A combination of daily followed by weekly iron supplementation
appears to be the answer for treating severe anaemia in babies in
the developing world, according to a new French - Vietnamese study.
Europe's largest dairy group Arla Foods and German sugar
manufacturer Nordzucker have finally begun production of Gaio
tagatose. The sweetener is said to look and taste like sugar but
with a third of the calories.
A difficult economy, recent war and current SARS epidemic may see
slightly fewer visitors at this year's Supply Side East, but those
gathering in Secaucus, New Jersey today for the start of the show
have plenty of industry issues...
Adding long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids to infant formula
milk appears to be linked to lower blood pressure later in
childhood, and may cut the risk of heart disease in adult life,
finds a study in this week's BMJ.
The UK's independent scientific Committee on Toxicity (COT) is
urging the government to review its advice on the use of soya-based
infant formulas, following a new report suggesting that there is a
lack of evidence on phytoestrogens...
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.
US functional food supplier Whole Living is aiming to expand its
direct selling initiative, the 'Food First Program', in Europe,
launching first in the UK as a test market.
Repercussions of Australia's largest ever medicines recall
involving contract manufacturer Pan Pharmaceuticals, will hit the
natural health industry hard, and could also concern food
manufacturers.
Balchem reported a small rise in net sales, up 3 per cent, during
the first quarter of 2003, although sales in its Encapsulated
products segment dropped, owing to the current difficult economy
for the food industry.
The global economic downturn marked 2003 first quarter results for
Dutch life science company DSM, but strong autonomous volume growth
boosted figures to higher than 2002.
A new mouse study suggests fasting every other day can help fend
off diabetes and protect brain neurons as well as or better than
either vigorous exercise or caloric restriction.
Substituting sesame oil for other cooking oils appears to help
reduce high blood pressure and lower the amount of medication
needed to control hypertension, Indian researchers reported in the
US yesterday.
Even small restrictions in a mother's nutrition around the time of
conception can lead to premature births and long-term adverse
health effects for the offspring, finds an international study.
Italian pharmaceutical company sigma-tau has developed a new
compound which helps to slow down and improve the symptoms caused
by Age-related Macular Disease (AMD).
The UK's National Association of Health Stores is hoping to hear
this week that it can start its High Court action against the
Medicines Control Agency and the Food Standards Agency concerning
the ban on the herbal remedy kava-kava.
Swedish probiotics firm BioGaia is to develop a new variation of
its innovative LifeTop straw for one of China's largest dairies, it
announced this week.
Novis, a European online publisher of global industry and science
news for the food and beverage industries, has undertaken a major
partnership with 15 leading international market report publishers.
This agreement provides Novis'...
Body weight is directly associated with mortality from cancer, US
researchers report, suggesting that overweight and obesity could
account for up to 20 per cent of all deaths from cancer in American
women.
The UK complementary medicines market has grown by almost 60 per
cent in the last five years to an estimated value of £130 million
(€187m), despite the impact of new legislation and negative
publicity regarding herbal remedies and...
UK drug analysis company HFL has launched a testing service to
check for drug contamination of sports supplements. The new tests
will detect IOC-banned drugs such as nandrolone and ephedrine, in a
range of supplement formulations.
The Australian natural health industry is set to suffer as the
government warns people to avoid taking herbal and vitamin
supplements, following a major recall of products made by the
country's leading contract manufacturer.
The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) has
prompted increased demand for immune-boosting natural remedies,
including the natural bee product propolis, reports New
Zealand-based Comvita.
Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research report a possible
link between levels of folic acid available to the baby in the womb
and leukaemia in children.
Japanese researchers have discovered a new vitamin that has an
important role in immune response and fertility in mice. The
chemical, pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), may have a similar
function in humans, they said.
Holland & Barrett parent company NBTY posted a 10 per cent rise
in sales for the 2003 second quarter to $278 million (€253.5m). The
firm which has been expanding retail operations in Europe said it
will continue to make acquisitions...
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) released their controversial report on diet and
its impact on disease in Rome yesterday, despite severe lobbying
from the US Sugar Association.
A natural iron supplement of Welsh spring water can help prevent
iron deficiency in pregnant women without the common side effects
of manufactured iron supplements, says a UK company.
The UK Food Commission has accused HJ Heinz of misleading consumers
about the '5-a-day' programme but the UK Advertising Standards
Agency fails to support the case.
A collaboration between US scientists and a Nigerian agriculture
agency may have found a way of reducing iron deficiency in western
Africa without resorting to more expensive fortification
programmes.
Roche Vitamins has announced that its omega-3 product, ROPUFA '75',
has gained GRAS self-affirmation in the United States, allowing it
to be used in fortified foods.
Researchers find that the ingredient gelatine stimulates collagen
synthesis in cartilage cells and may be able to treat arthritis,
reports gelatine producer DGF STOESS.
Breakfasts at home are fast losing popularity in Europe and
impacting cereals and also vegetable spreads. But as ever the
health benefits are increasingly important for spread manufacturers
to sustain growth, reveals a new report.
Combining a protein from a Mediterranean plant with the potent
neurotoxin Botox could produce an effective treatment for the
chronic pain experienced by millions of people, according to
British research.
Roche Vitamins has announced the launch of two new lutein product
forms for the food and dietary supplement market for use in the
fortification of foods and beverages and for effervescent tablets.
Procter & Gamble and Pharmavite yesterday announced that
P&G has licensed use of the Olay trademark to Pharmavite to
manufacture and market Olay Vitamins, a vitamin line designed to
address women's health and beauty needs.
US agribusiness giant Cargill going from strength to strength this
year, as it reports earnings in the third quarter leapt from $151
million (€139 million) to $241 million this year. The privately
held firm said litigation settlements...
New Zealand-based biotechnology company Blis Technologies has
launched a new dietary supplement containing Howaru probiotic
bacteria, produced by ingredients firm Danisco.
The UK's Food Standards Agency has appointed three new specialist
members to the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer
Products and the Environment.
Beghin Meiji claims to have revolutionised the bakery world with
its Actilight, which can be added to white breads to offer the same
intestinal health benefits attributed to wholemeal.
Low levels of vitamin B6 in smokers may raise their risk of cancer,
according to researchers in the US, who found that even moderate
smokers had dangerously low levels of the vitamin.
As research continues to show the benefits of the Mediterranean
diet, and numbers of northern Europeans migrating to the south
grows, researchers launch a project to find out if a new lifestyle
can really bring improved health.
A daily glass of grape juice may help men with hypertension lower
their blood pressure, according to results from a preliminary study
presented in the US last week.
The risk of obesity may be up to 50 per cent lower for kids who eat
oatmeal regularly compared to those who do not, suggests new
research from the University of Columbia and Quaker Oats.
Researchers and members of the European food industry working on
the assessment of science backing claims on food, is to focus on
risk of diabetes, diet-related cancers and gut health in its second
year of the project.
EU plans to start a multi-million research programme on enhancing
health benefits of cereals will be just one topic of discussion at
the forthcoming Dietary Fibre 2003 conference.
