The market for functional food products has grown steadily for
several years now, focusing primarily on the dairy sector. But
other sectors of the food industry, such as bakery and snacks, are
beginning to see more functional products...
Higher iron stores are associated with an increased risk of type 2
diabetes in healthy women. independent of known diabetes risk
factors, report researchers in this week's issue of JAMA.
Canadian supplement firm Millennium Health Supplements has begun
selling an African plant that has been shown to suppress appetite
as a supplement in North America.
A flu remedy is the first natural product to undergo a formal
clinical trial complying with Health Canada's new natural health
product regulations, introduced in January.
Advice to up daily potassium consumption has faced opposition from
US food processors who claim the intake levels are 'unrealistically
high' and could deter consumers from even attempting to meet the
nutrient challenge.
The cosmetic and food industries have welcomed a ruling by the US
appeals court that blocks the American government from stopping the
sale and possession of products made from hemp plants.
The female hormone estrogen has been shown for the first time to
potentially protect against colon cancer. The new research also
found that soy protein may help reduce the number and size of
tumors that do occur.
Canadian distributor Alliance Principle Ingredients, formerly
Chem-West Sales, has opened new facilities that expand its
distribution space and comply with GMP standards required under
this year's new Natural Health Products...
Confirmation of growing opportunities for health and nutrition
businesses that target the slimming and weight loss market comes
from a new study that reveals the American consumer 'is open to
help in dealing with obesity'.
The impact of vegetables, fruits and fiber on rectal cancer have a
role to play in reducing rectal cancer risk with findings from new
study suggesting high intakes could cut risk by up to a third with
whole grain foods as a particularly...
In a move to protect home markets Chinese corn processor Global
Bio-chem will link up with Japan's Mitsui & Co to develop,
manufacture and sell the bulk reduced calorie sweetener sorbitol in
China under a new joint venture...
One in five Americans are currently following the low carbohydrate
diet as the fad Atkins-style dietary regime continues to take hold
of the weight-conscious consumer. But how long will it last?
Natural Bio Care, the US subsidiary of Taiwan-based biotech firm
Sagittarius Life Science, has launched a bone health supplement
made entirely from organically produced Chinese herbs.
A diet with a high glycaemic load could increase the risk of
colorectal cancer, find US scientists following recent research on
nearly 40,000 middle-aged women. Findings could further fire
interest into new methods of controlling...
California-based Renaissance Herbs has entered into an exclusive
joint venture with the Chinese firm Xi'an Haotian Bioegineering to
produce and sell high quality, synthetic-grade CoQ10.
FDA's ephedra ban, scheduled for publication tomorrow, carries
broad implications for the entire dietary supplement industry, says
the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA).
The real amount of active ingredient in over-the-counter St John's
wort 'varies greatly' and can be up to 114 per cent of the amount
on the label, according to a new study in the Journal of the
Science of Food and Agriculture.
Dutch chemcials group Akzo Nobel is increasing prices for its
choline salt, choline L (+) bitartrate, by 10 per cent, to cover
costs resulting from new US regulations.
Canadian egg ingredients firm Inovatech has renamed its nutrition
division and devised a new corporate logo for the unit which has
been targeted for growth in the nutrition marketplace.
Geneticists have engineered mice to produce high amounts of the
heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids in their tissues and organs, they
report in Nature this week.
A major French study on the effects of nutritional supplements has
confirmed the link between iron deficiency and hair loss, reports
the leading French cosmetics group L'Oreal.
New guidelines to preventing heart disease in women, issued by the
American Heart Association yesterday, recommend increasing intake
of omega-3 fatty acids and taking folic acid supplements.
Danish ingredients company Danisco has received GRAS status for its
betaine product used in heart-healthy supplements, opening up new
market opportunities for the methyl donor and osmolyte.
The roll out of low carbohydrate food products continues in the US
with a chain of travel 'pitstops' and two ice cream manufacturers
announcing new lines this week.
The naturally occurring hyaluronic acid in a proprietary collagen
supplement has been shown to have steady bioavailability in a new
study, says its California-based manufacturer BioCell Technology.
Industry associations have jointly recommended a number of further
changes to the FDA's proposed current good manufacturing practices
(cGMP), which they say would make it a more 'reasonable' assessment
of product quality.
Infant formula with added probiotic bacteria appeared to reduce
irritability in infants and lowered the frequency of antibiotic
use, report US researchers.
Scientists are one step closer to understanding the health benefits
of onions with a new study in Australia revealing the lipid
modulating and immunostimulatory properties of the raw brown
version.
A proprietary form of the weight loss ingredient hydroxycitric acid
(HCA) has been shown to increase fat burning, improve cholesterol
levels and reduce body mass index, reports its manufacturer
InterHealth Nutraceuticals.
The US' biggest manufacturer of supermarket brand supplements saw
net sales climb 8 per cent in the second quarter to $245.1 million
while net income, excluding a one-time income tax benefit, jumped
49 per cent to a record $25.1...
Taking high-dose vitamins to reduce levels of the amino acid
homocysteine, thought to reduce heart disease risk, appears to do
little to prevent a second stroke in patients, show results out
today from a major international trial.
Natural and organic food company Hain Celestial has posted the
highest sales and profit levels in its 10 year history for the
second quarter on the back of increasing consumer demand for
healthy products.
Dairy innovator Valio has extended its lactose-free milk drink to
Switzerland through its first licensing agreement for the
technology with the Swiss firm Emmi.
The Food and Drug Administration needs to define 'low-carb' and
other carbohydrate claims, according to consumer and trade groups,
so that food companies responding to the current diet craze compete
on equal ground.
Millions of euros will be poured into three major
'farm-to-fork?research projects, the Commission said yesterday, to
reinforce R&D co-operation at a European level and bring a
monetary boost to the increasingly complex food...
Smokers who breast feed should take iodine supplements, say Danish
researchers, who found that smoking could impact the transport of
iodine in human milk and could reduce iodine levels - a lack of
which could impact thyroid hormone...
US meat processor Tyson Foods became the latest food manufacturer
to cave into consumer pressure to cut the trans fat content in
foods announcing it will remove the artery-clogging ingredient from
a range of packaged foods.
A Swedish study established to assess the effect of hormone
replacement therapy (HRT) for women with a history of breast cancer
has been stopped early after preliminary results show 'unacceptably
high' risks of breast cancer...
Higher levels of the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C,
along with the antioxidant trace mineral selenium, were associated
with a lower risk of asthma in a large study on young Americans,
published this week.
Supplement maker Metabolife, a name strongly associated with the
weight loss herbal ephedra, has launched a new appetite
suppressant, free of both ephedra and caffeine.
A new certification program, which allows supplement manufacturers
to guarantee their products are safe for football players and
contain no illegal substances, has been launched by the National
Football League and NFLPA.
Clearing the final hurdle for a new patent, nutraceutical company
NutraCea could soon be marketing its stabilised rice bran
derivatives on the back of claims to beat cardiovascular disease.
US agribusiness beat off tougher market conditions to post a 68 per
cent rise in revenues on the back of higher sales and improved
performance across the board.
Probiotics, the bacteria thought to help gut health disorders,
allergies and even some forms of cancer, contain immune
system-stimulating DNA, which makes them just as effective when
inactivated as when consumed as live microorganisms...