Trend Tracker: NutraIngredients-Asia's upcoming events, new ways to fight diabetes in Singapore, and Yakult's Danish debut
Index initiative: BASF underlines omega-3 testing potential ahead of NutraIngredients summit
The three As — accessibility, affordability and accuracy — of omega-3 index testing are key to maximising the category's personalised nutrition potential in APAC, according to BASF, a diamond sponsor at the first NutraIngredients Omega-3 Summit.
That was the view expressed by Goh Lay Kwan, BASF Human Nutrition's global marketing head.
Goh said that while awareness of omega-3 supplementation and its health benefits had grown across APAC, consumers needed more knowledge on the importance of not just intake, but uptake and self-assessment.
Healthy Ageing APAC Summit: Industry-leading event returns to Singapore after hugely successful year one
FoodNavigator-Asia and NutraIngredients-Asia are delighted to announce that the Healthy Ageing APAC Summit will return to Singapore in July, after a hugely successful first event in 2018.
The summit will take place at the Hilton Singapore between July 9 and 11, and assess nutrition and food solutions to Asia-Pacific's population challenges.
The Asia-Pacific region is currently home to about 60% of the world's population of older people, defined as those aged 60 years and older.
Diabetes battle: Alchemy Foodtech launches new Singapore lab, announces partnerships with food firms
Singaporean start-up Alchemy Foodtech has moved its proprietary glycaemic index-lowering technology a step further with the opening of a dedicated laboratory, as well as new pilot partnerships with food manufacturers.
Alchemy raised S$2.5m (US$1.8m) in funds through its pre-series A round last year, much of which has gone into the opening of its food tech laboratory, Cooklab@Alchemy.
"Cooklab@Alchemy enables application work, and is equipped with biochemistry capabilities to conduct research on digestion rates and texture analysis," said Alchemy Foodtech CEO and co-founder Alan Phua at the lab's official launch ceremony.
Gestational diabetes rates: What role can industry play in maternal nutrition in Singapore?
The Perinatal Society of Singapore has issued a set of nutrition guidelines for mothers in Singapore, spurred by the alarming rate of gestational diabetes and obesity in the country.
An estimated 15% to 20% of expectant mothers in Singapore develop gestational diabetes, according to a study by the KK Women's and Children's Hospital's Integrated Platform for Research in Advancing Metabolic Health Outcomes for Women and Children (IPRAMHO).
The guidelines cover gestational diabetes, the pre-conception and postpartum periods, breastfeeding, and early childhood nutrition.
Yakult debuts with zero-fat probiotic drink in Denmark
Japanese probiotic firm Yakult recently debuted in Denmark, as it sought to expand its European business.
The '0% fat Yakult' probiotic drink has been made available for sale in Denmark since January 21. The firm aims to sell a daily average of 1,040 bottles throughout this year.
Asked the reasons for venturing into Denmark, Hideki Maruyama from Yakult Honsha's public relations department said the decision was made after researching new markets.
