The European Food Safety Agency has established a safe level for
the mineral boron, despite the fact that it is not included on the
list of nutrients permitted in food supplements under the new
directive.
Vitamin-enriched products made by Kellogg, the world's biggest
cereal maker, have been blocked from entering the Danish market by
a new policy for assessing the safety of fortified foods.
Edible film strips will explode onto the market in early 2005,
predicts one manufacturer that is poised to meet the growing demand
from the nutritional products industry.
The German chemicals giant BASF has announced a successful second
quarter, though the company's nutrition and agricultural products
division turned in a poor performance with minimal sales growth and
reduced earnings from the...
Consumption of fresh fruit is on the rise in the UK, shows new
government data, leading to a notable increase in intake of vitamin
C. But a decline in other foods such as milk means calcium, iron
and other nutrients are still lacking...
The trace mineral selenium should be considered as a potential
factor to lower one of the markers of heart disease, homocysteine,
say Spanish researchers.
Almost three quarters of Irish adults have low vitamin D intakes
and strategies to increase intake of this vitamin should be
investigated, say researchers in a new study.
The highly splintered nature of Europe's food supplement industry
is being underlined by the divergent reactions to forthcoming new
legislation, designed to harmonise trade across all member states,
writes Dominique Patton.
New Zealand food authorities are looking to change permitted levels
of folic acid and vitamin B12 in foods under a review of the
country's dietary supplement regulations.
Banana producers, processors and ingredients users could see new
opportunities in the market as an ancient banana showing strong
beta-carotene levels comes to light on a small Pacific island.
Banana producers, processors and ingredients users could see new
opportunities in the market as an ancient banana showing strong
beta-carotene levels comes to light on a small Pacific island.
Official policy that discourages sunbathing and promotes use of
sunblock products is preventing the British from getting adequate
vitamin D, and putting them at risk of numerous chronic diseases,
claims a new report.
Scientists still do not have enough data on vitamin E to deduce
optimal intake levels, concluded scientists at a major conference
in the US last month.
Little evidence supports either the safety or efficacy of
nutritional supplements in helping to improve diabetes-related
conditions despite strong public interest in natural therapies,
according to the head of a government-funded...
New supplement labels that advise consumers of the possible risks
of high strength vitamins will show European regulators that such
products do not need to be reformulated and can remain on the
market, say UK supplement makers.
Thirteen popular multivitamin products failed a ConsumerLab test
because of lead contamination, lower ingredient levels than stated,
and/or inability to fully break apart for absorption, writes Wai
Lang Chu.
A cauliflower with 25 times more vitamin A than its 'regular'
sister could meet the daily needs of consumers with the new
vegetable now available on the market, writes Lindsey
Partos.
Low levels of vitamin B12 are associated with poorer memory in
older people with high risk for Alzheimer's, according to a large
Swedish study, thought to be one of the first to examine how the
relationship between diet and genes...
Oral spray could take over from tablets and capsules as the
preferred method of delivery for vitamins and nutrients, claims a
US company that has developed a range of patented vitamin and
mineral sprays.
Zinc appears to significantly reduce the duration of fever and
severity of illness in boys with pneumonia and other serious lower
respiratory infections, according to new research.
Vitamin C may prevent symptoms associated with respiratory diseases
such as cystic fibrosis and asthma by hydrating the airways and
clearing them from potential pathogens, report scientists this
month, helping to explain some of the...
A British brewer has been criticised by the UK's advertising
watchdog for making a series of claims about the health benefits of
beer including suggestions that it could protect against heart
disease.
European vitamin C prices look set to rise this year despite few
signs of respite from Chinese competition. The move is seen by some
as a final attempt to make money on the commodity.
Spanish manufacturer of choline salts Algry Quimica has signed
several new research agreements to develop active ingredients for
pharma and food applications.
US nutritional product supplier Perrigo continues to make inroads
into the European vitamin market, announcing the purchase of
privately-held Peter Black Pharmaceuticals for $13 million (€10.6m)
on Friday.
US nutritional product supplier Perrigo continues to make inroads
into the European brand vitamin market this week, acquiring the
privately-held Peter Black Pharmaceuticals for $13 million.
Vitamin D deficiency is a significant risk factor for falls and
injuries in elderly women living in residential care in Australia,
a Melbourne University study has found.
Populations that lack exposure to sunlight during winter months
should take vitamin D supplements to reduce their risk of cancer,
warns a letter published in this week's British Medical
Journal.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has ordered a
consumer level recall of 99 bottles of Nature Made brand vitamin
supplements, being illegally sold in the country.
The world's number two vitamin maker BASF officially opened its new
vitamin B2 plant in Korea today, increasing its production capacity
for the food and feed grade vitamin and reinforcing its position in
the consolidating vitamins...
A soy-based infant formula, linked to the deaths of three babies
and hospitalisation of several others in Israel in recent months,
was recalled from shelves this weekend, prompting widespread media
coverage.
South African millers must fortify flour and maize meal with a
blend of vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, following new
legislation introduced this week to improve malnutrition in the
country.
Elderly people should consider taking supplements of B vitamins as
many are deficient in the nutrients, thought to protect against
heart disease, argue German researchers in a new study.
UK-based Vibrant Life is to market a reformulated version of the
established US bone health supplement CalMagFizz, it revealed at
the Natural Trade Show in the UK last week.
Biacore International has had its food analysis kit, used for the
rapid routine testing of the vitamin food supplement folic acid,
fully validated and certified as a Performance Tested Method by the
Association of Analytical Communities...
A faster way to measure quantities of vitamin B12, both in foods
and in dietary supplements, has been developed by scientists in the
US. The discovery will improve data for commercial vitamin
supplements.
The UK's vitamin and supplement market is one of the largest in
Europe, with sales of £350 million (€510m) last year. But with
sales levelling off for the past two years, and new European
legislation set to considerably reduce...
The World Health Organisation has set up an international
organisation which aims to reduce the crippling effects of poor
health around the world through fortifying foods with essential
nutrients like vitamin A and iron.
Austrian company Panmol, exhibiting for the first time at
Vitafoods, has developed powerful antioxidant ingredients from
germinating cereal seeds, including a natural vitamin E, a vitamin
B complex and a wheat germ compound.
Members of the health foods industry have voiced the need for
greater global consensus on safety limits for nutrients after last
week's EVM report released by the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA)
revealed yet another different...
Doses above 1000mg of vitamin C and more than 1500mg daily of
calcium could cause serious health effects, says a new report
commissioned by the UK's Food Standards Agency. The FSA advice,
which also proposes a ban on weight loss...
A vitamin-enriched malt drink, designed to meet the nutritional
needs of communities without access to an adequate diet, launched
in South African retail outlets this week.
Doctors in the US have raised recommended levels of vitamin D for
infants because they say exposure to sunlight, which generates
production of the vitamin in the skin, is no longer a safe way to
prevent deficiency in children.
Vitamins are increasingly recognised for their role in skin health,
according to experts who yesterday highlighted the new research
showing the benefits of vitamin K and niacin.
Biochemists at the University of California have developed a
technology that increases the amount of vitamin C in plants,
including grains, by increasing the amount of the enzyme that is
responsible for recycling vitamin C.
A higher intake of folate and possibly vitamin B6 may reduce the
risk of developing breast cancer, report researchers in the US,
particularly among those women who drink regularly and are
therefore at higher risk of the disease.
Struggling Dutch nutritional supplement company Numico is rumoured
to be the target of a bid by dairy products giant Danone, although
the French company has denied having any interest in the Dutch
firm.
The new marketing agreement between Natural and Cognis for Tonalin
CLA has been marred by the filing of a lawsuit against Natural by
Loders Croklaan, which claims its patents have been infringed.
