Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

NHCR article 13.5 shakedown

Latest EFSA article 13.5 rejections down to “lousy science”: Consultant

14-Feb-2013 By Shane Starling

There is no surprise in the latest batch of European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) article 13.5 health claim rejections as the science presented in six dossiers was “lousy”, a consultant told us today.

Reasons unknown: Merck and Chr Hansen pull EU probiotic allergy health claim

12-Feb-2013

German pharma giant Merck and global probiotics leader Chr Hansen have pulled the probiotic-allergy health claim they jointly submitted to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) less than four months ago.

Blends, probiotics and enzymes: Experts discuss the future of protein for sports nutrition

12-Feb-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Protein blends will become increasingly prevalent in sports nutrition products, but the science needs to catch up to the possibilities, according to industry experts.

Global Alliance for Probiotics: “EFSA has not contemplated the cluster method”

11-Feb-2013 By Shane Starling

The European probiotic sector is moving forward with research around probiotic strain clusters it is hopeful can win the sector’s first health claim in the European Union.

New technologies and academic collaborations will drive evidence and market growth for probiotics

08-Feb-2013 By Nathan Gray

Greater collaboration from both within the industry, and between industry and academics, will help to drive forward promising scientific developments in probiotics, according to experts at Probiotech and Microbiota 2013.

Nestlé deal saves day as core profits drop 30% at Swedish probiotics supplier

08-Feb-2013 By Shane Starling

Core activity profit fell 30% in 2012 at Swedish probiotics supplier BioGaia – although a cash-rich, five-year licensing deal with Nestlé kept overall figures high even as that very deal simultaneously destroyed margins in its cultures business.

Global digestive breakdown: Pre-probiotic yoghurt still number 2 in functional food

08-Feb-2013 By Diana Cowland

The probiotic and prebiotic sectors are tackling some serious issues around claim restrictions in the EU, but the global digestive health picture remains upbeat with yoghurts alone putting on $1.7bn this year, says Euromonitor analyst Diana Cowland in...

Probiotech and Microbiota 2013

Law veteran on EU health claim laws: “There is something quite wrong here.”

07-Feb-2013 By Shane Starling from Brussels

One of the EU’s most venerated food law experts stated the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) has become so convoluted as to be unworkable, at a Brussels congress yesterday.

Live from Probiotech and Microbiota 2013

Ciao ciao? Italy’s rogue probiotic health claim stance may have limited shelf life

06-Feb-2013 By Shane Starling in Brussels

Italian food supplement manufacturers continue to make probiotic health claims under a “soft law” governmental decree, although the country’s stance could be challenged by EU organs, a lawyer said this morning at congress.

Live from Probiotech and Microbiota 2013

EU food marketing expert: Consumers don't understand probiotic health claims ban

05-Feb-2013 By Shane Starling in Brussels

Most consumers know little to nothing about the EU health claim system, the European Food Safety Authority nor why a blanket ban has been imposed on probiotic marketing across the bloc, a functional food marketing expert told a conference this morning.

Editor’s blog

Probiotics sector forced to swallow the EU’s bitter health claims pill

05-Feb-2013 By Shane STARLING

On a train to Brussels to cover NutraIngredients’ Probiotech and Microbiota two-day probiotic congress, had me wondering of the sector mood now it has had its claims ripped up by the EU’s hardline health claim process.

Danone rubbishes Yakult shareholding increase rumours

04-Feb-2013 By Mark Astley

Danone has dispelled rumours that it is seeking to increase its stake in Yakult – declaring that it has no plans to mount a “hostile bid” for the Japanese company.

Study identifies potential new probiotics for supplements and functional foods

01-Feb-2013 By Stephen Daniells

Spanish scientists have identified three bacterial strains that have ‘the potential to be used as probiotics in functional foods’ due to their ability to inhibit the growth of pathogenic strains like E. coli and Salmonella.

EU probiotic and antioxidant health claim ban called “absurd”

31-Jan-2013

EU health claim laws that have banned the use of terms like probiotics and antioxidants because they are deemed to be implied claims, are “absurd”, a pressure group has said.

Prebiotics can battle obesity (by influencing genetic behaviour): Researchers

30-Jan-2013 By Shane Starling

Prebiotic fibres like oligosaccharides can help ease gut ‘dysbiosis’ common among the obese and overweight, say Belgian researchers.

Euromonitor “shocked” by EU probiotic decline

28-Jan-2013 By Shane Starling

After years and even decades of healthy to rampant growth in the European Union, the probiotics sector has entered decline, with a flat economy and health claim ban seen as the likely culprits.

Danone juice JV with Chiquita dogged by ‘mismanagement’: Industry source

25-Jan-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

With rumors emerging that Danone is selling its 51% stake in its fruit juice JV with Chuiquita Brands International, one industry source told BeverageDaily.com that the French firm was likely ‘glad to be rid’ of a business blighted by mismanagement.

Probi 2012 sales up 6%, but ProViva royalties set for dive

25-Jan-2013 By Shane Starling

The European probiotic sector is bracing itself for tough times ahead in the wake of December’s  EU health claim ban for the sector, but the effects are yet to be felt at Swedish supplier Probi which notched 6% sales growth in 2012.

EDITOR'S OPINION: DEAR DAIRY....

Chobani’s global ambitions: Too much, too young?

24-Jan-2013 By Mark Astley

At just seven years old, Chobani is a poster boy in the eyes of some, a market-devouring monster in the eyes of others. The New York-based Greek yogurt giant’s expansion plans in North America, Europe and Australasia are ambitious. But is it taking on...

EU food law expert: “In reality mutual recognition does not work effectively”

23-Jan-2013 By Shane Starling in Brussels

Mutual recognition – the covenant that assumes what is good enough for one EU member state should be good enough for another – is a mislaid principle when it comes to EU food supplements law, a Brussels congress heard yesterday.

Sweden: Ban rejected NHCR nutrients in supplements?; Legal experts: Don’t be silly

22-Jan-2013 By Shane Starling in Brussels

Lycopene, lutein, CoQ10, probiotics and any other nutrients rejected under the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) could be banned in food supplements, a Swedish government official told a congress in Brussels this morning. But legal hounds...

Gut microbes may have role in autoimmune protection: Study

22-Jan-2013 By Nathan Gray

Early exposure to normal gut microbes could help to protect against the later development of autoimmune diseases, according to new research in mice.

Chr Hansen backs fresh probiotic immunity trial

21-Jan-2013

Danish probiotics leader Chr Hansen, which ditched a €4m immunity trial for some of its probiotic strains last year, is participating in a new trial to determine if probiotics can reduce the number of infections in small children.

Pre- and Probiotics could help HIV patients, suggests new research

18-Jan-2013 By Nathan Gray

Consumption of probiotics could help HIV patients taking antiretroviral drugs to have a lower risk of infection and inflammation that are still common problems for those with the condition.

Global probiotics market to grow 6.8% annually until 2018

17-Jan-2013 By Shane Starling

A new market analysis says the global probiotics market will surge by 6.8% a year for the next five years, driven by an Asia-Pacific, “expected to be the most prominent market in the future.”

‘We need to address the issue of colours’, says Chr. Hansen CEO

16-Jan-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Danish ingredients company Chr. Hansen has reported increased profit and revenue in the first quarter, although lower carmine prices and volumes continued to hit its natural colours division.

Probiotic plus aloe shows cholesterol-lowering potential: Animal data

14-Jan-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

Combining probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supplements with aloe vera may slash cholesterol levels by over 40%, suggests a new study with lab rats.

NHCR article 13 health claims fallout

Valio: How a probiotic firm exists in the “red ocean” of EU health claims

14-Jan-2013 By Shane Starling

Finnish dairy and probiotics firm Valio says EU health claim laws are forcing it to add approved vitamins and minerals to products like probiotics that have failed to win EU health claims.

Probiotics show allergy, immune system benefits: Nestlé study

11-Jan-2013 By Stephen DANIELLS

A daily dose of Nestlé’s Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 probiotic strain may help manage allergic responses during pollen season, says a new study from the Nestlé Research Center.

ANH: "EC must face the music for separating botanicals and probiotics"

11-Jan-2013 By Shane Starling

An article in ‘Nature’ magazine welcoming tough EU health claim laws has highlighted the conundrum facing EU regulators if the Union is to adopt different claim-substantiation criteria for about 2000 ‘on-hold’ botanical claims.

‘We’ve launched world’s first probiotic coffee’: Tipton Mills

10-Jan-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Tipton Mills claims to have launched the world’s first probiotic coffee, which uses a new probiotic developed by Ganeden Biotech, and says one serving contains 10 times as many cultures as a standard probiotic yogurt.

Probiotic society disputes research bias accusations

07-Jan-2013 By Shane STARLING

The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) has refuted accusations that probiotic researchers under-report negative or neutral results due to corporate interest.

Maltitol best carrier for inulin in prebiotic milk chocolate

04-Jan-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Sugar-free milk chocolate can carry functional properties with inulin best by using sugar substitute maltitol, according to a study.

Symrise-Probi partnership to deliver probiotic goods in 2014-15

20-Dec-2012 By Shane Starling

German fragrance and flavours house Symrise has just last night inked a deal with Swedish probiotics firm Probi to develop a stand-alone R&D project with oral probiotic supplements the most likely product out of the pipeline in 2014-2015.

Italy proposes €500 fines for prohibited health claims: “Cheaper to violate than comply”

17-Dec-2012 By Shane Starling

As attention turns to the enforcement of the EU’s controversial article 13, general function health claims list after a six month waiting period, an expert on the ground in Italy says the country’s policies will encourage law breaking.

NI exclusive

Chr Hansen claims long-life probiotic beverage breakthrough

14-Dec-2012 By Shane Starling

After 20 failed starts, probiotics leader Chr Hansen says it has finally found an ingredient dispensing cap partner that can handle the demands of high speed filling utilised by the world’s biggest beverage manufacturers.

December 14 EU health claims deadline

Stakeholder vox pop: December 14 EU health claim deadline

12-Dec-2012 By Shane Starling

With the December 14 enforcement of the EU's article 13 general function health claim list that includes 200+ approved claims and about 1500 rejections just two days away (after a six month lay-period), we polled key players for core reactions.

Special Edition: Fiber

Prebiotics boost gut health while adding functionality

11-Dec-2012 By Hank Schultz

Prebiotics are the thin end of the wedge in the new era of beneficial functional fibers.  Gone are the days where mere ‘regularity’ was the goal;  now fiber is understood to provide biochemical benefits in addition to just plain bulk, and prebiotic fibers...

New EFSA health claims chief: “I prefer pedagogic behavior”; offers 2013 hope

11-Dec-2012 By Shane STARLING

As the formlisation of the main organ (article 13.1 list) of the nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) kicks in this week, Professor Ambroise Martin, the new chair of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claims panel, tells NutraIngredients...

Multi-nutrient supplement shows big benefits for lung function in asthmatics

07-Dec-2012 By Stephen DANIELLS

A supplement containing a combination of fish oil, probiotics, and extracts from fruit and vegetables may improve lung function in young asthmatics, says a new study from Taiwan.

Russia ponders food supplement marketing restrictions

06-Dec-2012 By Shane Starling

Russian legislators have proposed restricting food supplement marketing to the medical profession.

World first: Breast milk probiotic launched in Australia

03-Dec-2012 By Shane Starling

Spanish supplier Biosearch Life is finding success with its patented, immune system-boosting and mastitis battling probiotic isolated from human breast milk in a world-first product launched in Australia this year.

Scientists map genome for BLIS K12 probiotic

30-Nov-2012

Europe-based scientists have mapped the genome of the probiotic BLIS K12 strain, finding no negative traits and supporting the safety of the strain.

New models hold promise for probiotic claim substantiation

29-Nov-2012 By Nathan Gray

Exposing healthy people to modified pathogens in a controlled clinical trial setting could be an exciting new way for industry to overcome the challenges of health claim substantiation, says Nizo Food Research expert.

Dearth of science limits aloe's potential, expert says

28-Nov-2012 By Hank Schultz

Aloe vera is a popular botanical in beverages and functional foods, but a dearth of credible science keeps the ingredient from achieving superstar status, according to a consultant.

Reckitt Benckiser-Schiff: Another giant jumps into nutra space

22-Nov-2012 By Shane STARLING

UK-based consumer goods firm Reckitt Benckiser told NutraIngredients today, “nutrition had been on its radar for awhile”, as it plunged $1.4bn (€1.09bn) to outbid German pharma firm Bayer for the US’s second biggest dietary supplements firm, Schiff Nutrition...

DuPont on EU probiotic health claim ban: “Mention specific strains”

21-Nov-2012 By Shane Starling

Giant of probiotic supply, DuPont, is not afraid to admit its European business has been altered by the rejection of probiotic health claims under the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR).

Probiotics may help cut body fat levels: RCT data

14-Nov-2012 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily probiotic yogurt consumption may improve energy metabolism and reduce body fat levels by up to 4%, say results of a placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over clinical trial in Canada.

December 14, 2012: EU health claims doomsday? Er, not really…

14-Nov-2012 By Shane Starling in Frankfurt

For years, probiotics and other sections of the food industry have supposedly been dreading the implementation of despised EU health claims laws.

'Our probiotic science will lead to an EFSA health claims approval': DuPont VP of marketing

14-Nov-2012 By Hank Schultz

Recent studies using DuPont’s HOWARU strain combination, combined with a better understanding of ‘the rules of the game’, will lead to positive health claims in Europe, DuPont’s Scott Bush has confidently predicted.