Dosage forms & delivery formats

Probiotic oral cavity-reduction potential has bite, study shows

17-Nov-2016 By Will Chu

A supplement containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus could enhance dental health by reducing tooth decay, according to a Chilean study.

Children’s growth supplement wins GSK backing

17-Nov-2016 By Lynda Searby

With a licensing agreement with GSK in place in India, Nutritional Growth Solutions is on the look-out for partners to roll-out its Pro-Up children’s growth supplement in Europe.

HiE opens arms to European and global nutrition sector

16-Nov-2016

UBM-owned Health ingredients Europe & Natural ingredients (HiE & Ni) kicks off in Frankfurt on November 29. We asked brand director Richard Joyce how the 3-day mega-show is shaping up.

IPA and ISAPP collaborate on new paper about probiotic use in at-risk populations

16-Nov-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Pharmacists should verify GMP compliance, check pathogen and toxin testing, and seek out products with 3rd party certifications before recommending probiotic products to at-risk individuals, says a new paper from experts from the International Probiotics...

Censoring choice? SNE concerned about Romanian infant formula plans

15-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Restricting mothers’ access to information about infant formula may have negative public health consequences, trade group Specialised Nutrition Europe (SNE) has said following a draft Romanian law banning the marketing of formula for under-2s.

Botanicals progress: EU Health Commissioner promises solution in his time

14-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Commissioner for health and food safety has said a public consultation on how best to deal with botanical health claims will be launched by the end of this year and a solution on the longstanding issue offered by the end of his five-year...

#WorldDiabetesDay #WDD

World Diabetes Day: 1000 actions to help 400+m people

14-Nov-2016 By Shane Starling

Nearly 1000 actions – from screenings to policy statements to conferences and diet and lifestyle change promotion – are underway in 130+ countries as part of World Diabetes Day.

Is it time to admit it's impossible to get a probiotic health claim?

10-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

If the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) continues to treat probiotics like pharmaceuticals, it will never be possible to win a health claim, says the European arm of the International Probiotics Association (IPA). But not everyone agrees.

Cultured thoughts: The emerging areas of probiotics and prebiotics

10-Nov-2016 By Will Chu

The last few years have seen a surge in gut microbiota studies that stretch far beyond digestive health benefits, weight management and immune system support. But what direction is this sector heading?

Probiotic supplements on rise in global €40bn market

10-Nov-2016 By Shane Starling

Latest data from Euromonitor International shows the global probiotics market is worth about €40bn, yoghurt continues to be the dominant mode of delivery although probiotic supplements are growing fastest.

Over half kids' food on Spanish TV use health halo claims: Research

10-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Over half of all food products marketed to children on Spanish television make some kind of nutrition or health claim but many of these products are unhealthy, say researchers calling for nutrient profiles.

Industry poll: Claim wording & transparency greatest EU health claim challenges

09-Nov-2016 By Shane Starling

Almost nine years after the implementation of the EU's controversial nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) the industry is still reeling, German researchers have found.

UK petition demands nutritionist become protected job title

09-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

UK nutritionists are calling for their job title to be legally protected like dietitian's are, with a petition to government collecting nearly 2,500 signatures in five days.

Is new DHA oil the ultimate in omega-3 stability?

09-Nov-2016 By Lynda Searby

French marine lipid specialist Polaris claims its new generation algal source DHA oil takes fish-free omega-3 “to a new level” by offering “unmatched” stability.

Goal! English football giant backs high-dose omega-3 for recovery

08-Nov-2016 By Shane STARLING

London-based English Premier League (EPL) football club Tottenham Hotspur has inked a deal with Norwegian firm Smartfish to supply high-dose omega-3 products for player recovery.

Whey appetite quenched thanks to amino mix: Research

08-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The satiating effect of whey protein may be because of its specific amino acid composition, New Zealand researchers have said.

Romania goes beyond EU minimum with infant formula restrictions

08-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Romania wants to ban the promotion of infant formula products for children up to the age of two years, but it remains to be seen whether this draft law will make it past EU scrutiny.

'Good evidence' for zinc against diabetes complications: Review

07-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Higher zinc levels in the blood may be linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease for those with diabetes, says a review that also exposes holes in existing evidence. 

'there is a risk that brands alienate their core consumers'

Sports nutrition 2.0: The category is playing a dangerous game

07-Nov-2016 By Shane Starling

Sports nutrition has long-expanded beyond its hardcore niche to become a global multi-format, multiple demographic, multi-billion euro behemoth – but is everybody winning in the game of sports nutrition 2.0? We asked sector expert Nick Morgan from Sports...

Legal protection of dietitian job title is not enough to fend off nutrition quackery

07-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The job title of dietitian may now be legally protected in Ireland, but quackery of unqualified nutritionists is likely to remain at large, warns the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI). 

New study shows astaxanthin is effective against daily mental and physical fatigue

07-Nov-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Japanese nutraceutical firm AstaReal says its astaxanthin has been found to be simultaneously effective against both mental and physical fatigue in a new published study.

Analyst: 'The fact is we have a lot of food marketers in Europe who are just not very good at their job...'

German impact study finds EU health claim laws blocking innovation; no excuse for lame marketing, says analyst

04-Nov-2016 By Shane STARLING

A German study – one of three analysing the impact of the EU’s strict health claim laws in place since 2008 – has concluded they are having severe innovation crimping effects. But a functional foods expert says marketeers need to drop engrained ‘can’t...

Rich concept? Personalised-protein at your service, sir (or madam)...

04-Nov-2016 By Lynda Searby

Entrepreneur Oliver Cookson has embarked on a new venture – a personalised protein-based nutrition service designed to “unravel the maze of protein by giving each consumer exactly what they need”.

Autumn trend? Leaf extracts used as food colourants and nutraceuticals

03-Nov-2016 By David Burrows

Researchers have developed a process allowing them to extract compounds from fallen leaves that could offer potential as natural colourants. 

Meta-analysis shows eggs can reduce stroke risk by 12%

03-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Eating up to one egg a day has no association with coronary heart disease (CHD) but does reduce the risk of stroke by 12%, a meta-analysis has suggested. 

'Naturex was a start-up 20 years ago.'

CEO Exclusive: Naturex goes back to start-up roots to drive growth

03-Nov-2016 By Niamh Michail from Avignon, France

The world’s biggest supplier of botanical extracts, Naturex, is on track to meet the targets of its growth strategy Bright2020 which aims to see 10% of sales coming from new products, according to CEO Olivier Rigaud.

‘Socially irresponsible’: UK agency bans Diet Chef advert

03-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The UK’s Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has banned an advert from diet plan company Diet Chef after 26 viewers complained the advert exploited women’s insecurities about their bodies.

Dr Jeff Bland: ‘The future of dietary supplements is to marry itself into this scientific wellness revolution’

03-Nov-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Technological advances, from genomic testing to real-time data collection from wearables, will open up new opportunities for dietary supplements as wellness moves from a disease-centric to a health-centric model, says Dr Jeffrey Bland.

JAMA rejects cranberry for UTI; industry says Yale study infected with fault

02-Nov-2016 By Shane STARLING

The cranberry industry and academics have rubbished a cranberry-UTI study and accompanying commentary published in JAMA in the past week, saying the research is “misleading” and “suffering from fatal flaws.”

Krill fishery unaffected (for now)

Fishing banned in world’s largest Marine Protected Area in Antarctica

02-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Fishing will be banned in a newly protected area of the Southern Ocean in Antarctica the size of the UK and France combined following an agreement at a Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) meeting.

Energy drinks are in the spotlight again after man develops acute hepatitis after excessive consumption

02-Nov-2016 By Elizabeth Crawford

The health and safety of energy drinks and shots could come under the microscope again after a man developed acute hepatitis after excessive daily consumption of such a product, as reported Nov. 1 in BMJ Case Reports. 

Fruitflow tomato extract hits the food supplement aisle (with omega-3)

31-Oct-2016 By Shane Starling

Fruitflow, the Provexis-owned blood flow boosting tomato extract has launched in an omega-3 blended food supplement in the UK.

Next Gen sequencing still not mature enough to use as standard botanical test method, experts argue

28-Oct-2016 By Hank Schultz

The hesitancy of the foodborne pathogen testing industry to adopt Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for DNA tests is a signal that the technology is immature and needs further refinement before it can become a standard tool, the authors of a recent paper...

Gelita puts spotlight on collagen peptide's potential as muscle toning ingredient

28-Oct-2016 By Adi Menayang

The global collagen peptide company is looking to diversify the applications of its product BodyBalance, targeting manufacturers who cater to fitness enthusiasts looking for toned bodies.

Devil's milk peptides found to kill ‘superbugs’

28-Oct-2016 By Will Chu

Milk peptides from the Tasmanian devil may play a role in battling antibiotic resistant bacteria, according to researchers writing in Nature. 

Omega-3 PUFAs could aid Alzheimer’s fight by boosting glymphatic system: Macau mouse study

28-Oct-2016 By Gary Scattergood

New research from Macau suggests that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could improve the function of the glymphatic system, which facilitates the clearance of waste from the brain.

Probiota 2017 migrates to Berlin; call for scientific abstracts until 11 November

27-Oct-2016

An important prebiotic, probiotic congress takes place in Berlin on 1-3 February next year for those in the business and science of the microbiota.

Protein quality matters for muscle building, says review

27-Oct-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The quality of protein and its leucine content has a significant influence on muscle building with resistance training, a review has found.

Indian carotenoid player enters Europe

27-Oct-2016

Bangalore-based lutein and carotenoid specialist Katra Phyto has enlisted UK-based ingredient player and distributor Gee Lawson as its European partner.

Lowering protein content of formula could help reduce obesity: Study

27-Oct-2016 By Jim Cornall

High protein intake during infancy may contribute to obesity later in life in infants who are not exclusively breastfed, according to a Nestlé Nutrition-funded study.

Sweden to create special supplement e-commerce task force

27-Oct-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Sweden is creating a taskforce to bring rogue supplement e-commerce in check, something industry hopes will help close the gap between on and offline standards.

2015-16: Full year profits up 13% to €184m

‘When your neighbour’s land is for sale you need to act’: Chr Hansen CEO on €73m acquisition

26-Oct-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The €73m acquisition of a library of 3,200 probiotic strains will open up opportunities in children’s immune health, Chr Hansen’s CEO says as the firm posts 13% profit growth from last year.  

Korean menopause botanical blend wins EFSA backing

26-Oct-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said a herbal root mix is safe for use in menopause food supplements.

Blackmores and Bega infant nutrition venture misses targets amid China slowdown

26-Oct-2016 By Gary Scattergood

A joint venture between Blackmores and Bega Cheese to supply infant formula across APAC - and in particular China - has missed its sales targets, hitting Bega’s financial performance.

First Milk sells sports nutrition company

26-Oct-2016 By Gwen Ridler

Sports nutrition producer CNP Professional has been sold to The Protein Partners following a strategic review of the company.

Welsh rugby enlists one of its own for nutrition

25-Oct-2016

Welsh firm Pro Athlete Supplementation (PAS) has won a contract to be the ‘Official Supplier of Performance Nutrition’ to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

A fortified egg a day could keep winter vitamin D deficiency away

25-Oct-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Eating seven vitamin D-fortified eggs a week could be enough to keep winter vitamin D status in adults in check, say EU-funded researchers. 

Pumping iron powers brain function for people with mild cognitive impairment

25-Oct-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Follow-up results released from a University of Sydney study show that increased muscle strength leads to improved brain function in adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Glanbia adds sparkle to iron with new Lactoferrin delivery format

25-Oct-2016 By Adi Menayang

With athletes in mind, Glanbia partnered with Wisconsin-based PoppingFUN for a new confectionary-inspired delivery format for iron supplements.

EFSA considers Mitsubishi’s antioxidant salt following member state concerns

24-Oct-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has taken the reins in the safety evaluation of Mitsubishi’s novel antioxidant salt ingredient following member state toxicity concerns.