Experts at a Nestle-sponsored symposium on probiotics and
children's health have urged paediatricians to pay attention to
emerging research on so-called good bacteria, although more
research is needed on the mechanisms behind...
DSM Venturing has stumped up part of a $12m investment round in US
probiotics company Ganeden, which it expects will help it establish
a presence in a fast-evolving area of nutrition.
Chr Hansen has introduced a new probiotic mix for children, which
the firm is marketing in an easy-to-use format that can be added
directly to foods and drinks as a dietary supplement.
Fermenting calcium-fortified soymilk with probiotics could enhance
solubility of the mineral up to 90 per cent, thereby boosting
bioavailability, new research reports.
The International Probiotics Association (IPA) is holding a global
conference on probiotics in 2008, thereby setting the stage for
discussion on standards and regulations for the so-called friendly
bacteria.
The National Yogurt Association is creating a probiotics council - another signal the active cultures have achieved mainstream status in North America.
Probiotics manufacturer China-Biotics has signed an agreement with
Chinese dairy firm Bright Dairy & Food to supply probiotics for
its ice cream products, an application the companies claim is a
first in China.
Chr Hansen's probiotic ingredients are to be used
in supplements marketed for children in Italy, thanks to
an agreement it says reflects the growing demand and opportunity
for pediatric probiotic supplements.
The sensory aspects of cheese could be boosted by the addition of
prebiotic ingredients, in addition to improving the nutritional
profile of the product, suggests new research.
A €4.5m ($6.3m) investment in New Zealand firm EnCoate could help
it develop a technique to extend the shelf life of probiotics,
opening up the uses for the bacteria often found only in dairy
products.
Probiotic-containing drinks may help reduce diarrhoea among older
people receiving antibiotics, reports new research that could offer
savings to public health services.
A newly characterised strain of probiotic bacteria may have
potential to kill Listeria monocytogenes, an often-lethal
pathogen in pregnant women, Irish researchers report.
The International Probiotics Association has placed a new executive
director at the helm who is looking to bring transparency and
self-regulation to the growing global market for so-called friendly
bacteria.
Food giant Danone and Yokult Honsha have announced that they are
strengthening their probiotic scientific cooperation and extending
a previous agreement by an additional three years.
The strength of Danisco Cultures is reflected in the company's
financial report for the first nine months of 2006/7, in which the
division helped drive organic growth for both Bioingredients and
its overarching Ingredients sector.
Leatherhead Food International is proposing an industry
collaboration to identify end markets where use of prebiotics and
probiotics are likely to offer growth opportunities for the future.
Chr Hansen and Valio are strengthening their relationship over the
popular probiotic LGG, giving Chr Hansen manufacturing and selling
rights to the strain for its use in food supplement products.
From double coating with soy peptides, to protection with whey
proteins, encapsulation of sensitive gut-friendly bacteria is
breaking new ground for probiotic food applications.
Chocolate mousse may be an excellent vehicle for probiotics and
prebiotics, suggests a new study from Brazil that is in line with
the trend for new ways of delivering the ingredients.
The new nutrition and health claims legislation could prove
challenging for marketers of probiotic products due to the
different effects of different strains of bacteria, says a
nutrition scientist.
Quantification of a prebiotic's ability to boost the growth of
probiotics could enhance the identification of effective synbiotic
combinations, researchers have said.
Dairy remains the most popular category for new probiotic,
prebiotic and synbiotic product launches in Europe, but
manufacturers of baby foods, snacks and beverages are latching on
to the concept, indicates data from Mintel.
Encapsulation of probiotics in whey protein gel particles could
offer protection during processing and storage, as well as
extending the food applications of the bacteria to biscuits,
vegetable and frozen cranberry juice, indicates...
Finnish dairy company Valio has signed an exclusive licensing
agreement with the Dannon Company for use of its technology and
proprietary probiotic culture Lactobacillus GG (LGG), as the
North American dairy giant fills its probiotic...
Orafti is expecting considerable growth in sales of its Beneo
prebiotic ingredients in Russia, after six years of ground work and
building up recognition in the local marketplace.
A new collaborative industry research project proposed by
Leatherhead and The University of Reading could open up more
opportunities for peptides and oligosaccharides used in combination
to promote growth of probiotic bacteria in...
Probiotic marketing trailblazer, The Dannon Company, has announced
the expansion of its portfolio in the United States following the
success its Activia yogurt.
Leatherhead is proposing a collaborative industry study to assess
microencapsulation systems for preserving probiotic bacteria and
boosting their effectiveness in the gut, a keen area of interest
for companies looking to lead the...
Simple apple pieces may be a simple and inexpensive method of
supporting probiotics, as well as expanding the range of
applications, suggests new research from Greece.
Using prebiotics as carriers could protect probiotics during
processing and storage, as well imparting their own beneficial
effects in the finished product, suggests new research from
Finland.
Probiotics are stepping out of yoghurts and into other food
categories, as companies develop new techniques to counter
stability and survivability issues that have previously stymied
innovation.
New Zealand's HortResearch is conducting research aimed at taking
fruit and fruit-derived ingredients into the next generation of gut
health drinks based on their prebiotic properties.
Swedish biotech BioGaia has signed a new agreement with Ewopharma
to distribute its probiotic drops and tablets in a number of new
markets in Central Eastern Europe.
Science - consolidation and breakthroughs - took centre stage at
the 5th Orafti Research Conference last week, as world-leading
scientists convened to discuss prebiotics.
Danisco Cultures is ploughing research and innovation efforts into
studying the health promoting properties of its strains - a shrewd
move not only because of the impending EU health and nutrition
claims regulation but also since...
French dairy giant, Danone, has launched an action against Glanbia,
Yoplait International and Yoplait Marque Internationales in the
Dublin High Court, after alleged infringments on trademark after
the launch of the Yoplait Essence...
Chr Hansen and Jarrow Formulas have signed an agreement that will
bring Urex-cap-5, a probiotic supplement for healthy vaginal flora,
to the United States for the first time.
Ingredients suppliers and food and drink manufacturers are joining
forces to fund a new project by Leatherhead Food International
aimed at systematically comparing available prebiotics.
The momentum behind the roll out of BioGaia's Reuteri to
international markets shows no sign of slowing, with the
announcement of a new agreement with Ferring Pharmaceuticals to
sell the drops in Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic...
BioGaia's patented Reuteri drops are set to start making an
appearance in pharmacies and drug stores in Great Britain and
Ireland this year, through a newly announced exclusive license
agreement with Forest Laboratories UK.
A raft of new agreements and some positive study results have
helped BioGaia to report promising results for full year 2005, in
which it edged SEK 8.1m (€0.86m) closer to the point where accounts
turn from red to black.
The genome sequencing of the NCFM probiotic strain has given
Danisco's research effort a lift. It may help identify new health
benefits, and help reduce the time for bringing new products to
market.
Merck Médication Familiale, the French subsidiary of Merck Consumer
Healthcare, has introduced its first standalone probiotic
supplement on the French market, following the strong demand for
its multivitamin-probiotic combination.
The French dairy group will launch its successful Activia probiotic
yoghurts in the US at the start of next year as American consumers
catch on to the benefits of 'friendly bacteria'.