Nutraceuticals International articles from April 2004

Nutraceuticals International archives from April 2004

MHRA moves to tighten up Section 12 exemptions for herbal remedies.(Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency)
April 1, 2004... More stringent conditions for the quality and safety of unlicensed herbal remedies supplied under a regulatory loophole in the UK have been proposed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The consultation on MLX 299:...

France takes Bleu Blanc label to heart.(food labeling)
April 1, 2004... An increasing number of food products in France are carrying a special label to indicate heart health benefits based on omega-3 fatty acids derived from linseed. The Bleu Blanc Coeur (literally, blue white heart) label appears on a range...

New Report:Labelled for Life: Making, Reading and Regulating Health Claims on Foods.
April 1, 2004... Health claims for foods are everywhere and, in most countries, regulators are struggling to catch up. The USA and Japan have been wrestling with the challenge of ushering in a more liberal climate for health claims while cracking down on abuse...

UK FSA, JHCI take pre-emptive action on European health claims proposal.(United Kingdom. Food Standards Agency)(Joint Health Claims Initiative)
April 1, 2004... In a move to pre-empt the debate over the European Commission's proposed regulation on nutrition and health claims, the UK's Food Standards Agency has released a report from the Joint Health Claims Initiative that offers a practical mechanism...

Spanish supp makers urged to cooperate.
April 1, 2004... Food supplement industry associations in Spain were recently called to a meeting with the Spanish Food Safety Agency, the AESA, to encourage them to work togther to establish a list of substances other than vitamins and minerals for use as...

UK's FSA publishes consultation on new GMO regulations.(United Kingdom. Food Standards Agency)
April 1, 2004... The UK Food Standards Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have published a joint consultation on the new European Union regulations on genetically-modified organisms (see also pages 4-6 for comments that preceded...

HFMA pushes on supplement directive.(Health Food Manufacturers Association)
April 1, 2004... The UK Health Food Manufacturers Association is using its recent legal breakthrough on the European Union food supplements directive to push for political concessions on those parts that most concern its members. The HFMA, in conjunction with...

Coors rapped over "healthy beer" advert.(Coors Brewers Ltd.)
April 1, 2004... Another brewer has fallen foul of the UK's Advertising Standards Authority over claims for the health benefits of beer. The ASA ruled against Coors Brewers on six counts following complaints from the Food Commission about a four-page insert in...

10 years of DSHEA, viewed by US House wellness panel hearing.(Dietary Supplement Health Education Act)
April 1, 2004... Dietary supplements have been shown, through research and historical use, to be of "immeasurable benefit" to human health, said Representative Dan Burton, chairman of the US House Government Reform Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness,...

US FDA sends warning letters over andro products; HHS seeks Congressional action.(United States. Food and Drug Administration)
April 1, 2004... As part of a US Department of Health and Human Services crackdown on the manufacture, marketing and distribution of products containing the steroid precursor androstenedione, the Food and Drug Administration has sent warning letters to 23 firms...

FDA/FTC bans supp's claim to "treat 650+ diseases," plus others for mood, sex aids.(Americaloe)(Federal Trade Commission)(Food and Drug Administration )
April 1, 2004... Seasilver USA and Americaloe, two California firms accused of promoting a dietary supplement with false medical claims, have been banned from making false or unsubstantiated claims for any dietary supplement, food, drug or device, under a...

Drug/supp interactions: most are "not serious".
April 1, 2004... A recent study has concluded that, while the use of dietary supplements seems to be very common among US patients who are also taking prescription medications, the majority of potential drug-dietary supplement interactions are not serious. ...

No FDA supps oversight, says Schwarzenegger.(Food and Drug Administration)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In statements confirmed by his office, California's Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has said that oversight of the dietary supplement industry by the US Food and Drug Administration is unnecessary. Speaking at the Arnold Schwarzenegger...

Senators urge action on arthritis supp ad claims.(ArthoZyme )
April 1, 2004... Two US Senators, Democrat Tom Harkin and Republican Orrin Hatch, have written to the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration calling for them to undertake an immediate investigation into a newspaper advertisement for the...

ATP sets up task force on supplements.(Association of Tennis Professionals)
April 1, 2004... The governing body for men's international tennis is tackling the problem of players testing positive for illegal substances after taking nutritional supplements. The USA-based Association of Tennis Professionals has formed the ATP Task Force...

Asia and USA make up 80% of growing global sports/energy drinks market.
April 1, 2004... Worldwide, sports and energy drinks turned in an excellent performance in 2003, growing over 7% and at a much faster rate than soft drinks in general, according to a new report from UK-based beverage industry analysts Canadean. This continues a...

Health drink usage expanding in India.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Health drinks are a growing market in India, and the makers of milk- based products are reportedly monitoring this sector to expand virtually static sales of milk beverages which include malt and other ingredients. Additionally, they are aiming...

Breakthrough announced on sustainable sourcing of Devil's Claw.
April 1, 2004... With concerns growing at the World Health Organization and other international fora about the sustainability of medicinal plant species in a fast-expanding market for herbal remedies (NI vol 9, no 3), Germany's Martin Bauer has announced the...

CM registration: draft Australian g'lines out.(Complementary Medicines)
April 1, 2004... Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration has put out for consultation the second installment of its Regulatory Guidelines for Complementary Medicines. The latest draft is part Part I of the ARGCM, dealing with the registration, not listing,...

Proposed S African complementary medicine regs "will price them off market".
April 1, 2004... If draft regulations on complementary medicines, tabled last month by the South African Medicines Regulatory Authority, become law, these products could be priced out of the market, according to Health Products Association chairman Alan...

Trad medicine first choice for Ugandans.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The director of Uganda's Natural Chemotherapeutics Research, Grace Nambatya, says that traditional medicine in the country is the first choice of 60% of its 25 million population and, in most cases, these products are easy to access, cheap and...

Indian dispute over herbal trade marks.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In the midst of a dispute over US companies using the trade mark of an Indian herbal product, the executive vice president of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment has told a press conference that herbal formulations...

New sports drinks roll out in Japan.
April 1, 2004... Major beverage makers in Japan have recently launched or are about to release new sports drinks this spring primarily designed to replenish water and energy during exercise, as research has shown that 50 million Japanese exercise or play some...

Thai firm uses cultural values for promo.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Having successfully exploited a patriotic theme to expand sales of its Carabao Dang energy drink, the Thai company Carabao Tawandang is now using promotions which stress cultural values, according to Satien Setasith, the firm's managing...

Kyowa Hakko's CSPHP gets GRAS status.(Generally Recognized As Safe )(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Japan's Kyowa Hakko Kogyo, and its subsidiary Kyowa Hakko USA, have announced that the US Food and Drug Administration considers CSPHP, a soy protein/phospholipid complex system that may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels within the...

Rohto launches FOSHU products.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Rohto Pharmaceuticals is launching two tonic products into the Foods for Specified Health Use category in Japan, with marketing through convenience stores, drugstores and pharmacies. One tonic is aimed at helping to lower blood lipid levels and...

DSM's PeptoPro "dope free," says DoCoLab.
April 1, 2004... PeptoPro Sports, the recovery drink developed by Netherlands-based drug and chemical firm DSM and exclusively available to over 200 Dutch elite athletes preparing for the Olympics, has been officially certified as free of illegal body-enhancing...

Nutrexpa/Natraceuticals functional prod deal.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... In an agreement that will boost its foothold in the burgeoning domestic health foods market, Spain's Nutrexpa has joined forces with compatriot Natraceuticals to develop a new functional nutritional compound. The undisclosed ingredient...

Valio launches Evolus and Valio Benecol.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Finnish functional foods developer Valio has launched new Evolus and Valio Benecol daily-dose drinks in 100ml recyclable bottles containing exact daily requirements of active ingredients. The Evolus product contains bioactive peptides that...

Activated barley from Nutritech.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Sweden's Nutritech International has launched Aktive Barley, a new organic activated barley which, it claims, has a beta-glucan content nearly twice that of original raw material. The firm's patented process is said to increase beta-glucan...

Growing evidence of carnitine's benefits.
April 1, 2004... The growing role of carnitine, an essential nutrient, in health and disease prevention was the topic of a special US National Institutes of Health conference held March 25-26 at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Speakers at the conference,...

DSM to launch Lafti probiotics in USA.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Dutch chemical and nutritional firm DSM is planing to introduce its next-generation probiotic Lafti in the USA, according to NutraIngredientsUSA.com. Lafti probiotics have been sold in Europe since mid-2003 and as a food component in that...

Nutrinova DHA to debut at Vitafoods.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... German firm Nutrinova's omega-3-rich oil, Nutrinova DHA (docosahexenoic acid), will be debuted at the Vitafoods exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland, May 11-13. The product was recently approved in Europe for use in spreads and dressings,...

FDA OKs health claim for walnuts.(Food and Drug Administration)
April 1, 2004... The US Food and Drug Administration has announced that a qualified health claim will be permitted on product labels for walnuts and the reduced risk of coronary heart disease. This qualified health claim is part of the agency's initiative to...

Orange juice with sterols aids LDLC.(low density lipoproteins cholesterol)
April 1, 2004... In a clinical study published in the American Heart Association's journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (March issue), participants significantly lowered their low-density lipoprotein or "bad" cholesterol by drinking two...

Vit D in males helps prevent schizophrenia.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Regular and irregular vitamin D supplementation during the first year of life helps reduce the risk of schizophrenia in males, according to researchers from the Queensland Center for Schizophrenia Research in Australia. However, there is no...

Vit E may protect against cancer.(American Association of Cancer Research )
April 1, 2004... Two studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research in Orlando have shown that vitamin E may protect against at least two common types of cancer - prostate and bladder. Two forms of vitamin E - alpha-...

Prenatal choline enhances brain activity.(Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center)
April 1, 2004... Findings from a new study published in the April issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology suggest that supplementation with choline during a brief, critical period of prenatal development alters the structure and function of neurons in the...

Artichoke leaves reduce risk of heart disease?(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Scientists at the University of Reading, UK, are examining whether components in the artichoke can lower cholesterol, a major risk factor for heart disease.

Solid revenue growth for Weider Nutrition.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Salt Lake City, USA-based Weider Nutrition International says that net sales for the fiscal 2004 third quarter ended February 29 increased 17% to $67.5 million, while net income was $2.6 million, or $0.10 per share, compared with $808,000, or...

Alpha Nutraceuticals acquires Tempo Labs.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... San Diego, USA-headquartered Alpha Nutraceuticals is to acquire Tempo Laboratories, a privately-owned nutritional supplement manufacturer based in Chula Vista, California, for almost 1.7 million of its own stock. In addition, the company says...

Net loss down $1.5 million at Naturade.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Naturade, a US marketer of soy protein products, has reported net sales for 2003 of just over $16.3 million, an increase of 13.2% compared with the previous year. Net loss was cut 78.8% or approximately $1.5 million, to almost $402,000,...

Better times ahead for post-Numico GNC.(General Nutrition Centers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... General Nutrition Centers, the world's largest retailer of nutritional supplements which was recently sold by Dutch company Royal Numico for $750 million to investment group Apollo Management (NI vol 8, no 11 and 12), has reported financials...

Boiron in dark over French reimbursement.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Christian Boiron, president of the leading French homeopathic drugmaker Boiron, has said that his company is unable to anticipate the market impact in 2004 of the reductions in reimbursement for homeopathic medicine in France from 65% to 35%...

Danisco pays 2.5 bill euros for Rhodia unit.
April 1, 2004... Denmark's Danisco says it has acquired from Rhodia the French firm's food ingredients business in texturants and specialty products, with sales of 211 million euros ($260.3 million) and earnings before interest and tax of 20 million euros, for...

Chr Hansen opens office in Ukraine.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Danish food ingredients and dairy cultures specialist Chr Hansen A/S has inaugurated a new office in Kiev, the Ukraine, to expand its activities in the country. In future, the company says it plans to arouse interest in the dairy industry in...

Martek's 1st-qtr 2004 revenues up 73%.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The USA's Martek Biosciences Corp has reported that revenues for the first quarter of fiscal 2004, ending January 31, jumped 73% to $35.6 million compared to the like, year-earlier period. The marked increase in revenues was primarily due to...

Mannatech reports a record-breaking year.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Mannatech, a USA-based international developer of nutritional supplements, topical products and weight management products, has announced consolidated net turnover of $191.0 million for 2003, representing a 35.6% jump on the previous year and...

Omega's 2003 income takes a dive.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Omega Protein, the USA-headquartered producer of fish oils, was rocked by a lower than expected fish catch as well as low oil yields during 2003, causing a $9.4 million drop in income to $18.7 million and flat sales of $117.9 million, from...

Coke opens nutrition research institute.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Coca-Cola has set up a new institute, the Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness, based in Houston, USA, at a site already home to the firm's operations, to focus on research in healthy drinks. A spokesperson for the drinks giant said...

Queench to acquire Bay Hill and So Soya+.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... New York, USA, privately-held company Queench Inc, has reported a deal for the exclusive right to acquire 51% of Bay Hill Impex, a Canadian producer and distributor of flavored carbonated water. Once the deal is signed, subject to the...

Danone sells its 10% National Foods stake.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Danone of France has quit Australia, disposing of its 10% stake in the country's National Foods, thus indicating the probable course of events following consolidation of the fresh dairy processing sector. It is now certain that National...

Evercore and Golden Gate deal for Leiner.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... USA-based firms Evercore Partners and Golden Gate Capital are considering a deal to acquire Leiner Health Products, a maker of private-label vitamins, dietary supplements and over-the-counter drugs, according to the Post newspaper, reports...

Mayne buys aaiPharma vitamins for $100M.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Continuing its expansion into speciality pharmaceuticals, Australia's Mayne Group has purchased a suite of injectable multi-vitamin products from aaiPharma for $100 million. The products account for approximately 70% of the USA's injectable...

Reliv sees its 2003 profit rocket 74%.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... US nutrition firm Reliv International has reported a stellar 74% hike in profit for 2003 hitting $4.34 million, or $0.29 per share, versus $2.49 million, or $0.18 per share, for the prior year. Sales were up 22%, at $76.96 million, compared...

Endomatrix sets up European unit.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... California, USA-headquartered Endomatrix, a developer of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals aimed at treating the root causes of heart disease, has set up a European subsidiary which will be headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. This gives the...

Nutraceutical unit drives growth at Zila.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Zila of Phoenix, USA, has posted results for its fiscal second quarter ended January 31, which show that revenues increased 14% to $13.6 million, while net loss rose to $961,000, or $0.02 per share, from a net loss of $876,000, or $0.02 per...

ANI finally offloaded by Advanced Nutra.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Advanced Nutraceuticals of Denver, Colorado, says it has completed the sale of the assets and operations associated with its subsidiary, ANI Pharmaceuticals, to what it refers to as "an unrelated party." Under the terms of the agreement,...

Mera's turnaround is progressing well.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Mera Pharmaceuticals, a Kona, Hawaii-headquartered firm which has invested heavily in promoting AstaFactor, its astaxanthin-based nutritional supplement, has posted results for the fiscal first quarter ended January 31 which show a 47% rise in...

Forthcoming meetings/events.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The fifth annual Natural Products Expo Europe will take place in Amsterdam on June 16-17, 2004. For more information, telephone New Hope Natural Media on +44 208 232 1600 or e-mail: www.expoeurope.com. The International Alliance of Dietary...

People on the move.(Food Standards Agency)(Consumer Healthcare Products Association)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Sir John Krebs has been re-appointed as chairman of the UK's Food Standards Agency for another four-year term, running until January 2008. Sir John originally took up the post in January 2000, when the FSA had just been created. Timothy...

Australia launches Food Futures initiative.
April 1, 2004... Functional foods aimed at cancer and heart disease are among the innovations planned under a A$20 million ($14.9 million) research partnership styled Flagship unveiled by the Australian government last month. Launched at the Outlook 2004...

Major problems with the new EU laws on GMOs.(genetically modified organisms)
April 1, 2004... When the European regulation on genetically-modified food and animal feed Regulation (EC) No1829/2003 comes into effect in mid-April 2004, EU food law will enter the realms of fantasy. Genetically-modified food ingredients have been...