Nutraceuticals International articles from February 2004

Nutraceuticals International archives from February 2004

EU herbal medicines: from EMEA working party to EMA Committee, this year.(European Medicines Evaluation Agency Committee )
February 1, 2004... The establishment this year of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency Committee for Herbal Medicinal Products is necessary and very welcome, according to David Lyons, a member of the EMEA Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products and of the...

EU food health claims Regulation: public hearing debates Articles 4 and 11.
February 1, 2004... A European Parliament public hearing in January on new legislative proposals dealing with health claims made for human-use food products (NIs passim) has heard widely-differing views, as consumers claimed their right to know and industry...

Infant formulae under scrutiny in Finland.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Finland's National Food Agency is to investigate the marketing of infant formulae to see if it conforms to existing regulations. The initiative was prompted largely by consumer concerns, the NFA said. The special project, entitled The...

Kava prohibition in UK expected to stay.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The UK Food Standards Agency has stated that, contrary to the reports last December (NI Vol 8 No 12), the revocation of the regulation in Wales prohibiting the possession for sale, advertising and importation of any food containing kava kava...

EU claims proposal a challenge to probiotics.
February 1, 2004... The proposed European Union regulation on nutrition and health claims for foods (NIs passim) is both a challenge and an opportunity for a probiotics market currently showing estimated growth of 14%, suggests a new analysis by Frost & Sullivan....

ECoJ raps France over enriched foods.(European Court of Justice)
February 1, 2004... France's prior-authorization procedure for the marketing of foods for human consumption enriched with nutrients, lawfully produced and marketed in European Union member states, hinders the free movement of goods, the European Court of Justice...

New ingredients for use in Parnuts.(parnuts)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... European Commission Directive 2001/15EC, which deals with substances that may be added for specific nutritional purposes in foods for particular nutritional uses (Parnuts), excluding baby foods and processed cereal-based foods, has now been...

Russia vitamin prices.(reports of Russia's State Statistics Committee)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Russia's State Statistics Committee has reported that the consumer price of domestically-made multivitamins in December 2003 was 4.0% higher than in November that year, according to the Interfax news agency. In comparison, the monthly increase...

More folic acid to reduce spina bifida.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... European food safety authorities came together at a meeting in Paris, by invitation of the French body Francaise Securite Sanitaire des Aliments, to discuss central food-related disease issues including the prevention of high blood pressure,...

Continuing concerns for supplement manufacturers in Europe.
February 1, 2004... Life for the developers of supplements for the European market has become almost intolerable, due to both delays by the European Commission in introducing the details required for adopted legislation and to the introduction of flawed...

UK judge refers supplements directive to European Court of Justice.
February 1, 2004... Legal challenges in the UK to the European Union's food supplements directive have been referred to the European Court of Justice. A High Court judge also gave leave for a Judicial Review of the regulations which are scheduled to take full...

Energy drinks still buoyant in western Europe.(Zenith International.survey)
February 1, 2004... The market for functional energy drinks in western Europe has slowed down since the runaway successes of the late 1990s, but it still has plenty of fizz left in it, says drinks consultancy Zenith International. According to a new report from...

Realignment at US FDA Office of NPLDS.
February 1, 2004... In early February, the US Food and Drug Administration announced a realignment of the Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements within the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. As a result of the changes, the...

NIH Office of Dietary Supps: five-year plan.(National Institutes of Health)
February 1, 2004... The US National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements has released its new five-year strategic plan, entitled Promoting Quality Science in Dietary Supplement Research, Education and Communication. Announcing the document,...

2003 saw "most comprehensive regulation ever of potentially unsafe diet supps:" FDA.(Food and Drug Administration )
February 1, 2004... The US Food and Drug Administration has published a review of the major initiatives which it undertook in 2003 to protect and advance consumer health and safety, noting that significant regulatory actions, communications and guidances to...

UNICEF report spells out costs of vitamin and mineral deficiency.(outcomes of malnutrition)
February 1, 2004... Deficiencies in basic vitamins and minerals are damaging the health of one third of the world's population and holding back the economic development of virtually every country in the southern hemisphere, concludes a new report from the United...

More and truthful health claims will benefit consumers, competition, says FTC.(United States. Federal Trade Commission)
February 1, 2004... Just as the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would extend to February 25, 2004, the comment period for the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which appeared in the Federal Register of November 25, 2003, seeking public comment...

Industry wins breathing space on WHO's global diet and health strategy.(World Health Organization)
February 1, 2004... A familiar objection to the functional foods explosion is that it panders to the very forces whose manipulation of the food supply - through mass-processing and mass-marketing - has contributed to an escalating global catastrophe in the...

Unilever launches low-carbohydrate range of food products in USA.(product introduction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Anglo-Dutch food giant Unilever, through its Unilever Bestfoods unit, has launched a new range of low-carbohydrate food products, under the Carb Options name, which includes a line of sauces, marinades, salad dressings, peanut spread, bars and...

ABG to use Lonza's PepZin GI.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... US firm Access Business Group has signed up to use PepZin GI, a new supplement ingredient from Swiss company Lonza, in a digestive product that ABG is developing. ABG says the product will open up a new category in supplements by...

Prolab to debut nutrition/fitness line.(product development)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... US nutritional supplements maker Natrol's Prolab division has teamed up with ESPN's popular fitness show BodyShaping to create a new line of products, called BodyShaping by Prolab, to be launched as part of a comprehensive fitness program. ...

Fish oil supps purer than fish: Leiner study.(fish oil evaluation)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A recent study published in the journal Science found that farm-raised salmon contains high levels of pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenols, and pose a health risk to humans. While the debate will continue on acceptable levels of PCB...

FiberGel rolls out Z-Trim products.(trade show on fat substitute product)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... FiberGel Technologies presented its Z-Trim products to the public at the HealthExpo exhibit during the Florida, USA, State Fair which took place January 16-February 1. The Z-Trim exhibit, held within the Nutrition Neighborhood section, featured...

Red wine health benefits in a pill.(pills development)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Modest drinking of red wine has long been recognized as a health benefit (NIs passim), reportedly protecting against a range of problems including heart disease and cancer. With this in mind, scientists at Italy's Pavese Pharma Biochemical...

Healthy beer coming?(development of beer by Neuzeller Kloster Brewery )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Germany's Neuzeller Kloster Brewery has developed a beer containing added vitamins and minerals, according to a spokesman, who said the company will introduce the Anti-Aging Bier later this year, to be sold through grocery and drug stores. The...

Frito-Lay low-carbs.(planning of low carboydrate chip)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... US firm Frito-Lay plans to roll out a new line extension of Doritos and Tostitos that have less than half the carbohydrates of its leading tortilla chips this spring. To create the products, the firm will use soy proteins and fiber to convert...

Ranbaxy launches new range of herbals.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Indian drugmaker Ranbaxy, through its over-the-counter medicines division Ranbaxy Global Consumer Healthcare, has introduced three new herbal brands under the umbrella New Age Herbals. These are Olesan Oil for colds, Olesan cough syrup and Eat...

"Red wine" dietary supp hits the market.(Longevinex and Resveratrol product introduction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Longevinex, the first dietary supplement that claims to preserve the natural antioxidant molecule found in red wine, has been launched onto the market by Resveratrol Partners trading as Longevinex, beating efforts by Italian reseachers (page...

Health Sciences plans ephedra-free prods.(functional food development planning)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... US firm Health Sciences Group, a provider of products and services to the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industries, has announced plans to introduce a line of ephedra-free weight-loss formulations for functional food and...

Taisho debuts ALFE to counter fatigue.(line extension)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Noting that from market research it had identified that a great many women saw alleviating chronic fatigue by replenishing vitamins and iron as the principal requirement of tonics and nutrient drinks, Japan's Taisho Pharmaceutical has launched...

Fonterra probiotic adds value to yogurt in SA.(product introduction)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The idea that certain foods can remedy a variety of illnesses is far from new, says New Zealand-based dairy company Fonterra. However, the increasing attention paid to the link between diet and health in recent years has led to a rise in the...

Nutrinova's Sunett OKed as sweetener.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Sunett (acesulfame K), a high-intensity sweetener, manufactured by Germany-based specialty ingredients supplier Nutrinova, has been approved as a general-purpose sweetener and flavor enhancer for the USA by the Food and Drug Administration....

Neways' Maximol reformulated.(minerals reformulated)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... US company Neways International says its top-selling Maximol Solutions, a liquid supplement which helps to add essential minerals that people often lack, has been reformulated and approved worldwide. In the new Maximol Solutions, 10 basic...

Mg in diet may help prevent diabetes.(magnesium)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Two studies published in the January issue of Diabetes Care suggest that a diet high in magnesium may help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes, especially in individuals who are overweight. The first study, conducted by researchers...

Vitamin D could protect against RA.(Rheumatoid arthritis)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Findings reported in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism provide evidence of a protective role for vitamin D against rheumatoid arthritis. USA-based researchers analyzed data from nearly 30,000 women aged 55-69 years, who did not have RA at...

Vit C and E linked to reduction in AD risk.(Vitamin)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Researchers from John Hopkins University, USA, have reported results in the journal Archives of Neurology which suggest that vitamin C and E taken in combination may prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Data were examined from around...

Fish oil may reduce allergies in babies.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Taking fish oil supplements during pregnancy might help prevent allergies in babies at a high risk from them, according to a study conducted in Australia. The scientists examined the effects of fish oil supplementation in 40 pregnant...

Phytopharm changes direction for P57.(p57 as dietary supplement)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... UK-based Phytopharm, which focuses on turning botanical extracts into proven pharmaceutical products, recently reported that it is now exploring the options for its one-time leading product candidate, P57, as a food supplement. The company made...

Herbal remedies may hinder cancer drugs.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A report published in the British Journal of Cancer last month suggests that cancer patients who use herbal remedies and health supplements, such as garlic, cod liver oil and St John's wort, during conventional therapy, may risk dangerous side...

Garlic key to fighting MRSA infections.(methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Research conducted by Ron Cutler at the University of East London in the UK, has shown that allicin, a compound that occurs naturally in garlic, kills not only established varieties of methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus, but also...

Vit A shows promise for emphysema.(Vitamin)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Research published in the January issue of the European Respiratory Journal suggests that retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A, may have use in the treatment of emphysema. In the study, researchers bred mice without alveoli which, when they...

Spain's Natraceuticals to patent cacao prods.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Spanish company Natraceuticals, one of the world's biggest suppliers of purified caffeine, has requested patent protection for two functional- food compounds offering cacao and chocolate aromas and flavoring. The Valencia-based company, one of...

Lonza's 2003 profits plunge; CEO resigns.(Lonza Group Ltd.)
February 1, 2004... Swiss life sciences-driven chemical company Lonza has reported a poor set of full-year 2003 financial results and has also lowered its guidance for 2004. As a result, Markus Gemeund, Lonza's chief executive since January 2002, has tendered his...

Solbar specialty soy protein plant in China.(Solbar Industries Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Solbar, an Israeli company, has begun construction of a specialty soy protein plant in China at the Ningbo Free Trade Zone, southeast of Shanghai. The new state-of-the-art facilities will be equipped to produce the firm's functional soy protein...

Naturex expands in US market.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The French producer of natural ingredients for the nutraceuticals and food industries, Naturex, has posted a 6.3% rise in 2003 sales, in terms of stable US dollar rates, to 28.1 million euros ($34.8 million). However, the sharp rise in the...

Comvita buys rest of UK's Api-Med.(Api-Med Medical Honey)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... New Zealand-headquartered Comvita has acquired the remaining 50% of Cambridge, UK-based natural health products company Api-Med Medical Honey. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Comvita chairman Bill Bracks said that his firm's...

Algry Quimica signs new R&D deals.(University of Castilla la Mancha)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Spanish food and pharmaceutical-grade choline salt manufacturer Algry Quimica says it has signed several new research cooperation agreements with the University of Castilla la Mancha, Spain, in order to work together on the development of...

Shannon Bio to open facility in France.(Shannon Biotechnologies)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Shannon Biotechnologies, an Irish company specializing in pharmaceutical-based health, sporting and energy drink products, is to open a plant at Dieuze in the Moselle area of France in September. John Walters, president of Shannon, has said...

Martek files patent suit against Nutrinova.(Martek Biosciences Corp)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USA-based Martek Biosciences Corp has announced that it has filed a patent infringement suit in Germany against Nutrinova Nutrition Specialties & Food Ingredients GmbH and Celanese Ventures GmbH. The suit is centred on Nutrinova's manufacture,...

Solbar to go public.(Solbar Industries Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Solbar Industries of Israel, owned by Kibbutz Hatzor, is to publicly trade its shares on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, reports Globes Newsletters. The soy protein products company hopes to raise NIS125 million ($28 million) from an initial...

Abbott nutritional sales up 17%.(Abbott Laboratories)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Abbott Laboratories has reported an increase in sales of 14.3% to $5.5 billion for the fourth quarter of 2003. Revenues from its Ross Products division increased 7.4% to total $539 million, and the international nutritionals unit realized...

Fonterra reports solid first-half results.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... New Zealand's Fonterra has announced that high demand in international markets and improved commodity prices were behind a robust set of financial results for the first half ending November 2003. Revenues were significantly impacted by the...

Perrigo reports record 2nd-qtr 2004 results.(Perrigo Co.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Allegan, Michigan,USA-headquartered Perrigo has announced record financial results for the second quarter of the full year, ending December 27, 2003, and forecast earnings of $0.98-$1.01 per share inclusive of tax benefits. The company...

Aust Cancer signs US marketing deal.(Australian Cancer Technology Ltd., Strong Value Group)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Australian Cancer Technology Ltd has announced a marketing agreement between its US subsidiary and health care firm Strong Value Group, for the distribution of the Revisys range of high-end nutritonal supplements in the USA. Financial terms...

Natural Alternatives' sales up 30%.(Natural Alternatives Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... San Marco, California, USA-based Natural Alternatives has reported a 30% increase in revenues to $33.9 million for the first half of its fiscal 2004 ending December 31, 2003. Growth in turnover was driven by a 35% rise in private manufacturing...

Acquisitions boost Nutra International.(Nutraceutical International Corp., Arizona Health Foods)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USA-based nutritional supplements firm Nutraceutical International Corp says that turnover for its fiscal first quarter ended December 2003 rose 14.9% to $33.2 million, while net income reached $3.2 million, or $0.27 per share, an increase of...

Phytomedics raises $7.5 million.(Phytomedics Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Phytomedics, a US firm which specializes in developing and manufacturing novel botanical therapeutics, has secured a $7.5 million Series A financing, led by Switzerland-based Inventages Venture Capital. Also involved in the financing was...

Scolr probiotics business sale closed.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The USA's Scolr, which was formerly known as Nutraceutix, has closed the sale of its probiotics development and manufacturing business (NI vol 9, no 1), therefore completing its transition into a pure play drug delivery company. The...

Natrol is optimistic about 2004 prospects.(Natrol Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Natrol has told shareholders and employees that 2004 should be a good year for the company, or at least better than 2003, which saw the firm move into the red. One of the chief events during 2003 was the decision to divest the marketing...

Strong earnings growth for ADM.(Archer Daniels Midland Co.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... US agribusiness conglomerate Archer Daniels Midland, which has divisions focusing on food ingredients and nutraceuticals, said net income for the fiscal second quarter ended December 2003 rose 68% to $220.8 million, or $0.34 per share, a...

New nutra company, Berkeley, launched.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Four companies based in the US city of Cincinnati - Warner Health Care, Wagner Nutraceuticals, LifeKey and Boland Naturals - have consolidated their operations into a new entity called Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, which they claim will...

Another good start to the year for NBTY.(NBTY Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... US supplements giant NBTY has once again posted record results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2003. Sales increased 60% to $385 million, while net income rose 42% to $24 million, or $0.34 per share. In terms of particular...

NutraCea revenues close to $1 mill mark.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... NutraCea, a nutraceutical R&D company, says revenues for the six-month period ended December 2003 increased 119% to just a few dollars shy of $1 million compared with the corresponding period in 2002. John Howell, president of NutraCea,...

Cargill reports sharp rise in 2-qtr earnings.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Minneapolis, USA-headquartered Cargill has announced second-quarter fiscal 2004 earnings of $513 million, up 62% on the $316 million achieved in the same quarter of 2003. Excluding $117 million of special items in the current quarter, and $31...

Carrington renews deal with Mannatech.(contracts renewal)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... USA-based leading biopharmaceutical and consumer products firm Carrington Laboratories reports that it has renewed a raw materials supply agreement with Mannatech, a USA-headquartered wellness solutions provider. In October 2003, Carrington...

Natrol discloses key initiatives to public.(restructuring)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... US nutrition company Natrol has updated its shareholders and employees on progress in refocusing the company's efforts on its core vitamin and supplement business. Natrol has separated itself from two operating divisions; the marketing...

Forthcoming meetings/events.(food industry)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Leatherhead Food International will hold a one-day conference on Functional Drinks - Trends and Developments at its headquarters in Surrey, UK, on March 31. For more information, e-mail Susan Bigmore at sbigmore@leatherheadfood.com. ...

People on the move.(appointments)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The European Commission has appointed Robert Madelin as its director general for health and consumer protection, heading a team of around 700. A director of the Commission since 1997, Mr Madelin was previously responsible for a range of...