NIU’s Global Round-up: EU consumers warned of coronavirus claims, Chinese interest in immunity spikes, and more
Europe
ESSNA warns consumers about sports nutrition products making coronavirus claims
The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) issues a strongly worded warning to consumers about sports nutrition products making unfounded claims in light of the current coronavirus situation.
The Alliance said those claiming to provide treatment or cure for the coronavirus are very likely to be ‘non-compliant with the law.’
“It is essential to remember that sports nutrition products in Europe are very tightly regulated, but as with any other industry, unfortunately a few unscrupulous individuals exist and flout the law. ESSNA is working diligently alongside the authorities to address this.
“If a product is promising something that seems too good to be true, it most probably is. Make sure to buy your products from reputable retailers and check for the ESSNA member kitemark.
“We urge you to avoid suspicious-looking websites and products which claim to provide protection from the Covid-19 virus and to report misleading products to ESSNA so that we can investigate the issue further.”
For more on this, please click HERE.
Asia
Lumina Intelligence: Spike in Chinese consumers’ interest in immune health probiotics over the past two years
The number of online reviews for probiotics that make immune health claims have grown China by nearly 1,300% in the past two years, according to a recent report from Lumina Intelligence.
The market insights platform is operated by William Reed, the publisher of NutraIngredients-USA.
For its “Immunity, inflammation, oral health, and respiratory probiotics” report, Lumina analyzed data of over 1,000 immunity, inflammation, oral health, and respiratory (IIOR) probiotics sold in 25 countries between Dec 17 to Jan 20, 2019.
The data showed that there is increasing consumer interest in probiotics that provide immune health benefits in the past two years, even before the spread of COVID-19.
And even though China had a relatively low number of IIOR probiotics available (45), it had seen bigger growth in consumers’ interest.
While online reviews of probiotics making immune health claims grew 786% in the last two years, the number in China increased by 1,300%.
For more on this, please click HERE.
Asia
Sido Muncul's expansion plans and production rates unaffected by COVID-19
Indonesia’s traditional herbal and pharma giant Sido Muncul has said its market expansion plans will continue despite the Coronavirus pandemic.
The firm recently introduced seven new herbal and vitamin products to the market.
According to NutraIngredients-Asia, the new products are available in the domestic market and will also be exported to neighbouring South East Asian countries Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore, and further afield to the US, Korea, Australia, Mauritius, Nigeria and Hong Kong.
The company also plans to expand into new markets in the Middle East, such as Yemen and Afghanistan.
President director Irwan Hidayat said the company’s target for the year was market expansion and increasing its product sales, despite the global spread and market disruption coming from the novel Coronavirus.
