Dosage forms & delivery formats

Action on Sugar turns its attention to energy drinks. ©iStock/HandmadePictures

UK report calls for ban on energy drink sales to under 16s

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A report authored by UK public health lobby group Action on Sugar has called on the UK government to curb energy drink consumption among young people – listing a ban on sales to under 16s as one policy option.

'We started out saying we wanted to be the Red Bull of the freezer cabinet. Now we want to go beyond that,' says protein ice cream start-up.

Protein ice cream: The Red Bull of the freezer aisle?

By Lynda Searby

Rising protein ice cream brand WheyHey isn’t stopping at being the 'Red Bull of the freezer aisle'; it wants to provide an alternative to the 'rubbish' food companies are serving up in every category, co-founder Damien Kennedy tells...

German researchers tested the long-held theory that garlic consumption by a breast-feeding mother has an effect on her milk. ©iStock/szeyuen

Garlic consumption affects breast milk, says study

By Eliot Beer

Eating garlic can lead to a garlic smell and the presence of garlic-derived compounds in breast milk, but transmission is more complex than previously thought, according to a new study.

Ascendis Health CEO says Scitec acquisition will unlock European and US sports nutrition markets.

Ascendis eyes August completion of €170m Scitec deal

By Eliot Beer

South African firm Ascendis Health is aiming to complete its acquisition of sports nutrition company Scitec International by the end of August, with CEO Karsten Wellner expecting strong growth even in saturated markets.

'Coconut oil has a bit of a history in [knowledge gaps]...' ©iStock

Fads in focus: Coconut oil – panacea or artery clogger?

By Simone Baroke

There is barely a food or beverage category that has not been invaded by coconut in some shape or form, says Euromonitor International contributing analyst, Simone Baroke. But is the world justified in going loco for coco?

'Whilst dietary recommendations have shifted towards prescribing diets higher in protein for diabetes management, the impact on diabetes prevention remains controversial.' ©iStock

Healthy eating linked with reduced diabetes levels

By Sophie Bruno

Fresh research from years 1-4 of the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) rolling programme has investigated the association between anti-inflammatory and antioxidant dietary patterns in reducing the onset of diabetes and looked at carb-protein...

EFSA has set an adequate intake (AI) of 4,000 mg per day for lactating women. ©iStock/elena_hramowa

EFSA potassium opinion up for debate

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public opinion on its draft dietary reference values for potassium.

Industry responds: 'The belief they can obtain all the nutrients necessary from the average UK diet poses a very real risk to the health of both mothers and their unborn children.' ©iStock/Antonio Gravante

Pregnancy multivitamins: A waste of expectant mothers’ money?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

So-called multivitamin and mineral pregnancy supplements are “an unnecessary expense” for most expectant mothers, according to a review of current UK guidance for pregnancy supplementation. Yet industry has called the statements dangerously misleading. 

©iStock

UK microbiome start-up wins investors as platforms expand

By Shane Starling

Publicly listed UK start-up Optibiotix has €4m+ in the bank and is pushing forward on a series of microbiome-focused nutrition projects that include a joint research initiative with weight management giant, SlimFast.

Natural is key for high earners - and they are willing to pay the price for it, finds Mintel report of sports nutrition. © iStock.com / Nikola1988

Sports nutrition insights

How to target active high earners

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Mintel research has found that high earners are key consumers of sports nutrition products in the UK, so how can manufacturers better cater to these cash-carrying competitors? 

EFSA's interactive database on botanicals 'broadens the possibilities', says consultant. © iStock.com / AlexRaths

Comprehensive compendium given new searchable format

EFSA adds botanicals to interactive data warehouse

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) botanical interactive database will be fully up and running by early 2017, something one expert called a “great result”. 

Nutrient profiles would send a clear message to the industry: If you plan on using this health claim on X, Y or Z product, don’t bother filing it. © iStock.com / pixinoo

Caffeine claim calamity should give nutrient profiles wings

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Commission has started the first phase of its investigation into the need for nutrient profiles, with a report expected in spring 2017. Yet with the caffeine claim fiasco ongoing, it’s never been clearer how necessary the profiles are.

A Higher Nature astaxanthin-based product...set to receive marketing support from its supplier AstaReal

British campaign takes astaxanthin to the people

By Shane Starling

Swedish-Japanese astaxanthin specialist AstaReal is working with its UK brand partners to push awareness of the carotenoid’s skin health benefits – even in the absence of approved health claims.

©iStock

Chat with a chief

Frutarom firming nutrition form after 4 years

By Shane STARLING

In 2012 Frutarom appointed a new chief of its health and nutrition division, with the Swiss-Israeli flavours and ingredients house making no secret of its ambition to expand its supplements and functional foods footprint.

The head of the Commission's DG SANTE food legislation unit outlines three possible solutions to the EU's botanical woes. © iStock.com / JPC-PROD

The botanical blockade: EC ponders 3 pathways

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn from Brussels

The European Commission has mused three different solutions to the botanical extracts situation that has seen about 2000 claims stuck on hold. Yet real movement will not be seen in the immediate future, a DG SANTE head has said.  

The project will use an obese mice model to show how phages could be used in early life to ‘push’ flora from an obesity-associated composition to one associated with normal weight. © iStock.com

Denmark funds microbiota research on ‘probiotic’ phages

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A University of Copenhagen research project into the use of phages to manipulate gut microbiota is one of 164 “promising projects” to receive funding from the Danish Council for Independent Research (DFF).

‘Science on polyphenols has come a long way’ ©iStock

SPECIAL EDITION: ANTIOXIDANTS, POLYPHENOLS & CAROTENOIDS

Juice maker shares polyphenols venture experience

By Shane Starling

Massachusetts-based Juice maker Welch’s entered the global ingredients business in 2014 with its polyphenol-loaded Concord grape offerings. We fly at the speed of words inside the grape with global ingredients VP Wayne D Lutomski.

'My personal view is that, unless it is clearly explained as a property of the food, it is a health claim or a reference to general well-being, which needs to be accompanied by an authorised health claim.' © iStock.com

SPECIAL EDITION: ANTIOXIDANTS, POLYPHENOLS & CAROTENOIDS

Why antioxidant claims have been killed off in the EU

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

European regulatory restraints have killed off antioxidant health claims as lawyers advise firms to play it safe despite leniency in some EU member states. We round up the legal status of the term, and the impact this has had on the market.

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