Nutraceuticals International articles from January 2007

Nutraceuticals International archives from January 2007

Germany to classify cinnamon supps to reduce blood sugar as medicinal products.
January 1, 2007... Food supplements and dietetic foods with high levels of cinnamon or cinnamon extract have been on sale for a considerable time now in Germany. Amongst other properties, they are claimed to reduce blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus....

Industry and NGOs remain divided on mandatory nutrition labeling.
January 1, 2007... As nutrition labeling comes under scrutiny in the European Union, clear battle lines have been drawn between the food industry and consumer non-governmental organizations, a report has revealed. Results of the public consultation document,...

UK's MHRA considers herbal changes.
January 1, 2007... The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has been considering proposals for reform of Section 12 of the Medicines Act, commonly referred to as the "herbalists exemption. Under this, remedies are not subject to a...

EFSA management board adopts strategy and budget for 2007.(European Food Safety Authority )
January 1, 2007... At the last European Food Safety Authority management board meeting of 2006, hosted in Helsinki by the Finnish Food Authority, the EVIRA, the board adopted major decisions for the EFSA 2007 Work Program. As well as the cooperation strategy and...

CIAA broadly supports EU regulation on nutrition and health claims made on foods.
January 1, 2007... The CIAA, the confederation of the food and drinks industries in the European Union, has issued a memorandum to the incoming German presidency of the EU, which takes over for the first six months of 2007. In this, it says that it supports the...

European Consumers' Organization BEUC campaigns on nutrition labeling.
January 1, 2007... Consumers must have a better knowledge of the nutritional content of the food they eat if they are to make an informed choice, says the BEUC, the European Consumers' Organization. This is especially important to avoid health problems and...

UK's FSA battles with industry on labeling.
January 1, 2007... UK consumers are to be presented with two rival new year advertising campaigns as the Food Standards Agency goes public in its battle with the industry over the labeling of unhealthy foods. Ahead of the campaign's launch, the Guardian...

EU nutrition and health claim regulation now in force.
January 1, 2007... After over a quarter of a century of debate, the European Union legislation on nutrition and health claims on food was published in the Official Journal of the EU on December 30, 2006, as Regulation (EC) No1924/2006. When Europe returned...

Pres Bush signs diet supps mandatory AE reporting bill; NPA reviews the law.
January 1, 2007... US President George W Bush, on December 26, 2006, signed into law the Dietary Supplement and Non-Prescription Drug Consumer Protection Act (the "AER bill"), S 3546. The legislation, which had cleared the 109th Congress in its final hours, will...

What's in store for UK dietary market, reviewed by new Datmonitor report.(Industry overview)
January 1, 2007... Some things to which to look forward? The predictions by market research group Datamonitor for what will be on the up or down in 2007 and beyond. 2007 will confirm the UK as a nation preoccupied with dieting and well-being, but still unable to...

Germany assessing garlic, black cohosh.(German Federal Institute for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The German Federal Institute for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices, the BfArM, has recently initiated two official risk assessments for garlic and black cohosh. The first was initiated based on a paper (by Piscitelli et al 2002) on a...

US FTC reaches resolution with four major weight-control pill makers.
January 1, 2007... Speaking at a press conference on January 5, the Chairman of the US Federal Trade Commission announced that the agency has obtained settlements with four marketers of dietary supplements sold for weight loss. FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras...

US FDA issues update on health claim for calcium and osteoporosis.
January 1, 2007... The US Food and Drug Administration announced on January 5 that it is proposing to allow new claims on foods and dietary supplements containing calcium and vitamin D to show their potential to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. The proposed rule...

US producers/retailers launch campaign to promote govt dietary advice.
January 1, 2007... The Grocery Manufacturers Association/Food Products Association (GMA/FPA), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and MatchPoint Marketing of the USA have unveiled Take a Peak, an innovative initiative by the food and beverage industry to promote...

AHPA plans tele-seminar on AER Law.
January 1, 2007... The American Herbal Products Association will present an educational tele-seminar on February 22 to teach the dietary supplements industry how to take any reports of serious adverse events associated with their products. A new law, the Dietary...

Nutrition and lifestyle program from Wild Oats focuses on "superfoods".
January 1, 2007... According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AgeLab, an American turns 50 years old every seven seconds, which means more than 4.5 million US citizens turn 50 each year. Unfortunately, only 3% of consumers polled in a recent...

Australia: FSANZ invites public comment on latest changes to the Food Code.
January 1, 2007... Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has released its plans for the latest amendments to the Food Standards Code, including approval of food from geneticaly-modified varieties of soy bean and rice, labeling requirements for catered and...

The March of Dimes calls on US FDA to double folic acid in foods.
January 1, 2007... A new US government report on folate levels in women should be the trigger for action to double the fortification of this crucial B vitamin in the grain food supply, says March of Dimes, the national voluntary health agency, the mission of...

GFF reminds women about folate.
January 1, 2007... January is Birth Defects Prevention Month in the USA - and the Grain Foods Foundation is partnering with the voluntary organization March of Dimes to remind women about the important role that enriched grains play in helping to prevent birth...

Guide to EU functional food legislation launched in Japanese.
January 1, 2007... A Brussels, Belgium-based advisory company has created a unique tool to assist the ongoing European Union-Japan dialog on functional food and food supplement legislation - a version of the EU regulations guide translated into Japanese. ...

ASEAN working group on TCMs and supplements "makes excellent progress".(Association of Southeast Asian Nations)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... The ASEAN governments' Traditional Medicines and Health Supplements Product Working Group continued to make excellent progress at its meeting, held in Hanoi, Vietnam, says the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplements Associations,...

South African progress on CAMS regulation.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Progress towards the establishment of appropriate regulation for complementary medicine took another step forward recently, with an invitation to the Health Products Association (HPA) and the Complementary and Traditional Stakeholders'...

Health Canada warns against sleep supp.
January 1, 2007... The regulatory agency Health Canada is advising consumers not to use a product called Eden Herbal Formulations Sleep Ease Dietary Supplement, because it was found to contain an undeclared drug estazolam, which can be habit-forming when used for...

IADSA adddresses bioactives safety.
January 1, 2007... Many bioactive substances have been shown to be associated with a variety of health benefits. Omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine and lutein are now household names, and interest in bioactives across governments and the global food industry is...

CHFA defends supps.
January 1, 2007... Responding to an article in the Globe and Mail, December 12, 2006, issue, the Canadian Health Food Association said that its columnist, Leah Gramlich, "provides a disservice when she discourages the general population from supplementing their...

Diachrome helps improve blood sugar.(Clinical report)
January 1, 2007... Nutrition 21 has announced the results of a recent placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized single center study that demonstrated that its Diachrome, a patented combination of chromium picolinate and biotin, safely improves blood glucose...

Strawberries best at slowing some cancers.
January 1, 2007... Strawberries may be the most effective of commonly consumed berries at slowing the growth of some cancer cells, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. Researchers at the University of...

Pomella Extract ups plasma antioxidants.
January 1, 2007... A recent clinical pharmacokinetic trial has demonstrated that Pomella Extract standardized to the primary pomegranate ellagitannins punicalagins can deliver absorbable ellagic acid (EA) and other antioxidant metabolites, and cause antioxidant...

Strong hunger control for Slim-Fast's Optima.(Slim Fast Foods Co.)
January 1, 2007... US diet foods specialist Slim-Fast says that a clinical study has confirmed that its 190-calorie Optima meal replacement shake was effective in controlling hunger significantly longer than a 400-calorie meal consisting of a hamburger and a soft...

HerbalPharm validates anti-aging compound.
January 1, 2007... HerbalPharm, a Florida, USA-based biotechnology firm that its co- founder Robert Ko, published results of research on the key compound of its proprietary formula, an isomer of Schisandrin B, which is a bioactive ingredient of the fruit Fructus...

Unilever's PG tips improves mental focus.(Unilever Group)
January 1, 2007... Global consumer products concern Unilever has shown that it's PG tips tea improves mental focus in healthy human volunteers. The firm says that a normal cup of PG tips tea typically delivers 22mg of theanine, a naturally-occuring amino acid, of...

"Too little evidence" for chromium in cholesterol.
January 1, 2007... The January 2007 issue of Harvard Men's Health Watch highlights a number of recent findings on the crucial role that chromium plays in human health. Chromium and cholesterol. Published by USA-based Harvard Medical School, the journal reports...

Probi and Metagenics sign US distribution deal.
January 1, 2007... Swedish biotechnology firm Probi, which specializes in the field of probiotics, says that it has signed a distribution agreement with USA- based nutraceuticals developer Metagenics, in relation to the sale of its Lp299v supplement in the USA....

Bioriginal launches lignan supps range.
January 1, 2007... Canada's Bioriginal, a leading supplier of essential fatty acid solutions for the nutraceuticals, functional food, skin care and cosmetics markets, says that it is launching a new range of lignan- containing nutraceutical supplements. The firm...

Ito En launches Sencha Shot green tea.
January 1, 2007... The US subsidiary of Japanese green tea specialist Ito En says that it has launched its new Sencha Shot tea product on the US market. The drink which, according to the company, provides an all-natural, authentic and invigorating punch of green...

Botanic Choice launches weight loss supplement.
January 1, 2007... USA-based nutritional supplement supplier Botanic Choice says that its new supplement, Apple Cider Vinegar Plus, is designed to target the hidden reasons behind the difficulty associated with weight loss. The company explained that unseen...

CCO expands its oat cereal range.
January 1, 2007... USA-based food maker Country Choice Organic has announced the launch of two new flavors of its FIT KIDS hot cereal range, specifically, Berry Blast and Caramel Apple. The company explained that the move, which follows the successful...

EcoNugenics launches MycoKidz formula.
January 1, 2007... EcoNugenics, a US health and dietary supplement firm, has launched MycoKidz, a new wellness formula that provides the needed nutrients that are often missing in the growing child's diet while enhancing their immune system. MycoKidz is a...

Bioriginal launches fish oil softgel range.(Bioriginal Food & Science Corp.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Canadian supplements firm, Bioriginal, a specialist in essential fatty acids, has launched a new range of flavored fish oil softgels with fill weights from 500mg to 1300mg, oval to oblong in shape, in natural or carob color. Offerings...

Super CitriMax not included in FTC sweep.
January 1, 2007... Super CitriMax, InterHealth Nutraceuticals' signature weight-management ingredient, is not contained in any of the weight-loss products whose marketers were fined recently by the Federal Trade Commission for making false claims in their...

Martek life'sDHA added to Yoplait yogurt drinks.
January 1, 2007... Omega-3 specialist Martek Biosciences says that its life'sDHA ingredient has been added to the USA's General Mills Yoplait and Yoplait Kids brands. Enhancing the product's nutrition profile, Yoplait Kids four-oz yogurt products will utilize...

Monsanto discusses its healthy R&D pipeline.
January 1, 2007... US biotechnology giant Monsanto says that 2006 saw considerable progress in its R&D pipeline. The announcement formed the centerpiece of the firm's first quarter 2007 financial report, which revealed that its net income rose 52.5% on the like,...

CTDC sets up new nutra base in Zhangzhou.(China Technology Development Group )
January 1, 2007... The Hong Kong-headquartered China Technology Development Group (CTDC) says that it has entered into an investment and lease agreement with China Merchants Zhangzhou Development Zone, which will establish a new production base for nutraceutical...

Advitech makes C$515K private placement.
January 1, 2007... Canadian health sciences and technology company Advitech says that it has completed a private placement, valued at C$515,800 ($438,477), with the Quebec Stock Growth plan (Natcan) and a group of private investors that includes certain...

NutraBella launches life'sDHA choc bar.
January 1, 2007... USA-based docosahexanoic acid omega-3 specialist Martek Biosciences says that fellow USA-based NutraBella has launched Burstin' Chocolate, featuring its life'sDHA, as part of Bellybar, NutraBella's all-natural line of snack bars for pregnant...

DSM highlights LC-PUFA benefits in AD.(DMS Nutritional, Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids)
January 1, 2007... The benefits of eating seafood clearly outweigh the risks, according to reviews by esteemed authorities discussed in the December 2006 PUFA Newsletter for health professionals, sponsored by USA-based DMS Nutritionals. Long-chain omega-3...

Orafti's Beneo launches UK brand initiative.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Beneo, a leading natural prebiotic brand, has launched a new branding initiative in the UK to help consumers understand prebiotics and explain their nutritional properties within products. The Beneo logo on packaging signifies that the product...

Renhuang seeks OK for Acantho manufacture.
January 1, 2007... Renhuang Pharmaceuticals, a leading provider of natural health care products in the People's Republic of China, has applied for a Production Certificate for its Acanthopanax Healthy Oral Solution from domestic regulators. The firm hopes...

Forbes shares recover on Portuguese deal.
January 1, 2007... Canada's Forbes Medi-Tech has said that one of the largest retail companies in Portugal has launched a range of dairy products which contains the Vancouver-based group's cholesterol-lowering phytosterol- based ingredient, Reducol. The...

NBTY posts a strong revenue rise in 1st qtr.(Financial report)
January 1, 2007... US nutritional supplements giant NBTY has posted preliminary revenue figures for the fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2006, which show an 11% rise on the like, year-earlier period to $506.0 million, driven by a strong performance for its...

SemBioSys and Martek amends DHA-rich oil deal.
January 1, 2007... SemBioSys Genetics of the USA has announced that it has reached an agreement with Martek Biosciences Corp to amend the collaboration between the two firms related to the docosahexaenoic acid-rich plant oil program. Under the terms of the...

Ajinomoto US deal with Pharmachem.(Ajinomoto Aminoscience, Pharmachem Laboratories Inc.)
January 1, 2007... Ajinomoto Aminoscience, a worldwide manufacturing leader of amino acids and a subsidiary of the Japanese Ajinomoto group, has entered into a partnership with fellow USA-based Pharmachem Laboratories, a manufacturer and supplier of value-added...

Kenyan group to commercialize aloe.(Baringo Aloe Bio-enterprise)
January 1, 2007... The global demand for aloe gum is estimated at 1,000 tonnes, with South Africa the largest supplier at 600 tonnes, Venezuela and India about 100 tonnes. Kenya currently exports some 300 tonnes, but has the potential to reach 1,600 tonnes,...

HerbalPharm merger.
January 1, 2007... HerbalPharm Inc, a Florida, USA, biotechnology company company, has closed its merger with HerbalPharm Inc, a like-named Washington-based firm, in exchange for 20,713,000 restricted shares of HBPM. The company's key products, Restorade and...

Integrity Nutra signs Sweet Success pact.
January 1, 2007... Florida, USA-based Integrity Nutraceuticals International, a supplier of bulk nutritional ingredients, has entered into an alliance with Sweet Success Enterprises of San Antonio, Texas, a producer of functional beverages. The agreement...

Solid second quarter for Schiff Nutrition.
January 1, 2007... Vitamin and supplement maker Schiff Nutrition International has announced results for the fiscal 2007 second quarter ended November 30, 2006, which show that sales rose 9.3% to $38.8 million. Net income was $2.2 million, or $0.08 per share, an...

USANA raises 2006 earnings forecast.(USANA Health Sciences Inc.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... USANA Health Sciences, a Salt Lake City, USA-based company which specializes in nutritional and weight-management products, has raised its sales and earnings outlook for the fourth quarter ended December 30, 2006. Turnover will be $101.0...

NutraCea inks rice bran deal for Down Under.(MedChem Products Inc.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... California, USA-based NutraCea, which produces nutritional supplements and related products derived from stabilized rice bran, has signed up Med-Chem to distribute its ingredients in Australia and New Zealand. Kody Newland, NutraCea's...

Huifeng starts new production in China.
January 1, 2007... Huifeng Bio-Pharmaceutical Technology, which is developing and producing plant extracts, pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical raw materials in mainland China and internationally, has announced the start up of a new production facility in Xi'an,...

Galenica buys UK firm Equazen.(Equazen Nutraceuticals)
January 1, 2007... Switzerland's Galenica Group has assumed control of the omega-3 and omega-6 supplement group Equazen Neutraceutical through its UK subsidiary Potter's Limited. This acquisition significantly increases Galenica's presence in the British...

Natraceutical acquires Inibsa sales force.
January 1, 2007... Spanish nutritional products and pharmaceutical enterprise Natraceutical is to acquire part of the sales force of Laboratorios Inibsa which will be integrated into a commercial subsidiary of the group. The price paid will be 1.9 million euros...

Forthcoming meetings/events.
January 1, 2007... The International Perspective on Dietary Supplements Regulation Workshop will take place April 17, 2007 in Yokohama, Japan. This is being organized by the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplements Associations (IADSA), in cooperation...

People on the move.
January 1, 2007... - Illinois, USA-headquartered Archer Daniels Midland has promoted: Michael Baroni to be president of its Specialty Food Ingredients division; Kevin Burgard to vice president, of its Food Oils division; and Donald Black to manager, business...