Functional foods and drinks

IPA Europe is focused on winning EU probiotic health claims

“The new EC has spoken of better regulation and growth so we trust them to consider our position and argumentation."

IPA gathers forces in Brussels; seeks EC ear

By Shane STARLING

The just-formed European iteration of the International Probiotics Association (IPA) has met for the first time at its new Brussels base with Danone, Dupont-Danisco, Chr Hansen, Yakult, Probi and Lallemand all in attendance.

Sign up for free for the NutraIngredients Omega-3 forum on April 8. Connect with other attendees and omega-3 experts

April 8, 14:00 CET: Experts debate hot issues in NutraIngredients omega-3 forum

Omega-3 hits €25bn but can it keep growing?

By Shane STARLING

Are omega-3 fisheries really under threat? How many functional foods have cracked omega-3 blockbuster status? How is the sector recovering from the ‘Brasky effect’? How are developing markets developing? How is the latest research influencing regulation?...

Researchers delve into the impact of folate acid supplementation with a five year trial of 20,702 participants and 637 stroke events

Folic acid may help reduce stroke risk: 5-year study

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A combination of folic acid and the medication enalapril may be more effective in reducing the risk of stroke in adults with hypertension than the medication alone, according to large-scale research from China.

Professor Brewer: Athletes must think about nutrition seven days a week not just on ‘game days’

Food Vision sneak peeks - Cannes, March 18-20

Ex-World Cup sports scientist: Best carb-protein blend is 3:1

By Shane STARLING

Protein was once thought necessary to fuel sporting activity but evolving research has shown it is better for muscle recovery and short chain carbohydrates (sugars) are the accepted fuel tools. And then there are blends of the two…plus the carb and protein...

Mushroom extracts show blood sugar management potential: Study

Mushroom extracts show blood sugar management potential: Study

By Stephen DANIELLS

Powdered preparations of the mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus cystidiosus may reduce blood sugar levels after a meal in healthy people, while also impacting insulin levels in diabetics, says a new study.

Complementary health comes in from the cold

Australia

Complementary health comes in from the cold

By RJ Whitehead

Complementary medicine may have been welcomed back to the fold after an official review panel added a new chapter on alternative health to the landmark discussion document on healthcare deregulation it released last year.

Probiotics benefit protein absorption but emerging research is hinting at other benefits for sports performance

Cultured views from Probiota 2015 in Amsterdam

Game on: Probiotics & sports performance

By Shane STARLING

Clinical data is building around the role of probiotics to aid athletic performance – from recovery to muscle development to immune defense. We spoke to a leading researcher at Probiota in Amsterdam this month…

6 years of hurt: Probiotic heavyweights debate the EU’s health claim blockade

Yakult at Probiota 2015: “We want to be clear that before we invest we need to have some dialogue with EFSA...”

6 years of hurt: Probiotic heavyweights debate the EU’s health claim blockade

By Shane STARLING

Yakult and leading academics expressed frustration at what they see as unfair and opaque scientific requirements around probiotic health claims in the European Union – but how much is industry to blame and could social media be a data-sharing saviour?

DSM CEO: Global economy continues to exhibit “microeconomic uncertainty and low consumer confidence”

Giant confronting omega-3, vitamin E challenges

DSM nutrition profits dip 7% in 2014

By Shane STARLING

Pricing and sector market challenges, currency fluctuations and some stiff economic headwinds have contributed to 2014 full-year EBITDA profits sliding 7% for the world’s biggest nutrient player, DSM.

There's a thin line between toxic and healthy, say researchers looking at the shifting perceptions of antioxidants

Healthy or toxic? The conflicting images of antioxidants

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Benefit-risk ratios must be established for each antioxidant separately, considering risk groups and dosage, according to researchers reviewing polarised perceptions of vitamin E and beta-carotene.

Industry and MPs want hemp as a food, but ministers continue to resist

Briefing

Industry and MPs want hemp as a food, but ministers continue to resist

By RJ Whitehead

Late last month, a forum of Australian and New Zealand ministers met in Auckland to discuss a number of proposed and recently implemented changes and additions to the countries’ food regulations. Once again, they voted against allowing hemp as a legal...

The effects of bacteria on the gut will be discussed at the conference

Probiotic industry value set to reach £29bn

By Nicholas Robinson

Sales of probiotic food, drink and supplements are set to reach £29bn by 2018, as consumers seek food-based answers to health issues, according to one expert commentator.

Blame game: Supplements have been fingered once more for a doping infringement but are the facts surrounding the case contaminated?

On the spike: The curious case of a contaminated sports supplement

By Shane STARLING

‘Don’t take sports supplements, they can’t be trusted’ was the takeaway message from Welsh track stars Rhys Williams and Gareth Warburton after the recent UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) tribunal agreed steroids got into their blood streams via contaminated sports...

Germvangelist set to shake Probiota with holistic shout

Coming to Probiota 2015 - February 3-5, Amsterdam

Germvangelist set to shake Probiota with holistic shout

By Shane STARLING

Self-styled 'germvangelist' and microbiologist Jason Tetro says the probiotic industry is obsessed with technicalities and needs to venture back in time to access the innate, holistic power of probiotics.

Asia-Pacific in 2014: A year of scandals, soul searching and success

Review of the year

Asia-Pacific in 2014: A year of scandals, soul searching and success

By RJ Whitehead

The last 12 months have been turbulent for much of Asia-Pacific's food industry, with regulations, legislation, markets and partnerships continuing to develop in the latest step in the region's economic development.To mark a fascinating year...

30% of NZ baby food contains pesticide residues

New Zealand

30% of NZ baby food contains pesticide residues

By RJ Whitehead

New Zealand baby food contains nearly 800 times more pesticides than baby food in Europe, according to an analysis of government data, food safety groups have highlighted. 

Special edition: functional foods

Functional Foods: The end of the processed foods era?

By Peter Wennstrom

To understand Functional Foods you must see it as a strategy to add value to processed foods, says the president and founder of the HealthyMarketingTeam, Peter Wennstrom, in this guest article.

Mellentin:

Special edition: Functional foods

Phood booed: Why big pharma fails at functional food

By Julian Mellentin

Faced with mounting difficulties in their drug businesses, many pharmaceutical manufacturers are looking at getting into functional foods and beverages, notes food marketing expert, Julian Mellentin in this guest article.

'On our terms': Raisio resumes global control of Benecol

“This is a good move for Raisio. They are the correct parent of this niche brand.”

Raisio brings cholesterol-lowering Benecol home for €90m

By Shane STARLING

“J&J should have sold it 10 years ago,” is one analyst’s appraisal of Finnish agro-food giant Raisio’s buy-back of the licensing rights to its cholesterol lowering, plant stanol-based Benecol brand today, referring to US market difficulties for the...

“A congress like this is a stimulus for organisations to reassess recommendations...”

Academic: "Anybody who thinks the world’s malnutrition problems are going to be solved without industry is dreaming."

Time for a vitamin E intake rethink? Emerging data builds argument

By Shane Starling from the 3rd World Congress of Public Health Nutrition in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

Emerging research linking vitamin E deficiency with increased risk of Alzheimer’s, miscarriages and fatty liver disease can contribute to an ongoing debate around recommended intakes, a nutrition congress was told yesterday.

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