Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

Biopolymer protection may be boost to probiotic industry

06-Sep-2011 By Nathan Gray

A new biopolymer technology that protects probiotic bacteria during transit through the body could provide a major boost for the industry, according to new research.

You are what you eat: Gut bacteria enterotypes linked to diet

02-Sep-2011 By Nathan Gray

The type of food you eat may help to determine the type of bacterial population – or enterotypes – in your gut, according to a new study.

EFSA stands by probiotic cheese rejection

01-Sep-2011 By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) health claims panel says there are no grounds for it to alter its rejection of a claim that sought to link probiotic cheese consumption and healthy blood pressure.

Probiotic video game in the works

31-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

The makers of the Microwarriors probiotic and prebiotic documentary that has been raising probiotic awareness since its release at the beginning of the year, are working on a video game set for launch next year.

Protexin buys €2m+ UK pre-probiotic brand

31-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

UK firm Probiotics International (Protexin) has acquired fellow UK digestive products maker, The Healthy Bowels Company, in an undisclosed deal that sees Protexin gain control of €2m+ pre-probiotic combination brand, Lepicol.

Probiotics may reduce anxiety and depression, suggests study

30-Aug-2011 By Nathan Gray

Probiotic bacteria may have the potential to alter brain neurochemistry, affecting anxiety and depression-related disorders, says new research.

Valio demands EFSA reveal its “methodological and statistical requirements”

30-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

Finnish dairy group and ingredients supplier Valio has challenged the European Food Safety Authority’s rejection of its probiotic-gut health claim submission earlier this year, and called on the agency to better define its “methodological and statistical...

Galactofructose supplier reaps health claim win benefits

25-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

Belgian lactulose (galactofructose) supplier Solvay says its business has picked up since the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) last year published a positive health claim opinion linking the ingredient and digestive health benefits.

UK yoghurt mislabelled as gluten-free but not recalled

25-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

Emmi-owned yoghurt brand Onken is altering packaging on some of its yoghurt products that were mislabelled as gluten-free in the UK.

Medical channel issues BioGaia healthy profit diagnosis

17-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

Profits have surged 60% at Swedish probiotics player BioGaia as its focus on the medical channel sees its business growing in all markets, with Italy and Japan gaining special mention.

E. coli infections could be reduced with probiotics, show non-human studies

16-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

The recent spate of 1000s of E. coli infectionsin Europe – with no known treatment – that sprang from contaminated vegetables could be reduced in occurrence and severity by probiotics, in vitro trials demonstrate.

UK tabloid labels functional foods a ‘gimmick’

10-Aug-2011 By Shane Starling

Leading right-wing UK tabloid newspaper the Daily Mail found room in its pages today to slam more than just London’s looters with functional foods also taking a beating for delivering false promises.

Probiotics maker: There is a temptation to overstate the benefits

08-Aug-2011 By Elaine Watson

Regulatory uncertainty in Europe and a string of high-profile lawsuits in the US has made firms much more cautious about making health claims about probiotics, according to one California-based supplier.

Agro-waste could provide nano-fibres for probiotics encapsulation

01-Aug-2011 By Nathan Gray

Waste fibres from the agricultural and food processing industry could be used for the nano-encapsulation of bioactives such as probiotics, according to new research.

Danisco buy-out fails to dent DuPont Q2 earnings

28-Jul-2011 By Shane Starling

Dupont, which earlier in the year warned that its May $6.49bn acquisition of Danisco would dent its yearly profits, has defied expectations in second quarter results published today.

EFSA health claim opinion

EFSA rejects kids' probiotic gut health claim

21-Jul-2011

EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) has turned down a probiotic-children’s gut health claim from Italian company Centro Sperimentale del Latte because of non-characterised strains and a non-beneficial claim.

Special edition: Diabetes

Diabetes: From ancient Egypt to modern pandemic

18-Jul-2011 By Stephen Daniells

It has been called a pandemic and a silent killer: Diabetes is a growing specter for public health agencies across the world. In the first part of our special series on diabetes, NutraIngredients examines the underlying condition and gets a grip on how...

Unique probiotic strains trigger very different immune responses: Researchers

18-Jul-2011 By Shane Starling

The ability of probiotics to influence the immune system differs greatly, depending on the strain, Dutch and Belgian researcher have said in findings that could influence clinical trial design.

Dead or alive: Benefits of probiotics need live organisms

12-Jul-2011 By Stephen Daniells

The potential beneficial effects of select bacterial strains are dependent on the organisms being alive, says a new study that supports the WHO definition of probiotics as being ‘live microorganisms’.

EFSA health claim opinions

EFSA’s attitude problem causing “terminal damage”: Probiotic academics

12-Jul-2011 By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claims panel has “little understanding of gut microbial ecology” leading pre- and probiotic academics have said.

Natural colours drive Chr Hansen Q3 results; probiotic uncertainty continues

06-Jul-2011 By Shane Starling

The newly renamed Natural Colors Division was the star performer in Danish ingredients supplier Chr Hansen’s Q3 results, showing 34% organic sales growth for the quarter, compared to 5% for Cultures and Enzymes, and 9% for Health and Nutrition.

Food for thought? Probiotics could promote well being, suggests researcher

06-Jul-2011 By Nathan Gray

Relying on your gut to make decisions may have a lot of truth to it, as research suggests that probiotic modification of the gut may influence the brain and affect mood.

Gut feeling: New study proposes probiotic mechanism for IBD benefits

05-Jul-2011 By Stephen Daniells

A protein on the surface of specific probiotic bacteria may promote anti-inflammatory responses in the gut and explain the potential role of select probiotics to ease symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), says a new study.

Research gaps means cereal based probiotic benefits for infants unclear: review

05-Jul-2011 By Jane Byrne

Data gaps are preventing a comprehensive assessment of the risk and benefits of probiotics in processed cereal-based baby foods, finds a Norwegian food safety body, which has flagged up the need for randomized placebo-controlled research.

Prebiotics may restore metabolic alterations linked to omega-3 poor diets: Study

01-Jul-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Adding prebiotic fibers to the diet may go some way to restoring the metabolic alterations associated with insufficient intakes of omega-3, suggest new findings from a study with mice.

NDA panellist: Angry academics would come to same conclusions if on our panel

01-Jul-2011 By Shane Starling

As the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) delivers hundreds of batch five general function health claim rejections to an ever-frustrated academic and commercial community, EFSA health claims panelist Ambroise Martin, PhD, tells NutraIngredients why...

Pre- and probiotic academics demand ‘clear roadmap’ for claims

30-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling

The Board of Directors of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) has published an open letter in the British Journal of Nutrition demanding pre-submission meetings with EFSA and a complete claims assessment rethink.

EFSA HEALTH CLAIM OPINIONS - ARTICLE 13, BATCH 5 (Complete)

EFSA publishes article 13, batch 5 – winners and losers

30-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) this morning published 536 health claims in 73 opinions in the fifth batch of general function claims.

Russian probiotic market booming (with medical backing)

28-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling

Russia’s probiotic market that has shown annual growth rates of around 50% in recent years and settled closer to 10%, is benefitting from medical profession support, according to a leading paediatrician.

Probiotech 2011

Dead or alive: Probiotics benefits beyond the grave

27-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling from Milan

Dead probiotic bacteria that typically reside alongside live cultures in probiotic formulations, could be contributing to healthful effects, researchers told the Probiotech conference in Milan, Italy, last week.

Probiotech 2011

Next generation probiotic health claims: The rise of “mechanism-based” data

23-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling at Probiotech in Milan

Metagenomic developments are providing new insights into the here-to-now largely mysterious mechanisms of behaviour displayed by gut microbiota – just the kind of data required by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to win claims.

‘Level 1’ evidence that probiotics boost ‘transit time’: Danisco & Fonterra

22-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily probiotic supplements may accelerate transit time and boost general gut health, says a new study from Danisco and Fonterra heralded as providing ‘Level I evidence’.

Departed Danisco CEO: “I am proud of my legacy”

22-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling

If Tom Knutzen is reading this, he shouldn’t be.

Yogurt may boost immune function in at-risk populations

21-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of yogurt may boost the immune function in people with weakened defense systems, suggests a new study from Spain.

Researchers discover probiotic colonisation mechanism

21-Jun-2011 By Nathan Gray

Genes responsible for efficient colonisation of the gut have been discovered by a team of scientists at the University College Cork, Ireland.

EFSA rejects Danone and Yakult probiotic appeals

20-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claims panel says there are no grounds for alteration of its rejection last year of probiotic health claim dossiers submitted by Danone and Yakult.

Probiotics could boost immune functions in athletes, says Prof

20-Jun-2011 By Nathan Gray

Probiotics are best used for their potentially beneficial effects on gut health, but they may also help to boost immune functions – an effect that could benefit sports stars in the future, according to a leading sports scientist.

India calls for probiotic research for women-children

17-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is calling on researchers to submit projects investigating probiotic benefits in women and children, and has set an August 15 submission deadline.

Special Edition: Functional Food Trends

Heart health claims are boosting chocolate’s growth potential, report

13-Jun-2011 By Helen Glaberson

There is growth potential for dark chocolate in the functional food sector, with the product carrying most of the heart health claims in the confectionery segment, says Leatherhead Food Research.

EC offers rejected probiotic health claim hope with resubmission offer

09-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling

The European Commission is giving member states the opportunity to submit new data to back general function, article 13.1 probiotic claims rejected for being insufficiently characterised.

SkinCare Ingredients 2011

Prebiotics and probiotics show skin health potential

09-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Friendly bacteria and the fibres they feed on may be the next big entrance into the skin care ingredient sector, with data showing their potential for boosting skin health and preventing conditions like acne.

Omega-3 plus probiotics may boost health profile of breast milk

08-Jun-2011 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementing breast feeding mothers with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and select probiotics may enhance the fat content of the milk, and boost the immune benefits of the breast milk, suggests a new study from Finland.

Valio: EFSA ignored peer-reviewed data in probiotic claim rejection

07-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling

Frustrated Finnish dairy and ingredients firm Valio says the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) rejection of its probiotic claim contradicted or ignored peer reviewed data in its dossier that included 86 studies.

EFSA health claim opinion

EFSA rejects 86-study strong Valio probiotic gut health claim

06-Jun-2011 By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority has rejected an article 13.5 health claim that sought to link consumption of the probiotic strain, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, with gastrointestinal benefits.

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2011

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