Across the Nutraverse: Organic spirulina in EU, ADM’s weight loss platform, women’s health, and more
The women’s health supplement boom in the U.S.
Demand continues to grow for dietary supplements for women targeting conditions ranging from polycystic ovarian syndrome and low libido to vaginal dehydration and nutrient deficiencies affecting early cognitive development.
According to data provided by market insights firm SPINS, women’s health supplement sales reached over $980 million (up 0.6% year-on-year) for the 52 weeks ending Sept. 8, 2024.
In terms of specific health focus, prenatal and postnatal supplements continued to lead the category by a large margin with $207 million in dollar sales, up 5.5% from a year prior. Menopause remained a distant but significant second with close to $53 million (up 2.8%).
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Parry Nutraceuticals obtains EU import license for organic spirulina
The EU has granted the first import license for organic spirulina to an Indian company in two years.
In October 2022, the EU delisted several certification bodies after detecting traces of the banned pesticide ethylene oxide in organic sesame seeds from India. This ruling affected the only organization worldwide authorized to certify organic microalgae from India, stopping imports of organic spirulina from India to the EU for the last two years.
During this time, Parry Nutraceuticals, part of EID Parry and the Murugappa Group in India, identified a credible European partner and invested in research and development, enabling the company to now introduce new, improved spirulina products to the EU market.
Sofia H. de Mendonça, business development manager for Europe at Parry Nutraceuticals, expressed the team's excitement about re-entering the European market to supply high-quality spirulina and chlorella products. She also highlighted their pride in being the first Indian producer to regain certification after a long period, collaborating with Europe's most stringent certification agencies.
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BLIS Technologies explores concepts for pregnant women
New Zealand’s BLIS Technologies Limited, known for its oral health probiotics, is expanding the use of oral and gum health probiotics for specific groups, including pregnant women and patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.
One of its newest concepts looks at combining vitamin D and one of its flagship strain BLIS M18 (Streptococcus salivarius M18) for supporting oral health among pregnant women.
Risk of gum diseases and tooth decay increases during pregnancy due to hormonal change and the company, which owns consumer brands and runs a private-label and ingredient supplier arm, believes this is a market gap which it could fulfil.
Speaking to NutraIngredients-Asia at Vitafoods Asia 2024, Kelda Hunter, marketing lead said that there was growing demand for science-backed holistic solutions.
“Consumer knowledge of the microbiome is growing, and there is increased demand for holistic solution that are clinically studied and backed with evidence,” she said.
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ADM’s new platform to help F&B firms meet the needs of weight-loss drug users
A new platform designed by ADM to help food and beverage manufacturers better understand and meet the needs of weight-loss drug users brings together proprietary consumer research and science, a portfolio of targeted ingredients and more than 25 ready-to-go prototypes for rapid product development.
ADM’s supportive solutions platform includes five critical needs for consumers taking anti-obesity medications, including three while taking the drugs and two while discontinuing or reducing the prescriptions. All are matched with ingredients in ADM’s portfolio, including a wide range of plant-based proteins, fiber, probiotics, low-caloric sweeteners and more.
Together, these can help food and beverage manufacturers quickly innovate and enter a fast-growing and quickly-evolving market in which few CPG players currently operate, according to ADM.
“Globally the rates of overweight and obesity are really substantial. About 30% of the global population is actually overweight, and a lot of those people are seeking solutions for weight management,” leading to a dramatic rise in anti-obesity medications, including GLP-1 drugs, which a projected 9% of US adults may be on by the early 2030s, said Brad Schwan, VP of marketing at ADM.
Alongside this surge in use of anti-obesity drugs is a new consumer group with distinct—and largely unmet—needs, he said.
“It really creates white space for food, beverage and dietary supplement manufacturers to create companion solutions that can help support users of GLP-1 drugs,” he explained.
