Seaweed species have been found to defend themselves from specific
pathogens with naturally occurring antibiotics, which could present
oppportunities for future nutraceuticals, report US researchers.
Swedish firm BioGaia, known for its probiotic LifeTop straw, has
signed an agreement with a small Italian company for the sale of
its Reuteri tablets on the Italian market.
Supplements containing a soy compound were no better than a placebo
at relieving the symptoms of menopause, according to a Finnish
study published in this month's Obstetrics and Gynecology
journal.
A report in a US newspaper has fuelled rumours that Dutch food
group Numico is about to auction its US retail chain GNC. While
Numico has not confirmed the news, media reports suggest that the
firm may receive some informal bids this...
EU-funded projects to explore the physiological effects from eating
foods with added soy-derived isoflavones are hoping to see benefits
for bone health and heart disease reduction in women.
Swiss group Novartis' Medical Nutrition unit is to buy Semper
Clinical Nutrition, part of the Arla Foods subsidiary Semper and
the second largest medical nutrition business in the Nordic region.
A plant-based diet may be important in reducing the risk of ovarian
cancer, report US researchers this month. Fibre, carotenoids and
lignans were all found to lower the risk.
Scientists in the US have developed a form of vitamin D that
greatly enhances radiation treatment for breast cancer tumours, and
does not result in the side effects seen with high doses of the
natural vitamin form.
Netherlands-based Sensus has received safety approval for its
Frutafit inulin fibre, said to promote gut health, from the US Food
and Drug Administration.
The functional foods sector offers strong growth opportunities for
the Irish food industry, according to Enterprise Ireland, a
government-funded development body which recently organised a trade
mission to Japan to assess its successful...
The Middle East's first trade show for the natural health industry
has been scheduled for October this year. Natural Products Expo,
Arabia, not related to Penton Media's Expo shows, will take place
in Dubai in the United...
Anti-ageing foods are set to grow significantly as the worldwide
elderly population expands and looks for improvements in their
quality of life, confirmed speakers at a recent seminar organised
by the Northern Ireland Centre for Food...
A new 'functional' cooking oil made from a blend of tropical,
olive, coconut and flaxseed oils, may soon offer relief to
calorie-counters and cholesterol-watchers, according to Canadian
researchers.
Nutritional oils company Loders Croklaan Lipid Nutrition reports
that a study on its Clarinol conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) found
improved weight reduction and fewer of the negative effects
normally experienced when dieting.
The value of dietary fibre in the adult diet is now recognised as
important but in a journal this month researchers suggest that
babies may also benefit from the effects on bowel health by adding
fibre to milk formula.
More than 200 companies active in the nutrition, health foods and
dietary supplements sector are to exhibit at France's Natexpo,
taking place this year in October. The show also offers seminars on
the country's €274 million...
US firm Galaxy Nutritional Foods, a producer of soy- and oat-based
dairy alternatives, has entered into an exclusive distribution
agreement with French cheese company Fromageries Bel, which will
make Galaxy's brands available...
'Healthiness-to-go' appears to be the order of the day on Europe's
supermarket shelves as Mintel's Global New Product Database reveals
a number of new functional drinks launched in the last month.
Cognis, the group behind Tonalin CLA, reported an organic sales
growth of €13.9 million for the first quarter, up 1.7 per cent from
last year, although total sales were hit hard by negative exchange
rates, falling almost 7 per cent.
Public sector caterers and their suppliers are being asked once
again by the Food Standards Agency to reduce the amount of salt
used in their food production and supplies of processed foods.
Drinking fermented milk appeared to eliminate or drastically reduce
symptoms related to lactose intolerance in people with the allergy,
report US researchers on a small study.
Taking copper supplements had a protective effect against oxidation
in erythrocytes in older adults, according to new European
research, investigating the role of the trace mineral on human
health.
Greek Orthodox Christians who avoid specific foods at certain times
of the year as part of their religion's fasting regimes have lower
levels of LDL cholesterol, report researchers, suggesting fasting
can be beneficial for the...
A major initiative to tackle the growing epidemic of obesity
launched in Finland today, with a campaign for improved medical
education and a new register of obesity expertise in Europe.
Finland's National Food Agency is to test the PAH levels in
margarine products, following a Swedish report suggesting that a
sample of Becel pro.activ contained twice the legal level of the
carcinogenic compounds.
The marketers of a supplement said to 'shield against toxins' have
been pulled up by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)
for unsubstantiated product claims.
The Food unit of the French Rhodia Group has launched two new
ingredients onto the market to improve the texture of yoghurts,
especially 'light' yoghurts with less fat.
Swiss flavours and extracts manufacturer Emil Flachsmann is
introducing EFLA Trees of Life, a line of plant-based extracts
designed especially for the dairy industry to provide a functional
twist.
The UK Dairy Council is launching a campaign to try to improve the
image of milk. A survey found that women are not eating the
recommended three portions of dairy products a day and many believe
the fat content of milk to be much...
Nestlé is hoping to win a bigger slice of the fast growing market
for nutritional products, and will invest heavily in new product
development and brand support in the next few years, investors
heard yesterday.
Yoghurt has been by far the fastest-growing dairy sector over the
last four years, driven by added health benefits, convenient
packaging and improved taste profiles. Probiotic yoghurts grew
fastest after the new drinking yoghurt format.
Even non-anaemic women with fatigue may benefit from taking an iron
supplement, suggests research from Switzerland in this week's
British Medical Journal.
Chitosan, the substance derived from crustacean shells, may
decrease mild to moderate cholesterol levels in women, suggest
Japanese researchers, without them changing their regular diet.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is advising the industry to
remove 10 herbal supplement products from sale, after a survey
found them to contain irradiated components not highlighted in the
product labelling.
A non-pathogenic strain of E. coli probiotic oral suspension
appeared to relieve patients of the major symptoms of inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD) in a pilot trial, according to US firm
BioBalance.
Two new products for the French slimming market: 'Veinosvelt', a
natural extract-based formula to combat cellulite, and
'Pro-satietil hyperproteine', a high protein product range suitable
for Atkin's diet...
Compounds found in tea can stop the growth of bacteria that cause
bad breath, according to researchers at the University of Illinois
at Chicago, presenting results of a new study this week.
The National Association of Health Stores in the UK says it has
been granted leave by the High Court to bring a case against the UK
government and the National Assembly for Wales to overturn the
recent ban on the sale of kava products.
Swedish probiotic firm BioGaia has signed an exclusive distribution
agreement with leading Australian supplement company Blackmores,
likely to help sustain the large increase in sales for the first
quarter after a similar agreement...
A Roche scientist received an innovation award yesterday for
developing an environmentally friendly process to produce genistein
in a very pure form. The new process has been filed for patent and
will be implemented by the Swiss group...
Research deemed to be the first 'controlled' trial of the Atkins
Diet finds it may be as safe and effective as conventional diets.
The study also found Atkins Dieters to have greater increases in
good cholesterol (HDL) and...
The Japanese nutraceutical market, currently worth around €18
billion, is set to more than double by 2012, finds a new report.
And potential for Western companies to enter the sector is also
growing with ingredients such as grape...
Taking supplements of the vitamin A precursor beta-carotene may
increase the risk of colorectal cancer in smokers and drinkers,
according to new research published this week. The study, from four
research centres in the US, comes...
The Food Standards Agency has launched a new section on its website
providing information on 24 different types of food intolerance.
Foods marketed to those with food intolerance is a growing segment
in supermarket aisles.
