2010 saw a flurry of enforcement activity by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) based on claims made for dietary supplement and functional food products. There is no indication that 2011 will be any different.
Industry groups have welcomed the passage of the Food Safety Bill, highlighting lobbying efforts and Congressional support that kept potential burdens out of the amended legislation.
Long Island-based dietary supplement firm, Hain North America has received a warning letter outlining infringements of Good Management Practice (GMP) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Probiotic bacteria strains tailored to express produce conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may be able to modify fat tissues, and could play a role in the prevention and treatment of obesity, according to new research in mice.
2010 has been another tough year for the European functional food and supplements industries as health claim rejections have continued to flood in, leaving some in a state of high anxiety, fear and dread. Others are just mildly annoyed at a situation...
Global pomegranate juice leader POM Wonderful has spent a large part of 2010 locking horns with the Federal Trade Commission over health claims for its juices and dietary supplements.
French Canadian company Institut Rosell has agreed a seven-year partnership with Swedish probiotic research and the development firm Probi covering dietary supplements based on its bacterial Lp299v strain.
A combination of maltodextrin and arabic gum reduces degradation and protects the pigments of anthocyanins added to isotonic soft drinks, finds new research.
High-profile omega-3 product withdrawals or underperforming products do not signal a crisis in the category, rather an acknowledgement of its nascent status, industry figures have said.
Flavanol compounds derived from cocoa may boost the populations of beneficial bacteria in the intestine, says a new study from Mars and the University of Reading.
Highlighting the role played by nurse practitioners within the dietary supplement industry and educating consumers about the services they offer are the twin aims of a new partnership forged by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the American...
Supplementing the diet with blueberries for one month may slow and even reverse the decline in mental function associated with age, suggest results of a new study with lab rats.
Royal DSM will drive Martek’s predominantly US-based, omega-3 DHA infant nutrition business to new shores, and fast-track its food and beverage ambitions, after having its billion-dollar bid accepted by the Maryland company’s Board.
The US Patent Office has granted a patent to Albion for its hypoallergenic metal amino acid chelates, ingredients that can be used by the growing population of people with food and chemical sensitivities and allergies.
It’s been a bad year for good bacteria: A raft of negative health claims opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has left many in the industry predicting trouble ahead for probiotics and prebiotics in Europe. But Professor Tine Rask Licht,...
Sabinsa’s has been granted a patent in China for the preparation of water-soluble forskolin and other diterpenes, as the company continues to enlarge its intellectual property (IP) portfolio.
A diet high in allium vegetables, such as garlic, onions and leeks, may help lower the risk osteoarthritis, according to new research from King's College London.
The Natural Products Association (NPA) has entered the debate about the analytical methods employed by product tester, ConsumerLab, by calling on the product tester to make its standards and methods more transparent.
Daily doses of folic acid as low as 0.2 milligrams are sufficient to lower homocysteine levels – an amino acid linked to increased risks of heart disease and dementia, says a new study.
As 2010 draws to a close, our journalists look back at the issues that have topped agendas across the food, beverage and dietary supplements industries in the last 12 months. Commodity prices, bisphenol A, obesity, health claims, safety regulations, and...
Hesperidin, a flavanone found in orange juice, may significantly reduce blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to a new study.
In the same week the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an industry-backed crackdown on spiked weight loss, body building and sexual enhancement products, the agency issued an alert against a sulfoaildenafil-contaminated product called Man...
A new product development alliance between Deerland Enzymes and Thione International aims to produce enzyme and antioxidant compositions for the burgeoning gut health category.
Daily supplements of select probiotic strains may reduce the risk of premature birth, and the complications that results from being born pre-term, say two new studies.
Extra calcium has been added to the Yoplait Original yogurt in the US in an attempt to set the product up as an easy option for women looking to meet their daily calcium requirements.
Dannon says its year-long negotiations with the Federal Trade Commission that resulted in a $21m settlement and modifications placed on its health statements, has not altered the core claims for its multi-million dollar selling probiotic yoghurts.
New research from Solae backs up the claims for soy protein’s cholesterol lowering effect, but says the mechanism behind benefits is ‘yet to be determined’.
Experts from the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and DSM Nutritional Products have developed an interactive worldwide map on vitamin D levels as a tool for educating the public and policymakers.
Some sun exposure and vitamin D supplements may be the most effective means of reducing the risk of breast cancer, suggest findings from a French study.
The dietary supplements industry has backed the Food and Drug Administration in cracking down on products tainted with sibutramine, steroids and other substances.
Polyphenols and phenolic acids from strawberry and apple may decrease glucose uptake by blocking transport through human intestinal cells, according to a new study.
Cargill is to acquire Indonesian starch and sweetener company PT Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo, deal designed to help it better serve its customers in the Asia Pacific region.
An olive extract rich in hydroxytyrosol may be effective for reducing levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol, suggests a new study from Spain that extends the heart health potential of hydroxytyrosol.
NBTY has settled with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over DHA-based brain and eye children’s health claims it has been making for some its Disney-branded dietary supplements.
An alternative to the exclusivity of randomized clinical trials as the proof of a nutrient's efficacy must be found to advance nutrition research, say two new commentaries; one by academia, one from industry.
Daily supplements of a beta-glucan based ingredient may reduce the duration of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms in a healthy population, says a new study presented at the Society for Immunology conference in Liverpool, UK.
Washington DC-based industry body the Alliance for Natural Health USA (ANH-USA) says the dietary supplements industry has been rewarded by the Food Safety Bill (S. 510), which could have included draconian measures to, “regulate away natural health”.
Energy drinks have managed to maintain their popularity during the economic downturn, despite their higher price per litre and negative publicity, according to market analyst Canadean.
Supplementation with highly bioavailable polyphenols may reduce the risk of developing gout by lowering levels of uric acid in the body, according to a new study.
Supplements of creatine, most commonly associated with sports nutrition, may boost cognitive function in vegetarians, a group at risk of low creatine levels, says a new study.
Eating purple fruits like blueberries and drinking green tea may help to prevent diseases including Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s, according to a new review.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to expand the variety of foods enriched with phytosterols that can carry a health claim linking the ingredients to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).
Increased sales of nutritional ingredients in both the infant formula and non-infant formula markets plus the acquisition of health and wellness company Amerifit helped Martek Biosciences achieve a 30 per cent increase in 2010 revenues to reach $450m.
PureCircle has announced that it has been granted three new patents by the US Patent and Trademark Office for the methods it uses to produce its stevia-derived sweetener ingredients.
