NIU’s Global Round-up: CBD in Europe, LATAM’s exploding sports nutrition market, Kerry’s probiotic plans for APAC, and more

LATAM​

Is Latin America’s sports nutrition market set to explode? ​

Central and South America are underserved markets for sports nutrition products, but they could be primed for significant growth. That was according to Rick Kreider, PhD, professor in the Department of Health & Kinesiology at Texas A&M University.

“I think it’s a ripe market,” ​said Dr Kreider. “We recently had an ISSN [International Society of Sports Nutrition] meeting in Medellin, in Colombia, and it was one of our most successful international meetings.  We had more than 300 people in the room,”​ Kreider told LATAM edition.

“We have a huge following in Brazil for ISSN.  And I am constantly being pushed to update my book so it is available in Spanish. And CES University in Medellin just launched a sports nutrition masters degree program, which is the first of its kind in Colombia,”​ he added.

And data from market research firm Euromonitor shows that Argentina and Brazil account for the highest growth in sales of sports nutrition products in Latin America.

For more on this, please click HERE​.

Weight management and digestive health are key drivers in LATAM​

More from the recently launched NutraIngredients-LATAM, with prebiotic player Beneo telling us that Latin American consumers are increasingly focused on weight management and digestive health.

According to Beneo's 2017 consumer research, 'weight management' and 'avoiding diabetes' were cited as the number one drivers behind wanting to reduce sugar consumption in Mexico and Brazil.

These trends open up opportunities for prebiotics, sugar alternatives and low GI products, said the company.

“Consumers are starting to have a greater understanding of the link between digestive wellness and overall health, immunity and improved weight management,” ​said Jon Peters, President of Beneo Americas Region. “As a result, they are increasingly linking digestive health with their overall wellbeing, understanding that it can lead to better energy levels and improved moods.”​

For more on this, please click HERE​.

Asia​

Nestlé’s new iron fortification tech ​

Nestlé has acquired a new food fortification technology developed by researchers in New Zealand to boost iron intakes.

The technology, called Ferri Pro, is a novel protein-iron complex that uses food-grade materials and a unique processing method to fortify certain foods without negatively affecting product quality.

Iron deficiency anemia affects about 1.5 billion people across the world, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that iron deficiency anemia is one of the most severe nutritional deficiencies globally with women and infants notably at risk.

A spokesperson for the Swiss food giant told our Asian edition​: “Typically, other forms of iron when added to products may interfere with the taste and color, which can negatively impact consumer acceptance.​

“While FerriPro is still under development, the initial results from the research done by scientists at the Riddet Institute Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE), Massey University, are positive and show good bioavailability.”​

Kerry’s probiotic plans for APAC​

Shelf-stable probiotics for new applications and conducting local clinical research are plans for Kerry to boost its APAC probiotics businesses.

The Irish company is already supplying probiotics for manufacturers in China, India, Singapore, Thailand and Japan, which are being used in a wide range of products, including juice, tea, whey protein powder, and sachet.

Brian Nevin, business development director for Kerry APAC told NutraIngredients-Asia​: “The challenges in APAC surround temperature humidity and refrigerated supply chain. When we talk to customers across APAC, we talk about new ways to deliver probiotics in different formats that are very stable​

“(We will show that) working with our probiotics enable to work in certain applications and temperature, which opens up new potential in Asia.”​

Doors are opened for the company for its GanedenBC30 probiotic, which is a spore-forming bacteria making it heat stable.

Europe​

EFSA reclassifies CBD as a Novel Food​

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been reclassified as a Novel Food by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Despite not being an official ruling, the recently-added submission to the Agency’s Novel Foods catalogue for the term ‘Cannabinoids’ states, “…extracts of Cannabis sativa L. and derived products containing cannabinoids are considered novel foods as a history of consumption has not been demonstrated.​

“This applies to both the extracts themselves and any products to which they are added as an ingredient (such as hemp seed oil). This also applies to extracts of other plants containing cannabinoids. Synthetically obtained cannabinoids are considered as novel.”​

EFSA is currently considering a novel food application for CBD for use in food supplements in adults with a daily intake of up to 130 milligrams (mg).  A final opinion is expected from March 2019.

If successful, the European Commission will draft an implementing act permitting the use of the product within seven months.

For more on this, please click HERE​.