Omega-3s & nutritional oils

Tight chia supply? Not us, says Australia’s Chia Co., as it continues global expansion

18-Jul-2012 By Stephen DANIELLS

The much touted tightness in the chia supply is not being experienced by all suppliers, with Australia’s The Chia Company extending its growing area 100% year-on-year to satisfy demand.

Omega-3s & omega-6s show promise against ADHD: Cochrane review

17-Jul-2012 By Stephen DANIELLS

A combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may help with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), says a new review from the prestigious Cochrane Collaboration.

Chia seeds raise blood ALA and EPA levels for postmenopausal women: Study

13-Jul-2012 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consumption of chia seeds, rich in ALA, may increase blood levels of the long chain omega-3 EPA by 30% for postmenopausal women, says a new study from the Appalachian State University and the University of North Carolina.

Polyphenol-rich olive oil blazes trail in functional foods market with OxLDL cardio health message

11-Jul-2012 By Elaine Watson

The creators of OliveHeart, a novel polyphenol-rich extra virgin olive oil claimed to help reduce oxidized LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol - a key risk factor for atherosclerosis - are promising to turn the ultra-traditional olive oil market on its head.

EFSA health claim opinion

EFSA rejects wheat lipid-dehydration health claim

10-Jul-2012 By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has rejected a proprietary science-backed health claim that sought to link reduced skin dehydration with ‘Wheat Polar Lipid Extract’.

Novel plant source of omega-3s DHA and EPA should be commercialized by 2020, says Cargill

09-Jul-2012 By Elaine Watson

A completely new source of the coveted long chain omega-3s EPA and DHA should be commercialized by the end of the decade thanks to a multi-million-dollar tie up between ingredient giants BASF and Cargill to produce the next generation of canola oils.

Jersey and Guernsey to adopt EU food supplements laws

05-Jul-2012 By Shane Starling

The European islands of Guernsey and Jersey are working together to bring them into compliance with European Union laws on claims, labelling and formulation.

Nano-nutrients may get stability boost from natural antioxidants

04-Jul-2012 By Nathan Gray

The addition of natural antioxidants to nano-scale nutracuetical formulations could help to boost their long term stability against oxidation, say researchers.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2012

Scientific validation in nutraceuticals is invaluable, says Aroma NZ

02-Jul-2012 By Kacey Culliney

Investing in clinical trials for our green lipped mussel extract was the best move we’ve ever made, managing director of Aroma NZ said.

Algal omega-3s gain momentum as BioProcess Algae strikes deal with KD-Pharma to supply EPA-rich omega-3 oils

02-Jul-2012 By Elaine Watson

US microalgal oils firm BioProcess Algae has struck a deal with KD-Pharma - the German fats and oils division of Swiss firm Bioseutica - to supply it with ultra-concentrated EPA-rich omega-3 oils for nutraceutical and pharma applications.

Australian research says no conclusive evidence krill harvesting harms predators

27-Jun-2012

Research out of Australia has found “insufficient” evidence that krill harvesting is damaging Antarctic, land-based predator populations like seals and penguins.

On the road in China

Giant Shanghai ingredients show expresses Asia's healthy evolution

26-Jun-2012 By Shane Starling in Shanghai

For someone more acquainted with ingredients expos in Europe and the US, walking around the vast halls of Food Ingredients Asia-China (FIC) in Shanghai today made me realise what a small percentage of the continent's nutrients industry fills those...

Neptune secures US $25m in new orders for 2013 as Asian krill oil demand takes off

22-Jun-2012 By Elaine Watson

Neptune Technologies & Bioressources has secured “new and firm orders amounting to US$25M for calendar year 2013” for its krill oil, driven by strong demand from Asia.

Omega-3’s anti-inflammatory potential shows in overweight people

21-Jun-2012 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce levels of certain inflammatory markers by 10%, says a new study that claims to be the first to show omega-3 supplementation may alter inflammatory markers in overweight but otherwise healthy people.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2012

Nutraceutical industry needs new trial design culture: Research veteran

19-Jun-2012 By Shane Starling

The multi-billion euro global nutraceutical industry will never achieve its potential until it better adapts pharma protocols – and this can be done with food nutrients, says Dr Stephen de Felice, who was the keynote speaker at the recent Vitafoods expo...

CLA’s potential heart benefits linked to protein regulation

18-Jun-2012 By Stephen DANIELLS

The potential heart health benefits of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may be linked to its ability to alter protein expression in platelets, says a new study that may explain some of the anti-atherogenic effects of the fatty acids.

Lycotec develops ingredient for weight management and cholesterol lowering chocolate

13-Jun-2012 By Oliver Nieburg

Biotec firm Lycotec has developed an ingredient for chocolate and other fat-based foods that it claims can help consumers to manage their weight and reduce blood cholesterol.

Omega-3s may lower heart failure risk by 15%: Meta-analysis

11-Jun-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Increased intakes of omega-3s and higher blood levels of the fatty acids are associated with a 15% decrease in the risk of heart failure, says a new meta-analysis.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2012

Omega-3 suppliers must know their consumers

11-Jun-2012 By Rod Addy

Omega-3 suppliers must get to grips with their manufacturing customers and with consumers if they are to market their products successfully, according to Virpi Varjonen, executive consultant at commercialisation agents Invenire.

US firm promises ‘fortified’ beverage revolution with first clear Omega-3 drinks

06-Jun-2012 By Ben Bouckley

Virun is claiming major brand interest in its newly patented technologies that encapsulate nonpolar compounds such as Omega-3 acids, allowing them to dissolve clearly in beverages for the first time.

Latin American super seed chia to branch out

04-Jun-2012 By Lorraine Mullaney

We've had the exotic super berries: goji and açai. Now, apparently, from Latin America, we have the new exotic superseed: chia.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2012

Pure chemistry: BASF Nutrition plots nutrition course with 'Cognis inside'

31-May-2012 By Shane Starling from Geneva

BASF’s nutrition activities got a lot bigger in 2010 when the chemicals giant paid €3 billion for Cognis Nutrition. With the integration mostly complete, what’s up front for BASF Human Nutrition?

Friends of the Sea backs old and new krill players

30-May-2012 By Shane Starling

Sustainable seafood NGO Friends of the Sea (FOS) has backed the oldest and biggest krill oil supplier, Canadian krill player Neptune Technologies and Bioressources, along with the newest player in the omega-3 sub-sector, Norwegian firm, Rimfrost.

Spanish research team look to develop healthy ‘traditional’ breads

29-May-2012 By Nathan GRAY

Traditional unprocessed breads could be about to get a health kick from Spanish researchers, who are investigating ways to produce bakery products with high levels of omega-3 and fibre.

Neptune posts 31% rise in nutraceutical sales in Q4 as krill oil demand grows

25-May-2012 By Elaine Watson

Canadian krill oil firm Neptune Technologies & Bioressources has posted a 31% surge in sales in its nutraceutical business in the final quarter of fiscal 2012, and a 15% rise in sales in this division over the full year.

EU article 13 health claim compliance D Day: December 14, 2012

25-May-2012 By Shane Starling

The controversial European Union article 13 health claim list has this morning been published in the Official Journal of the European Union, giving companies until December 14 to get their claim-making in order.

Omega-3 chia leader: “We are running out of stock”

24-May-2012 By Shane Starling at Vitafoods in Geneva

The South American-based chia seed leader, Benexia, says it is close to exhausting supplies as demand booms for the plant-sourced omega-3 source.

Hazelnuts a new ingredient for infant formula milk

24-May-2012 By Rod Addy

A healthy designer fat for infant formula milk has been developed as the culmination of a global research project involving research bodies in Turkey, Istanbul and Georgia in the US.

DHA omega-3 linked to improved literacy for ADHD children: Study

23-May-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Increased levels of the omega-3 DHA may be associated with improved literacy in children with learning difficulties, according to a new study from Australia.

Nutrient dense nutrition bar shows ‘striking’ metabolic benefits

18-May-2012 By Stephen Daniells

A low-calorie, high-fiber, nutrient-dense supplement bar may boost the feeling of fullness, and improve a number of health markers like HDL cholesterol and antioxidant defenses, says a new study.

DSM eyes generic omega-3 drug space with €420m ONC buy

18-May-2012 By Shane Starling

DSM will use its global reach to drive its latest acquisition - fish-sourced omega-3 leader, Ocean Nutrition Canada, beyond its core North American market – but sees opportunities in generic drugs that may prove more lucrative.

Researchers unpick cellular benefits of omega-3

16-May-2012 By Nathan Gray

The processes behind the widely reported health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids has been revealed for the first time by a team of researchers in the USA.

BASF completes omega-3 portfolio with Equateq buy

09-May-2012 By Shane Starling

BASF has added high-potency, pharma-grade omega-3s to its range by buying Scottish firm Equateq for an undisclosed sum.

Israeli krill player doubles capacity

07-May-2012 By Shane Starling

Israeli lipid specialist Enzymotec has doubled its krill production capacity to an unspecified level as it responds to growing global demand for the Antarctic micro-shrimp that is registering at about 30% per annum.

EFSA CLA safety opinion “basically good news” but novel foods stays on hold

04-May-2012 By Shane Starling

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is safe for use in foods at doses of 3-3.5g per day, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has affirmed in an opinion broadly welcomed by a key player even if novel foods approval remains elusive.

Swedish-Israeli joint venture to double infant formula fatty acid output by 2013

25-Apr-2012 By Shane Starling

Swedish supplier AarhusKarlshamn (AAK) and Enzymotec, its Isreaeli partner in a proprietary infant formula fatty acid project, are expanding production at AAK’s Swedish base as Chinese demand booms.

Nestlé’s €9bn Pfizer buy may face anti-trust trouble

23-Apr-2012 By Shane Starling

Nestlé’s $11.85bn (€9.02bn) acquisition of Pfizer Nutrition may run into anti-trust hurdles after it beat Danone to the drug giant’s global infant nutrition business, according to an analyst.

Omega-3 has no benefit for multiple sclerosis, finds 'underpowered' RCT

18-Apr-2012 By Nathan Gray

Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids has no benefit on the disease activity of multiple sclerosis, according to data from a new clinical trial the authors acknowledged was underpowered.

Multivitamin supplements boost brain function, say UK researchers

17-Apr-2012 By Barbara Diggs

Taking a multivitamin supplement daily can improve cognitive performance in both children and adults, say UK researchers.

Lonza reformulates algal omega-3 range with sunflower oil

12-Apr-2012 By Shane Starling

Lonza has reformulated its omega-3 range using its proprietary algal strain and sunflower oil – developments it says offer cost and matrix flexibility.

Fish protein could provide basis for new wave of functional foods, suggest researchers

12-Apr-2012 By Nathan Gray

There is great potential to develop novel, marketable, omega-3 rich functional food products from inexpensive sources such as fish protein isolate, according to new research.

50% of South African omega-3 supplements have content issues: Study

10-Apr-2012 By Shane Starling

A survey of 46 omega-3 products on the South African market has found about half contain less than 89% of their claimed DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)-EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) levels and that there exists, “a wide variation in the quality of the marine...

‘Insufficient’ evidence for omega-3 heart benefits, suggests meta-analysis

10-Apr-2012 By Nathan Gray

There is insufficient evidence for a secondary preventive effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplements against overall cardiovascular events among patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, according to new research. However industry has said the...

Aker on Antarctic krill fishing: “All we have been doing is geared toward building a sustainable industry”

06-Apr-2012 By Shane Starling

In this podcast, Hallvard Muri, CEO and president of krill giant Aker Biomarine talks about the company’s heritage in fishing, evolving markets in the US, Europe and Asia, and why sustainability is driven by a company ethic that has fishing, “in our DNA”.

Marine omega-3s may reduce depressive symptoms: Study

06-Apr-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Increased intakes of the marine omega-3s EPA and DHA may be associated with a decrease in the number of depressive symptoms, say researchers from the University of Rochester, New York.

€6m EU project seeks satiety answers to EFSA’s health claim riddles

05-Apr-2012 By Shane Starling

Coca-Cola, Cargill, Naturex, NIZO and others are partnering with academia in a satiety project that is building science with an eye firmly planted on winning weight management health claims under new EU laws.

Natural antioxidants could stabilise flaxseed omega-3 encapsulations

04-Apr-2012 By Nathan Gray

Natural polyphenols could be the final part of a solution to bring stability to omega-3 rich flax oils, say researchers.

WWF backs krill fishery as new data and better harvest methods surface

04-Apr-2012 By Shane Starling from Oslo, Norway

The fact phospholipid-rich food and feed source krill are sourced in the Antarctic has brought a level of scrutiny few fisheries have had to face.

PepsiCo on nutrient profiling: “We are operating in a legal vacuum”

03-Apr-2012 By Shane Starling

Three years late and seeking further extensions, nutrient profiles remain the missing link in the European Union’s new health claim regime. Frustrated stakeholders say the time to decide is nigh.

Savory yogurt may provide daily omega-3 dose: Virginia Tech study

03-Apr-2012 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of a savory yogurt enriched with fish oil may provide consumers with their daily intake of omega-3, following tests that show consumer taste tests showing good acceptability.