A recently established group of global gut health academics is sending letters to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) as well as national government politicians as the group attempts to alter the application of a regulation it says is, “killing...
US probiotics leader Dannon appears to have weathered recent class action and Federal Trade Commission (FTC)-led storms that forced it to alter gut health claims for its spoonable and drinkable yogurt, Activia, with sales rising 16 percent in 2010.
An approved EFSA claims that omega-3 form DHA contributes to the visual development of infants risks misleading consumers, due to a committee oversight in approving the relevant health claim, says UK-based breast-feeding advocacy group Baby Milk Action.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has rejected an article 13.5 claim that sought to link a probiotic cheese called Harmony with heart health benefits.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved a health claim linking thiamin (vitamin B1) and “normal neurological development and function” in infants and children up to three years of age.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are questioning whether omega-3 form DHA can benefit infant eye sight, despite the nutrient winning endorsement from one of the world’s toughest claims assessment agencies – the European Food Safety Authority...
Lallemand Bio-Ingredients is promoting a new vegetarian form of vitamin D it says can make a considerable dent in global deficiencies in the ‘sun vitamin’ due its functional food flexibility.
Fortification of dairy products with vitamin D and calcium may boost bone health in post-menopausal women, a group at increased risk of osteoporosis, suggests a new study from Greece.
European launches of probiotic drinks may have declined in recent years but analysts remain confident that the category still has strong global potential.
NattoPharma sees huge potential for heart health arising out of the fortification of foods, and dairy products in particular, with vitamin K2 and it expects a cardiovascular health claim to get EU approval towards the end of 2011.
Differences in the production of bacterial strains may change the potentially probiotic properties of resulting food, says a new study from Finland that ‘sets important prerequisites for quality control in probiotics’.
The link between gut and brain may extend to reducing stress, as data from animal and human studies show a reduction in anxiety following probiotic supplementation.
Ice creams with added pre- or probiotics can be formulated to have good nutritional and sensory properties, according to research, with careful balancing of the recipe to ensure acceptable taste, texture and colour.
Canadian firm SciMed Technologies Inc. has won patents in the US, Australia and New Zealand for testing kits that can accurately determine vitamin A and D levels in milk in two hours.
Magazine adverts for follow-on formula containing prebiotics and omega-3s have been rapped in the UK for making brain health claims unauthorised by the European Union nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR).
Mapping how the gut microbiota respond to probiotic strains may help produce a framework for “evaluating and optimizing probiotic-based functional foods”, say researchers from Danone and Harvard.
The world’s biggest inulin and oligofructose supplier, Beneo Orafti has signed deals with two Spanish supermarkets and the biggest dairy in Panama to add its branded Beneo ingredients to their products.
The Indian joint venture between Yakult and Danone established in 2005 to bring Yakult probiotic drinks to the Indian market is expanding with Bangalore targeted as the point of entry for southern markets.
A ‘high-potency’ lactic acid bacteria supplement may ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in children, says a new study that echoes results from adult studies.
Leading players in the probiotics industry have offered their support to an independently produced documentary on the ingredients, which aims to educate consumers about their health benefits and dispel common misconceptions.
An academic review has underlined the promise of high pressure processing (HP) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) to ensure the viability and shelf life of probiotic dairy products.
Probiotics player Yakult is confident the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will hand its probiotic-immunity health claim dossier a positive opinion, despite the agency contacting it with further questions.
Omega-3 producer Martek Biosciences Corporation has signed a multi-year agreement to to fortify Feihe Dairy’s new premium infant formula and growing-up milk products with DHA and ARA for sale in China.
A group representing some of the key players in the probiotic world has welcomed certain commitments made by the European Food Safety Authority, saying these will help open up the road to clearer communication on health claims.
Danisco has signed a deal that will allow the ingredients supplier to sell two probiotic strains developed by Fonterra to a wider food and drink audience.
Ohio-based probiotics specialist Ganeden Biotech is benefitting from its newly formed alliance with the National Farmers Organization (NFO) after one of its members launched a probiotic milk in the Michigan area.
Almost a year to the day after Danone first withdrew submissions for its best-selling probiotic yoghurts from the European Union health claims system, the French dairy giant has pulled its claims from the system once again.
Inadequate levels of vitamin D may be causing about 37,000 premature deaths in Canada and costing the country billions of dollars, according to a new review.
Ensuring the German population gets adequate intakes of vitamin D could save the country about €37.5 billion in health care costs, according to a new review.
Consuming dairy products fortified with omega-3 fatty acids does benefit heart health, and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, says a new study from Germany.
Twenty-three-year-old North American organic cooperation, Organic Valley Family of Farms, has launched an omega-3 milk containing 50mg of fish oil-sourced DHA and EPA per serving.
Morinaga Milk Industry has obtained GRAS with FDA non-objection for a probiotic strain that the Japanese firm has used in its own products for over 30 years.
Spanish food giant Ebro Puleva is set to depart the dairy category where its Puleva Omega-3 milk has been a pioneering product, following an agreement to sell off its dairy business worth €630m to Lactalis, Europe's largest dairy group.
Dutch chemical company, DSM has sold its LAFTI range of probiotic strains targeted at immunity enhancement to the Institut Rosell-Lallemand but is to retain the dairy segment.
Adding the pulp of acai to probiotic yoghurt may boost the shelf-life of probiotic yoghurt, as well as improving the fat profile of the functional food, says a new study.
Ten months after it withdrew its marquee probiotic submissions from the European Union health claims process for reconfiguring, Danone has fully re-entered the game by lodging a tweaked dossier for its drinking yoghurt, Actimel.
“An army marches on its stomach.” This advice, from French military adventurer Napoleon, seems to have impressed the US military which is considering fortifying troops’ rations with omega-3 fatty acids. What is it waiting for?
Danone Baby Nutrition says the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) failed to engage in “direct scientific dialogue” in the lead-up to the agency’s scientists handing it a negative opinion for a prebiotic-infant immunity health claim in December.
Increased blood levels of vitamin D may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by as much as 40 per cent, says a study with people from 10 European countries.
Danisco and Arla are taking part in a €2.5m+ business/academia research project to isolate and develop some of the oligosaccharides naturally present in human breast milk for use in infant formulas.
Daily supplements which combine vitamin D and calcium may reduce the risk of fractures for everyone, regardless of age or gender, say the results of a huge study.
A dossier containing 13 randomised controlled trials, 6 observational studies, and 15 non-human studies has failed to impress European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientists because the four strains in question were not sufficiently characterised.
Omega-3 specialist Martek has signed an agreement with Fonterra to become its sole source supplier of DHA and ARA for infant formula and milk drinks aimed at young mothers and pregnant women.
India is developing guidelines that may mean probiotic strains will have to be backed by clinical trials conducted on Indian populations if they are to gain market approval.
