Nutraceuticals International articles from July 2006

Nutraceuticals International archives from July 2006

EU official gives overview on food health claim regulations at AESGP meeting.
July 1, 2006... An overview of the European Commission's current legislative progam in the area of food was presented by Basil Mathioudakis, its Head of the Unit for Food Law, Nutrition and Labeling at the recent annual meeting of the Association of the...

UK Foods Standards Agency assesses high-dose vitamins and minerals.
July 1, 2006... The UK Food Standards Agency has published its survey of the high-dose vitamin and mineral supplements market in Britain, aimed at generating data on the market's size and to find out to what extent advisory statements are being used on these...

UK's FSA casts doubts over omega-3s and increased learning ability in children.
July 1, 2006... The UK Food Standards Agency has published a systematic review into the effect of diet and nutrition on the learning, education and school performance of children which, it said, found little evidence that omega-3 fish oils enhanced their...

EFSA consults on "hybrid" GMs.(European Food Safety Authority)(genetically modified organisms)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The European Food Safety Authority says it has launched a new public consultation on the approach of its genetically-modified organisms panel in carrying out risk assessments on "hybrid" GM plants. The EFSA will also publish a draft...

"Stumbling blocks" for CTD dossiers of herbal medicinals slammed at conf.
July 1, 2006... At an international conference entitled "The New Regulatory Framework for Herbal Medicinal Products" last month in Vienna, Austria, Rainer Kolkmann, one of the executives of the strategic consutants DiapharmGruppe addressed the appeal to the...

New EFSA Executive Director outlines future priorities for the agency.
July 1, 2006... On July 4, Catherine Geslain-Laneelle took up her post as the European Food Safety Authority's new Executive Director (NI vol 11, no 5). She will be in charge of steering the EFSA through to its next stage of development during her five-year...

EMEA makes statement on hepatic reactions to Black Cohosh root.
July 1, 2006... The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has issued a public statement to inform patients and health care professionals of the potential connection between herbal medicinal products containing Cimicifugae racemosae rhizoma (Black Cohosh, root) and...

Unlocking growth in food supplements.
July 1, 2006... A vision of "how to unlock the growth potential in food supplements," was presented by Peter Shotter, head of the consumer health care division and member of the pharmaceutical management board at Germany's Merck KGaA. Speaking at the recent...

A critical look at UK FSA's research report on high-dose supplements.
July 1, 2006... At the end of June, the UK Food Standards Agency published its market research findings on high dose vitamin and mineral supplements and the use of the advisory statements. The public version (see page 2) contained less detail than that which...

UK FSA health claims guidance updated.
July 1, 2006... A review of voluntary guidelines that advise manufacturers how to submit evidence on which health claims on food labels are based, has found a high level of user satisfaction, but also recommended a number of improvements, says the UK's Food...

Mandatory folic acid fortification of bread recommended in Ireland.
July 1, 2006... Mandatory fortification with folic acid of most white, brown and wholemeal breads on sale in Ireland is the policy recommendation contained in a report presented to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, by the...

FDA warns on dangerous ingredients in "dietary supps" for sexual enhancement.(Food and Drug Administration)
July 1, 2006... The US Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to purchase or consume products which are marketed under the brand names Zimaxx, Libidus, Neophase, Nasutra, Vigor-25, Actra-Rx or 4EVERON. These products are promoted and sold on...

AHA guidelines miss the mark, says CRN.(American Heart Association)(Council for Responsible Nutrition)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Commenting on the American Heart Association's recent new 2006 diet and lifestyle recommendations, the US Council for Responsible Nutrition noted that the AHA wants everyone to get all their nutrients from conventional foods. However, it said,...

US S-3546 - Dietary Supps Non-Rx consumer protection Act welcomed.
July 1, 2006... The US Council for Responsible Nutrition, the United Natural Products Alliance and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association have applauded Senators Orrin Hatch (Republican-Utah), Tom Harkin (Democrat- Iowa) and Richard Durbin...

US CRN announces keynote speakers for its September conference in Boston.
July 1, 2006... The US Council for Responsible Nutrition has announced three keynote speakers for its 2006 annual symposium on dietary supplements, taking place at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, from September 16-19. Dan Pink, Mary Lou...

USA's NNFA becomes Natural Product Assoc.
July 1, 2006... In conjunction with the celebration of its 70th anniversary, the USA's National Nutritional Foods Association has announced that it has changed its name to the Natural Products Association. The new name, which was said to have been...

USA's CRN risk assessments for non-essential nutrients takes in expert views.
July 1, 2006... The US Council for Responsible Nutrition has authored risk assessments for Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), carotenoids lutein and lycopene, and creatine monohydrate. The assessments, published by the peer-reviewed journal Regulatory Toxicology and...

Americans "know what they're missing in their diets" - new public opinion survey.
July 1, 2006... Nearly six Americans in 10 (58%) acknowledge that they do not eat a balanced diet on a regular basis, according to a new survey commissioned by the US Council for Responsible Nutrition. Although 81% of those questioned said that eating a...

Health Canada warns on foreign products.
July 1, 2006... The Canadian medicines regulator, Health Canada, is advising consumers not to use the following foreign products due to concerns about possible side effects. - Zhuifeng Tougu Wan -a traditional Chinese medicine (intended use unknown) which...

Australia's first vits cartel action.
July 1, 2006... In Australia's first cartel class action, three multinational vitamin manufacturers have agreed to pay A$30.5 million ($22.8 million) to small businesses which were forced to pay artificially inflated prices. This ends a seven-year legal battle...

Benzene found in Australian beverages.
July 1, 2006... Traces of benzene were found in half the beverage products tested in a recent Australian study, and up to four times the World Health Organization's bench-mark level, prompting Food Standards Australia New Zealand to ask Australian beverage...

India NRHM's to cover traditional medicines.
July 1, 2006... A senior Indian Health Ministry official said the government is doing its best to bring all the country's traditional medicines into the National Rural Health Mission, but admitted that progress has so far been slow. The NRHM has used a...

S Africa's HPA debuts self-monitoring prog.
July 1, 2006... The Health Products Association of South Africa, the industry body for dietary supplements and complementary medicines, has launched a self- monitoring program to root out products making false claims of effectiveness. Reporting the action,...

World nutraceutical news briefs.(vitamin A supplements for children)(flour mills ordered to add folic acid and iron to wheat flour)(Al'Faiz Industries Sdn Bhd plans to sell health drinks)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... - The Lao Public Health Minister, Phonmek Daraloy, has asked hospitals in Laos to administer vitamin A supplements to as many children as possible, according to the KPL news agency. This will be an important measure to prevent blindness, it was...

Enzymotec debuts new cognitive ingr.(ingredients)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Enzymotec, an Israeli based biotechology firm developing and manufacturing bio-functional ingredients for the dietary supplements, has launched L-a-glycerophosphrylcholine, also known a apha-GPC, for neurological disorders. Also known as...

Australian scientists seek ways to make antioxidant-rich processed foods.
July 1, 2006... Scientists at Food Science Australia (FSA), based in Melbourne, Victoria, are seeking methods of producing a new generation of antioxidant-rich processed food products incorporating phenolic compounds to protect against oxidative stress,...

Goldshield Pharma discusses Ostex and Flexeze in osteoarthritis at UK drug launch.
July 1, 2006... A recent London press briefing saw UK-based drugmaker and health care company Goldshield Pharmaceuticals discuss its range of glucosamine sulphate-based products, Ostex and Flexeze, and their use in the prevention of osteoarthritis and related...

EuroPharma gains rights to Vectomega.
July 1, 2006... US firm EuroPharma has obtained the North American distribution rights to what it says is a "revolutionary" omega-3 phospholipid complex with DHA/EPA, called Vectomega. Molecularly different from other omega-3s on the market, this new complex...

Further benefits of fish omega-3s found.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Improving blood circulation, turning off inflammation, inhibiting certain brain and eye diseases, and preventing the spread of prostate cancer to bone are a few of the potential benefits of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in fish or...

Mediterranean diet benifits heart disease.
July 1, 2006... In what is being hailed as one of the world's largest and longest dietary intervention studies, early results indicate that the so-called Mediterranean diet may reduce the risks of heart attack and cardiovascular disease by half. In an...

Robeks' "Smoothie" an ideal meal; study.
July 1, 2006... Robeks Corp, a US retail juice franchising company, has announced the results of a study which compared the nutritional content of the firm's fruit smoothie to four other meal options. The study found the Robesks' smoothie offered the...

New food review: Tesco tomatoes, Flora chocolates join superfood bandwagon.
July 1, 2006... Manufacturers have become more innovative in their quest to exploit the growing appeal of health foods, notes a new review from Datamonitor. UK retailer Tesco has introduced a new type of tomato that contains high levels of the antioxidant...

C-Ice marijuana tea introduced in UK.
July 1, 2006... A marijuana-based tea drink has been launched in health food stores in the UK. According to Brand Republic, C-Ice Swiss Cannabis Ice Tea is already sold throughout Europe. Levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, the key psychoactive responsible...

Oatly to repackage for UK market.(Ceba Foods AB)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Sweden's Ceba Foods AB says that Oatly, its range of oat-based alternatives to dairy milk, will be repackaged in "striking and consumer-friendly" format to acclerate its growth in the UK market. The Lund-headquartered firm says that it has...

Unilever seeks UK appro for ice cream ingredient.
July 1, 2006... Unilever NV is seeking approval of a process that will allow it to manufacture an ingredient for low-fat ice cream. According to the BBC web site, the Anglo-Dutch consumer products giant has made an application to the UK Food Standards Agency...

Novogen's isoflavone patent upheld.
July 1, 2006... The Vienna Commercial Court in Austria has found that Australian biotechnology firm Novogen's patent covering its red clover isoflavone product is "novel and inventive," meaning that Vitalady, a menopause product made by Austria's APOtrend...

Baywood launches Magnesium FIZZ in USA.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Arizona, USA-based Baywood International has introduced Magnesium FIZZ, a product it describes as an "optimal combination of magnesium, vitamin C, potassium, vitamins B5 and B6, along with manganese, zinc, folate, biotin, chromium and selenium,...

Cornelius to distribute Degussa's Creapure.
July 1, 2006... The UK-based Cornelius group has been appointed distributor of Degussa's creatine sports nutrtion supplement Creapure, a fresh approach remarked on for its ultra-high (minimum 99.95%) purity value, the firm says. Creatine monohydrate is...

Nerviano to develop two novel Indena drugs.
July 1, 2006... Indena SpA, a world leader in the development and production of active principles derived from plants, has entered a drug development agreement with fellow Italy-based Nerviano Medical Sciences, the largest pharmaceutical R&D facility in the...

New study supports benefits of INI's Cinnulin.
July 1, 2006... Integrity Nutraceuticals International says that a water-soluble, cinnamon extract, similar to the one it markets as Cinnulin PF, reduces fasting blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. The data, published in a recent issue of the...

G&G welcomes data on garlic's cancer benefits.
July 1, 2006... UK-based health supplement manufacturer G&G Vitamins welcomed recent data on the benefits of garlic. According to the firm, data on the anticarcinogenic effects of the bulbous herb Allium sativum is growing more and more evident. For instance,...

Enzymotec in deal with South Korea's Il Dong.
July 1, 2006... Israeli biotechnology company Enzymotec and Korean drugmaker Il Dong have announced the signing of an agreement for launching a novel supplement for cardiovascular disease prevention onto the Korean market. "Enzymotec has developed...

ReGen signs Colostrinin deal with Metagenics.
July 1, 2006... London, UK-based ReGen Therapeutics has followed up on its promise to announce a marketing deal in the USA (NI vol 11, no 5), saying that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Metagenics for the commercialization of its...

India's wockhardt buys nutra brands.
July 1, 2006... Pharmaceutical and biotechnology major Wockhardt of India says that it has acquired Dumex India, along with its two products, Protinex and Farex, India's best-known nutrition brands, from Royal Numico NV of the Netherlands, for an undisclosed...

Danone invests in Chinese firm.
July 1, 2006... Leading France-headquartered dairy and food products firm Groupe Danone says that it has acquired 22.18% of the Chinese fruit beverages company China Hui Yuan Juice Holdings Co ("Hui Yuan"), noting that this agreement reflects its strategy of...

China Health to buy stake in Henan Furen.(China Health Holdings acquires Furen Pharmaceuticals)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Beijing-based China Health Holdings, a developer, manufacturer and marketer of natural herbal supplements based on traditional Chinese medicines, says it has entered into a letter of intent with Furen Pharmaceuticals of China to acquire a 51%...

Wright Group in pact with Spain's Puleva.
July 1, 2006... US functional food specialist The Wright Group has set up a joint venture with Spanish nutraceuticals company Puleva Biotech to develop new products and markets for omega-3 essential fatty acids. Under the terms of the deal, Wright will...

Lipid Nutrition links with Tempo Canada.
July 1, 2006... Lipid Nutrition, an Illinois, USA-based division of Loders Croklaan, says it has entered into a strategic partnership with Tempo Canada to further expand their businesses in the latter territory. Lipid Nutrition specialises in weight...

Natural Health feels effect of KGC sale.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... US direct-sales company Natural Health Trends, which specializes in multivitamins and mineral supplements, says turnover decreased 8% to $39.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006, and a net loss of $1.1 million, or $0.15 per...

Herbalife looks at refinancing plan.
July 1, 2006... USA-based Herbalife, a network marketer of nutritional supplements, says it is considering refinancing with a new senior secured credit facility. If a refinancing deal does take place, some of the proceeds may be used to repay or redeem...

US advisors for Asia.
July 1, 2006... A new firm, Nutra Services International, has been launched by two industry executives, Ken Roffe and Steve Hanson, which aims to help dietary supplement companies succeed in Asia. Mr Hanson said the service "allows companies to expand...

EU sugar reforms spoil Danisco's good year.
July 1, 2006... Danish food ingredients giant Danisco says that its revenue for the 12 months ended April 2006 grew 17% on the previous fiscal period, to 20.91 billion kroner ($3.57 billion), boosted by strong performance from its ingredients business, which...

Indena's full-year 2005 revenues increase 19%.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Indena, a privately-owned Italian company specializing in the identification and production of plant-derived active principles, says that, in full-year 2005, its turnover rose 19% on 2004, to 170.0 million euros ($215.7 million). The firm noted...

Nestle buys Jenny Craig for $600 million.
July 1, 2006... Swiss food and beverage giant Nestle SA has agreed with a private equity group including ACI Capital and MidOcean Partners to acquire of Jenny Craig, a US weight-management company offering consumers a range of branded nutritional products and...

Hain buys assets of Linda McCartney brand.
July 1, 2006... The USA's Hain Celestial group, a leading producer of organic food and personal care products, says that it has acquired, under license, the Linda McCartney brand frozen meat-free business from the UK's HJ Heinz Company. The Melville, New...

Lifeway sees 2nd-qtr 2006 sales rise 26%.(Fortune Small Business)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Illinois, USA-based Lifeway Foods, a supplier of the cultured dairy product Kefir, says that, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2006, its sales increased 26% to $6.3 million, up from the $5.0 million it earned in the comparable period last...

GNC reports 2nd-qtr 2006 sales growth.
July 1, 2006... USA-based GNC Corp, the largest global retailer of nutritional supplements, says that is domestic same store sales for the second- quarter 2006 increased 11.6% for corporate stores, including 1.4% growth of Internet sales. In addition, the firm...

NAI announces record 4th-qtr sales.(Natural Alternatives International Inc.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... California, USA-based customized nutritional supplements specialist Natural Alternatives International says that it achieved net sales of $33.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. The firm added that this record level of sales...

Zila set to divest nutraceuticals unit and concentrate on its oral cancer products.
July 1, 2006... The news that Zila Inc of Arizona, USA, has suffered yet another sharp revenue decline has been overshadowed by the company announcing its intention to divest its nutraceuticals unit. The Phoenix-based firm noted that, for the third quarter...

Martek links up with Korea's Namyang.(Martek Biosciences Corp contract with Namyang dairy products)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The USA's Martek Biosciences Corp says that it has entered into a major license and supply agreement with the leading South Korean infant formula company, Namyang Dairy Products. Under the terms of the deal, Namyang can use Martek's...

Forthcoming meetings/events.
July 1, 2006... l The Asia Beverages Market conference will take place September 7-8 at the Meritus Mandarin Hotel in Singapore. For more information on the conference, described by its organizer, The Asia Business Forum, as "practical business intelligence...

People on the move.
July 1, 2006... - Dutch nutritional and pharmaceutical ingredients company DSM has promoted Jan-Paul de Vries to the post of chief marketing officer and corporate vice president, communications, effective November 1. He replaces Bernard van Schaik, who has...