Environmental biotechnology has been used by humans for centuries
in food making, medicine, fermentation and waste treatment.
According to a new study, today the market for microbial blends and
nutrients is gaining in strength.
Glucona America, the sole US producer of glucono-delta-lactone
(GDL), has been granted all natural status for its Gluconal GDL
product by the US Food & Drug Administration.
Increasing consumer concerns about health have triggered growing
demand for cosmeceutical products. The market in the US is growing
by around 10 to 15 per cent each year, and competition between
companies to produce more effective...
Warm Cream, a topical transdermal cream which works naturally to
warm cold hands and feet by allowing warm blood to more readily
reach the targeted area, will soon be available throughout the US
for the first time.
Indian nutraceutical firm British Biologicals is to launch a range
of products in the protein segment, strengthening its already
impressive 70 per cent share of the nutritional supplement market.
With the use of antibiotics in healthy chickens being called into
question in the US, organic and natural food retailer Wild Oats
markets has strengthened its policy on selling only meat which is
antibiotic-free.
Galaxy Nutritional Foods has reported net profits of $149,994
(€172,018) for the third quarter of 2001/2002, a welcome return to
the black after losses of $2,486,808 a year earlier.
Sales of vitamins and herbs in the US dropped during 2001, but
there was a more positive performance from minerals, non-herbals
and weight control products, according to sales tracker Information
Resources (IRI).
Natural Alternatives International (NAI), the nutritional
supplements manufacturer, saw its second quarter sales rise by 28
per cent to $12.7 million (€14.6m) compared to the first quarter of
the year when sales were $9.9 million.
Whole Foods Market, the natural and organic food retailer, has
reported a 21 per cent increase in sales for the first quarter of
2002 to $780.8 million (€895.8m).
Nature's Sunshine Products, the US manufacturer and marketer of
encapsulated herbs and vitamins, has reported a slight rise in
sales for the final quarter and full year 2001.
Nutrition 21 said it has identified an isomer of conjugated
linoleic acid (CLA) which can significantly increase glucose
metabolism in muscle cells without the addition of insulin.
Swiss drug giant Novartis has reported sales of SFr32 billion
(€21.7bn) for 2001, a 14 per cent increase on the previous year.
The company said that sales of its principal pharmaceutical
products were the main drivers of the growth.
Nutritional supplements producer Nutrition 21 said it remained
bullish about its prospects for achieving full-year profits despite
tough trading conditions and a disappointing second quarter.
Every year in the run up to Valentine's Day consumers are bombarded
with adverts urging them to buy chocolates for their loved ones.
But this year one message is slightly different - it says buy
chocolate because they are good...
A 16 per cent rise in fourth quarter profits at giant snack food
and soft drink maker PepsiCo has been offset by growing concerns
about the recently acquired Gatorade sports drink business.
A novel way of tackling the problem of anaemia in children has been
created with help from the HJ Heinz food group. Research shows that
Supplefer Sprinkles - iron and vitamin C supplements which can be
easily added to a range of foodstuffs...
Horizon Organic Holding Corporation, which claims to be the world's
leading producer of organic dairy products, reported record sales
and profits for the final quarter and full year 2001.
Alongside the usual raft of junk food stands at this year's Florida
state fair will be a range of information about nutritional and
healthy eating, sponsored by the HJ Heinz food company. The main
focus will be on lycopene, found...
China's first aloe vera production base using membrane-separating
technology is now operating in southwest China's Yunnan Province,
reports the Xinhua News Agency.
Europe's third-largest drugmaker Novartis AG will sell its
nutritional foods unit, which makes products such as Ovaltine
chocolate and Isostar drinks, to focus on developing new medicines,
reports Bloomberg.
Cetek Corporation has joined forces with Cubist Pharmaceuticals to
combine their expertise in natural products and identify novel
compounds for the treatment of infectious diseases.
The Nestle USA - Beverage Division and Ocean Spray Cranberries,
Inc. announced this week that they have formed a long-term
agreement which, they hope, will enable both companies to increase
manufacturing and supply chain efficiency...
Cyanotech, the producer of microalgae-based natural products, has
formed a Japanese unit, Cyanotech Japan, which will allow the
company to economise on shipping, provide more timely delivery to
customers and allow customers to conduct...
First quarter sales at US-based nutritional supplements
manufacturer NBTY rose by 29% to $215 million compared to $167
million in the same period a year earlier.
The growing importance of bottled water enriched with vitamins,
minerals and herbal ingredients means that the simplest of food
products has now become a major driver of growth in the
nutraceutical market.
ScienceBased Health has published results which it claims shows a
direct link between its HydroEye nutritional supplement and
increased lactoferrin levels
Quaker Oats and Biosafe Medical Technologies have formed an
initiative to give the public greater access to information about
lowering cholesterol levels
The leading food retailers in the UK are the most expensive places
to buy organic food, according to a new report from Dr Anna Ross of
the University of the West of England.
Dutch ingredients group Numico said that it would be forced to
write off US$350 million in goodwill and brands for its US
operation because of a downturn in the herb and vitamin market.
Nutraceutix, an early stage biopharmaceutical company, has engaged
investor relations and strategic planning company Bibicoff &
Associates to increase investment community awareness of the
company.
Naturade Inc., a leading US marketer of soy protein products under
the Naturade Total Soy brand name, received $2.5 million of capital
from Westgate Equity Partners of St. Louis.
US Nutraceutical Clinical Laboratories International, Inc.
announced this week that negotiations have been completed for the
acquisition of Health Care Direct Services (HCDS), a nutraceutical
wholesale distributor.
Health science company Forbes Medi-Tech Inc. announced this week
that it has reached an agreement with Novartis Consumer Health SA
to acquire the licensing and distribution rights to consumer
products fortified with Reducol, the company's...
NBTY, a US manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements, is
to acquire certain assets of HealthCentral.com, the US online
retailer that filed for bankruptcy in October.
Natural specialty ingredients manufacturer Kemin Foods, has filed a
lawsuit in the US contending that fine chemicals company, Cognis
Corp., continues to make false claims that blur the differences
between lutein esters and the purified...
