Dosage forms & delivery formats

Consumer groups have called for a pan-EU ban on energy sales to under 18s following bans in Lithuania and Latvia. © iStock.com / mearman

What if... the EU banned energy drink sales to under 18s

By David Burrows

An EU-wide ban on selling energy drinks to under 18s would see volume sales fall by over 70 million litres, if the impact of similar legislation in Lithuania is anything to go by. The low-priced end of the market would be hit hardest, with standard and...

'A single database could greatly simplify mutual recognition, with a single portal for consumers, businesses and authorities across the EU,' says consultant. © iStock.com / Sveta615

Should EU mimic US supplement label database?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A US trade group has made moves to increase transparency and traceability in the supplement market by requiring all its members to submit product labels. Should the EU be considering similar action?

The company believed the advert did not feature any health claims but rather comparative claims with a competing product. © iStock.com / PaSta77

Competitive boasting lands supplement player in heat

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Be careful what you say about your competitors, it could be considered a health claim, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has told supplement retailer Genr8online.

Last year, DNP was responsible for five deaths. 47 online vendors have been shut down since 2012. © iStock.com

'The man is suspected of supplying this highly toxic chemical misused as a fat burning supplement and the cause of a number of recent deaths'

UK man arrested on suspicion of supplying deadly DNP

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A man has been arrested on suspicion of supplying the toxic fat burner DNP as part of an investigation sparked by the death of a 21-year-old woman in the UK last year.

Glanbia's strong performing nutritional arm has helped it secure a sixth year of growth

Glanbia continues growth with earnings to £214M

By Laurence Gibbons

Nutritional food manufacturer Glanbia has recorded double-digit growth for the sixth consecutive year, with earnings before interest, depreciation, tax and amortisation (EBITDA) up 10.5% to €271M (£214M) for the 52 weeks to January 2 2016.

Fish oil demand fpr direct human consumption was 92.7 kilo tons in 2014, says market research firm Grand View Research. © iStock.com / stocksnapper

Europe fish oil market worth €630m in 2014

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European fish oil market accounted for $0.69bn (€0.63bn) of the global $2.25bn (€2.04bn) market in 2014, according to a market report from Grand View Research.

Earlier this month at Probiota, Yolanda Sanz stated that microbiota changes should be linked to physiological or clinical outcomes of which a direct effect on human health can be attributed to a specific mechanism of action.

Dispatches from Probiota 2016

Recent risk-reduction claims ‘have not been positive,’ say EFSA.

By Will Chu

Earlier this month at Probiota in Amsterdam, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) stated that microbiota changes should be linked to physiological or clinical outcomes of which a direct effect on human health can be attributed to a specific mechanism...

The ASA counts up which adverts recieved the most complaints in 2015 - with issues of harm and offence dominating the top ten list.© iStock.com / BrianAJackson

Top 10 most complained about ads of 2015

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Protein World and Omega Pharma were among the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ten most complained about adverts of 2015 – both of which faced accusations of promoting poor body image in women.

ECF: “I can’t speak for coffee companies but the claims might be used as general information on product websites rather than on coffee products.

Bean boon? EC prepares for long-awaited caffeine claims

By Shane STARLING

The EC has drafted four endurance and cognition health claims for caffeine indicating a belated entry into EU law books five years after EFSA first approved them – but industry isn’t holding its breath.

Will the UK follow in Sweden's footsteps with mandatory vitamin D fortification? © iStock.com / Zerbor

UK spotlight falls on mandatory vitamin D fortification

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The re-emergence of the Victorian-era condition rickets in the UK has put the spotlight back on vitamin D intakes, and a recent advisory committee report will likely spur debate on the need for mandatory fortification.

Bakery veteran acquires stake in ‘diabetic bread’ biotech firm

Bakery veteran acquires stake in ‘diabetic bread’ biotech firm

By RJ Whitehead

Meiert Grootes, chairman of Europe’s biggest supplier of speciality baking products, has acquired a stake in a Malaysian-Australian biotech firm that earlier this year launched ingredients to produce the world’s first clean-label, low-GI “diabetic” white...

Online forum to raise awareness of health risks of consuming energy drinks particularly among young people. © iStock.com / MSPhotographic

Germany asks: When do energy drinks pose a risk?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has launched an online forum entitled ‘Energy Drinks: When do they pose a risk?’, which it hopes will raise awareness of the risks of high consumption in conjunction with alcohol and sports. 

'Compared to other food concerns, relatively little importance seems to be given by consumers to the micronutrient density of food,' says British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) review. © iStock.com / george tsartsianidis

Big, fat and deficient: The UK’s double diet burden

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Micronutrient deficiencies have been overshadowed by the so-called ‘war on sugar’, science director for British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) warns following the publication of a report.

Advertisements will also be subject to restrictions such as obligatory health warnings on the dangers of excessive consumption. © iStock.com / dk_photos

Latvia to ban energy drink sales to under 18s

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Latvia will follow in the footsteps of its Baltic neighbour by banning the sale of energy drinks to under 18s – something the country’s advertising association has called anti-EU.

Researchers say stable isotope technology could be one possible – albeit costly – way of filling in in vivo knowledge gaps for prebiotics. © iStock.com / Ben-Schonewille

Special edition: Microbiome metrics & advances

Beyond microbiota: Prebiotics need hard health endpoints

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Hard health endpoints, not just changes to microbiota, are needed to secure EU prebiotic health claims and bring fibre intakes up to recommended levels, according to European researchers.

'Regulation is important – but positioning needs work too. Probiotics need to be seen as the product for millennials,' says Euromonitor International. © iStock.com / ViktorCap

Special edition: Microbiome metrics & advances

Probiotic firms must refresh ‘mumsy’ marketing

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Probiotic players must engage the so-called millennial generation if they are to avoid being jostled out of the health yoghurt aisle, says Euromonitor International.  

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