Botanicals

Continuing confusion over herbal supplement contents points to need for premarket notification, expert asserts

16-Apr-2015 By Hank Schultz

The constituents of herbal dietary supplements continues to be a point of confusion and contention among those viewing the industry from the outside and was identified as a key point of industry vulnerability during a session of a recent science conference...

Durbin, Blumenthal urge FDA to take action against BMPEA

15-Apr-2015 By Hank Schultz

US Senators Dick Durbin and Richard Blumenthal sent a letter yesterday to the Food and Drug Administration asking the agency to take action against products containing the synthetic stimulant ingredient known as BMPEA, products which the pair called both “mislabeled...

NY Senator calls for BMPEA to be banned, but such a move would be ‘wasteful’, says NPA

13-Apr-2015 By Stephen Daniells

New York Senator Chuck Schumer has called on the FDA to ban any products containing BMPEA, but such a ban would be wasteful, says NPA’s Dr Daniel Fabricant.

UNPA moves to ban sale of BMPEA as uncertainty swirls around Acacia rigidula's status

10-Apr-2015 By Hank Schultz

The controversy surrounding the low-profile botanical Acacia rigidula and its purported amphetamine-like constituents seems to have caught regulators flat footed and has lead one trade association to ban the sale for its members of formulations featuring...

$16 million fine levied in FTC's acai fake websites case won't end misuse of 3rd party info, observer says

09-Apr-2015 By Hank Schultz

The Federal Trade Commission has secured a $16 million fine against a vendor and its parent company who helped put up fake news websites that hawked the benefits of weight loss products based on acai. While the fine may signal last act in this highly...

Omega-3 supplementation could offer MCI benefits: Pilot study

09-Apr-2015 By Nathan Gray

Supplementation with a drink containing 2000 mg of omega-3 and mixed botanicals could have ‘significant’ immune and biochemical effects in people that have minor cognitive impairment (MCI), new research suggests.

US web retailer pumps EU distribution as gym community swells

09-Apr-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

US site Bodybuilding.com has opened its first UK distribution centre to better cater to its customer base in Europe - part of a community that includes 25 million unique visitors to its websites each month.

GNC responds to industry questions about its NY AG deal with open letter from CEO

09-Apr-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Mike Archbold, CEO of GNC, has issued an open letter to the industry explaining its position in the wake of industry questions and criticism following the announcement that it had reached an agreement with the NY Attorney General.

Dietary curcumin may boost brain DHA: Study

07-Apr-2015 By Nathan Gray

Increased intake of curcumin could boost levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the brain by enhancing its conversion from other omega-3 precursors in the liver, say researchers.

Cohen releases study that finds form of amphetamine in weight loss, sports products

07-Apr-2015 By Hank Schultz

Prominent dietary supplement industry critic Dr Pieter Cohen has released a new study that shows that a synthetic stimulant was found in more than half of weight loss and sports performance products tested that listed Acacia rigidula as an ingredient...

NYAG probe: Where it has been, and where it is going

06-Apr-2015 By Hank Schultz

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has not backed down in his assault on the herbal dietary supplements industry.  In fact, he is turning up the pressure.  In today’s special edition, NutraIngredients-USA reviews the major milestones in this...

April 8, 14:00 CET: Experts debate hot issues in NutraIngredients omega-3 forum

Omega-3 hits €25bn but can it keep growing?

03-Apr-2015 By Shane STARLING

Are omega-3 fisheries really under threat? How many functional foods have cracked omega-3 blockbuster status? How is the sector recovering from the ‘Brasky effect’? How are developing markets developing? How is the latest research influencing regulation?...

Nestlé files patent for cocoa extract allergy treatment

03-Apr-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Nestlé has filed an international patent for cocoa polyphenols as a treatment or prevention of eosinophilic esophagitis – an allergic reaction of the esophagus.

Olive oil polyphenol backed for selective anti-cancer potential

03-Apr-2015 By Nathan Gray

A phenolic compound known as oleocanthal can selectively kill cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells intact, say researchers, who suggest their novel findings may explain why olive oil is linked to decreased cancer risk.

Upcoming trade show session to focus on adulteration, including cranberry

01-Apr-2015 By Hank Schultz

The NYAG affair has put the simmering pot of adulteration of herbal ingredients back on the front burner. A session at the upcoming Ingredient Marketplace trade show in Orlando will focus on the scope of the issue, on methods of detection and on new adulteration...

What do we know about caffeine and Alzheimer's?

01-Apr-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

It is ‘imperative’ more research is conducted on the potential benefits of caffeine in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease, say scientists.

GNC deal with NYAG raises troubling issues for future of industry, observers say

31-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

A consensus is forming around the deal that GNC entered into with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.  The deal is being seen as good for GNC’s short term interests but bad for the future of the dietary supplement industry as a whole.

Inergetics hits market with CBD powdered supplement formulated into capsules

31-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Supplement marketer Inergetics is jumping into the CBD supplement game at what it says is a fortuitous time with the launch of new supplement branded as Nulief that will be available to start in dispensaries in the 23 states that have licensed medical...

Special Edition: VitaFoods South America

Thinking of Latin America as monolithic market bloc impairs business development, exec says

30-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Geography, and how it informs thinking, plays a big role in how North Americans view markets south of the border, says an ingredient company executive with broad experience in the region. It’s a mistake to treat the region as a monolith, as many North...

Special Edition: VitaFoods South America

Rising health trend in Brazil creates opportunity for supplements, healthy foods, analyst says

30-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

The demand for health food and dietary supplements in Brazil is being driven by consumer trends in the country, according to recent market research presented by Mintel.  Almost a third of Brazilians who consume healthy products would like to see a wider...

Researchers explore the functional potential of green coffee beans

30-Mar-2015 By Nathan Gray

There is strong potential for the use of ground green coffee beans to be used directly as a functional ingredient in supplements and foods, say researchers.

$5.9 bn US sports nutrition market unlocking mass appeal: Euromonitor

27-Mar-2015 By Maggie Hennessy

Buoyed by the continued rise of protein as a super-nutrient and a growing urgency around better fitness to stave off lifestyle diseases, sports nutrition is attracting a wider audience of consumers, according to “Trends and Developments in Sports Nutrition”...

ChromaDex succeeds in boosting ingredient sales by 182% in face of continuing losses

26-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

ChromaDex Corp. continued to make progress on its transformation from a company based solely on testing services to a branded ingredient supplier, registering a 182% increase in ingredient sales in its 2014 fiscal year.

Naturex responds to market demand with non GMO certification of extracts

26-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

French-based botanical ingredients supplier Naturex is adjusting to meet future market conditions in the US by certifying seven of its most popular ingredients non GMO.

Coalition recommends label declaration for use of nanotechnology

23-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

A coalition of NGOs has released a policy recommendation on how companies should move forward on the use of nanotech in foods and supplements. The document recommends corporate transparency and label declarations for the use of this technology.

Gaia Herbs: Our sales are growing as consumers move to a brand they trust

23-Mar-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Consumers are not turning their backs on herbal supplements in response to the NY AG’s probe, but are shifting to brands they can trust, says Gaia Herbs, with the North Carolina company reporting impressive sales growth year-on-year.

Special edition: beauty from within

Green tea's not just about health; it's a beauty ingredient, too, Taiyo says

19-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

The beauty-from-within market is one of those that is perennially not quite ready for prime time, at least in North America. But officials at Taiyo International believe that’s about to change, and the company stands ready to benefit with a green tea...

Sabinsa looks to beverage applications with new fully soluble uC3 Clear curcumin ingredient

19-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Curcumin is a compound long on health benefits that comes with formidable formulation challenges because of its inflexible solubility profile.  Sabinsa Corp. has found a way around that with a new form of its C3 Curcumin Complex called uC3 Clear that...

Nutritional supplement shown to be effective in reducing female hair loss

19-Mar-2015 By Andrew MCDOUGALL

Hair loss is a distressing thing for anyone, and is particularly so for women, but scientists have found that taking a nutritional supplement can improve the overall scalp coverage and hair condition.

Special edition: Beauty from within

Beauty From Within turns ugly for L’Oréal and Nestlé

17-Mar-2015 By Shane STARLING

It promised so much – the globe’s biggest cosmetic and food players L’Oréal and Nestlé applying serious marketing, research and NPD clout to drive a nascent category into the mainstream public consciousness. It was going to make beauty from within (BFW)...

Mazza Innovation nears full scale production with innovative water extraction process

17-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Mazza Innovation, a producer of botanical extracts, has moved beyond the proof of concept stage and is close to full scale production with its unique water-based extraction technology.

Cargill's Viatech platform deconstructs stevia leaf to identify better blends

17-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Cargill is “all in on stevia,” according to Scott Fabro, global business development director.  At the forefront of this commitment is the company’s Viatech stevia technology, which analyzes the various stevia components separately and reassembles them...

Bioriginal results boost Omega Protein's bottom line

16-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Omega Protein corporation reported 55% year-over-year revenue growth in its fourth-quarter 2014 financial report, driven in large part by the contribution of omega-3 specialty supplier Bioriginal, which the company acquired in September of last year.

What opportunities are there in the NY AG botanical probe?

16-Mar-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

The New York Attorney General’s investigation into herbal supplements has been headline news for over a month, but for every problem there is an opportunity. NutraIngredients-USA caught up with some industry giants to see if there is a silver lining in...

Trade association-commissioned white paper refutes NY AG botanical supplement results

12-Mar-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

The NY Attorney General’s office investigation into botanical supplements using DNA barcoding was a “...misuse of the technologies” that led to a “...misinterpretation of test results”, says a comprehensive white paper by four analytical experts.

Latin America

Aloe companies expanding production in Mexico to meet rising demand

11-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Worldwide demand for aloe means acreage for this important botanical continues to expand in Mexico, one of the main sources of the ingredient. And that demand has been driven largely by products sold through network marketing companies, an expert says.

GNC: Independent, third party tests ‘conclusively’ confirm Herbal Plus products meet all requirements

10-Mar-2015 By Stephen Daniells

After four separate rounds of testing, supplement retailing giant GNC has announced its Herbal Plus product line meet all requirements for safety, quality, purity and proper labeling.

Updated: CRN, NPA & AHPA respond

AGs from Connecticut, Indiana, and Puerto Rico join NY AG as probe expands

10-Mar-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Attorneys General from Connecticut, Indiana and Puerto Rico have formed a coalition with NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to further investigate the business practices of the herbal supplement industry.

FDA warning on 26 tainted ED products illustrates point of widespread counterfeiting, expert says

10-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Tainted products aimed at erectile dysfunction seem to be a durable feature of the marketplace.  A recent FDA communication listed 26 public warnings issued since Feb. 27 on erectile dysfunction products tainted with undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients....

Mannatech announces award of 100th patent

04-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Texas-based network marketing firm Mannatech announced recently that the company received its 100th patent, the latest in Korea on its PhytoMatrix all natural multivitamin and mineral dietary supplement formulation. 

Warning letters to CBD companies hinge on disease claims, sidestep issue of ingredient's legality

04-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Four companies marketing dietary supplement products containing cannabidiol (CBD), a non-narcotic fraction of Cannabis sativa, received warning letters recently from the Food and Drug Administration.  But the letters said nothing about the status of CBD...

‘Raising the quality bar’: Alkemist Labs becomes US distributor of Extrasynthese phytochemical standards

04-Mar-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Costa Mesa-based Alkemist Labs has expanded its reference material offerings to include phytochemical reference standards from France-based Extrasynthese.

Settlement on curcumin patent infringement just tip of the iceberg, Sabinsa says

03-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Botanical ingredients supplier Sabinsa Corporation prides itself on its long list of patents and the history of innovation that represents. The company is making headway in defending that legacy in the curcumin sector with the announcement of the settlement...

Vegetable EPO? Scientists investigate nitrate benefits for blood boosting

03-Mar-2015 By Niamh Michail

Dietary sources of nitrate may activate pathways in the liver and kidneys thus meeting oxygen requirements without increasing red blood cells or thickening blood, researchers have concluded.

3-5 cups of coffee a day may help keep artery blockages away

03-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

People who consume between three to five cups of coffee a day may have a lower risk of coronary artery calcium build-up, which can lead to artery blockages, according to research published in the British Medical Journal’s publication Heart.

Despite legal fuzziness, supplement companies crowd into CBD space

02-Mar-2015 By Hank Schultz

Despite the cloudy legal status of dietary supplements and functional food products featuring cannabidiol (CBD), which is extracted from industrial hemp, as the approval of medical marijuana and legalization of recreational use of the plant spreads across...

Border block: Germany stops product with debated aegeline ingredient

02-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The German authorities have blocked a shipment of products containing the unauthorised novel food ingredient aegeline and American firm USP Labs is making inquiries into whether this relates to its recalled OxyElite product. 

ABC names award recipients for research and literature

27-Feb-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

The American Botanical Council has named the 2014 recipients for its Norman R. Farnsworth Excellence in Botanical Research Award, the Varro E. Tyler Award for Phytomedicinal Research, and the James A. Duke Excellence in Botanical Literature Award.

Dick Griffin, Dr Low Dog, Mountain Rose Herbs, & NutraIngredients-USA named AHPA award winners

27-Feb-2015

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has announced the winners of its 2015 AHPA Awards for individuals and companies making substantive, positive contributions to the herbal products industry.

Pharmachem launches sprinkle-on application for Phase 2 carb controller in North American market

25-Feb-2015 By Hank Schultz

Pharmachem Laboratories is seeking new markets for its Phase 2 carb controller ingredient with the North American release of DietSpice, a line of functional seasonings that can be sprinkled on food to help weight watchers absorb fewer calories from the...