Cargill has indicated that it may take its Regenasure glucosamine
chondroitin ingredient into functional beverages - yet it has
emerged that another company's foray into the market has not proved
positive, raising questions as...
Canada has issued an advisory about a possible link between black
cohosh and liver damage - bringing the herb, used in relieving
menopausal symptoms, further negative attention following similar
moves in the UK and Australia.
Isoflavones in the their aglycone form are absorbed faster and in
bigger amounts from soy milk than the glucoside form, reports a new
study from Yakult.
Utah-based Usana Heath Sciences is the latest company to secure a
supply agreement with professional atheletes for use of its
supplements in line with antidoping requirements - generating
positive publicity for the industry as a whole...
Bakeries in Australia and New Zealand may be required to use only
iodised salt in the future, if a proposal from the countries' food
regulator is approved.
Cargill is seeking the go ahead for its Regenasure vegetarian
glucosamine hydrochloride to be used in functional beverages, which
would open up a whole new area for the joint health market in
Europe.
By James F Ewing, Michel Morency and Sharon Mollman Elliott
Patents have a defined lifetime (20 years), but trade secrets can
last for as long as they are secret. That makes your trade secrets
both valuable and vulnerable. Identifying your trade secrets
and taking proper measures to protect...
GCI Nutrients is offering a new source of the mental health
ingredient phosphatidylserine (PS) to the market, and has obtained
GRAS affirmation so it can be used in foods as well as supplements.
Israeli flavours and ingredients supplier Frutarom has reported
sales growth in Q2 2006 to US$72.3m. Although profits were impacted
by price drops in natural raw materials and energy price hikes, new
acquisitions are still on the...
Savoury ingredients supplier Synergy has launched a line of cheese
ingredients designed to enhance flavour and mouthfeel while also
providing manufacturers with some cost benefits.
Products containing meat and poultry will now be able to feature
the Whole Grain Stamp, after the US government announced it was to
expand the list of goods eligible to use the eye-catching symbol.
The Healthy Start scheme, which offers vouchers for fresh fruit and
vegetables, milk, and infant formula to low income families and
teenage mothers, has been a success in its pilot area of England,
the Department of Health announced...
Supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) could prevent
weight and fat gain at times of the year when people are most
susceptible, as well as during the natural ageing process, says a
new study supported by Cognis.
Using phytosterol and stanol enriched margarines in everyday life
stabilises cholesterol levels in a free living population, and can
reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, says a post-launch
monitoring study of the functional...
A review of studies using the herb kava to combat anxiety has
reported some positive results and only mild adverse events, giving
a much-needed boost to the herb's record despite the need for
longer safety and efficacy trials.
German chemicals group BASF is set to expand the market for
Lactobacillus healthy bacteria derived from yoghurt, with the
introduction of a raft of products for dental health and personal
hygiene.
Consuming antioxidant-enriched foods on a regular basis could
improve immune function, and might ultimately help people live
longer, if the results of a new animal study also apply to humans.
A federal appeals court has overturned a Utah ruling that
challenged the FDA ban on products containing weight loss and
sports performance herbal ephedra, making it more unlikely than
ever that the US market for the ingredient will...
BioGaia's probiotic drops for infant gastrointestinal health are to
be available in Canada and the Middle East, as the company extends
the distribution deal that it signed this year with Ferring.
Different types of honey have similar glycaemic indexes, and
because of its potential health benefits ranging from prebiotic to
antioxidant it could be substituted for sugar, says a new study
from the US.
The recent opening of a new $25m laboratory and office building in
Davis, California, is a sign of federal commitment to fighting
obesity and chronic disease through nutrition research.
The science supporting the health benefits of tomatoes,
particularly processed tomato products and extracts, is much
stronger than that behind pure lycopene, says a new review.
The movement towards ensuring nutritional ingredients are suitable
for all consumers, no matter what restrictions their religion or
lifestyle may pose has been picked up by tocotrienol producer
Carotech, which has received Halal certification...
Ginseng, one of the most well known traditional herbals, may
improve survival rates and quality of life for breast cancer
patients, suggests a study based in China, but experts have urged
caution over the results.
A legal complaint filed against the nation's largest organic dairy
firm has rekindled an ongoing debate surrounding the integrity of
organic production.
Burcon Nutrisciences has been granted a European patent for its
flax oil seed-derived novel protein isolate and production, and
signalled that it will continue developing technologies from
sources besides its canola, which now forms...
Cyvex Nutrition is introducing a new cranberry extract called
CranVida, and is marketing it on the basis of its antioxidant
profile as well as the fruit's usual urinary health claim.
In contrast to their counterparts in Europe and Japan, US dairy
ingredient manufacturers are choosing dietary supplements over
functional foods as vehicles for bringing nutraceuticals to
consumers, according to a recent Landell Mills...
Leatherhead Food International is proposing to conduct major market
research into the Western European industrial fruits market, aiming
to shed light on how use of fruits in packaged foods may improve
their healthy image.
The mushroom industry's future is positive due to changing public
perceptions of the fungus, but the industry needs restructuring to
keep up with growing demands and declining profits.
Formerly a supplier of nutraceutical ingredients, Los Angeles-based
Health Sciences Group is set for an image overhaul and a move into
finished products, with branding evangelist Stuart Avery Gold at
the helm.
Nutrition 21 has become the latest nutraceutical company seeking to
profit from the explosion of interest in omega-3, with an agreement
to purchase consumer health product provider Icelandic Health that
could also expand distribution...
Spain's Lipofoods is seeking to enter the competitive European
phytosterols market, asking the UK's Food Standards Agency for an
opinion on the equivalence of its soya-derived ingredient to that
of ADM previously authorised...
A stable intake of the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, could
reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration by 43 per cent
in women under 75, says a new cohort study.
Consumers must be able to make an informed choice about the
vitamins and minerals they consume in supplements and functional
foods, FSA stakeholders stressed at the first of two meetings to
help the agency formulate a response to...
A diet high in saturated and trans fats combined with high copper
intake could lead to an accelerated rate of decline in mental
function, suggests a study from Chicago.
A risk assessment for the "conditionally essential nutrient",
carnitine, has been authored by the CRN, providing industry and
consumers with important information on safe dosage levels.
Forbes Medi-Tech has reported an increase in sales of its Reducol
branded sterols in Q2 2006 by 32 per cent compared to last year,
but losses deepen with dearer development, marketing and sales
costs.
Last week's comment on the food industry's role in the rising
obesity epidemic has generated a flood of responses from readers
agreeing with or disputing our position that the industry deserves
a break. Some of the comments...
The American Herbal Products Association is planning to compile a
database of dietary ingredients marketed in the United States
before October 1994, and is calling on companies to send records of
the products they sold.
Ending months of speculation, NBTY has announced that has entered
into an agreement to purchase Zila Nutraceuticals, maker of Ester-C
vitamin C, for around $40m.
Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are showing promise improving
insulin action, and decreasing circulating glucose levels, with rat
and human studies both reporting significant benefits.
South African start-up Cape Carotene is aiming to carve out a slice
of the European astaxanthin market, after receiving R3.7m (€0.4m)
in funding to develop its technology and establish a pilot
facility.
Eating a diet rich in the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid
(ALA), may positively affect 'bad' cholesterol levels in the
elderly, says a study from the Netherlands.
The anti-cancer action of compounds found in broccoli has been much
studied, but new research suggests that purer active compounds
could be obtained from woad, an ancient source of blue dye and
member of the same brassica plant family.
Dutch dairy firm Campina is aiming to reach critical mass in its
penetration of the North American functional and nutritional
ingredients sector, entering into a joint venture with Canada-based
Vitalus.
Danisco Cultures is ploughing research and innovation efforts into
studying the health promoting properties of its strains - a shrewd
move not only because of the impending EU health and nutrition
claims regulation but also since...
Eating a breakfast of omega-3 enriched eggs could improve blood
triglyceride levels, boost heart health, and help people reach
their omega-3 recommended intakes, says a study from Canada.
A small study from Greece has reported for the first time that
dietary supplementation with the olive extract, oleuropein, could
boost blood flow and reduce heart attack risk.
