Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

NutraInterview: Dominique Speleers, Beneo executive board member

Beneo: EFSA forced us to change our strategy

23-Dec-2015 By Shane STARLING

Dominique Speleers is a long-time Beneo man who has seen a lot in his 15 years with the European ingredients giant from back when it was Belgian inulin and chicory player Beneo-Orafti and now as a board member of the more European, more international,...

Dear Santa…Nutrition industry writes its wish list for 2016

23-Dec-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the bloc not a firm was stirring, not even the Brussels flock. Nutrition industry stakeholders have hung up their stockings by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there… but...

Peek inside probiota 2016: Amsterdam, February 2-4

Restoring the damaged baby microbiome: ‘This is the biggest development in infant nutrition in years’

22-Dec-2015 By Shane STARLING

The biochemist instrumental in making DHA omega-3 near-mandatory in infant formula 15 years ago says discoveries about the ‘baby microbiome’ are set to revolutionise our view of infant and embryonic feeding.

DuPont nutrition & health chief: We want to work with start-ups

18-Dec-2015 By Shane STARLING

DuPont’s nutrition & health president, Matthias Heinzel, tells NutraIngredients his multi-billion euro division wants to speed product-to-market time and is “totally open” to working with start-ups in open collaboration.

Chr Hansen wins €75m to 'develop new microbial solutions'

17-Dec-2015 By Lynda Searby

Chr Hansen has secured a €75m loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to support its microbial solutions work as the bioscience company ramps up its R&D spend.

Peek inside Probiota 2016: Amsterdam, February 2-4

What’s fermented food and can it help make probiotics sexy?

16-Dec-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

When we say ‘fermented’ you say beer? Bread? Sauerkraut? But one start-up is coupling the concept with probiotics for a much needed sector make-over.

Platform launched to push digestive health beyond probiotics

15-Dec-2015 By Lynda Searby

DSM is ramping up its focus on digestive health with the launch of a new ‘platform’ to help manufacturers develop products that target specific gastro-intestinal health concerns.

Peek inside Probiota 2016: Amsterdam, February 2-4

The microbiome & its potential in cancer prevention

15-Dec-2015 By Will Chu

Conflicting results from human epidemiological studies have made it difficult to be sure whether dietary fibre offers genuine protection against colorectal cancer.

First study of its kind: Synbiotics may control excess weight in obese kids

14-Dec-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements containing prebiotics and probiotics may improve oxidative stress and enhance weight loss in obese kids, says a new study.

Dispatches from FiE 2015

Solactis promotes ‘diversified’ infant gut health with prebiotic supplement

10-Dec-2015 By Will Chu

French prebiotic nutrition and feed specialist Group Solactis used this year’s Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) event in Paris to showcase a galacto-fructose (lactulose)-based blend promoting infant microbiota diversity.

DuPont to merge with Dow? Divisions to split?

09-Dec-2015

DuPont owner of Danisco’s probiotics, enzymes, sweeteners, colours and flavours business, along with the Solae soy brand - is set to merge with Dow Chemicals to become the world’s second biggest chemicals firm after €80bn BASF.

EU injects €1m into ‘social cognition’ supplement research

08-Dec-2015 By Shane STARLING

A €1m EU-backed joint project between academia and industry is investigating the potential of probiotics and amino acids to boost brain performance among Europe’s increasingly ageing population.

Supplier puts lactoferrin in spotlight as ‘iron activator’

07-Dec-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

It’s been two and half years since lactoferrin from cow’s milk was authorised as a novel food ingredient in Europe – but with no health claim for its iron boosting abilities it is now up to manufacturers and consumers to champion the ingredient, says...

Largest European investment to date

Danone doubles Dutch baby milk production capacity

04-Dec-2015 By Lynda Searby

Danone-Nutricia has invested €240m in a new production plant in the Netherlands on the back of double-digit sales growth of infant formula products such as Aptamil and Nutrilon.

Probiotic formula may support respiratory tract health in children: Study

03-Dec-2015 By Stephen Daniells

A combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium lactis UABLA-12 may reduce the severity and duration of respiratory infections in children, says a new study.

International Probiotics Association questions conclusions of recent probiotics-NEC study

02-Dec-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

The International Probiotics Association (IPA) and IPA Europe have rejected recent conclusions from a study with probiotics and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis in preterm infants.

Multi-strain probiotic milk shakes may protect against weight gain: Human data

01-Dec-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consuming a milk shake with eight different probiotic strains may protect against weight gain in young healthy men consuming a high fat, high energy diet, says a new study.

‘Mamma mia!’ Italian researchers say ‘si’ to probiotic pasta

30-Nov-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Italian researchers have developed a functional pasta rich in polyphenols and fortified with probiotic strain Bacillus coagulans.

Could kimchi reduce the risk of eczema?

30-Nov-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Increased intakes of fermented foods like kimchi and beer are associated with significantly reduced risks of atopic dermatitis (eczema), says a new study from Korea.

'no evidence of benefit in this population'

Study quashes claim probiotic reduces NEC, sepsis & death in preterm infants

26-Nov-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

There is no evidence that the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium breve can reduce the risk of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), late-onset sepsis and death in preterm infants, a study of 1315 infants has found.  

IPA welcomes development of technique to distinguish between bifidobacteria subspecies

25-Nov-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

A recent study highlighting potential quality issues in select probiotic products raises a concern, says the International Probiotics Association, which also welcomed further development of the appropriate quality control techniques.

Special edition: Inflammation

Is ‘Syndrome X’ treatable with food?

24-Nov-2015 By Shane STARLING

Inflammation is an immune system response to counter injured or stressed body parts and zones – a good and necessary thing – but contemporary diets and lifestyles have overheated the mechanism resulting in a host of chronic health issues. So goes our...

#Probiota16 : Amsterdam February 2-4, 2016

Probiota 2016 is go!...call for scientific abstracts extended until December 14

23-Nov-2015 By Shane STARLING

Probiota 2016 in Amsterdam is extending the deadline to submit abstracts for the Scientific Frontiers competition to December 14. We've had 15 entries but our scientific panel wants to see more...

Danish probiotics major signs JV in Korea

23-Nov-2015 By RJ Whitehead

Biocare Copenhagen, a Danish probiotics company, will enter the Korean market through a partnership with local health food manufacturer and distributor Health Balance.

Quality control of probiotics is lacking, study suggests

20-Nov-2015 By Louisa Richards

A new study by scientists at the University of California has found that contents of many bifidobacterial probiotic products differ from the ingredients listed.

EFSA revaluates novel synthetic oligosaccharides: ‘May cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms’

19-Nov-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Doses of lacto-N-neotetraose and 2'‑O-fucosyllactose in foods and supplements for children aged 1-10 years could mean intakes linked to mild gastrointestinal symptoms in adults, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said in a second novel food...

Winclove eyes 'ear, nose & throat' with probiotic purchase

19-Nov-2015 By Michael HURLEY

Dutch firm Winclove Probiotics is extending into ear, nose and throat (ENT) treatment with the purchase of 10 probiotic strains.

Probi files 13.5 health claim: 'Lactobacillus plantarum 299v increases non-heme iron absorption.'

Iron absorption probiotic marks ‘new approach’

18-Nov-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Swedish company Probi has put its full weight behind a new probiotic product targeting iron absorption with a health claim application and the publication of promising study results.

Soya milk better with phytosterols & inulin for LDL cholesterol: Study

17-Nov-2015 By Louisa Richards

Phytosterols and inulin added to soya milk has a more beneficial effect on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than soya milk alone, according to a study. 

Special edition: Inflammation

Are we set to see an increase in demand for anti-inflammatory formulations?

16-Nov-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Healthy aging and increasing coverage by the mainstream media could help drive demand for products addressing inflammation over the next few years, say experts.

EU misspent €6.3bn in 2014

12-Nov-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The EU misspent €6.3bn in 2014 overall, according to a report from the European Court of Auditors that called for change. 

Gut microbiota regulates antioxidant metabolism, study finds

10-Nov-2015 By Louisa Richards

Gut microbiota regulates glutathione and amino acid metabolism, research in mice has suggested.

Probiotics may prevent recurrent vaginal infections: Study

09-Nov-2015 By Louisa Richards

Probiotic strains are effective against recurrent vaginal infections when used alongside prescribed medication, according to a study using Bifodan’s patented EcoVag probiotic. 

Working dead? Nestlé scientists find heat-treated ‘zombie’ probiotics can boost immunity beyond the grave

09-Nov-2015 By Shane STARLING

Heat-treated probiotics may offer greater immunity benefits than their ‘live’ originals, according to just-published Nestlé Nutrition and Health research.

Probiotic combination shifts intestinal microbiota toward a healthier (and younger) profile: Study

06-Nov-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplements containing Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, and Bifidobacterium longum MM2 may shift the microbiota of elderly adults to those of healthier and younger people, says a new study.

Porridge's prebiotic potential previewed by Nordic researchers

02-Nov-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Eating a bowl of porridge oats a day could alter gut microbial functions, according to Scandinavian researchers who have tipped the ingredient as a possible prebiotic.

Poland clamping down on misleading supplement ads

02-Nov-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Polish health and competition authorities have sent warning letters to 315 supplement companies as a first step in a multi-agency crackdown on the misleading marketing of supplements. 

Yakult study calls for further probiotic research on aflatoxin toxicity

30-Oct-2015 By Louisa Richards

Further research is warranted into the preventative effects of probiotics against aflatoxin toxicity, a cause of liver cancer, a Yakult-funded study has highlighted.  

Breast milk carbohydrates may prime babies for later obesity

30-Oct-2015 By Nathan Gray

Obese mothers may be paving the way for later obesity in their children through the transmission of ‘non-nutritious carbohydrates’ in breast milk, say researchers.

First Milk’s £25M pre-tax loss ‘not acceptable’

29-Oct-2015 By Alice Foster

First Milk suffered pre-tax losses of £25M in the year to March 31 2015 as the farmer-owned co-operative struggled to cope with the dairy crisis.

Prebiotics could be used to battle neuropsychiatric disorders: Oxford study

28-Oct-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Prebiotics may play a modulatory role in neuro-immuno processes and could reverse anxiety induced by inflammation, research in mice has suggested for the first time.

From the FENS Congress in Berlin

Euro congress tackles ‘syndrome X'

26-Oct-2015 By Shane STARLING

Vitamin E and prebiotics are important in the 21st century battle against ‘syndrome X’ – the umbrella term given to a collection of chronic maladies including obesity, inflammation, diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the FENS congress...

Chr Hansen delivers 10% growth as revenues hit €859 million for full year

21-Oct-2015 By Nathan Gray

Chr Hansen has reported ‘very satisfactory’ overall growth of 10%, as stronger performances in cultures, enzymes, and nutrition balance out below per performance in natural colours.

IPA chief: "Regulators are starting to turn the corner on probiotics"

16-Oct-2015 By Stephen Daniells

A new-look International Probiotics Association is creating dialogue with key regulators around the world, and the regulators are starting to turn the corner on how they regulate the friendly bugs, says the association’s executive director.

Industry meets as EU trilogue commences

EU medical devices regulation set for December adoption; industry stews over lost opportunities

15-Oct-2015 By Shane Starling in Brussels

A 100-strong meeting today in Brussels revealed a self-care industry that is prepared for, yet frustrated by, impending changes to EU medical devices laws that are set to increase data requirements and product development costs and which it claims will...

Saccharomyces probiotic shows benefits for IBS symptoms

12-Oct-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily intake of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 may improve symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with constipation (IBS-C), says a new study from Lesaffre Human Care.

German start-up wins EU probiotic novel foods approval

12-Oct-2015

German SME Avitop has won EU novel foods approval for its proprietary probiotic strain Bacteroides xylanisolvens DSM 23964 it is calling Avi-1.

Walmark buys Czech food supplements major

12-Oct-2015 By Shane STARLING

Czech-based Eastern European supplements giant Walmark has completed its second regional acquisition of the year with the purchase of fellow Czech supplements firm Valosun for an undisclosed sum.

Childhood microbiome shows distinct & functional differences to adult gut

09-Oct-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

The gut microbiome of pre-adolescents has distinct differences to the adult microbiome, says a new study from Texas that may enhance the development and efficacy of childhood microbiome interventions.

Early infancy gut development has lifelong health implications: Mouse data

06-Oct-2015 By Nathan Gray

Sucking during early infancy is critical for the regulation of epigenetic changes in intestinal stem cells – which potentially affect our gut health for life, say researchers.