The industry is facing increased pressure after last week's
coroner's report which found that an ephedra dietary supplement
contributed to the death of Baltimore Orioles' pitcher Steve
Bechler last month.
Calls for urgent action to treat obesity are again in the
headlines, following a new assessment that up to 1.7 billion people
worldwide could be overweight or obese.
High doses of three common vitamins - folic acid, B12 and B6 - may
be able to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, if the
early results of a pilot study are further confirmed.
California-based Hansen Natural today reported record sales, with
gross revenue rising by 15.8 per cent to $115.5 million for the
fiscal year 2002. It is also to launch a new Diet Red energy drink
in 8.3 oz slim cans.
Global sales of nutraceuticals are estimated to reach $74.7 billion
(€68.5bn) by 2007, growing at an average rate of 9.9 per cent
annually for the next five years, says a new report.
ZonePerfect Nutrition, which markets healthy convenience foods,
announced this week that its cereal bars are outselling Slim-Fast
Snack Bars at Target stores across the US.
Fish oil has been found to greatly reduce the symptoms of lupus
disease, offering hope to millions of sufferers with little
alternative to steroid treatment.
The Food Standards Authority of Australia and New Zealand confirms
that milk is safe and nutritious, despite arguments suggesting that
some types of milk can lead to diseases such as autism and
diabetes.
Vegetarians may have a significantly lower risk of mortality than
people who eat lots of meat, according to a study at the German
Cancer Research Centre.
A team of US and Norwegian investigators claim to have found for
the first time a link between nutrition, particularly of the
nutrient folate, and depression vulnerability.
Oilseed processor Central Soya has launched the second product in
its Alpha soy protein range. The new Alpha 5812 has increased
solubility and improved flavor for a wider range of applications.
Vitamin maker Rexall Sundown is to pay up to $12 million to resolve
Federal Trade Commission charges regarding its marketing of the
dietary supplement 'Cellasene', a purported treatment for
cellulite.
As scientists warn the western world about the health implications
of eating too much sugar, food manufacturers and food/beverage
processors are reconsidering the additives they use in their
products and what alterations need to be...
New legislation to tighten the 'origin of labelling' for food
products in the US continues to incite reactions with a coalition
of consumer and agricultural organisations this week claiming that
the United States Department...
A supplement company has questioned the FDA's recent proposals to
further regulate dietary supplements, suggesting that the agency
should concentrate on the pharmaceuticals industry rather than the
'relatively safe'...
Probiotic foods maker Lifeway Foods this week reported net income
for 2002 rose 39 per cent on the previous year to $1.7 million,
driven by a 14 per cent increase in sales.
Nutritional ingredients maker Humanetics says it has signed an
agreement with supplement manufacturer NBTY to sell the Humanetics
weight loss ingredient 7-Keto. The new weight loss product will be
available from NBTY's Vitamin...
In a bid to limit the contamination of food crops by pharmaceutical
plants the US Department of Agriculture has issued a new guidance
to tighten the rules covering the permittance process for companies
to plant and produce plant-made...
With legislators across the world currently discussing the issue of
food allergens and labelling, scientists are busy in the labs
investigating solutions to this increasing health problem. But new
research released this week could...
A new study suggests that white and green tea can provide as much
protection against colon tumours as the widely used prescription
drug sulindac. A combination of the two could be even more
effective, say the researchers.
German company Degussa is to disband its Health & Nutrition
division next month, reorganising the Flavors & Fruit Systems,
BioActives and Texturant Systems activities into a new business
unit.
Cranberry co-operative Ocean Spray voted on Saturday for a clean
slate - replacing most of its board with a brand new set of faces -
in the wake of lagging cranberry prices and a bid from rival
Northland Cranberries.
Omega Protein, the world's largest manufacturer of Omega 3 fish
oils, reported a leap in net income for 2002 to $12.2 million up
from $3.9 million the previous year. The results were partly due to
strong prices for its fish oils.
ChampionLyte Products, currently in serious financial difficulty,
is to reposition its sugar free sports drink as an upscale niche
product, the company said, announcing a comprehensive restructuring
to accompany the move.
Eating wholegrain cereals can reduce likelihood of death from heart
disease, say researchers, but they stress that refined grain
cereals show no beneficial effect on heart health.
US supplier of applied protein sciences Proliant and Trega Foods, a
manufacturer of cheese and dairy-based ingredients, have announced
a joint venture for the production and marketing of whey protein
isolates.
Health is fast becoming a major selling point in the food and
drinks industry, with new products being launched every month
targeting specific ailments or simply promoting a general sense of
wellbeing. Last month was no different,...
The National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) is urging
industry members to 'protect DSHEA and all supplements',which is
threatened by last week's proposals from the Food & Drug
Administration concerning ephedra.
Roche Vitamins is to start production of pure epigallocatechin
gallate (EGCG), the active compound in green tea, at a new
production plant in Shanghai. Annual output is expected to be more
than 40 tons.
Canada's Forbes Medi-Tech said yesterday it has extended a contract
to supply its cholesterol-lowering ingredient Reducol to supplement
company Pharmavite, for use in the Nature Made Cholest-Off product.
Reporting a 1 per cent drop in sales over 2002 and a significantly
lower net income, German fine chemicals group Degussa predicted
sales in core operations should rise to around €11.5 billion for
2003.
Annual results from Irish and US dairy ingredients group Glanbia
reflected the weak international dairy markets, but the company
said its nutritional activities helped to boost sales.
Are organic foods really better for us? The debate continues this
week with new findings from food scientists in the US that suggest
fruits and vegetables grown organically have higher levels of
antioxidants than conventionally grown...
A higher intake of folate and possibly vitamin B6 may reduce the
risk of developing breast cancer, report researchers in the US,
particularly among those women who drink regularly and are
therefore at higher risk of the disease.
Acquisitions helped US colour, flavour and fragrance manufacturer
Sensient Technologies boost its revenue by 15 per cent to a record
for $939.9 million (€861m) for the year ended December 31, 2002.
Net income at United Natural Foods was up 4.1 per cent to $5.5
million in the second quarter, the company reported this week,
thanks to a strong growth in both mass market and distribution
sales.
A European study aims to understand the impact of heterocyclic
amines - developed in some heated foods - on the development of
cancers. Preliminary findings suggest that plant foods could
provide protection.
A daily multivitamin appears to halve the chances of getting ill,
suggest researchers. Results for diabetics show they could gain
even more significant benefits from a daily vitamin.
Green tea is not an effective treatment for advanced prostate
cancer, say researchers reporting on a small in-vivo study,
although the plant has previously been shown to decrease tumour
size and cancer spread in mice.
The food industry has voiced its objections to the recently
published draft WHO report on diet and nutrition and the prevention
of diseases. One group claims there is an misleading emphasis on
sugar.
Australia's food supply is one of the safest and cleanest in the
world, according to results of the 20th Australian Total Diet
Survey released last Friday. The survey, conducted by the
Australian food agency Food Standards Australia...
