Nutraceuticals International articles from July 2004

Nutraceuticals International archives from July 2004

Italian govt lines up with EU on nutras.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A new legal decree has emerged from the Italian government via the Council of Ministers which aims to line up national regulations on nutritional supplements and nutraceutical products with the European Union Directive 2002/46/CE. The...

European Union's food claims proposal will go forward, says Mathioudakis.
July 1, 2004... The European Commission is fully committed to its proposed regulation on nutrition and health claims, including plans to restrict claims to foods with the right nutritional make-up. Speaking at the 40th annual meeting of the Association of...

EU Commission consults on PARNUTS.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Consultations on a directive that will codify all the current European Union legislation for products for particular nutritional use (PARNUTS) into a single instrument in order to increase transparency, are currently under way at the European...

East European briefs.(Belarus' Council of Ministers)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... - Belarus' Council of Ministers has approved a bill designed to increase the nutritional qualities of food consumed on the domestic market, according to the Interfax news agency. As well as requiring food producers to introduce stricter quality...

New EU laws are increasing supplement costs in Europe.
July 1, 2004... The European Union food supplements directive is just two years old and has a year to go before it comes fully into effect. The consequences of this directive, and the large amount of new European food legislation which also affects...

Long wait ahead for EU supplements industry on maximum doses.
July 1, 2004... The dietary supplement industry in the European Union still faces a long wait before it gets any definitive answers on the maximum doses permissible in vitamin and mineral supplements under Directive 2002/46/EC. The process of determining...

European Union regulation of traditional Chinese medicine.
July 1, 2004... regulate herbal practitioners. The former option is a single council for herbal medicine practice only, while the latter would include both herbal medicine and acupuncture in the first stage and other disciplines at a later stage. The former is...

European Union regulation of traditional Chinese medicine.
July 1, 2004... Chinese herbal medicine is one of the great herbal systems of the world, with an unbroken tradition going back to the third century BC. Recently, traditional Chinese medicine has grown rapidly in popularity in the west, therefore its status...

Pediatric obesity claims - FTC brings charges, House panel holds probe.
July 1, 2004... In June, the US Federal Trade Commission took action against claims being made for a number of weight-loss products, including those targeted specifically at overweight children. One such action focused on six heavily-promoted weight-loss...

Sens Hatch, Harkin and Durbin pledge mandatory supps' AE reporting legislation.
July 1, 2004... In a surprise conclusion to a US Senate debate last month, Democratic Senators Richard Durbin and Tom Harkin and Republican Orrin Hatch agreed to work together to produce legislation mandating the reporting of adverse events associated with...

Adverse event reporting for dietary supps viewed by US Senate panel hearing.
July 1, 2004... The American Medical Association is urging the US Congress to make changes to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, because of its concerns about the quality, safety and efficacy of supplements, particularly herbal products...

Japan's soft drinks firms gear up to satisfy consumers' health needs.
July 1, 2004... In time for the summer soft drinks season, Japanese companies have geared-up by launching new products to satisfy the continual consumer demand for novelty, or meet the requirements of drinkers concerned not only with their thirst but also...

Thailand aims for competitive herbals industry.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Thailand's Prime Minister has told the country's Public Health Ministry to work on a plan suggested to him by the Thai Chamber of Commerce that would improve the competitiveness of the nation's herbals industry, in the hopes of increasing...

Australian food supplements regulatory shake-up continues.
July 1, 2004... A year after the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration suspended the manufacturing license of Pan Pharmaceuticals, which resulted in the somewhat controversial recall of 1,600 products made at its Sydney factory (NIs passim), the...

China combines TCMs in SARS treatment.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... China has authorized its first treatment regimen for severe acute respiratory syndrome, which had killed 774 people worldwide and infected some 8,000 before declining in mid-2003. The regimen combines traditional Chinese medicines with modern...

WHO issues new guidelines on best use of alternative medicines.(World Health Organization )
July 1, 2004... Since traditional, complementary and alternative medicines remain largely unregulated, consumers worldwide need to be informed and given the tools to access appropriate, safe and effective treatment. To help address this issue, the World Health...

Labelled for Life: Making, Reading and Regulating Health Claims on Foods.(Brief Article)
July 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...

SA Health Products Assoc seeks clarification.(South Africa)(Health Products Association of South Africa)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Health Products Association of South Africa, which represents manufacturers of complementary medicines, has been advised by lawyers that the definition of a medicine in the country's recently-introduced pricing regulations (NI vol 9, no 4)...

ASDA welcomes NZ food fortification policy.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council's recent approval of a policy guideline for the fortification of foods with vitamins and minerals has been welcomed by the Australasian Soft Drinks Association, which has been campaigning for...

US FDA could award glucosamine and chondroitin health claims by Sept?
July 1, 2004... The US Food and Drug Administration will respond by September to two petitions seeking to claim that glucosamine and chondroitin can help reduce the risk of osteoarthritis, said an agency official last month. At a meeting of the FDA Food...

Chromium picolinate supp may reduce some key symptoms of atypical depression.
July 1, 2004... New data presented at a conference of the National Institutes of Mental Health New Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit in Arizona, USA, show that daily supplementation with chromium picolinate significantly reduces some of the key symptoms associated...

Mustard oil protects against heart attacks.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Diets that include mustard oil and leafy green vegetables can help lower the risk of heart attack, according to a study conducted in eight hospitals in India by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA, the All India...

Longevinex' biological activity confirmed.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Among 14 brands of resveratrol dietary supplements independently tested, only Longevinex exhibited significant biological activity (activation of Sirtuin 1 gene). At 3.551, Longevinex had a six times greater effect than the best other...

Soy may help reduce risk of developing cancer of the womb.
July 1, 2004... Soy may help to reduce the risk of developing cancer of the womb, according to a research study on women in Shanghai, China, reported in the British Medical Journal (vol 328, pp 1285-8). The reduced levels of cancer of the lining of the womb...

Phyto-Technologies awarded SBIR grant to study feverfew in migraine.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Phyto-Technologies, a US herbal products company located in Woodbine, Iowa, has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research grant by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to study feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)...

A new probiotic, VSL no 3, improves inflammatory bowel disease symptoms.
July 1, 2004... Researchers have reported that the highly-concentrated probiotic preparation, VSL no 3, from newly-established US company VSL Pharmaceuticals, improved gastrointestinal symptoms and increased general well-being in patients with arthralgia...

Natur-L launches Potassium Xtra.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Providing dieters with a very low-carbohydrate and low-calorie potassium supplement, US firm Natur-L Nutrient Labs last month announced the availability of Potassium Xtra, described as a gentle, high-potency supplement without the usual harsh...

Stallone debuts INSTONE range.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Movie star Sylvester Stallone is launching a range of sports and diet nutritional supplements from his newly-created INSTONE company throughout the USA via retailer General Nutrition Centers. The product line includes: INTAKE Lean Meal...

Tahitian Noni launches novel fiber blend.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Tahitian Noni International, developer and exclusive provider of Tahitian Noni juice, has announced the release of what it describes as the world's most versatile fiber, Tahitian Noni Fiber Blend. Featuring a unique blend of 13 different...

World Nutrition unveils Nattovita.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... World Nutrition, a US developer of therapeutic nutritional supplements, has launched Nattovita, a highly-fibrinolytic product based on nattokinase, a systemic enzyme believed to improve cardiovascular health. Formulated with the help and...

OCN's omega-3 first to gain Pharmacopeia cert.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Ocean Nutrition Canada, a supplier of omega-3 fish oil ingredients to the dietary supplement and functional food industries, says that its entire line of standard fish oils and omega-3 fish oil concentrates has come through the US Pharmacopeia...

Baywood debuts Ultra Cranberry Extract.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Cran-Max, an extract proven in clinical studies to support urinary tract health, is the main ingredient in Baywood's new Ultra Cranberry Extract which has been introduced in the USA. Cran-Max helps prevent and reduce urinary tract infection...

GSK Mother's Horlicks with DHA for India.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has launched a powdered drink mix containing Martek's docosahexaenoic acid in India. The product is specially formulated to meet the needs of pregnant and breast-feeding mothers. Although Mother's...

Himalaya USA adds Forest Honey to range.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Forest Honey, claimed to be an energy source, digestive aid and antioxidant and the latest complement to Himalaya USA's line of pharmaceutical-grade herbal remedies, was introduced onto the US market last month. Forest Honey has also been known...

NP Biotech develops SupaJus "think drink".(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The days of having to swallow a stomach-churning spoonful of cod liver oil to remain healthy can be consigned to the past, after two Scottish companies got together to develop a tastier, and equally beneficial, alternative. Ayr-based NP Biotech...

Alltracel/Devro's new cholesterol product?(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Ireland's Alltracel Pharmaceuticals has joined forces with Scotland- based sausage skin maker Devro for a joint R&D program to develop M-doc- based product and ingredient delivery systems for cholesterol management applications in the...

Rohto introduces eye fatigue prod in Japan.(Rohto Pharmaceutical Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A nutrient supplement jointly developed by Rohto and Morishita Jintan was launched in Japan last month, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. The product, which contains vitamins and minerals to ease eye fatigue, is aimed at middle-aged and...

New Lithuanian drink.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Lithuania's Rokiskio Suris dairy group is to launch a new health drink made from milk whey and fruit juice, to be produced at a company subsidiary in Ukmerge, according to the LETA news agency.

Earnings growth disappoints at Martek.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Martek Biosciences Corp says that, for the second quarter ended April 30, revenues reached $41.9 million, an increase of 58.7% compared with the like, year-earlier period, while net income climbed 9.7% to $3.4 million or $0.11 per share. For...

Shock as NBTY units post lower sales.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... After what has seemed like a never-ending flow of good news coming out of the company, US nutritional supplements giant NBTY has announced that a couple of its units have actually reported lower sales over the last couple of months. The...

Mera Pharma posts its first profit.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Mera Pharmaceuticals, a Hawaii-headquartered firm which has invested heavily in promoting AstaFactor, its astaxanthin-based nutritional supplement, has posted its first-ever quarterly profit - $91,000 for the three months ended April 30 - while...

Nutra International buys Montana range.(Nutraceutical International Corp )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... USA-based nutritional supplements firm Nutraceutical International Corp says it has purchased the Montana Big Sky range of supplements from Montana Naturals, a firm based in Delaware. The Montana Big Sky brand focuses on specialty bee...

Alpha Nutra acquires Avidia Nutritional...(Alpha Nutraceuticals)(Avidia Nutritional Group)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... San Diego, USA-headquartered Alpha Nutraceuticals, says it has completed the acquisition of Avidia Nutritional Group, a supplements manufacturer based in Chatsworth, California. The buyer itself has only just been formed as a result of a move...

Unspectacular but solid quarter for Zila.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Zila of Phoenix, USA, announced its financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended April 30, which show that revenues grew 2.4% to $12.7 million, although the company noted that the rise is 7% when the sales of its discontinued saw...

Bio-One buys stake in fourth Chinese firm.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Bio-One Corp of the USA has hit the acquisition trail yet again and purchased a 51% interest in a Chinese herbal medicine company in Guangzhou Province. The firm posted revenues of $10 million in 2003, operating profit of $2.7 million and now...

NutraCea signs major deal with Nussentials.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... California, USA-based NutraCea has signed a licensing agreement with Nussentials, a Houston-based company which markets nutraceutical products direct to the consumer. According to the agreement, which is expected to bring in $5 million in...

Reschke wins logo battle with Red Bull.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... A small, family-owned boutique winery in Coonawarra, Australia, has beaten the multinational energy drink giant Red Bull in a four-year trade mark battle. When Reschke Wines applied to register its trade mark logo for its wine brand in...

Blackmore's 9-month profit rockets 159%.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Australia-based vitamin producer and distributor Blackmores saw its net profit after tax for the nine months ended March 31 leap 159% to A$8.4 million ($6.0 million) from the year-ago period, driven by a 33% hike in revenues. The firm...

Kirin expands health food product in Taiwan.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Japan's Kirin Pharmaceuticals is expanding its presence in Taiwan's health food products sector in order to capitalize on the market's rapid growth. The company, which began selling its brewer's yeast in Taiwan last June via a subsidiary,...

FSNAZ recommends Forbe's Reducol.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Canada's Forbes Medi-Tech is one step closer to having its Reducol approved for use in milk, as a Food Standards Australia and New Zealand assessment report has found no safety concerns associated with the cholesterol-lowering agent. ...

Tong Ren Tan to open 86 stores by 2008.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Tong Ren Tang Group Company, China's major producer of traditional Chinese medicine, is speeding up its plan for foreign expansion by aiming to open 86 retail outlets worldwide by 2008, according to the firm's general manager, Mei Quan, who...

Himalaya signs deal with Mexican firm.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Bangalore, India-based herbal drugmaker Himalaya Drug has signed a deal with a pharmaceutical firm in Mexico to manufacture its product range for marketing in the USA and Latin America. Himalaya's chief executive, Ravi Presad, said the...

20B+ Lipovitan bottles shipped since 1962.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Japan's Taisho Pharmaceutical says that more than 20 billion bottles of its Lipovitan D have been shipped since its launch in 1962, noting that demand has risen each year even in the face of increased competition in the energy drinks market....

Golden MediTech to acquire Beijing QJY.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Golden Meditech, listed on the Growth Enterprise Market Board of Hong Kong's stock exchange, is to buy Beijing QJY for HK$452 million ($58 million). Beijing QJY is the maker of the first traditional herb drug, Tang Cao Pian, to be approved by...

Lupin expands into herbals market.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Indian drugmaker Lupin has entered the herbal medicines sector with the introduction of nine products in therapeutic areas such as diabetes, pediatrics, gastrointestinal, pain management and gynecology. The company's managing director Kamal...

Algry Quimica's choline salts sales to grow 15%.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Madrid, Spain-headquartered Algry Quimica, manufacturer of choline salts, has confirmed a robust growth of its choline derivatives market. The firm's current results, in terms of net sales of pharmaceutical- grade choline salts, are...

Carabao Tawan Dang sets up US subsidiary.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Carabao Tawan Dang, maker of the energy drink Carabao Dang, has established a subsidiary in the USA to market the product in this region, targeting Asian and Hispanic blue-collar customers, said chief executive Satien Setasith. Carabao...

Forthcoming meetings/events.(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... Soy & Health 2004 - Clinical evidence and dietetic applications, takes place in Bruges, Belgium, October 7-8. For further details and registration, contact: Soy & Health 2004, PB 220, B8500 Kortrijk, Belgium. Fax: +32 (0)57 46 95 25; e-mail:...

People on the move.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Fabienne Saadane-Oaks, formerly with Rhodia, has been named to the newly-created position of president at Danisco's Cultures Division. GCI Nutrients Canada has recruited Constance Elliott as director of sales and marketing. Prebiotics...