Breaking News on Supplements & Nutrition - North AmericaEU edition
Since Casimir Funk gave them the name in 1912, vitamins have been central to nutrition science. And their importance and value is not diminishing.
In fact, demand is growing, and global sales for vitamins are predicted to hit $34.5bn (€25.5bn) by 2015. But where is the demand coming from? What's new in the old 'natural vs synthetic' debate? What's going on with supply of key vitamins, like C? And what's next for the category?
Find out in this special series from NutraIngredients-USA...
NutraIngredients vitamins quiz
Think you know your B vitamins from your Ds? Take the NutraIngredients quiz and find out.
Encapsulation is key to working out vitamin solubility issues
As functional foods grow in popularity, many manufacturers have begun add vitamins to food and drink products, but what are the challenges associated with this trend, and how can we overcome them?
Sustainability may sway consumer opinion in synthetic/natural vitamins
The topic of natural versus synthetic vitamins is nothing new, but as consumers demand ‘natural everything’, could the increased sustainability of synthetic sources swing consumer opinion?
Vitamin health halo set for brighter global glow as claim power grows
The first part of this vitamins special edition looks at how increasing government support and ‘industry standard’ fortification programmes, coupled with favourable regulatory shifts, is benefitting the sector.
Judge considers appeal request in Chinese vitamin C cartel case
The judge presiding over a high-profile case brought by US vitamin buyers against Chinese firms accused of fixing the price of vitamin C is considering a series of motions filed by the defendants, who claim they were compelled to act as a cartel by the Chinese government.
Omega-3s are among the nutrition industry's big fish, but there's more to omega-3 than just heart health and fish oil. In this special series, NutraIngredients-USA looks at the the state of the market, the varied sources, the rise of krill, algal, and plant-sourced omega-3s, and the emerging science behind this blockbuster ingredient.
All-conquering omega-3 market set for further growth
The market for omega-3 food, beverage and supplements in the US is over $5 billion with saturation point nowhere in sight, but how does the market break down, what are the up-and-coming sources, and where will we go in future?
The varied sources of omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained from a variety of sources: Fish, krill, algae, plants, mussels. In this gallery we tour the world and look at the sources making waves in the $5 billion omega-3 food, beverage and supplements industry.
Krill set for continued omega-3 stardom
The nascent but rapidly growing krill sector is set to match or exceed 10+% point growth forecast for the entire omega-3 sector, even as public awareness remains relatively low and sustainability questions – justified or otherwise – refuse to go away.
Aurora Algae ups ante in omega-3 market with plans for Q4, 2012 launch
Aurora Algae – the firm promising to turn up the heat in the algal omega-3 market by producing a concentrated 65% EPA-rich oil on a completely new scale – aims to ship out its first commercial products in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Algal omega-3 market heats up as new players bid for a slice of the action
The dynamics of the algal omega-3 market are set to change over the next 18 months with the entrance of two new players both promising to trump the competition in the efficiency and sustainability stakes.
Whole Foods Market: We’re still making up our minds on krill
Whole Foods Market (WFM) says it still needs more time to evaluate its position on the sustainability of krill oil, more than 15 months after announcing plans to stop selling it while bosses reviewed the evidence.
US military: Low omega-3 levels may boost suicide risk
US troops and service personnel with low levels of omega-3 are at increased risk of suicide, says a new study that potential opens the door to widespread omega-3 supplementation.
Diabetes affects over 220 million people globally and the consequences of high blood sugar kill 3.4 million every year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). If such statistics weren’t scary enough, the WHO is predicting deaths to double between 2005 and 2030.
But what is this condition, how can diet and nutrition help, and do consumers understand 'healthy blood glucose'? In this four-part special edition, NutraIngredients-USA investigates the link between nutrition and this pandemic.
Diabetes: From ancient Egypt to modern pandemic
It has been called a pandemic and a silent killer: Diabetes is a growing specter for public health agencies across the world. In the first part of our special series on diabetes, NutraIngredients examines the underlying condition and gets a grip on how big the issue is.
How can nutrition aid diabetes management?
Diabetes affects more than 220 million people globally and the consequences of high blood sugar kill 3.4 million every year. In the second part of our special series on diabetes, NutraIngredients looks at the role of nutrition and diet in managing, and potentially reversing diabetes.
Can dietary interventions treat diabetes' deathly global heathcare burdens?
As the previous three articles in this series have highlighted, dietary interventions that can combat the rise of diabetes and obesity are numerous and plentiful, as is the growing body of science backing their efficacy, from herbs to vitamins, proteins and more.
How do you sell healthy blood glucose to consumers?
While a dietary solution to the ticking time bomb of type 2 diabetes would appear to have huge commercial potential, the US market for foods and supplements that keep our blood glucose levels healthy has yet to set the world on fire.
Prebiotics - those indigestible fibers that selectively boost the growth of beneficial bacteria - are still in the shadow of probiotics. But is that changing? What do the scientists think? Do consumers understand prebiotics? And how can we learn from our ancestors' diets? In this special series from NutraIngredients-USA we look into the current state and potential of prebiotics.
Novel pectin fractions, ‘molecular decoys’ and the future of prebiotics
Novel oligosaccharides produced from biomass such as citrus pectin could become the next generation of prebiotic ingredients, according to one leading researcher in the field.
The prebiotic pioneer: Prof Glenn Gibson
Harnessing modern technologies like metabonomics will ‘provide the answers’ to questions about how the gut microflora affect human health, says the scientist who co-coined the term ‘prebiotic’.
Forget 'prebiotics'. Focus on fiber, say brand experts
While the food and supplements industry has been talking about prebiotics for well over a decade, most US consumers remain pretty clueless about them, according to marketing experts.
Prebiotic evolution: From earth oven to pizza oven
A clever combination of gut friendly food, consumer education and social media has made Naked Pizza a runaway success. Prebiotic-containing pizza bases will soon be hitting grocery stores, too, says the archaeologist who co-founded the company.
Frost & Sullivan: US prebiotics market to double in five years
The US market for prebiotic ingredients is forecast to double in the next five years to more than $220m, according to market researcher Frost & Sullivan.
Synbiotics will drive gut health success: NIU poll
The sum is greater than the parts: The future success of the gut health market depends on combining pre- and probiotics, according to a NutraIngredients-USA poll.
Could inflammation be the next big thing for nutrition and nutraceuticals? Products offering anti-inflammatory action and 'inflammation balance' already appear on store shelves, but do consumers actually understand what inflammation is all about, and which nutrients or combinations are showing the most potential? In this special series on inflammation, NutraIngredients-USA.com provides the answers...
The rise of anti-inflammatory nutrients
In the first part of our special series on inflammation, NutraIngredients puts the physiological process of inflammation under the microscope, and casts an eye over the nutritional approaches to counter rising inflammation.
Chronic inflammation? Most consumers don’t get it (yet), say branding experts
Scientists increasingly recognize inflammation as a key contributor to chronic disease and supplement firms have tried to cash in with tailored products, but getting consumers to part with hard-earned cash for something so nebulous will be tough, predict marketers.
Market for products tackling systemic inflammation has potential, but consumer education is key
A growing category of dietary supplements claiming to tackle the systemic inflammation believed to be at the root cause of multiple health problems is starting to emerge as firms attempt to educate consumers about the underlying factors causing chronic disease.
Inflammation: The expression of a very modern malady
Extra-curricular inflammation of the human body is very real and costing healthcare providers billions globally. But where did it come from and are current efforts helping it go away?
Nutrigenomics is key to next generation of anti-inflammatories, says Frost & Sullivan
There is “definitely a market niche” for products tackling chronic inflammation based on a growing understanding of the interaction between diet and genetics, according to Frost & Sullivan.
Nutrigenomics and personalized nutrition are touted as the future of nutrition, but where do we stand today? In this five part special on nutrigenomics NutraIngredients-USA looks back on the brief history of nutrigenomics, examines Nestlé's epigenetics interests, uncovers the potential 'goldmine' of data, and asks 'where next for nutrigenomics and personalized nutrition?'
Nutrition research paradigm needs to change for nutrigenomics: Expert
At the recent IFT Annual Meeting and Expo, Stephen Daniells talked to Dr Jim Kaput, director of FDA’s Division of Personalized Nutrition and Medicine about the paradigm shift needed to move personalized nutrition forward.
Is epigenetics the ‘means’ to achieving nutrition’s potential?
Understanding and achieving nutrition’s potential to maintain health and prevent disease may lie with the study of epigenetics, according to a new review.
A short history of nutrigenomics
In the second part of our special on Nutrigenomics, we take a look at the progress to date, from the first reports of DNA to predictions of nutrigenomic foods filling supermarket shelves (everyone says they're 5-10 years away...).
Nutrigenomic data may open up ‘goldmine’ of new information, says expert
Understanding the fine details of physiology, rather than looking at surrogate biomarkers of health and disease, can open up new doorways and a ‘goldmine’ of information on how the diet affects our health, according to a leading nutrigenomics expert.
Nutrigenomics and personalized nutrition: What does the future hold?
In the fourth part of our nutrigenomics special edition NutraIngredients takes a look at how the field could help to deliver a more personal approach to nutrition in the future.
Nutrigenomics could provide nutrition-relevant biomarkers: DSM
The benefits of nutrigenomics tools to illuminate the effect of certain nutrients on genes are occurring right now, but talk of personalized nutrition should be left for the future, says a DSM corporate scientist.
According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are the world’s largest killers, and responsible for 17.1 million deaths annually. Therefore, foods with heart health benefits are booming across the globe, and worth over $10.8 billion in 2009.In this special focus, NutraIngredients-USA.com looks at the science behind the ingredients, who supplies them, and what claims are allowed.
US heart health product launches have tripled in five years
New product launches in the US food, drink and dietary supplements market on a heart health platform have tripled in the past five years, and now account for 1.5 percent of all new launches.
Heart health ingredients supply: From sterols to beta-glucan to vitamins K& E
In the final part of our special focus on heart health, NutraIngredients looks at supply of select ingredients: Who are the key suppliers, and what options are available?
Regulation: Science-backed cardio claims quicken sector’s global pulse
In part four of this NutraIngredients heart health special we look at how regulators view those foods, drinks and supplements making cardiovascular claims
Global heart health markets in rude health
In the third part of our special series on Heart Health, NutraIngredients-USA.com looks at the heart health markets around the world.
Cholesterol reduction: A look at the evidence
In the second part of our special focus on heart health, NutraIngredients examines the science that backs up the health benefits of ‘the big four’ cholesterol reducing ingredients: phytosterols, omega-3s, beta-glucan, and soy protein.
Heart health beyond cholesterol: Blood pressure and vascular health
In the first part of our special focus on heart health, NutraIngredients examines the science behind the potential health benefits of a new wave of ingredients, from blood pressure lowering peptides from dairy, to flavanols from cocoa.
Research, analytical testing, and manufacturing - all can be outsourced. But what are the drivers, and where are the challenges? In this four part special edition, NutraIngredients-USA.com looks at how to select a contract manufacturing, why GMPs are boosting contract analytical labs, and how CROs ensure success with clinical trials.
Clinical trial success: Design and recruitment
Designing a clinical trial correctly from the beginning is the most important issue for success, while a ready supply of volunteers for natural product clinical trials takes the pressure off patient recruitment, says the CEO of a CRO.
GMPs boosting need for contract analytical prowess
The introduction of good manufacturing practices (GMPs) is a boon for contract analytical services, and those with special services to offer are standing out from the crowd.
CROs (slowly) piece together EFSA's health claim science puzzle
In the second part of this special series on global outsourcing trends NutraIngredients explores how the European Union nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) is impacting activity in the contract research organisation (CRO) sector.
The challenge of choosing the right contract manufacturer
Brand owners may be obliged to work with contract manufacturers, but finding the right one can be no easy task. In the first part of our outsourcing special edition, Jules Birch of Works with Water Nutraceuticals explains the challenges – and the implications of getting it wrong.
For most consumers vitamin E is just vitamin E, but there are different forms: Tocopherols and tocotrienols. While the former have dominated the market, the science of tocotrienols is developing, with potential health benefits ranging from anti-cancer effects to boosting heart health.
In this special series, NutraIngredients looks at the market, science, supply, and regulatory issues surrounding tocotrienols - hailed as the "next generation vitamin E".
Algae protein promises ‘ultra-premium alternative to soy and whey’
Renewable Algal Energy (RAE) – the latest entrant into the rapidly-heating-up market for nutritional ingredients from microalgae – will be able to supply commercial quantities of its novel algal oils and proteins by the third quarter of 2012, bosses have revealed.
Regulations: The regulatory landscape for vitamin E tocotrienol
In the final part of our series on vitamin E tocotrienols, we look at the regulations surrounding tocotrienols, both in the US and Europe.
Supply: The varied sources of vitamin E tocotrienol
In the third part of our series on vitamin E tocotrienols, we look at the supply, and the sources for today’s ingredients, from rice bran oil to palm oil, and the newest entrant – annatto.
Differentiation key to vitamin E tocotrienol success
In the second part of our special series on tocotrienols, NutraIngredients looks at the current state of the market, and where the opportunities lie for the future.
The science of the ‘next generation’ vitamin E
Vitamin E is well known to consumers across the globe, but their tocotrienol-form is not. In the first part on of special series on tocotrienols, NutraIngredients-USA looks at the potential health benefits of nutrients described as “the next generation vitamin E”.
Asia is on the agenda of the biggest food and beverage companies – not just as a market hungry for Western-style products but also as a source of inspiration, ingredients and knowledge.
In this special edition NutraIngredients-USA examines the promise of the main Asian markets.
Looking East for salt reduction
Reducing salt is a major mandate for companies all over the world, but some of the latest science on salt replacers is coming from the East.
Food flavourings in Southeast Asia see 'enormous' growth but remain cost-driven
Although the food and drink flavouring market in Southeast Asia is “growing enormously”, consumer tastes are still cost-driven and traditional, according to top flavour producer IFF.
Untapped ingredients from Japan may have potential worldwide
Green tea, soy and CoQ10 are some of the best known ingredients for supplements and functional foods from Japan, but a wealth of lesser-known foodstuffs are also the subject of inquiry into their potential health benefits.
Facing the challenges of Chinese ingredient sourcing
China’s reputation as an ingredient supplier has suffered from a spate of food safety problems – but the food industry should not paint all China-based companies with the same broad brush, says stevia supplier GLG Life Tech.
India’s nutrition boom produces contract research boon
As the need for scientific support for potential health claims for healthy foods increases, India is leveraging its pharmaceutical expertise to take a bite of the functional foods pie.
Korea: 'Stringent' regulations promote functional food potential
The Korean functional food market hinges on obtaining the nation’s precious ingredient claim approval, but breaking that barrier opens the floodgates to huge market potential, according to an industry expert.
Japan: Functional foods, fads and food scares
In the first part of this Asia-focused special edition, we look to the innovation hotbed that is Japan. Japan is well known as the world’s functional foods birthplace when Yakult kicked into life there in the 1950s with its little bottles of immune boosting, probiotic drinking yoghurt and is now a global blockbuster brand.
Nutricosmetics or beauty foods - the monikers are many but that is not stopping the nascent sector is attracting interest in growing numbers of beauty-concerned citizens, not to mention cosmetic, food and drug companies.
In this special edition NutraIngredients and our sister publication CosmeticsDesign investigate a multi-billion category from the most innovative product launches to the science backing the claims and the regulations that govern the industry.
Latest product launches from the world of nutricosmetics
The beauty from within category has given way to big names such as Inneov, Imedeen and Age off, paving the way for a glut of new product launches worldwide, a few of which this article looks at.
Regulation: Cosmeceutical confusion continues
In the fourth part of our special beauty from within series, we take a look at the regulations governing what you can say about nutriscosmetics products – which, in most jurisdictions, is not very much.
The science of skin health ingredients
In the third part of our special series on nutricosmetics, we take a look at the science behind the ingredients positioned for skin health, from antioxidants to omega-3 oils.
The global market for beauty foods
In the second article of a special series on nutricosmetics, we take a look at the size of the market for foods, drinks and supplements that promise beauty benefits, as well as the distinctly different approaches to the category taken in three key regions.
Nutricosmetics should be distributed as cosmetics products
In the first part of this nutricosmetics series, we explore why edible beauty is tipped for significant growth. But success will only be found if the products are associated with cosmetics brands and sold in selective distribution channels, according to Innovabio.
Ingredients suppliers offer a multitude of solutions when vision loss, dry eyes, age-related macular degeneration and other maladies affect the eyes. In this four-part special we examine the state of the market, the science behind the ingredients and the regulations governing the sector.
Making claims on eye health
In the fourth and final part of this eye health series, NutraIngredients peers into an increasingly complex legislative scene.
Marigold dominates eye health ingredients supply
In the third part of our special series on eye health, NutraIngredients takes a closer look at the supply of the ingredients at the center of the eye health products.
The science of eye health ingredients
In the second part of our special series on eye health, NutraIngredients takes a closer look at the science behind lutein, omega-3 and the other ingredients eyeing a place on the podium for eye health.
Aging populations are experiencing a range of health conditions, with deteriorating joints high on the list. In this special series NutraIngredients-USA looks at the science, supply and regulations of the joint health market.
Joint health claims possible in healthy populations: Scientist
Establishing joint health benefits of natural products can be done without using diseased populations, says UCLA’s Dr Jay Udani.
Regulation: Joint sales not hurt by health claim hole
The joint health space is in good shape in most markets globally with (mostly supplement) sales sitting at about $2bn.
Science: The emerging ingredients for joint health
In the fourth part of our series on joint health, we look beyond glucosamine and chondroitin to the next generation of joint health ingredients.
Science: The benefits of glucosamine and omega-3
In the third part of our series on joint health, we look at the sometimes conflicting but always burgeoning science behind the ingredients.
Supply: Joining the glucosamine supply gaps
In the second part of this NutraIngredients focus on joint health, we analyse the elbow work going on in the supply channel.
Glucosamine market reaching maturity
In the first part of a special edition on joint health, Nutraingredients.com looks at the market for the ingredient that far outpaces the others in the pack - glucosamine.
Once the exclusive domain of muscle-bound body builders, sports nutrition products are going mainstream and the market is expanding. In this special four-part series NutraIngredients crunches the numbers of a booming market, presses the science of the ingredients, and feels the deep burn of the regulations surrounding sports nutrition.
Just a matter of time before canola protein enters the major league, says BioExx
"At least 12 major players in the food industry" are testing canola protein from BioExx, while a tie up with Century Foods to develop canola-protein-based sports products is also progressing well, claims the veggie protein specialist.
GNC: Sports nutrition is not about body-building anymore
Sports nutrition products now account for 45% of sales at GNC compared with 27% 10 years ago. But the category is no longer dominated by body-building, says chief executive Joe Fortunato.
Hershey seeks stronger foothold in health & wellness market with more cocoa-based functional foods
More functional foods capitalizing on the health benefits of cocoa should hit shelves next year as confectionery giant Hershey seeks to gain a stronger foothold in the health and wellness market via its new Apure subsidiary.
Horphag launches bid to make Pycnogenol next big thing in functional foods
Horphag Research is on a mission to turn Pycnogenol - a potent antioxidant from the bark of the maritime pine tree – into the next big thing in functional foods and drinks with the creation of a new division dedicated to this market.
Smoothly does it. The secret to success in protein beverages
Protein beverages can have mass market appeal if firms get the formulation right, keep calories down and refocus marketing efforts on the people that are actually drinking their products, rather than the people they think are drinking them, according to one recent market entrant.
Herbalife to expand manufacturing footprint
Direct selling supplements giant Herbalife aims to expand its manufacturing footprint dramatically over the next two-to-four years as it steps up plans to make more of its products in-house.
Canola protein hits big time as Century seals deal with BioExx
A new range of foods and supplements based on canola protein is being developed by Hormel Foods’ Century Foods International division following a deal with protein specialist BioExx.
Herbalife launches radical bid to triple volumes by 2020
Herbalife is confident it can triple volumes by 2020 as it ramps up its presence in emerging markets and expands its distributor base in mature markets through new concepts such as sports nutrition range Herbalife24.
Where immune health meets sports nutrition
The link between immune health and physical performance is well known, but sports nutrition products that include immune boosting ingredients are few and far between, and this presents a huge opportunity, says Embria’s Larry Robinson.
The curious case of sports nutrition regulation
In the fourth part of NutraIngredients’ sports nutrition series, we scan a category as reliant on its elite sports roots as it is at times reviled by them and the rules that can lead to perfectly good products being called foul.
The science of sports ingredients
In the third part of our special series on sports nutrition, NutraIngredients looks at the reigning champions in sports ingredients and takes a look at the science behind new contenders to the crown.
Drinks innovation boosting sport nutrition
Boosting energy, strength and recovery are just three ways that sports drinks are expanding a booming market, as bars, shots, and powders strain to catch up with the leaders in the field.
Sports nutrition market driven by non-sporty consumers
As global sales of sports nutrition products maintain healthy growth rates, one distinct – and unexpected – group of consumers is emerging as the main driver for the market, made up of people who are not necessarily interested in sports.
As the long dark days of winter slowly fade, many people around the globe will have insufficient vitamin D levels. There are numerous potential benefits of the sunshine vitamin but concerns over sun exposure have many experts touting the importance of dietary supplements and functional foods. In this special series NutraIngredients-USA illuminates the market for vitamin D, highlights how the science and regulations are over-lapping, and clarifies which foods could be used to boost intakes of vitamin D.
Attorney: Vitamin D qualified health claims petition still 'months away'
It could be several months before a qualified health claims petition about vitamin D is submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to the lawyer coordinating the application.
Doubling vitamin D levels most cost effective way to reduce global mortality rates, study
Increasing serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the "most cost-effective way to reduce global mortality rates", according to a new study.
FDA to publish new rules on how daily values are calculated
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is hoping to publish new rules on how daily values on food labels are calculated this year, something that could have broad ramifications for the dietary supplements trade.
General Mills looks 'beyond calcium and vitamin D' for bone health
General Mills is looking for new ingredients or technologies “beyond the known impact of calcium and vitamin D” to boost the bone formation process in cultured dairy foods.
Bone health food launches double, but market value remains flat
There has been a sharp rise in the number of functional foods and drinks launched on a bone health platform over the last five years, but the retail value of the global market has nevertheless remained stubbornly flat at around $2.1bn over the same period.
Vitamin D and calcium supplement usage up, reveals govt survey
New government data on dietary supplement usage has revealed a sharp rise in calcium and vitamin D supplementation amongst American women over 60 and a steady increase in multivitamin usage among all American adults.
Bone charity calls for vit D level hikes for the elderly
Daily recommended intakes for older adults should be increased to 1,000 IU in order to ensure bone health and help reduce the risk of falls, says the International Osteoporosis Foundation.
Science: Enlightening consumers to the benefits of vitamin D
Barely a week goes by without a new study supporting the benefits of vitamin D and calling for increased intakes. In the final part of our series on the sunshine vitamin we look at the science behind the headlines.
Suppliers surmounting vitamin D fortification challenges
In many countries foods such as milk, yoghurt, margarine, oil spreads, breakfast cereal, pastries as well as bread are fortified with vitamin D, and in the third part of our special edition on this nutrient, we look at the challenges surrounding its encapsulation and incorporation into food and beverages.
Regulation: Time to catch up with the vitamin D science?
In the second part of our vitamin D special edition, we unpick some of the regulatory concerns surrounding the 'sunshine vitamin'.
Markets: Global vitamin D boom remains elusive
Scientists have linked Vitamin D to a wide variety of health benefits in recent years but outside the US this buzz has yet to translate into a market boom.
From cereal packets to juice cartons, antioxidants are everywhere. In this special six part series NutraIngredients-USA looks at the market for the compounds, unlocks the regulations surrounding claims, examines how super vegetables are emerging from the shadow of super fruit, and hears from a world renowned expert why we need differentiation.
Cyanotech reports 66% rise in second quarter profits
Hawaii-based microalgae specialist Cyanotech has posted a 66% rise in second quarter net profits to $875,000 on sales up 56% to $5.99m in the three months to September 30.
POM launches bid to turn POMx into next big thing in functional ingredients
POM Wonderful has branched out into the ingredients supply market with plans to launch its POMx pomegranate polyphenols as a functional ingredient for other manufacturers to use on a global basis.
BioProcess Algae bids for slice of the action in algal nutraceuticals market
Another player in the algal technology sector has signaled its intention to enter the human nutrition market.
POM prepares for battle with Ocean Spray as FTC false advertising case drags on – and on…
It is now increasingly likely that a judgment in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) false advertising case against POM Wonderful will not be issued before POM squares up with rival Ocean Spray next month at a trial the cranberry juice giant has unsuccessfully been trying to delay until the FTC case is over.
Krill wars round two: Neptune patent is ‘invalid’ and ‘unenforceable’, says Enzymotec
Israeli nutritional lipids giant Enzymotec has weighed into the patent infringement row engulfing the krill oil industry with a statement from its boss declaring rival Neptune’s new US patent for marine phospholipids ‘invalid’ and ‘unenforceable’ and promising to explore all legal avenues to challenge it.
Nutrient powerhouse baobab attracts cereals big gun
Baobab – the African superfruit packing an unparalleled nutritional punch – is being tested by a major player in the cereals sector and is set to feature in a clutch of new launches later this year from granola to chocolate covered fruit snacks.
Ingredients by Nature: Customers want an ORAC formula, not more ORAC ingredients
Californian citrus flavonoids expert Ingredients by Nature (IBN) has launched a proprietary blend of whole citrus fruits and flavonoid extracts boasting “extraordinary ORAC values” for supplement manufacturers and food and drink manufacturers.
EuroPharma to launch probe into synthetic vs natural curcumin
EuroPharma is planning to launch a probe into commercially available curcumin supplements to establish whether products purporting to contain exclusively natural extracts in fact contain cheaper, synthetic raw materials.
Curcumin and Indian gooseberry to feature in new Alzheimer’s trials
Scientists at the forefront of research into Alzheimer’s disease are about to embark on two human studies examining the role curcumin and Indian gooseberry could play in tackling beta amyloid, the neural plaque associated with its progression.
Dormant antioxidant has ‘unparalleled’ benefits
A Beverly Hills-based biotech firm is planning to launch a series of supplements and functional foods containing ergothioneine, an antioxidant it claims has “unparalleled” benefits that has hidden its light under a bushel for almost 100 years.
Kemin launches water-extracted green tea powder
Kemin Health has launched a green tea powder for the dietary supplements market it says retains the composition and antioxidant profile of brewed green tea and provides an alternative to solvent-based extracts.
GOED/Neptune: Krill monograph will help firms detect genuine article
Another leading supplier has weighed into the debate over unscrupulous firms peddling ‘krill oil’ that contains “next to no phospholipids” but says the development of a monograph and better testing protocols might go some way to tackling the problem.
Neptune to almost quadruple krill oil capacity by 2014
Canadian krill oil firm Neptune Technologies & Bioressources aims to ratchet up production capacity from 130,000kg/year to almost 500,000kg by 2014 to meet growing demand.
Lawyer: FTC 'richly deserves to lose' battle vs POM Wonderful
A high-profile legal battle between Californian juice maker POM Wonderful and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will move into a new phase tomorrow at a hearing in Washington DC.
It’s about time, says acai expert as FTC cracks down on bogus weight loss claims
‘Frustrating’ and ‘intolerable’ attempts by fraudsters to hijack antioxidant powerhouse açai as a miracle weight loss ingredient are finally being tackled by the authorities, but only after causing huge damage to the reputation of one of the most exciting nutraceuticals on the market, experts have argued.
Regulation: inching beyond implied health claims
In the final instalment in this series about antioxidants, NutraIngredients scans the regulatory landscape to see how the science backing the nutrient is being translated into law.
Super veg look set to walk the antioxidant red carpet
“I'm strong to the finish when I eats me spinach,” said Popeye the sailor man, and he could have snatched Olive Oyl from the clutches of Bluto with even more ferocity if he had eaten his broccoli, tomatoes or onions according to an Australian/New Zealand project focused on super vegetables.
Gaining benefits from leaf and bean: Antioxidants in tea and coffee
In the fourth part of our series on antioxidants, NutraIngredients looks at coffee and tea – two products seen increasingly as functional beverages for their antioxidant content.
Differentiation holds the key to antioxidant success: Expert
In the third part of our series on antioxidants, NutraIngredients talks to Jeff Blumberg, professor of antioxidants at Tuft University, and finds out why we need differentiation in the antioxidant field.
Supply: Beta-carotene club and beyond
In the second part of our antioxidants special, NutraIngredients focuses on the carotenoids where the vitamin A converter, beta-carotene, is still lording it over lutein and lycopene and DSM and BASF’s synthetic versions continue to dominate that particular carotenoid’s supply.
Overview: The (seemingly) unstoppable antioxidant powerhouse
In the first instalment of this antioxidants special NutraIngredients scans a diverse global market that has barely been dented by the recession and continues to flourish amid consumer understanding that is often little more than surface deep.
January is traditionally a time for resolutions, many of which include better weight management. The food and nutrition industries have been quick to acknowledge the potential of specific ingredients and formulations to help trim hips and flatten bellies, from foods that fill you up for longer, to natural supplements to boost your rate of energy burning. In this special five-part series, NutraIngredients-USA looks at the science, regulation, supply, and market for weight management.
Hunger-busting potato protein gains ground in functional food market
Slendesta – a potato protein ingredient from Kemin Health claimed to boost satiety – has raised its profile in the functional food market after being included in the Fullbar range of weight management products developed by bariatric surgeon Dr. Michael Snyder.
Weight loss firm hit with class action lawsuit over Sensa satiety crystals claims
The firm behind controversial weight loss crystals designed to be sprinkled on foods to ‘activate your hunger control switch’ has been hit with a class action lawsuit filed in a Texas district court accusing it of false, misleading and deceptive marketing.
Weight management 2011: What is the role of calcium in weight management?
While there have been some high profile studies challenging this hypothesis, the “bulk of the evidence” suggests that calcium can play a key role in weight management, according to a leading researcher in the field.
Weight Management 2011: Diet is out, zero is in …
The number of new products launched in the US market featuring the term ‘diet’ in the brand or product name has plummeted in the last five years as weight conscious shoppers seek out more positive messages, according to market researchers.
Euromonitor: CLA is a “key” to future of weight management market
Market analyst Euromonitor has produced a global weight management report that predicts an ongoing prevalence of reduced-calorie foods in the category but highlights conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as a nutrient with a “key” role to play.
More bad press for hoodia as FTC cracks down on firms in false advertising case
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has cracked on two firms accused of making false and deceptive claims about the much-hyped weight management ingredient hoodia as part of its “ongoing efforts to stop bogus health claims”.
US meal replacement market set for substantial growth as waistlines expand
Skyrocketing obesity rates coupled with a growing demand for convenience have continued to drive healthy growth in the meal replacement market throughout the recession, with sales set to rise 9.3% to $2.2bn in 2011, according to a new report from IBISWorld.
Could saffron succeed where other satiety ingredients have failed?
Saffron could succeed where other satiety ingredients have failed because it seeks to address the cause of overeating – which is not just about hunger – according to New Jersey-based ingredients supplier PL Thomas (PLT).
Herbalife claims almost a third of global meal replacement shake market
Herbalife’s share of the global meal replacement shake category has more than doubled from 12% in 2003 to 30%+ today driven by the success of its daily consumption model, the direct selling giant has revealed.
Cyvex: Managing consumer expectations is key in weight management market
The market for appetite suppressing ingredients may not have set the world on fire – yet – but it has legs provided consumer expectations are managed and firms do not overstate the benefits, according to one supplier.
Kemin launches water-extracted green tea powder
Kemin Health has launched a green tea powder for the dietary supplements market it says retains the composition and antioxidant profile of brewed green tea and provides an alternative to solvent-based extracts.
Novel oat beta-glucan attracts big guns in US food market
Some of the biggest names in the US food and drink industry are experimenting with samples of a heart- and gut-friendly oat beta glucan soluble fiber that could also help them slash fat levels and clean up product labels.
New satiety foods will contain 'cocktail of components'
The next generation of weight management ingredients will contain a “cocktail of components” that address multiple factors around hunger and reward, according to the boss of Food for Health Ireland (FHI).
Herbalife launches radical bid to triple volumes by 2020
Herbalife is confident it can triple volumes by 2020 as it ramps up its presence in emerging markets and expands its distributor base in mature markets through new concepts such as sports nutrition range Herbalife24.
Supply: Supporting the weight management products
In the final article in our weight management series, NutraIngredients looks at the companies behind some of the key ingredients in the sector.
Regulation: Claim making and claim taking
In a world with a chronic ‘globesity’ problem spreading beyond western shores to places like India and China, products that promise to help individuals manage their weight via calorie control, fat burning, satiety, or some other mechanism, enjoy rampant demand.
Science: Slimming ingredients beyond satiety
In the third part of our series on weight management, NutraIngredients looks at how nutritional approaches may boost body-shaping, and how our gut microflora may be the future of weight management.
Science: Backing up the satiety and metabolic claims
In the second part of our focus on weight management, NutraIngredients looks at the science behind the claims – from boosting fullness to energy burning.
Asia proving growing market in weight control sector
As levels of obesity continue to rise on a global scale, Nutraingredients looks at the market for weight management dietary supplements, food and beverage products.
Cranberries are no longer a novelty for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but an established product range in health and wellness. Whether you're looking at beverages, supplements or cereal bars, you'll find cranberries. In this special series, NutraIngredients-USA.com looks at the markets, supply, regulations, and science behind the red berry.
New standardized PACs test could unite cranberry industry
A team of US, French and Chinese scientists have produced what they believe to be a standardized test for the proanthocyanidins (PACs) in cranberries, with hopes to unite the industry.
Cranberry waste may lead to alternative ingredients
Cranberry pomace, a by-product of the juicing process, may be extruded to produce a range of polyphenol-rich ingredients for use in supplements or functional foods, says a new study.
Regulation: Making claims on cranberry's future
For a fruit that has had more science conducted on it than most, it is surprising to some that France remains the only country to have approved a long-standing cranberry health claim.
Science: The pick of cranberry’s health benefits
In the third part of our special series on cranberries, NutraIngredients looks at the science behind the reported health benefits of the little red berry.
Supply: Cranberries, from bog to cereal bar
In the second part of our special on cranberries, NutraIngredients looks at the supply for the berry, and asks ‘what issues are bogging down cranberry supply?’
Markets: cranberry goes mainstream
In the first of a four part special edition focused on cranberries, NutraIngredients looks at the market for the berry, with its entrance into the indulgence sectors an indication perhaps that health positioning is no longer the sole driving force behind the superfruit's continued success.
NutraIngredients dips its investigative strawberry into the world of healthy chocolate and finds a relatively embryonic sector still finding its way but buoyed by ever-more cocoa polyphenol science, exciting product innovation and increasing public interest.
Hershey seeks stronger foothold in health & wellness market with more cocoa-based functional foods
More functional foods capitalizing on the health benefits of cocoa should hit shelves next year as confectionery giant Hershey seeks to gain a stronger foothold in the health and wellness market via its new Apure subsidiary.
Hershey: Cocoa polyphenols show weight management potential
Extracts from cocoa may block carbohydrate and lipid breakdown in the gut, and aid weight management, says a new study from Hershey.
Nutrigenomics shows blood pressure benefits of cocoa
The potential of polyphenol compounds in cocoa to reduce blood pressure is related to genotype, suggests a new nutrigenomic study that deepens our understanding of the cardiovascular benefits of cocoa.
Nestle: Chocolate may benefit gut health and metabolism
A daily treat of dark chocolate for only two weeks may change metabolism in healthy, free-living people, says a new study from Nestlé scientists.
Regulation: the rules governing healthy chocolate
In the final part of our series on healthy chocolate, NutraIngredients scans the regulatory landscape to see how the movement towards healthy cocoa offerings is being affected by the rules in some of the lands they are proliferating in.
Supply: Sourcing heart healthy chocolate
In the third part of a special series on the health benefits of cocoa polyphenols, NutraIngredients looks at the sourcing and supply issues associated with ensuring antioxidant levels in chocolate.
Science: Getting to the heart of chocolate’s benefits
In the second part of our special series on the health benefits of cocoa polyphenols, NutraIngredients looks at the science behind the claims, and asks how much is too much
Markets: functional chocolate finding its feet
In the first of a four-part special series, NutraIngredients.com dips its investigative strawberry into the world of healthy chocolate and finds a relatively embryonic sector still finding its way but buoyed by ever-more cocoa polyphenol science, exciting product innovation and increasing public interest.
Whether it's helping extend life, protecting against cancer, or boosting heart health, resveratrol - an antioxidant compound from red wine - continues to splash across the news pages.
NutraIngredients-USA gets under the skin of the issue, and looks at the science, regulation, supply, and global markets for this 'miracle' compound.
Resveratrol shows metabolic benefits for obese: Study
Daily intakes of resveratrol – a compound from red wine – may improve the metabolic profile of people with obesity, according to a new study from Denmark.
Resveratrol may boost eye health: Study
The vascular benefits of resveratrol – a compound found in red wine, blueberries and peanuts – may extend to reducing the risk of blindness for diabetics and seniors, says a new study.
Resveratrol’s heart health benefits pinpointed?
Resveratrol – a compound in red wine - may be influencing both blood vessel function and the function of fat cells, say new studies which may help explain its heart health benefits.
Resveratrol may boost blood flow in the brain: Study
High doses of resveratrol may improve blood flow in the brain and potentially boost brain health, say results of a new human study from the UK.
The promise of evolving resveratrol science
Kevin Pearson PhD, an assistant professor at the University of Kentucky is a long-time resveratrol researcher who is currently engaged in studying the potential of the polyphenol to benefit expectant mothers and their offspring.
Science: Resveratrol’s miraculous promise
In the final part of a special series on resveratrol, NutraIngredients looks at the science behind the ingredient. Is there nothing it cannot do?
Regulation: Resveratrol from GRAS to novel foods
As with many relatively new ingredients, resveratrol has had to prove its safety and efficacy to gain regulatory approval in various markets since its widespread commercial availability in the early 1990s.
Science: Is resveratrol really behind the French Paradox?
In the third part of a special series on resveratrol, NutraIngredients looks at the science behind the ingredient. Is the French Paradox exclusively due to resveratrol?
Supply: Resveratrol, from grape to grateful consumer
In the second part of a special series on resveratrol, NutraIngredients looks at the ingredient’s supply. What is it extracted from, how much resveratrol does it contain, and who is offering the ingredient?
Markets: A global break-down for resveratrol
In the first part of a special series on resveratrol, NutraIngredients looks at the state of the market for the heart-health ingredient. What has driven growth so far, and what are the opportunities and challenges ahead?
Dannon’s out-of-court settlement over alleged misleading probiotic claims is one of the largest of its kind in the food industry. Why did the company choose this path, and what impact will it have on Dannon and the probiotics category as a whole?
Dannon probiotic claims: 'Ripped' or 'enhanced'?
Reaction to Dannon’s $35m out-of-court probiotic settlement has been varied – from those accusing the company of scientific and marketing negligence to staunch defense of the company’s right to market products even when the science is not conclusive.
Analysis: The details of Dannon's probiotic settlement
Dannon’s out-of-court settlement of the $300m class action mounted against it the beginning of last year contains some interesting clauses such as the fact Dannon has only committed to altering its on-pack immunity marketing for three years.
Dannon pulls 'immunity' claim from probiotic drinks
Dannon is removing the word “immunity” from its DanActive probiotic drink on-package marketing after concluding an out-of-court settlement last week over alleged misleading probiotic claims.
Dannon could settle probiotic claims challenge out-of-court
Dannon, the US arm of French dairy giant Danone, is settling class actions mounted against it for making false and misleading probiotic health claims, according to press reports.
Dannon stands up to 'fraud' probiotic claims
Dannon has said that it "categorically refutes" allegations of fraudulent claims made on its probiotic yogurts.
Analysts predict that cognitive health is set to become one of the hottest areas of the functional food, beverage and supplement industries. In this special series, NutraIngredients examines the market, supply, science and regulation that make the category tick.
McCormick-backed study probes effects of black pepper and rosemary on mental energy and fatigue
Researchers at the University of Georgia are exploring whether rosemary or black pepper could tackle mental fatigue as part of a series of studies financed by the McCormick Science Institute.
Curcumin and Indian gooseberry to feature in new Alzheimer’s trials
Scientists at the forefront of research into Alzheimer’s disease are about to embark on two human studies examining the role curcumin and Indian gooseberry could play in tackling beta amyloid, the neural plaque associated with its progression.
Whole Foods Market: We’re still making up our minds on krill
Whole Foods Market (WFM) says it still needs more time to evaluate its position on the sustainability of krill oil, more than 15 months after announcing plans to stop selling it while bosses reviewed the evidence.
Cognitive function market set to explode, predicts researcher
The market for ingredients that can help keep our brains healthy as we age is “set to explode” in the next five to 10 years, according to one researcher.
Aker BioMarine aims to launch ‘unique’ powdered krill product by year-end
Aker BioMarine is aiming to launch a novel powdered product from Antarctic krill “without using expensive and dilutive microencapsulation technology” by the end of this year.
AlgaeBio unveils production stats as algal omega-3 market heats up
Algae Biosciences Corporation – a high-profile new entrant to the omega-3 fatty acid market – has unveiled detailed figures on anticipated production volumes after finalizing a deal to build the first phase of its new production facility near Holbrook in Arizona.
New entrant set to shake up algal omega-3 market
A new player is poised to enter the vegetarian omega-3 market with a production process it claims will enable it to make the long chain fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) from algae at a fraction of the cost of rivals.
ChromaDex: We’ll do for nicotinamide riboside what we did for pterostilbene
Nicotinamide riboside (NR) - the latest addition to ChromaDex’s bioactive ingredients stable – will follow a similar development path to pterostilbene, a compound found in blueberries it has synthesized to create a branded ingredient called pTeroPure.
Clarinol, Marinol and PinnoThin to get boost Stateside
The new owner of body-shaping Clarinol CLA, appetite-suppressing PinnoThin pine nut oil and heart/brain healthy Marinol omega-3s says sales should grow significantly as it increases their distribution Stateside.
GOED: US food manufacturers want clarity on omega-3 DRIs
Global omega-3 EPA and DHA organization GOED has heard positive signs that if and when a new Institute of Medicine (IOM) dietary reference intake (DRI) project is commissioned in the US, omega-3s will be “near the top of the list”.
Brain food ripe for growth, but who will lead the charge?
Cognitive function is the functional foods category where the gap between interest and buying behavior is the widest, suggesting there are big bucks to be made, but only if firms can come up with products consumers can trust.
Regulation: Communicating cognitive health
In the sixth article in our series on brain health, regulations governing the area are explored.
Nestle’s thinking on brain health
Nestle is investing tens of millions of dollars in brain health. In the fourth part of our series on brain health Dr Jeroen Schmitt, head of cognitive sciences at the Nestle Research Center in Switzerland explains why it's not naive to think that diet can boost mental development in our children, and ease the burden of age-related problems in our grandparents.
Science: Backing the claims of brain foods
In this fifth part of our series on brain health, we look at which ingredients have the science to back up their hype as edible brain enhancers.
Supply: The back-end of brain health
In the third article in this brain health series, we break down some of the key ingredients in the sector.
Markets: More brain food needed for the elderly
‘Brain food’ – or food that helps address cognitive health – is set to take the global market by storm. But marketers of such products have so far missed a gaping hole of opportunity, according to analysts.
Markets: Leaders in global brain food sales
In the first of a series of articles on cognitive health, NutraIngredients examines the global market for food and ingredients leading the category.
NutraIngredients canvasses opinions from market analysts on a range of issues affecting the North American functional food and dietary supplement industries.
Datamonitor, Mintel, Frost & Sullivan, Zenith International and CPL share insights on the sate of the market, challenges moving forward and consumer priorities to watch out for.
CPL: The changing face of the US cholesterol-lowering market
Americans are more interested in functional foods than ever before – a fact that is opening doors for cholesterol-lowering food makers, says Dr Robert Harwood, principal consultant at UK-based CPL Business Consultants.
F&S: Food-drug borderline – approach with caution
Manufacturers of functional foods and supplements risk losing time, money and brand integrity if they don’t get their marketing story straight. Frost & Sullivan takes a look at the dangers of crossing into the realm of drugs as part of a NutraIngredients series canvassing analyst insight.
Zenith: The road ahead for US functional drinks
As the US market for functional beverages continues along a path of strong growth, Zenith International suggests there may be some unexpected areas to look out for – such as ‘anti-energy’. The market researcher shares its thoughts as part of a NutraIngredients series on analyst insights.
Mintel: How to drive innovation in functional foods
Manufacturers of functional foods need to focus innovation on increasing adoption by current users, while also drawing new consumers to the category, reveals Mintel as part of a special NutraIngredients series canvassing analyst insight on the market.
Datamonitor: How to keep the omega-3 health halo
The US food industry needs to help address a fundamental lack of consumer understanding about omega-3 if the ingredient is to maintain its ‘health halo’, says Datamonitor. In this special series, NutraIngredients canvasses insights from market analysts on the functional food and beverage industries.
Cheaper products, new applications for probiotics, beauty from within and weight management are set to be key areas of focus for the functional food and beverage industries, according to Euromonitor. NutraIngredients-USA.com speaks to the analyst to find out why.
Weight management shifts from ‘food minus’ to ‘food plus’: Euromonitor
The market for foods and beverages that claim to address weight management is set for a shift in focus – from the omission of certain ‘bad’ ingredients to the addition of other ‘good’ ones, suggests Euromonitor.
Foods for beauty in the spotlight: Euromonitor
Anti-aging and beauty from within are expected to be in the functional food spotlight, despite the recent shadow cast over the category by the high profile failure of Danone’s Essensis beauty yogurt, say analysts.
Expand probiotics beyond category boundaries, says Euromonitor
New areas of opportunity in the market for probiotics include formulating products specifically targeting men, and expanding to categories beyond gut health and immunity, according to Euromonitor.
‘Cheap’ functional foods set to grow, says Euromonitor
Private label and cheaper product formulations will be key to driving the market for functional food and beverage products, according to market analyst Euromonitor.
The North American probiotics market has raced very quickly from zero to hero. But it has very much been a yogurt-led revolution. Does probiotic cheese have a part to play in this success?
Give (probiotic) cheese a chance, says probiotic big cheese
One of the world’s leading probiotics specialists says consumers are interested in probiotic cheese products but cheese manufacturers and probiotic suppliers need to get their scientific house in order and clarify their marketing messages.
Kraft: probiotic cheese is a disappointment
Kraft US has confirmed what many market analysts have been saying for some time – probiotic cheese is not winning over the public.
Consumers going off probiotic cheese
Probiotics have had a rapid rise to public prominence in North America since Danone launched probiotic drinkable and spoonable yogurts on the US market in 2005, but probiotic cheeses have won little favor, according to Euromonitor research.
Hansen targets probiotic cheese market
Chr Hansen is refining its probiotic offerings with the intention of making cheese ‘the new yoghurt’ as a user-friendly, efficiacious probiotic medium.
Kraft chooses Probi for North American probiotic push
Kraft Foods is throwing its weight behind the booming North American probiotic market by signing a deal with a Scandinavian probiotics specialist that will see the food giant expand its digestive health range of foods called LiveActive.
The functional food boom has taken the global food and beverage market by storm. But the lack of a consistent definition and regulatory framework could produce challenges in product marketing and communication. In this series, NutraIngredients-USA.com examines global definitions, regulations, health claims, and research for functional foods.
Ganeden Biotech strikes global probiotics deal with Unistraw
Ganeden Biotech - the Ohio-based firm behind ultra-resilient probiotic strain BC30- has struck a deal with Unistraw International that will see BC30 incorporated into Unistraw’s probiotic straw concept on a global basis.
Welcome to the GastroLab: IFN introduces the model gut
A model gut designed to help manufacturers more rapidly determine which ingredients will survive the rigors of the digestive tract before spending a fortune on clinical tests has been launched by product development firm International Food Network (IFN).
Hershey seeks stronger foothold in health & wellness market with more cocoa-based functional foods
More functional foods capitalizing on the health benefits of cocoa should hit shelves next year as confectionery giant Hershey seeks to gain a stronger foothold in the health and wellness market via its new Apure subsidiary.
Horphag launches bid to make Pycnogenol next big thing in functional foods
Horphag Research is on a mission to turn Pycnogenol - a potent antioxidant from the bark of the maritime pine tree – into the next big thing in functional foods and drinks with the creation of a new division dedicated to this market.
The digestive tract starts with the lips, says oral probiotics pioneer
The market for oral probiotics has enormous potential if consumers and food and supplement manufacturers can get their heads around the fact that the digestive tract “starts at the lips”, according to one leading player in the field.
Aurora Algae ups ante in omega-3 market with plans for Q4, 2012 launch
Aurora Algae – the firm promising to turn up the heat in the algal omega-3 market by producing a concentrated 65% EPA-rich oil on a completely new scale – aims to ship out its first commercial products in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Novel oat beta-glucan attracts big guns in US food market
Some of the biggest names in the US food and drink industry are experimenting with samples of a heart- and gut-friendly oat beta glucan soluble fiber that could also help them slash fat levels and clean up product labels.
General Mills looks 'beyond calcium and vitamin D' for bone health
General Mills is looking for new ingredients or technologies “beyond the known impact of calcium and vitamin D” to boost the bone formation process in cultured dairy foods.
Ganeden on 'predatory lawsuits', probiotic tea and the Walmart snowball effect
Elaine Watson caught up with Ganeden Biotech's business development boss Mike Bush at the IFT show to talk about opportunities in the food and drink market for its ultra-resilient BC30 probiotic strain.
Dow: DHA from canola oil still ‘some years away’
Dow Agrosciences and Martek Biosciences (now part of DSM) are progressing well with plans to develop canola oil containing the coveted long-chain omega-3 fatty acid DHA, but are still “a number of years” away from bringing something to market.
Bone health food launches double, but market value remains flat
There has been a sharp rise in the number of functional foods and drinks launched on a bone health platform over the last five years, but the retail value of the global market has nevertheless remained stubbornly flat at around $2.1bn over the same period.
What makes a successful functional food product?
Why do so many ‘functional’ foods fail? Sometimes, it’s just bad luck or bad timing, but in most cases, manufacturers only have themselves to blame, product development guru Mark Crowell tells Elaine Watson at SupplySide East.
FDA still reviewing functional food regulatory requirements
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it is still reviewing comments on how functional foods should be regulated, before considering further actions.
Types of research needed for functional food claims
Health claims that can be made on functional food products vary depending on the quality and quantity of scientific evidence that backs the claim. In this article, NutraIngredients-USA.com provides a break-down of the different types of research that can be conducted.
Regulation and health claims for functional foods
Functional foods in the US are not legally defined as a distinct category, which has generated a confusing regulatory framework. In this article, NutraIngredients-USA.com provides a break-down of the health claims that can be used on the products.
Functional foods: What they mean around the world
Functional foods are continuing to grow in popularity around the world, but there is currently no universal definition of the category. NutraIngredients-USA.com looks at the way global markets classify this class of foods and beverages, both in the regulatory and marketing arenas.
NutraIngredients-USA.com reports on the latest developments emerging from Expo West 2009 for the functional foods and supplements industries.
ADM whistleblower pays heavy price for freedom
Mark Whitacre was the US corporate world’s highest level executive whistleblower when he exposed a price fixing scheme at ADM in the mid-90s. Now the subject of a Hollywood film called The Informant starring Matt Damon, the selenium biochemist came clean about coming clean to Shane Starling at Expo West.
Reading between the omega-3 aisles at Expo West
Shane Starling takes Michael Chubb, the sales director at Canadian fatty acid specialist, Bioriginal, into the organic and natural product extravaganza that is Expo West for a real-time spec of end-product omega-3 ingredient innovation and application.
CRN: GMP blind spots remain
The staggered implementation of America’s controversial GMP rules is underway and due for completion in June, 2010. For the Council for Responsible Nutrition’s VP of regulatory and scientific affairs, Andrew Shao, PhD, the bill may be progressing but much remains to be resolved.
Israelsen: 'You wouldn’t know there is a recession'
At Expo West recently, Shane Starling sat down with industry stalwart, Loren Israelsen, to discuss the Obama effect, Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois, the “flyspeck” that is the Dietary Supplements and Health Education Act (DSHEA), GMPs, oh, and the economic situation.
FDA: we will enforce GMPs
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been criticized for not enforcing Good Manufacturing Practises, but according to the FDA’s Brad Williams, boosted funding means FDA inspectors may be about to “saturate the field”. He spoke with Shane Starling at Expo West.
ExpoWest innovation not slowed by economy
The dark economic climate seems to have had little impact on one of the major US trade shows for the functional foods industry, where exhibitors and attendees reported ongoing healthy business.
What NutraIngredients-USA took away from Expo West
Signs of the current economic recession were largely absent from the Expo West trade show in Anaheim, California, this year, with continued innovation in the field of functional foods and supplements.
GOED prepares petition for omega-3 RDA
Omega-3 trade group Global Organization for EPA and DHA (GOED) is preparing to petition the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) to establish a recommended daily allowance for the nutritional lipid. Shane Starling catches up with the organization’s executive director Adam Ismail at Expo West 2009.
Expo West in a tight economy
The economic climate is not slowing activity in the natural and organic marketplace, but manufacturers and suppliers will likely be looking for new ways to build business relationships, claim the organizers of one of the industry’s largest trade shows Natural Products Expo West.
NutraIngredients-USA.com reports on the latest developments emerging from Supply Side East for the functional foods and supplements industries.
D-Ribose GRAS opens doors to energy foods, drinks
Minneapolis-based Bioenergy tells Lorraine Heller about the application areas opened up for its D-Ribose energy ingredient, following its determination as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for use in foods and beverages.
Functional market won’t wait for procrastinators, says analyst
Innovation in the functional food and beverage industry is currently passing the eye before the storm, and manufacturers must not hesitate to act or they will be “lost”, market analyst James Tonkin tells Lorraine Heller.
Be proactive to stay ahead of the game, say supplement groups
The US dietary supplement industry as a whole must be more proactive if it is to have any impact on the decisions affecting its future, say the nation’s trade associations.
Euromonitor breaks down functional foods and supplements market
Euromonitor analyst Daniel Latev tells NutraIngredients-USA.com which categories in the functional foods and supplements sector have driven growth in recent years, and what industry should expect moving forward.
Danisco breaks down probiotics market
North America and Eastern Europe are the two fastest growing markets for probiotic products, recording more than triple the growth rates seen in the most mature markets for the healthy bacteria, according to Danisco.
Immunity claims are next on FTC’s radar, says legal expert
Immunity is likely to be the next major focus for the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as it closes its fist over fraudulent dietary supplement products, suggests a food and drug lawyer.
GMP inspections likely to start by fall, says FDA
Although all medium-sized dietary supplement manufacturers in the US will be required to meet new GMP regulations as of June this year, FDA has said it is unlikely to start inspections until fall. The agency’s manager of the Division of Dietary Supplements Brad Williams talks to Lorraine Heller.
Banker: nutraceuticals stay hot amid economic freeze
Supplements and healthy foods are proving to be more resilient than other sectors in the midst of the current economic freeze. Investment banker David Thibodeau tells Lorraine Heller why this sector will continue to perform.
Weight and beauty benefits spied in Frutarom marine push
Frutarom hopes to target growing US interest in emerging trends such as ‘beauty from within’, bone health and weight loss through ongoing collaboration with France-based Copalis.
Playing ball in China's health claims park
Lorraine Heller met with Randy Dennin, chairman of the Chinese branch of US trade group Natural Products Association (NPA), at Supply Side East and asked him about regulatory and other challenges on the Sino peninsula.
Supply Side East preview
Today is the first day of Supply Side East, one of the major east coast trade shows for the functional foods and supplements industries. Lorraine Heller takes a peek at the program and shares some thoughts about what to expect from the show.
NutraIngredients-USA.com pokes its head into cutting edge seminars and meets with key industry and research figures in Anaheim, California, at the annual ingredients and foods extravaganza hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists.
The ‘unstoppable’ weight management trend
With over 300m obese adults worldwide, it is no wonder that the food industry is keen to offer tasty possibilities to consumers looking to lose weight, and keep it off. The trend is now becoming 'unstoppable', say industry executives.
Food technologists ‘under attack’, says former IFT chief
Food technology is a profession under attack – and both industry and government need to invest to ensure its future, says former IFT president Dr John Floros.
Recession could create innovation opportunities
In today’s challenging economy, large companies are increasingly looking to buy innovative finished products rather than developing their own, says Blue Pacific CEO Donald Wilkes.
Ancient grain blend to plug gluten-free nutrition gap
ConAgra Mills has developed a gluten-free flour that claims to have superior nutritional qualities to white rice, potato and corn flours, made with a blend of ancient grains.
IFT '09: In defence of trade shows
As the dust settles on another IFT the absence of several big players has left some questioning the relevance of trade shows in the 21st Century.
Betatene declared GRAS
Cognis has announced self-affirmed GRAS for its Betatene carotenoids, a development that allows it to be used in foods and beverages.
Antioxidant methods vital for ensuring health benefits: Expert
The implied health benefits of antioxidants are strong in the minds of consumers. Stephen Daniells talked to Covance’s Darryl Sullivan, associate director, scientific affairs on what tests are available, where we stand on cell-based tests, and what industry needs to do to ensure the antioxidant integrity of its products.
Nanotech, termite diets and antioxidants in Anaheim
In this podcast, our journalists share their thoughts on what caught their eye during the last day of the IFT show in Anaheim, California.
Ganeden brings ‘probiotic cap’ drink to market
Probiotic supplier Ganeden has entered a new collaboration that allows the firm to store its ingredients in the cap of a beverage bottle, and dispense them into the drink at the point of consumption.
Nano iron could lead to big fortification future
Nano-complexes of iron and zinc could lead to improved opportunities for fortifying staples such as wheat and rice, according to early data from Switzerland.
Frutarom drinks to functional beverages at IFT
Frutarom is demonstrating the fruits of its latest acquisition by showcasing a range of functional beverage prototypes at the institute of Food Technologists (IFT) trade show in Anaheim, California.
Spotlight
  Vitamin Shoppe: US supplement user confidence soars to 93% as usage increasesTaking dietary supplements can boost confidence about health, according to The Vitamin Shoppe's annual survey, with usage... |
 NBTY: ‘DMAA-containing products represent less than 0.5% of our sales’The FDA crackdown on stimulant DMAA will not have a big impact on supplements giant NBTY, said... |
 Dispatches from AHPA's Botanical CongressFDA: We’re not enforcing NDI draft guidance; GMPs are the biggest issueThe Food & Drug Administration is not preparing to enforce its controversial draft guidance on new dietary... |
 Vitamin Shoppe boss quizzed on DMAA on Q1 earnings callVitamin Shoppe boss Tony Truesdale would not say how much the FDA crackdown on DMAA is likely... |