‘Selling a lifestyle choice’: Japan Future Agri seeks to ‘redefine’ dried sweet potatoes for export push
Japan Future Agri is hoping to to reposition dried sweet potatoes as a healthier snack for APAC markets.
Healthier innovation
South Korea launches 19 government-backed reduced-sodium and sugar products
The South Korean government has collaborated with industry to launch 19 reduced-sodium and sugar food and beverage products as it seeks to meet national targets.
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‘Zero trend’: Brewguru reformulates hit RTD highball with less sugar, alcohol content
South Korean firm Brewguru has reformulated its popular ready-to-drink (RTD) highball product and released a new version with lower sugar and alcohol content, capitalising on the flourishing “zero trend” in the country.
A sharper Asian focus: Five studies to explore HMOs, postbiotics in APAC populations
Five Asia-focused projects will examine the effects of human oligosaccharides (HMOs) and postbiotics – independently or with probiotics – on immunity, metabolism, ageing, and mental health.
Orange-fleshed sweet potato powder could improve vermicelli’s nutritional value: SE Asian study
Incorporating orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) powder into the rice flour used to make vermicelli could improve its nutritional value, say researchers in Vietnam and Thailand.
S’pore postbiotic firm adds fermented food, mouthwash to range
A Singapore-based company specialising in pre-, pro-, and postbiotics supplement has added fermented food and mouthwash to its range, as it attempts to provide “complete protection” for the entire gastrointestinal tract.
Coffee with lactoferrin: MAD Foods, TurtleTree to launch new range in mid-2025
MAD Foods, a Singapore-headquartered company specialising in plant-based ready-to-drink beverages, is partnering TurtleTree in developing a new line of functional oat milk coffee containing lactoferrin that will be launched in mid-2025.
Growth Asia Summit 2025: Early bird delegate rate extended to December 24!
The early bird delegate sale, with a 25% discount, for our Growth Asia Summit has been extended to December 24.
Probiotics, botanicals dominating packaged foods
Recent research findings by Euromonitor International highlight the prominence of probiotic and botanical ingredients in packaged foods in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, which also underscores innovation opportunities for wider application and variation.
High dietary intake of magnesium and fibre mitigates risk of metabolic syndrome among Kuwaiti women – study
A study has found that increased dietary intake of magnesium and fibre is associated with reduced likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Kuwaiti women, underscoring the need to encourage diets rich in these nutrients.
Vitafoods Asia 2024
Life stages and dosage formats fuelling sleep support innovation
Supplements for sleep support are moving beyond melatonin or GABA pills designed for the general population, as companies place greater attention on insomnia and menopause, and designing non-pill products, such as meal replacement powders.
Whey-derived peptide lowers self-perceived stress levels – Six-week Kirin study
The supplementation of a whey-derived peptide has been shown to lower self-perceived levels of stress among middle-aged adults, according to a six-week study conducted by Kirin Holdings.
Asian dairy drive: Lactose-free milk innovation could be key for Nordic firms to gain foothold in region – Valio
Finnish dairy co-operative Valio believes a focus on lactose-free milk innovation with an identical taste profile to regular dairy is the way to gain more prominent recognition within the Asian dairy market.
Local sensibilities: CJ CheilJedang seeks to accelerate expansion in Thailand through new tempeh snack
South Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang has launched a range of tempeh chips pandering to local consumer preferences in Thailand, with the aim of spurring its growth in the market.
Traditional ties: Chinese firms tapping strong cultural heritage of lotus and beans to develop unique plant-based business focus
Chinese firms are looking beyond common plant-based ingredients such as soybeans and oats to develop their own take on the alternative proteins sector, based on much deeper traditional and cultural heritage.
Localisation and education: New venture seeks personalised solutions to address disease-related malnutrition in India
Pristine Pearl Pharma and Dutch Medical Food B.V. have formed a strategic collaboration to bring personalised medical nutrition products to India, targeting the issue of disease-related malnutrition.
Meiji expands snack range made with bitter-reducing, nutrient-retaining ‘cacao granules’
Meiji is launching a new product under its WELLCACAO range, which is made with the company’s proprietary cacao-based ingredient that claims to be less bitter and better retain nutrients such as polyphenols.
Popping peas: Origin Nutrition launches high-protein popped pea chips to target Indian healthy snacking market
India-based Origin Nutrition has launched a range of high-protein, compression-popped pea-based chips in a bid to target the slow-but-sure local healthy snacking market.
Addressing Singapore’s ‘silver tsunami’: Nutri-Grade labelling expansion to include sodium and sat fat likely ‘to be effective’
Singapore’s move to extend the Nutri-Grade labelling and advertising prohibitions to key contributors of sodium and saturated fat will likely be ‘effective’, according to industry experts.
The next caffeine? A̅repa drills down into cognitive benefits of novel molecule found in blackcurrants
A̅repa is conducting further research on how a novel molecule discovered from New Zealand blackcurrants, which it has also patented, could benefit mood and cognition in healthy populations.
Thai Wah expands into retail space with focus on noodles and ready-to-cook kits
Thai Wah plans to launch its instant noodles and baking premixes in the retail space, tapping its decades-long experience in supplying starch and noodles to manufacturers.
Kimchi in a can: South Korea’s Narichan launches new RTD drink to move beyond tradition and boost exports
South Korean kimchi-focused company Narichan has launched a new ready-to-drink (RTD) kimchi drink in a bid to move beyond the traditional concepts of the product and consumption boost exports.
Eggy excellence: Eggnovo eyes Asia’s booming beauty-from-within market with low-dose, upcycled eggshell collagen
Spain-based Eggnovo has set its sights on the beauty-from within and joint health markets in Asia, believing that its collagen upcycled from eggshells can provide consumers with a versatile option that is required in much lower doses than regular collagen.
Safe food, safe kids: South Korea eyes legislation-led improvements in rural Children’s Diet Safety Index
South Korea is looking to improve the Children’s Diet Safety Index in its rural areas, after seeing poorer results compared to urban cities and the national average.
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Curcumin improves insulin, blood glucose levels, and body mass – Year-long Thai trial
Taking 1,500mg of curcumin daily for 12 months has been shown to improve insulin, fasting blood glucose levels and body mass, based on a clinical study conducted in Thailand.
Blurring boundaries: Cargill builds on infant nutrition and flavours expertise to advance specialised nutrition business
Cargill is building on its decades-long experience in infant nutrition and know-how on flavours to grow its specialised nutrition business, a focus area for the company’s next stage of development.
Greater consumer awareness and more players could be key for boosting postbiotics growth – Ildong Bioscience
South Korean firm Ildong Bioscience says that raising consumer awareness and the entry of more players may be crucial for pushing the growth of postbiotics in the local market.
Healthier horizons: Sugar reduction and allergen aversion amongst major APAC demands in functional beverage sector
The Asia Pacific functional beverage industry is increasingly seeing consumer demands for sugar reduction, label transparency and allergen aversion becoming commonplace.
Water-soluble tomato concentrate’s efficacy in reducing blood pressure shows promise for novel CVD-preventive approaches – BYHEALTH-funded study
A recent study has found water-soluble tomato concentrate (WSTC) to have a significant impact on blood pressure regulation, which could contribute to the development of novel dietary approaches for protecting heart health.
Guava goodness: Taiwan’s Han-Sient taps patented extraction tech for guava leaves to target ASEAN diabetic and weight loss markets
Taiwan-based Han-Sient believes it has struck gold with its patented technology to produce guava leaf extract for blood sugar control and fat-burning, eyeing the diabetic and weight loss markets in South East Asia as its next major expansion step.
Not so straightforward: Singapore food industry voices concerns over cost, efficacy of extending Nutri-Grade system to sodium and fats
The Singapore food industry has voiced several concerns over government plans to extend the Nutri-Grade traffic light nutritional labelling system to sodium and fats.
New Zealand to get ‘new bill’ to regulate natural products, while industry body voices ‘grave concerns’ over exports policy
The New Zealand government will introduce a new bill specifically to regulate natural products in the country, but no decisions have been taken on the scope or approach to be adopted, officials have announced.
FNA TRAILBLAZERS EP 53
Drink your biotics: Bright colours and visual appeal crucial to deliver healthier beverages to children – Tummy Buddies
Australia’s Tummy Buddies believes that healthier product innovation for children needs to focus on bright colours and visual appeal in order to secure that crucial first purchase.
Sweet move? China may allow chocolates, candies, jellies, beverages for health foods filing
China may allow health foods in the form of chocolates, candies, jellies, and beverages to go through the official health foods filing process.
New synbiotic yoghurt offers novel solution for metabolic syndrome management – study
A synbiotic yoghurt could help reduce oxidative stress in adults with metabolic syndrome, according to a new RCT.
Dubai-based Linafsi prioritises flavour innovation, sales channel expansion to stand out in competitive healthy snacking market
Dubai-based healthy snack brand Linafsi is adopting several strategies to overcome stiff competition, including flavour innovation and localisation, exploring new product formats, and expanding sales channels.
'Emerging interest': Swisse seeks to pioneer Australia’s nootropics consumption with new energy range
Swisse is seeking to pioneer Australia’s nootropics consumption with the launch of three new SKUs designed for focus, memory, and stress management.
Microbiome Innovations in APAC: New editorial webinar is now open for FREE registration!
Leading industry experts from Life-Space Group, Swisse Wellness, and the International Probiotics Association (IPA) and more will be presenting insights on the latest developments and research findings surrounding the microbiome sector in APAC in our...
New Australian supplements data part 1: China set to be first billion dollar export market in 2024
Australian supplements exports to China are forecast to exceed US$1bn for the first time this year, with the key Asian market set to continue to account for a staggering three-quarters of all products shipped overseas.
Snack trends unwrapped: Holistic wellness and protein focus among top innovation drivers across South East Asia
The protein and premium snack segments are seeing annual growth rates of more than 50%, and holistic wellness remains the biggest driver of innovation, according to a market intelligence report.
Vitafoods Asia 2024
‘Future alternative protein’: Microbial yeast protein must expand product formats in order to reach larger audience
Microbial alternative proteins such as those made from yeast need to expand into trending product formats in order to secure the awareness and acceptance of a larger consumer group.
Vitafoods Asia 2024
Powder power: South Korean women’s wellness and beauty specialist NGT eyes Asian expansion with Active Enzyme sticks
South Korea’s Natural Good Things (NGT) is eyeing an expansion across Asia with its Active Enzyme sticks after successfully making a name for itself in the domestic women’s beauty and wellness market.
Vietnam’s Vinh Hoan appeals to children and elderly averse to fish with surimi-wrapped dumplings
Vietnamese firm Vinh Hoan aims to appeal to children and the elderly who dislike eating fish with its surimi-wrapped dumplings, which are part of its product portfolio targeting the needs of time-strapped consumers.
NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2024
NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2024 winner Kaneka breaks down the importance of ubiquinol in the healthy ageing process
Winner of the NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2024 prize for Healthy Ageing Kaneka Corporation believes that it is crucial to raise the awareness of ubiquinol amongst Asian consumers to promote effective healthy ageing.
2024 beverage trends in South East Asia: Hydration leads non-alcoholic innovation
Beverage brands in Southeast Asia are finding growth opportunities in enhanced hydration drinks, catering to consumers across a variety of lifestyle needs, according to market intelligence firm Mintel.
Japanese researchers develop nutrient profiling model to spur healthier food options
A group of Japanese researchers have developed a nutrient profiling model (NPM) adapted to the local food culture and health policies, in the hope of establishing an official system to promote healthier product formulation and better food choices.
‘Healthy snacking in transition’: ProV Foods debuts indulgence range as first step of strategic portfolio expansion
Mumbai-based ProV Foods has introduced range of premium chocolate-coated almonds, setting the stage for a bigger portfolio expansion focusing on “balanced indulgence”.
Nutri-Level labelling: Indonesia plans new food labelling laws to mandate front-of-pack grading scheme
The Indonesian government has proposed new regulations that would mandate the use of its upcoming Nutri-Level front-of-pack traffic light labelling system for food products considered high in sugar, salt and fat.