Most Americans consume only half of the 25-35g recommended daily
allowance (RDA) of dietary fibre, according to recent statistics
from the American Diabetic Association. Benefiber, a new
easy-to-swallow product from Novartis Consumer...
Reliv International returned to profitability in 2001, despite a
decline in overall sales, as restructuring measures announced a
year earlier began to take effect.
Relora, a natural ingredient produced by Next Pharmaceuticals, has
been shown clinically to significantly alter the hormone levels
associated with stress-induced obesity, the company claims.
Pain Therapeutics, a US-based medical research company, is to
develop two new opioid painkillers, OxyTrex and MorViva, both of
which it claims do not lead to the tolerance and dependance
associated with other opioid painkillers.
Spectrum Organic Products, a US organic ingredients manufacturer,
has reported a net operating cash flow of $705,000 (€798,000) for
the fourth quarter of 2001, compared to a negative EBITDA of
$108,000 for the previous year.
German chemicals group BASF said it performed well last year and is
confident of further growth in 2002 despite difficult trading
conditions. All of the company's divisions performed well, despite
high raw material prices and...
Hansen Natural Corporation, the US energy and natural drink
manufacturer, has reported record sales of $21.6 million (€24.6m)
for the final quarter of 2001, up 17.6 per cent on the previous
year.
The future of the organic farming industry in Wales is under threat
because supermarkets are importing cheap overseas produce,
according to a BBC Wales investigation. Many organic farms may be
forced to close unless the major UK retail...
Dutch food group Numico has announced that it is to restructure its
US operations after a difficult year affected by a downturn in
supplement sales. Some 600 jobs are likely to be lost as a result
of the changes.
Enfamil LIPIL, an infant formula with DHA and ARA - two nutrients
naturally found in breast milk - has been shown to improve visual
development in infants, according to a new study funded by the
National Institute of Child Health...
Functional food manufacturer MLO/GeniSoy is to launch two new
products at this week's Natural Products Expo in Anaheim,
California: GeniSoy Chocolate Drenched Premium Soy Nuts and Xtreme
snack bars.
With the number of athletes being accused of taking banned
substances continuing to rise, US-based public health and safety
company NSF International has introduced a programme designed to
help athletes avoid the inadvertent consumption...
The RiceX Company, a manufacturer of food ingredients from
stabilised rice bran, has reported a 64 per cent increase in
revenues for 2001 to US$6.3 million (€7.17m) compared to $3.8
million in fiscal year 2000.
Natrol, the US-based manufacturer and marketer of branded dietary
supplements, has launched Natrol Stress Complex, a supplement
designed to help stressed-out insomniacs get a good night's sleep
So Natural Foods Australia, the country's largest producer of
soymilk and other soya-based products, said it expected to record a
full year loss for 2001, despite a profitable second half.
United Natural Foods, the US-based marketer of natural food
products, has reported sales of US$285.5 million (€327.5m) for the
second quarter of 2002, a 16.8 per cent increase over the same
quarter a year earlier and well ahead of...
A recent test of 26 nutrition powders in the US showed that 24 of
them lived up to their claims regarding carbohydrate, fats and
proteins. But the study by independent testers ConsumerLab.com
showed that some products contained unlabelled...
The US-based Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has
called on the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to stop what it
calls the "deceptive labelling" of a new, fungus-based meat
substitute being marketed by...
Leiner Health Products, the US dietary supplement producer, has
filed a Chapter 11 petition in the US Bankruptcy Court. The company
said it hoped to emerge from the Chapter 11 status within 45 to 60
days.
France's organic farming sector may experience slower growth in
coming years as the number of traditional farmers converting to
organic production drops off, a French agency said on Thursday.
Dallas-based Access Pharmaceuticals has acquired the targeted
therapeutic technology of Biotech Australia, giving it access to
the patents to three targeted therapeutics.
Canadian group Forbes Medi-Tech, a producer of cholesterol-lowering
food ingredients, has been approached by Novartis Consumer Health
to help it find a buyer for the Take Heart line of food products
enriched with Forbes' Reducol.
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche has said it is "reviewing
strategic options outside the group for the vitamins and fine
chemicals division" after a difficult year in 2001.
US food group Quaker Oats and Swiss healthcare giant Novartis have
confirmed that their functional foods joint venture has been
scrapped after just two years of operations.
Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble is to sell the plant
that makes its controversial fat substitute olestra, after the
product failed to live up to company expectations.
Scottish ice cream-maker Mackie's is launching the world's first
ever mood-enhancing ice cream, according to a report in Scotland on
Sunday. The company, based in Aberdeenshire, Scotland has added the
essence of an orchid...
LifeSmart Nutrition Technologies, formerly known as Upland Energy,
has announced that it has acquired LifeSmart Nutrition, the
Utah-based company, as a wholly owned subsidiary.
Thailand is seeking to take on a greater role in the global organic
market with the launch of a five-year masterplan encouraging
farmers to cut pesticide usage.
Many of the British farmers affected by foot and mouth disease
(FMD) are looking at moving into organic farming as they start to
rebuild their stocks, according to a survey commissioned by the
UK's Department of Environment,...
Environmental biotechnology has been used by humans for centuries
in food making, medicine, fermentation and waste treatment.
According to a new study, today the market for microbial blends and
nutrients is gaining in strength.
Glucona America, the sole US producer of glucono-delta-lactone
(GDL), has been granted all natural status for its Gluconal GDL
product by the US Food & Drug Administration.
Increasing consumer concerns about health have triggered growing
demand for cosmeceutical products. The market in the US is growing
by around 10 to 15 per cent each year, and competition between
companies to produce more effective...
Warm Cream, a topical transdermal cream which works naturally to
warm cold hands and feet by allowing warm blood to more readily
reach the targeted area, will soon be available throughout the US
for the first time.
Indian nutraceutical firm British Biologicals is to launch a range
of products in the protein segment, strengthening its already
impressive 70 per cent share of the nutritional supplement market.
With the use of antibiotics in healthy chickens being called into
question in the US, organic and natural food retailer Wild Oats
markets has strengthened its policy on selling only meat which is
antibiotic-free.
Galaxy Nutritional Foods has reported net profits of $149,994
(€172,018) for the third quarter of 2001/2002, a welcome return to
the black after losses of $2,486,808 a year earlier.
Sales of vitamins and herbs in the US dropped during 2001, but
there was a more positive performance from minerals, non-herbals
and weight control products, according to sales tracker Information
Resources (IRI).
Natural Alternatives International (NAI), the nutritional
supplements manufacturer, saw its second quarter sales rise by 28
per cent to $12.7 million (€14.6m) compared to the first quarter of
the year when sales were $9.9 million.
Whole Foods Market, the natural and organic food retailer, has
reported a 21 per cent increase in sales for the first quarter of
2002 to $780.8 million (€895.8m).
Nature's Sunshine Products, the US manufacturer and marketer of
encapsulated herbs and vitamins, has reported a slight rise in
sales for the final quarter and full year 2001.
Nutrition 21 said it has identified an isomer of conjugated
linoleic acid (CLA) which can significantly increase glucose
metabolism in muscle cells without the addition of insulin.
Swiss drug giant Novartis has reported sales of SFr32 billion
(€21.7bn) for 2001, a 14 per cent increase on the previous year.
The company said that sales of its principal pharmaceutical
products were the main drivers of the growth.
Nutritional supplements producer Nutrition 21 said it remained
bullish about its prospects for achieving full-year profits despite
tough trading conditions and a disappointing second quarter.
