International agencies should reassess as a matter of high priority
dietary recommendations for vitamin D, experts have said, because
current advice is outdated and puts the public at risk of
deficiency.
Glanbia's nutritionals activities were a positive force in 2006,
driving gains in operating profits for its ingredients division and
staving off the impact of another challenging year for dairy.
Increased intake of soy isoflavones significantly reduced the risk
of prostate cancer amongst Japanese men by as much as 50 per cent,
says a new study.
From double coating with soy peptides, to protection with whey
proteins, encapsulation of sensitive gut-friendly bacteria is
breaking new ground for probiotic food applications.
Berkem is introducing a new grape extract called Powergrape with
specific ratios of different polyphenol families, which has yielded
positive results in a prospective study on antioxidant status in
sportsmen.
Tomatoes, genetically engineered to contain high levels of folate,
could provide the recommended daily amount in one standard serving,
says new research.
Flavonoids from fruits and vegetables are not potent antioxidants
when eaten but may still have significant benefits by other
mechanisms, says a new review of the science.
Hawaiian microalgae specialist Cyanotech has received the green
light to sell its astaxanthin in the EU under novel foods
regulations, opening up a new market that it says has great
potential for the antioxidant ingredient.
Lentils are enjoying a surge in popularity in the UK, according to
retailer Waitrose - a further sign that foods can shrug off an
unappetising image when the importance of making healthy choices is
drummed home.
Consumer industries are only just seeing the tip of the iceberg
when it comes to the purchasing power of older consumers, says
Euromonitor International, which advises them to make age-aware
adaptations to products in the coming years.
NutraCea has taken the next step in extending use of its
proprietary stablised rice bran technology in Europe with a
distribution arrangement with Giulio Gross for the distribution of
its products in Italy.
An extract from pomegranate leaves may offer promise for weight
control after an animal study showed the extract suppressed
appetite and reduced food intake for high-fat diets.
The Nordic region is a hotbed of development for dairy alternatives
using healthy ingredients like oats and soya, says Organic Monitor,
and marketers are responding to consumer health awareness by
repositioning products as functional...
BioSerae is researching the use of its cactus-derived lipophilic
fibre NeOpuntia in food matrices, and has received interest from
food companies that are also keen to explore its potential outside
of supplements.
DSM Food Specialities' satiety ingredient Fabuless continues to
garner interest from dairy companies, as Campina extends its use in
Optiwell branded products to Germany.
A meta-analysis of 68 randomised trials with antioxidant
supplements has reported that vitamins A and E, and beta-carotene
may increase mortality risk by up to 16 per cent, but vitamin C did
not have an effect on mortality and the...
Australian marine fucoidan extractor Marinova has extended the
applications of its products for dietary supplements by securing
halal and kosher certification.
Chocolate mousse may be an excellent vehicle for probiotics and
prebiotics, suggests a new study from Brazil that is in line with
the trend for new ways of delivering the ingredients.
Denomega and GAT are making their microencapsulated fish oils more
readily available for use in dairy and beverage products through a
co-packaging arrangement with Tetra Pak that makes use of its
FlexDos dosing system.
A new trial from the US has reported that garlic may not decrease LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, raising questions over the cardiovascular benefits of garlic.
The European Botanical Forum has proposed a model for assessing the
safety of botanicals for use in food supplements – including a
'negative list' of botanics that should not be used due to safety
concerns – which it hopes...
UK supermarket Tesco is expanding its range of functional milks
with the addition of a new semi-skimmed product enhanced with a
variety of vitamins and other added nutrients.
The UK government has signalled that it is regarding polyphenols
for functional foods as a technology priority area, with the award
of a DTI grant to Coressence to identify health-giving ingredients
from fruit varieties.
Coffee, a well-established source of antioxidants, may also be a
richer source of soluble dietary fibre than orange juice,
researchers in Spain have reported.
Honey produced by bees feeding on honeydew have more than double
the radical scavenging activity than honeys from nectars, says new
research from Spain.
The new nutrition and health claims legislation could prove
challenging for marketers of probiotic products due to the
different effects of different strains of bacteria, says a
nutrition scientist.
BASF's fine chemicals division has posted strong overall sales for
full year 2006, but weak sales of the amino acid lysine and
carotenoids continued to detract from its performance.
The regulatory status of supplements sold out of the Channel
Islands is under the spotlight in the UK, as a House of Commons
motion urges a strategy to address unfair and illegal competition
to protect consumers and responsible businesses.
Friesland Foods is to enter a joint venture with Australian dairy
group Warrnambool as part of plans to help meet growing demand in
the country for prebiotic ingredients.
The Afriplex hoodia cultivation programme is yielding its first
harvest this year and is expected to significantly increase supply
of plant material available to meet growing demand from the weight
management market.
Emulsification of omega-3 fatty acids may boost bioavailability of
nutritionally beneficial eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by over 60 per cent, compared to
non-emulsified oil, suggests new research.
Ireland officially launched its Sea Change strategy last week,
which aims to shift the sector away from the traditional
food-harvest view and drive it into new market-led opportunities
including functional foods.
Chocolate producers Nestlé and Barry Callebaut have joined forces
to improve their respective positions in the competitive European
market as the maker of Smarties chocolate hands over facilities and
a supply contract to the Swiss...
The exhibition surrounding the first conference dedicated to
entirely to slimming ingredients, taking place next month in
Berlin, is open only to companies whose products are supported by
clinical trials, says the organiser.
A regular intake of watercress may protect against DNA damage in
blood cells, considered an important trigger in cancer development,
by 23 per cent, new research suggests.
Daily supplements of vitamin K2 maintained hipbone strength in
postmenopausal women, while placebo led to weakening, says a study
from the Netherlands.
BioGaia has reported significant gains in full year 2006 that tip
it into profit, thanks largely to deals for finished probiotic
products in a widening geographical sphere.
Quantification of a prebiotic's ability to boost the growth of
probiotics could enhance the identification of effective synbiotic
combinations, researchers have said.
Enzymotec has announced its entry into the krill oil market, going
head to head with market leader Neptune Krill Oil and planning
clinical research into the health benefits of its ingredient.
DSM is taking a two-pronged approach to sustaining profitability
and spurring growth for its Nutritional Products division, as it
reports volume growth for the Nutrition cluster as a whole but
sales on a par with last year due to...
DSM Nutritional Products is expanding its beta-carotene offering to
the supplements industry with the addition of a high-potency
natural beadlet form to its animal- and allergen-free
portfolio.
Canadian scientists have reported that two strains of probiotic
Lactobacillus bacteria grow well in soy yoghurt cultures, opening
up opportunities for an ever growing field.
Consumers concerned about the quality of fish oil in their omega-3
supplements should quiz the brand marketer over the source, says
chairman of GOED omega-3, a trade association that aims to maintain
standards of the ingredient.