotic academic: ‘Just add water to probiotic health claims’

By Shane Starling

A leading probiotics researcher says the ongoing uncertainty about endpoints and biomarkers in European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claim evaluations, means the best chance for probiotic products to make claims is to combine them with nutrients...

EFSA has now completed 80% of article 13 general function health claims

EFSA health claim opinions - article 13, batch 4

EFSA issues batch four of article 13 health claims

By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority’s health claims panel this morning issued 442 fresh article 13 general function health claim opinions, causing a run on its site that crashed it for many minutes.

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