Dosage forms & delivery formats

'Probiota’s achievements record and the IPA’s powerful membership make this the industry’s must attend event.'

May 31 to June 2 2016, Chicago, Illinois. 270+ signed up

IPA & Probiota Americas partnership set to break records this week

Chicago will witness the biggest ever meeting of experts from the global pre- and probiotics industry, running today (May 31) until Thursday (June 2). The combined IPA World Congress and Probiota Americas event will unite more than 270 academics, business...

Common Sense?

Sensible? First supplement for smokers hits UK market

By Lynda Searby

As the first supplement targeting smokers goes on sale in the UK, its maker is confident that sound scientific formulation will ensure the potentially controversial multivitamin complex stands up to scrutiny.

EFSA health claim opinion

EFSA rejects Tate & Lyle polydextrose-defecation claim

By Shane Starling

The link between polydextrose consumption and maintenance or normal defecation is ‘weak’, EFSA has found in rejecting an article 13.5 submission from agrifood sugar giant Tate & Lyle.

The B vitamin family consists of thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), vitamin B6, biotin (B7), folate (B9) and vitamin B12).(© iStock.com)

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2016

Review: B vitamins, the brain (& deficiencies)

By Will Chu

B vitamins play a significant role in cognitive performance and neurological functioning but deficiencies are common in too many populations, a Vitafoods Europe congress has been told.

SNE: 'Under no circumstances can [infant formula] be compared to tobacco products...infant formula is one of the most highly regulated products in the world...' © iStock

European infant formula makers: We don't need more regulation

By Aurélie Perrichet

With the World Health Organisation (WHO) and respected British journal The Lancet recently calling for tighter regulation and enforcement to better control infant formulae marketing, Aurélie Perrichet executive director of sector group Specialised Nutrition...

Global omega-3 market set for 5% growth in next years according to GOED. © iStock

Special edition: Omega-3s

Omega-3 hits €28bn in 2015 – growth predicted

By Shane Starling

The global omega-3 finished product market was worth €28 billion in 2015 and is set for pan-sector growth in the coming years to add €5bn by 2018, despite sustainability and scientific challenges.

GOED also recommends 700 – 1000 mg for pregnant and lactating women, more than 1 g for people with health conditions like high blood pressure. © iStock.com / morisfoto

special edition: omega-3s

GOED on doubling EFSA’s omega-3 recommendation

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

In April this year the Global Organisation for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) published its first recommendation for EPA and DHA, as an attempt to wade in and bring unity to divergent nutrition advice.

Governments should be proactive not reactive when it comes to protecting marine resources, warns Canadian supplier Neptune Technologies & Bioressources. © iStock.com / svega

Special edition: Omega-3s

Carrot vs. stick: What’s the key to securing a sustainable omega-3 supply?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

With around 20-25% of global wild caught fish used for fish meal and fish oil production, environmental certification schemes like Friend of the Sea (FoS) and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) have been putting increasing pressure on the omega-3 sector...

'Our ambition was to offer a very sympathetic message to consumers,' says company following second ASA run-in. iStock.com / Melpomenem

Omega Pharma: 'We weren’t clear enough'

The dangers of normalising a medical taboo

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Food supplements are often presented as a 'softer' alternative to health than pharmaceutical treatments. Yet Omega Pharma experienced first-hand the dangers of trying to normalise a medical taboo when its advertisement for a night time urination botanical...

Symrise-Diana Food has paid an undisclosed sum for Nutra Canada

Cranberry players unite

By Shane Starling

Botanicals firm Diana Food has bought a Canadian start-up to expand its technology and footprint in cranberry and other fruits and pursue novel health domains.

The California-based energy drink giant has been locked in an appeals process for its EU trademark since 2013.

'Green Beans M Java Monster' canned

You’ve got fax: Monster mashed in EU trademark battle

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Monster Energy Company has lost a trademark battle with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for the wording ‘Green Beans’ following a three year argument over a lost fax.

'We’ve been in the health and wellbeing space for a while but this is the first targeted ingredient for sports and for muscle recovery and protection,' says French ingredient firm Seppic. © iStock.com / m-imagephotography

Antioxidant muscles in on emerging sport nutrition markets

By Lynda Searby

Vitafoods saw French ingredient firm Seppic setting out its stall in the sports nutrition category with the launch of a new red wine polyphenol, vitamin E and zinc complex for muscle recovery and protection.

© iStock.com / Zerbor

‘Natural viagra’ ruling makes a mockery of NHCR

By Lynda Searby

The Italian advertising standards body has pulled up Forsamax, a supplement for treating erectile dysfunction, for misleading advertising - providing further proof that the European Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (NHCR) has no weight in Italy,...

The ability to extend use levels of krill oil may open up market opportunities for manufacturers and its customers.© iStock.com / PilipenkoD

DISPATCHES FROM VITAFOODS EUROPE 2016

Does the recent approval for high-dose krill leave EU door ajar?

By Will Chu

The European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) authorisation of the use of a lipid extract derived from krill oil at a higher dose is set to "drive a big change for Europe" and open up health claim avenues, says one Norwegian company. 

'Our technology is fully natural and the label on the consumer product will say ‘strawberry powder’,' says Danish company behind patent-pending solvent-free process.

Scandinavian solvent-free berry player boasts nutrient boost

By Lynda Searby

Danish biotech firm Asiros has launched a range of berry powders produced via a patent-pending solvent-free process that protects the nutrients and polyphenols, overcoming the shortcomings of ethanol and water extraction methods.

By 2020 LEDs are set to represent almost 60% of the total lighting market, but behind this energy-efficient option lies a major danger to eye health.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2016

OmniActive taps into LED concerns with What’s Your B.L.U.E.? campaign

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The future of lighting is LED but what impact does this have on eyesight? US-Indian firm OmniActive has launched a European version of its What’s Your B.L.U.E.? campaign to shed light on the burgeoning health risk, which it says carotenoid supplements...

The profile of the sweetener has been boosted this month with the launch of STATE, a Danish sports drink fronted by Premier League football player Christian Eriksen.

Product strategy expert says palatinose's 'time has come'

By Lynda Searby

As consumer knowledge about blood sugar level management builds, low-glycaemic sweetener Palatinose could be about to enjoy its day in the sun, according to author and marketing guru Julian Mellentin. 

Between 2011 and 2015, there was a 202% increase in the number of new food and drink product launches featuring the terms ‘superfood’, ‘superfruit’ or ‘supergrain’. © iStock.com / baibaz

Super growth for superfoods, but is the halo starting to slip?

By Lynda Searby

Rates of ‘superfood’ new product development have tripled in the past five years, according to Mintel, but a nutrition expert warns that with no clear definition in existence, the allure of the ‘superfoods’ sell is starting to fade. 

Yakult is looking to grow in new markets, including Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe.

Yakult sees net sales growth

By Jim Cornall

Japanese dairy products company Yakult has released its financial results for the year ending March 31, 2016, and they show an increase in net sales of 5.9%.

Norwegian firm Calanus first applied for novel food approval for its calanus oil as a food supplement ingredient back in January 2011. Photo credit: Uwe Klls

UK thumbs up for novel ‘mini shrimp’ omega-3 oil

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said miniature shrimp Calanus finmarchicus is safe as a novel source of omega-3 oil and is now seeking feedback on its draft opinion.

Dr Regina Moench-Pfanner (r) discusses efforts to improve nutrition at Food Vision Asia. ‘Where there is high rice consumption, it is important to improve rice’

Dispatches from Food Vision Asia 2016

Multi-partner efforts light path to better nutrition

By Shane Starling from Singapore

On-the-ground programmes in Singapore and beyond are significantly boosting nutrition levels for population groups that need it the most – like migrant workers – the inaugural Food Vision Asia congress was told this month.

© iStock.com / leonori

Olive-sourced hydroxytyrosol effective in biscuits: Study

By Lynda Searby

Olive oil phenol hydroxytyrosol has been shown to be highly bioavailable and to lower oxidised LDL (low density lipoprotein) levels when incorporated into biscuits, suggesting functional food applications could be on the horizon for this EFSA-backed polyphenol. 

Ginkgo producers need to gain a detailed understanding of the value chains of their products, say researchers. © iStock.com / Malgorzata Biernikiewicz

How to shut down the illicit ginkgo trade

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Research into the adulteration and poor manufacturing practices of ginkgo products has highlighted the need to reign in unregistered food supplements containing the botanical. 

Biomass marketing: 'Until now, it has been challenging to use the EU-authorised health claims with standard krill oil because you couldn’t go beyond the 250 mg dosage form' © iStock

Aker wins high-dose krill omega-3 approval in EU

By Shane Starling

Krill major Aker Biomarine has won EU approval for high-dose versions of its omega-3/phospholipid offering in food supplements across the 28 nations of European Union bloc.

Bottling it? Probiotic marketing is banned in the EU based on the opinions of 'ill-equipped' experts, according to professor Reid. © iStock

Probiotics expert: 'Disband EFSA' and end destructive category confusion

By Lynda Searby

A leading probiotics academic has called for EFSA to be “disbanded” saying that the effect of the EU’s central food science agency’s treatment of probiotic claims has been “confusion in Europe”, and that the EU could learn from the Canadian approach to...

Seaweed: Mintel claims it could become the next ‘superfood’

Seaweed market boosted by NPD surge

By Noli Dinkovski

Food and drink product launches with seaweed flavours, including kombu, nori, and wakame, grew by 147% in Europe between 2011 and 2015, according to latest figures.

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