Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

Yili and Jennewein Biotechnologie ink deal for China-specific infant formula product

20-Feb-2019 By Cheryl Tay

German firm Jennewein Biotechnologie is marking its move into China by partnering with Asia's biggest dairy company, Yili Group.

Probiotic companies 'should be more angry' about health claim hurdles, argues marketing expert

19-Feb-2019 By Nikki Cutler

Probiotic food and drink companies 'should be more angry' about health claim restraints which act as barriers to consumer health, according to a marketing expert who spoke at Probiota Copenhagen last week.

Editor's spotlight: Startup focus

Serial entrepreneur battles sweet and sterile baby food with probiotic yoghurts

18-Feb-2019 By Nikki Cutler

A serial entrepreneur is on a mission to put an end to the cloaked industry of sweet and sterile baby food with his unsweetened prebiotic and probiotic yoghurt called Lovebugs.

Probiota 2019: Probiotics create 'amazing' boost to bone health, research reveals

15-Feb-2019 By Nikki Cutler

A clinical trial showing the ‘amazingly’ positive impact of probiotics on bone health has opened up a whole new market of women’s health, a probiotics researcher revealed during Probiota 2019.

Company claims to have found gut health biomarker in testing of prebiotic

14-Feb-2019 By Hank Schultz

Testing of a prebiotic ingredient derived from potatoes has revealed a change in the microbiome makeup that potentially could be used as a biomarker of digestive health, according to the company.

Probiotics: The sleeping giant of sports nutrition?

11-Feb-2019 By Nikki Cutler

Probiotics hold a wealth of ‘pent-up NPD potential' for the Sports Nutrition (SN) industry as they hold the key to untapped and highly desired health benefits, according to new research from Lumina Intelligence.

Probiotic-based approach to tackle depression suggested as gut-brain link reinforced in study

08-Feb-2019 By Will Chu

Further evidence of the link between gut bacteria and mental health was outlined this week as Belgium researchers identified gut bacteria linked to depression and an ability to produce neuroactive compounds.

Gut health NPD trend tracker: Children's specials, protein pots and better texture

05-Feb-2019 By Nikki Cutler

From fermented veg and kefir, to probiotic fruit and okara, the fast-evolving subcategory of gut-friendly foods is being laden with new product innovations. Here, we take a look at some of the newest additions to the in-style scene.

Growing industry calls to Irish Government for VAT supplement hike rethink

05-Feb-2019 By Will Chu

Growing dislike for Ireland’s plans to tax vitamins, minerals, probiotics and fish oils continued this week as the country’s largest retail industry body called on the Government to review the VAT hike.

Yakult debuts with zero-fat probiotic drink in Denmark

05-Feb-2019 By Tingmin Koe

Japanese probiotic firm Yakult recently debuted in Denmark, as it sought to expand its European business.

Nanotech gut role opens up prospect of probiotic nanoparticles for food

04-Feb-2019 By Will Chu

The development of probiotic nanoparticles for food could be on the cards if previously undiscovered insights into their effects on the intestinal flora can be developed further, according to a German research team.

Characterise and refine FMT super-donors to ensure method’s success: Review

31-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

Faecal Microbiome Transplantation (FMT) super-donors, whose contributions contain a high gut microbiota diversity, need further characterisation to develop more refined FMT formulations, a new review says.

Gut-brain axis: RCT shows gut-friendly probiotic improves migraine symptoms

30-Jan-2019 By Nikki Cutler

In the largest ever trial of its sort, a probiotic supplement containing 14 strains of “gut-friendly” bacteria has been shown to significantly improve several symptoms of migraine headaches.

Editor's spotlight: Startup focus

Millennial on a mission to boost mental health with dual-power probiotics

28-Jan-2019 By Nikki Cutler

A business-minded millennial is on a mission to eradicate the roots of mental health disease by combining the power of probiotics with omega fatty acids.

Peek Inside: Probiota 2019 - Copenhagen

Business opportunities: Everyone wants a slice of the ‘awesome’ microbiome pie, says market analyst

24-Jan-2019 By Nikki Cutler

Nearly every company in the food and nutrition industry wants to get a piece of the ‘microbiome pie’ but collaboration is usually the key to success, says analyst Harini Venkataraman, PhD, in preview of her presentation at Probiota 2019.

Kombrewcha: ‘Consider us your not-so-guilty-pleasure’

Can kombucha carve out a place in the alcoholic beverage category?

24-Jan-2019 By Rachel Arthur

Kombucha has catapulted onto the beverage scene, with the fermented tea appealing to consumers looking for healthier alternatives to sugary soft drinks. But Kombrewcha - AB InBev’s kombucha brand - believes kombucha can also carve out a place in today’s...

Peek Inside: Probiota 2019 - Copenhagen

Pioneering gut-health start-ups win claim to fame at Probiota

24-Jan-2019 By Nikki Cutler

Two pioneering startup founders have won tickets to pitch their businesses to over 300 industry experts during NutraIngredients' annual Probiota event taking place in Copenhagen next month (February 13-15).

Researchers form startup to commercialise findings

Microbiome is ‘critical’ to food allergy responses - say researchers behind new milk allergy study

22-Jan-2019 By Nathan Gray

Gut microbes from healthy infants can block the development of milk allergy in mice, according to new data that suggests the microbiome is critical to food allergies, and that modifying our gut bacteria could be a way to fight it.

UAE bans formula ads in attempt to promote breastfeeding

21-Jan-2019 By Cheryl Tay

The UAE Cabinet has implemented a blanket ban on the advertising of infant formula and other infant nutrition products, including follow-up formula and complementary foods.

Yofix yoghurt alternative taps into clean label trend: ‘People are fed up with ingredients they don’t know’

18-Jan-2019 By Flora Southey

Yofix Probiotics uses a zero waste production method to make its clean-label, plant-based yoghurt alternative, which has launched in Israel.

Startup spearheads probiotic innovation with nutrient-rich vegan yogurt

18-Jan-2019 By Nikki Cutler

Trendsetting startup Yofix Probiotics Ltd., has launched a range of nutrient-rich dairy-free synbiotic yogurts offering an environmentally friendly way to boost the immune system.

Probiotic bangers: South Korean research reveals how sausages may hold functional food potential

18-Jan-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Sausages fermented with an encapsulated probiotic, Bifidobacterium longum, can provide not just improved eating quality but also nutritional quality, according to a South Korean study.

Peek Inside: Probiota 2019 - Copenhagen

EC: ‘Prediction & prevention’ on the agenda in future EU microbiome-based projects

15-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

The shift from a ‘diagnose and treat’ mind-set to a ‘predict and prevent’ approach is making rapid gains in the food and nutrition industry as consumers look to innovation to make better dietary and nutritional decisions.

Peek Inside: Probiota 2019 - Copenhagen

Gut guidance: Microbiome-based dietary advice adds another string to personalisation bow

11-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

Diet-related advice based on an individual’s personal gut microbiome is only a matter of time with the ‘one-size-fits-all’ concept increasingly becoming outdated.

Review reiterates fibre’s prebiotic benefits in warding off stroke and diabetes

11-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

A Lancet review links high intake of fibre and whole grains with a reduced risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer in research that highlights missed fibre targets of populations worldwide.

Irish government signal intentions as food supplement VAT guidance published

09-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

The Irish government is to move ahead with plans to tax food supplements such as probiotics and Omega 3 fatty acids on the 1st March with the publication of guidance on the impending changes.

The church of health: How to appeal to your shoppers' health 'religion'

08-Jan-2019 By Nikki Cutler

Staying healthy is becoming less about diet and more about beliefs so brands need to learn what their audience's 'religion' is and how to connect to their beliefs, according to a new in-depth trends report.

Editor's Spotlight: Startup Focus

Cereal success: Pioneering prebiotic-packed breakfast brand hopes to fill the fibre gap

07-Jan-2019 By Nikki Cutler

A mum and dad concerned for their family’s health have built an ethics-led brand devoted to boosting gut health through fibre-full foods.

OptiBiotix Health inks Indian deal with Zeon for microbiome product SlimBiome

07-Jan-2019 By Will Chu

OptiBiotix Health has entered a manufacturing and supply deal with Zeon Lifesciences, in which the two firms will share profits of Optibiotix’s microbiome-based weight management technology.

Prebiotics' and probiotics' anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties useful to NAFLD patients: Iranian study

02-Jan-2019 By Cheryl Tay

Daily prebiotic and probiotic supplementation can decrease inflammation and increase antioxidant capacity in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, according to an Iranian population study.

What will be big in 2019? NutraIngredients predicts top industry drivers

21-Dec-2018 By Nathan Gray, Nikki Cutler & Will Chu

As we boldly begin our march into 2019, it’s time for the NutraIngredients editors to get out our crystal balls and predict the hottest trends in the European health and wellness space for the year ahead. What’s in store for 2019?

Nature vs nurture: Study finds consistent gut microbiome differences among ethnicities

20-Dec-2018 By Nikki Cutler

Ethnicity has a consistent effect on the microbiome according to new research which fuels the debate about whether diet or genes have the most effect on the microbiome.

Could lactic acid bacteria added to dairy products reduce cholesterol?

20-Dec-2018 By Jim Cornall

Cholesterol-lowering activity is one of the most promising properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with probiotic characteristics.

Guest article

‘Under Siege’: A year of reflection and next level growth

19-Dec-2018 By George Paraskevakos, Executive Director, International Probiotics Association (IPA)

As I celebrated three years at IPA in April, I couldn’t help but reflect on the shape the industry has taken. Going from being sparingly mentioned in the press and fast forward to today and it is almost every other week we see probiotics in the headlines....

Startup Spotlight: Mother growing an empire from family-favourite fermented veg

17-Dec-2018 By Nikki Cutler

A mother with an eye for health trends has cultured a huge following for her fermented food brand which originated from a simple aim to boost her son’s gut health.

Synbiotic dietary supplement shows metabolic health benefits in overweight people: DuPont data

14-Dec-2018 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of DuPont’s Howaru Shape probiotic and Litesse Ultra prebiotic may beneficially alter the gut microbiota and improve gut barrier function, says a new study from DuPont Nutrition & Health.

Lallemand’s Lafti L10 probiotic may provide natural antioxidant defence for athletes

12-Dec-2018 By Will Chu

New analysis looking into the effect of Lallemand’s Lactobacillus helveticus Lafti L10 probiotic reveals an antioxidant potential that may interest athletes in the periods before or during strenuous exercise.

Proposals for harmonized probiotic guidelines stay on CODEX agenda

10-Dec-2018 By Stephen Daniells

The Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses will continue to explore work on harmonized probiotic guidelines despite opposition from some delegations and industry trade associations.

Healthy ageing ingredients at HiE: Not ready for retirement just yet

10-Dec-2018 By Will Chu

The popularity of sports and personalised nutrition at this year’s HiE has threatened to overshadow more established product sectors, which innovation-wise, has not quite captured consumer imagination.

Carbery ticks the protein and digestive health boxes with on-trend ingredient

29-Nov-2018 By Nikki Cutler

Carbery Food Ingredients has launched a fermented whey protein isolate (WPI) with prebiotic-promoting properties to tap into interest in the gut microbiome.

Probiotics' efficacy against necrotising enterocolitis remains unclear: Chinese review

29-Nov-2018 By Cheryl Tay

Probiotics may have a role in fighting necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in pre-term infants, but more research is needed to set an optimal standard for their application, say researchers in China.

flavors & inclusions

Carbery wheys in with new Bifipro fermented dairy ingredients

28-Nov-2018 By Anthony Myers

Leading global manufacturer of specialty and nutritional dairy ingredients, flavors and cheeses, launches WPI product for energy bars at Health Ingredients Europe.

Data supports increased role for probiotics, prebiotics in healthy aging, study finds

28-Nov-2018 By Hank Schultz

Gut dysbiosis is a common feature of the afflictions that come with aging, according a recent Japanese review. The finding opens wider the door for probiotics and prebiotics in a healthy aging positioning.

IPA’s new scientific director: ‘We are not proud enough of the science we have in the probiotic field’

28-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

There is a lot of science supporting both the safety and efficacy of probiotics, and the community should do more to talk about this science, says the new director of scientific affairs at the International Probiotics Association.

Japan Focus: Innovations for seniors, gut health on the go and FOSHU-certified skincare supplements in our latest country round-up

28-Nov-2018 By Cheryl Tay

In our latest review of Japan's supplement and functional food sectors, we feature DSM's efforts to support healthy ageing, probiotic-rich convenience snacks, the country's first FOSHU-certified nutricosmetics product, and enzyme supplements...

WATCH — "Communicating strong microbiome evidence key to warding off 'snake oil' and 'pseudoscience'"

26-Nov-2018 By Will Chu

There is a large appetite among the public for microbiome-based medicine but there is also a need to deliver more in terms of evidence and how it’s communicated, a microbiome expert said.

FrieslandCampina’s GOS may shore up ‘leaky gut’ in the obese, study finds

20-Nov-2018 By Will Chu

An ingredient used in infant formula may support the intestinal barrier in preventing harmful compounds from entering the bloodstream by increasing beneficial bacteria numbers in the gut.

Top 10 myths of health and nutrition (and the facts behind them)

20-Nov-2018 By Nikki Cutler

From 'detox' and alkaline diets, to vitamin efficacy and use of protein, we've compiled a list of the top health and nutrition myths that gal experts in the field.

Increased parental interest in gut health of their children creates opportunities for prebiotics

19-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

As parents become more aware of the importance of the developing gut microbiome in their infants and children there will be opportunities for prebiotics, says ingredients supplier Beneo.

Growing awareness of probiotic benefits starting to move the needle in new regions: IPA chief

19-Nov-2018 By Stephen Daniells

Increased consumer awareness around probiotics – linked to an ever growing body of benefits – is opening up new markets around the world, with China booming and new opportunities in Latin America, says George Paraskevakos, executive director of the International...