Unilever's cholesterol-lowering Becel Pro.activ milk drink has
become the fifth product to earn a product-specific health claim
under Sweden's health claims system.
A challenge to Lipid Nutrition's patent on the composition of its
conjugated linoleic acid has been removed after the European Patent
Office ruled that all claims should remain as granted four years
ago.
Restricting the diets of mice reduces the build-up of plaques in
the brain that are linked to Alzheimer's disease, according to a
new study that offers further evidence of the benefits of calorie
restriction.
Gamma-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E found in many plant seeds but
not widely available in nutritional supplements, might halt the
growth of prostate and lung cancer cells, say US researchers.
The mineral supplement chromium picolinate has been given the
all-clear by the UK's food authority. It is a strong sign that the
compound could be accepted across Europe under the forthcoming
supplements directive, writes Dominique...
China continues to pull on global commodities with demand for US
soybeans rising in 2004/05 by nearly 50 per cent on the previous
year, reports Lindsey Partos. China's total contracts for
soybeans reached 6.6 million tonnes by...
Regular users of vitamin E may be less likely to die from Lou
Gehrig's disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS), compared with non-users, suggests new research.
Compounds in the bark of the Scotch pine, more usually used for
Christmas trees, show promising anti-inflammatory action in cell
studies, say Finnish researchers, and could be developed into food
supplements for arthritis patients.
Circle Group owned FiberGel Technologies last week launched a
non-GMO version of its fat replacement and dietary fiber supplement
in order to satisfy European demand.
Swedish manufacturer Semper aims to increase exports of baby food
to Russia, as the market there is growing much faster than in many
other countries, writes Angela Drujinina.
A novel foods approval for the tomato compound lycopene could give
it a significant push into the functional foods category in Europe,
which currently includes only a handful of lycopene-fortified
foods, believes a leading supplier.
The UK's supplement industry is preparing its case against the
European food supplement directive, to be heard by the European
Court of Justice next month.
People who supplement with high doses of vitamin C could be
reducing their risk of major heart disease events like heart
attack, suggests a new analysis of prospective studies.
Cranberries have been given a major promotion in the UK as a
leading dental charity advises they could help prevent a host of
oral health problems, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
Scientists in Ireland claim to have dramatically improved the
quality of gluten-free bread, presenting an opportunity for bakers
as the number of people with a known gluten intolerance grows,
writes Chris Mercer.
Tea polyphenols are more bioavailable when delivered as
encapsulated green tea extract than when taken as a traditional
beverage, according to a small trial.
Pregnant women who take folic acid supplements to protect their
babies from birth defects may also increase their long-term risk of
breast cancer, according to preliminary data published in
tomorrow's BMJ.
Dutch lactoferrin supplier DMV International and Arla Food
Ingredients could soon be part of the world's largest farmer-owned
dairy company as their owners Campina of the Netherlands and
Denmark's Arla Foods announce plans...
The controversial issue of nutritional profiles will remain one of
the biggest hurdles for EU legislation on health claims but recent
reports suggest that Germany may be ready to concede some elements
of profiling, reports Dominique...
The Netherlands has been told that it must allow the marketing of
foods with added vitamins and minerals without requiring
manufacturers to prove that there is a 'nutritional' need for such
products.
Patients taking the blood-thinning drug warfarin should avoid all
cranberry-based products, according to new advice from the UK's
Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), after it reviewed evidence
of several interactions.
Dairy ingredients firm Glanbia has bought the German nutrient
delivery systems company Kortus for €14.5 ($19.15) million, it said
yesterday, strengthening its product range and solution capability.
The European Commission is set to fine chemicals firms Akzo Nobel,
BASF and Belgium's UCB for their role in fixing prices on choline
chloride, according to a report.
Resveratrol, the antioxidant found in red wine, may help protect
heart health by limiting the effects of cardiac fibrosis, a
hardening of the heart tissue, finds new animal research.
At 3.15 million tonnes world tea production in 2003 beat 2002
supplies but prices remained firm reflecting season variability,
reports the UN food and farm body, adding that China has pushed up
green tea supplies.
Israel-based Enzymotec in conjunction with Tel Aviv University has
concluded a study showing that a superior lipid-based delivery
system for DHA had a significant effect on the cognitive
performance in elderly rat models.
Dutch nutritional oils company Lipid Nutrition says customers
working in the US can now use two immune-boosting
structure/function claims for its Safflorin product after notifying
the Food and Drug Administration of its supporting...
UK firm Phytopharm, which has isolated the appetite-suppressing
ingredients in the desert plant hoodia, says it is in advanced
talks to license its compound to a food industry partner.
Natural honey-bee products such as propolis, royal jelly, caffeic
acid, honey and venom could one day be used to help prevent cancer,
say Croatian researchers.
Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids found in dark leafy green
vegetables, were nearly 10 times more powerful than the antioxidant
vitamin E in protecting human eye cells from UV-induced damage,
report US researchers.
Combining B vitamins with a powerful antioxidant could lower blood
levels of the amino acid homocysteine enough to prevent dementia,
claims a UK research firm preparing to test the theory in clinical
trials.
Arla Foods UK is to launch a line of branded low-carb dairy
products endorsed by US diet company Atkins, but will the UK prove
a suitable market for long-term success? Tom Armitage
reports.
Danish ingredients company Chr Hansen has licensed the use of a
genomics tool to improve knowledge of how probiotic bacteria work.
It could help the firm develop new probiotic bacteria with superior
benefits over existing products.
UK retailer Sainsbury will be the first of the country's four large
grocery chains to launch 'traffic light' healthy eating labelling
in January, according to reports.
Number two vitamin maker BASF has developed a new beta-carotene
product, designed to meet increasing demand from fortified
beverages and vitamin-enriched juices, reports Dominique
Patton.
Functional foods are often designed to help counter age-related
disease but many food companies are failing to reach the consumers
most concerned by these diseases, writes Dominique Patton.
Diets low in foods containing folate and carotenoids may be a major
contributing factor to the high rate of heart disease in Central
and Eastern Europe, say researchers.
Compounds found only in citrus fruits not only fight colon cancer
cells but also halt the spread of the childhood cancer
neuroblastoma, according to research in laboratory animals.
Adding the amino acid supplement SAMe to a standard antidepressant
may be helpful to patients who have not responded to single-drug
treatment for clinical depression, say US researchers.
Belgian rice ingredients firm Remy Industries is to launch a
soluble rice protein in the first half of next year, to meet strong
demand from the beverage industry, reports Dominique Patton.
An Israeli fruit called the pomelit appears to lower blood
cholesterol levels and increase blood antioxidant activity, making
it a useful food to protect heart health, according to a
researcher.
Announcing its half-year results back in September, the UK-based
confectionery group Glisten said that it expected to make further
acquisitions in niche markets, as it sought to build on strong
sales over the last three years....