Breaking News on Supplements & Nutrition - North AmericaEU edition

Abbott Nutrition: ‘Cognition research is one of our top global priorities’

21-May-2012 - The first research projects to emerge from a tie-up between Abbott and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will advance our understanding of the relationship between diet and cognition - and help Abbott create the next generation of brain foods targeting consumers at every life stage - claims the healthcare giant.

Dispatches from the UNPA 20th anniversary celebration, Salt Lake City

Is it time to move beyond conventional ‘vs’ natural medicine?

21-May-2012 - While many doctors remain suspicious of ‘natural’ medicine, a growing number now accept that there are compelling alternatives to leading drugs that are supported by just as much scientific evidence, without the nasty side effects, says one leading player in integrative medicine.

DSM eyes generic omega-3 drug space with €420m ONC buy

18-May-2012 - DSM will use its global reach to drive its latest acquisition - fish-sourced omega-3 leader, Ocean Nutrition Canada, beyond its core North American market – but sees opportunities in generic drugs that may prove more lucrative.

Yakult unveils US volume surge as good bacteria message gathers pace

16-May-2012 - US consumers now drink around 142,000 bottles of Yakult's probiotic fermented dairy drink a day, 24% more than they were gulping down this time last year.*

News in brief

NAI posts 30% surge in sales in Q3, 2012

16-May-2012 - California-based nutritional supplement contract manufacturer Natural Alternatives International (NAI) has posted a 30.3% rise in net sales to $17.4m in the three months to March 31, 2012.

News in brief

John Elway joins forces with Neptune to promote NKO krill oil

16-May-2012 - John Elway, former NFL Super Bowl Champion and Hall-of-Fame quarterback, is partnering with Neptune Technologies & Bioressources, attesting to feeling the benefits of the company’s krill oil.

News in brief

Retailers flock to join NPA: 75 new additions in 2 months

16-May-2012 - Over 75 retailers have joined the Natural Products Association in the past two months as its ‘solid plan for membership marketing’ bears fruit.

Comment

Vitafoods: EU nutra space wriggles into new health claims clothes

15-May-2012 - Vitafoods celebrates its 15th birthday next week. It’ll be my 11th consecutive May visit to Geneva for the jamboree and promises to be one of the most intriguing chapters with the (partial and belated) resolution of years of ambiguity regarding health claims in Europe.

Dispatches from the 6th Annual Food Technology & Innovation Forum, 2012, Chicago

Novel digestive health ingredient targets big guns in food and beverages

15-May-2012 - Wild Flavors is in advanced negotiations with leading food and beverage firms about using a novel milk-based digestive health ingredient claimed to help maintain and repair the lining of the gut wall.

Alchem eyes brain health segment with plant-derived vinpocetine

14-May-2012 - Indian natural extracts expert Alchem International is eyeing a greater share of the burgeoning mental and cognitive health market with its natural plant-derived vinpocetine ingredient.

NBTY: ‘DMAA-containing products represent less than 0.5% of our sales’

14-May-2012 - The FDA crackdown on stimulant DMAA will not have a big impact on supplements giant NBTY, said chief executive Jeff Nagel on an earnings call last week.

Jost Chemicals launches ‘unique’ mineral co-salt ingredient

11-May-2012 - A ‘unique’ co-salt may alleviate formulation issues for mineral supplements, with no solidification issues and enhanced compressibility, says Jost Chemicals.

Toxicology expert raises alarm over potential neurotoxins in graviola/soursop

10-May-2012 - A toxicology expert says he is shocked to see firms in the supplements trade developing products containing extracts from the tropical fruit graviola (also known as soursop or Annona muricata) given its association with atypical Parkinson's disease.

Vitamin Shoppe boss quizzed on DMAA on Q1 earnings call

09-May-2012 - Vitamin Shoppe boss Tony Truesdale would not say how much the FDA crackdown on DMAA is likely to cost the business after being repeatedly pressed by analysts on the issue during the firm’s first quarter earnings call.

Special edition: Diabetes

08-May-2012 - 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). In this special edition, we review recent scientific, regulatory, and industry news on this big category, with a focus on the hottest ingredients for healthy blood sugar control.

DMAA fallout: 'The industry is always on the lookout for the next big stimulant', says All American EFX boss

07-May-2012 - With the road ahead now appearing closed - or at least decidedly rocky - for pre-workout stimulant DMAA (1,3-Dimethylamylamine), attention is turning to alternatives. But could they be just as controversial?

Israeli krill player doubles capacity

07-May-2012 - Israeli lipid specialist Enzymotec has doubled its krill production capacity to an unspecified level as it responds to growing global demand for the Antarctic micro-shrimp that is registering at about 30% per annum.

Phytochem International introduces new 15% and 25% oleuropein olive leaf extracts

04-May-2012 - Botanical extracts distributor Phytochem International has introduced two new olive leaf extracts to its range in the US on the back of a recent surge in interest in olive-based ingredients.

MusclePharm: ‘We made an intentional decision to stay away from DMAA’

04-May-2012 - MusclePharm “made an intentional decision to stay away from DMAA” when it formulated its pre-workout supplement Assault, say bosses at the Colorado-based sports nutrition expert.

Herbalife: It’s important that we take more control of the manufacturing process

03-May-2012 - Direct selling supplements giant Herbalife now manufactures almost a third of its products in-house and will significantly increase this percentage in the coming years.

April in pictures: Marky Mark and GNC, DMAA crackdown, antioxidant confusion, 7-keto, Moringa oleifera and the Dr Oz effect

03-May-2012 - While DMAA dominated the headlines at the end of the month, there was plenty of excitement at the beginning of April with Schiff’s $150m acquisition of Airborne, GNC’s tie up with Mark Wahlberg, a sales explosion for 7-keto and a $500,000 fine for Bodybuilding.com’s boss for selling supplements laced with steroids.

News in brief

Aker earns krill patent in Australia

02-May-2012 - Norwegian firm Aker BioMarine has been granted a krill oil composition and process patent in Australia.

News in brief

DuPont buys out Bunge’s share in Solae joint venture in $440m deal

01-May-2012 - DuPont has taken full control of soy ingredients giant Solae after buying out Bunge’s stake in their joint venture.

Special edition: Antioxidants

01-May-2012 - They have been on product labels for over a decade, but do consumers understand what they are and how they function? In this special edition, we review recent market data, science, and academic and industry opinion on antioxidants, and get a glimpse at the next big ingredient in the segment.