Nutraceuticals International articles from March 2003

Nutraceuticals International archives from March 2003

Roche finally sells vitamins business to DSM, but at a knock-down price.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Switzerland's Roche has finally completed its exit strategy from the vitamins, carotenoids and fine chemicals businesses by signing its previously-announced contract to sell these to Netherlands-based DSM (NIs vol 7, nos 9 and 11). However,...

Boiron turnover up on improving exports.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Leading French homeopathic drugmaker Boiron has reported a 7.8% increase in turnover for 2002 on the back of strong exports. The company rang up sales of 287.1 million euros ($307.7 million), while net profits are expected to be in excess of 22...

Profits up at BioGaia, Reuteri range strong.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Swedish probiotic developer and supplier BioGaia AB reported net sales of 43.1 million kronor ($5.1 million) for 2002. Excluding the divestment of its fermentation business, turnover reached 21.7 million kronor, an increase of 4.9 million...

Hungary's Plussz to focus on home front.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Hungarian dietary supplements manufacturer Plussz says that it will concentrate on regional sales growth as part of its development strategy, reports the Interfax news agency. The firm will also focus on brand development and portfolio...

Danone sales up 6%, denies Numico offer.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... French food and beverages giant Danone saw its profits leap upwards in 2002, on the back of a significant one-time gain and steady overall sales growth. The company has been on the divestment trail in recent months as it moves to dispose of all...

Kirin faces up to falling beer sales, looks to grow Chinese operations.(Kirin Brewery )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Japan-based drinks group Kirin Brewery reported a strong set of results for full-year 2002, on the back of lower costs, solid contributions from group companies and increased sales of so-called alcopops. However, the firm is facing a...

Wassen completes take over, budget to rise.(Wassen International sees management buyout of firm)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... UK-headquartered nutritional supplements manufacturer and marketer Wassen International says that a L6.6 million ($10.4 million) management buy-out of the firm, led by its managing director Michael Barber, has been successfully completed. The...

Cognis' Tonalin deal to become active.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... German chemicals and nutritional ingredient company Cognis says that a licensing agreement signed with Norway-based R&D firm Natural ASA in August 2002, relating to the latter's branded product Tonalin (conjugated linoleic acid) came into...

Boots to wind down Wellbeing initiative.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Boots, the UK pharmacy and over-the-counter retail chain, says it will bring to an end the alternative health services its offers across a number of its outlets. The company, which recently started the search for new senior managers after chief...

Wessanen sales down in 2002 on divestment.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Netherlands-based health food company Wessanen reported a decline in sales for 2002 on the back of lost revenues from the disposal of its Golden Foods franchise, as well as a poor showing from its US unit and European dairy operations....

Ocean Spray rejects Northland offer.(Ocean Spray rejected a hostile offer from Northland Cranberries)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Ocean Spray, the world's leading cranberry juice maker and a cooperative owned by 900 fruit growers in the USA and Canada, has rejected a hostile offer from Northland Cranberries, the second-largest firm in the sector. Northland's bid would...

Integrated Health acquires NuCycle.(Integrated Health Technologies acquired NuCycle Therapy)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Integrated Health Technologies, a diversified vitamin and nutritional company headquartered in New Jersey, USA, has acquired NuCycle Therapy for some 370,000 shares of common stock and 25% of the net profits of the latter until its shareholders...

HSG completes Quality Botanical buy.(Health Sciences Group says that it has completed its acquisition of Quality Botanical Ingredients)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Los Angeles, USA-based Health Sciences Group says that it has completed its acquisition of Quality Botanical Ingredients, a purchaser and manufacturer of bulk botanical and nutritional materials (NI vol 8, no 1). Fred Tannous, HSG's chief...

Leap in net loss at Galaxy.(Galaxy Nutritional Foods)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Galaxy Nutritional Foods, which makes plant-based dairy alternatives, has announced results for the third quarter of fiscal 2003 ended December 31, 2002, which show a net loss of nearly $750,000, or $0.06 per share, compared to a loss of about...

NAI helped by DTC sales.(Natural Alternatives International reports earnings)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Natural Alternatives International, which formulates and manufactures customized nutritional supplements, says that net income for the fiscal second-quarter ended December 31, 2002, was $149,000 or $0.02 per share, up from $64,000, or $0.01 per...

Pharmanex driving Nu Skin growth.(Nu Skin Enterprises reports earnings)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Nu Skin Enterprises says that, for the year ended December 2002, revenues increased 9% to $964.1 million, while net income grew to $64.8 million, or $0.78 per share, an increase of 28.8% compared to the previous year. Revenues at...

Reliv off to a good start.(Reliv International reports sales)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The USA's Reliv International, a manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements and food technology products, says that sales in January this year achieved record levels, up to $6.7 million. This is the highest one-month total for Reliv...

NIC content with results.(Nutraceutical International Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Nutraceutical International Corp has reported results for the fiscal- 2003 first quarter ended December 2002, which show an 18% increase to $28.9 million in revenues, while income before a change in accounting principle was $2.6 million...

Earnings hit at Nature's Sunshine.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Nature's Sunshine, which manufactures and markets encapsulated herbs and vitamins, has posted its full-year 2002 financials which show that sales declined 6.3% to $298.7 million, while net income slumped to $7.1 million, or $0.43 per share,...

ASA warns UK brewer over "healthy beer" ads.(Advertising Standards Authority )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has warned Hampshire-based brewer George Gale & Co that it has contravened guidelines in promoting Gales Best beer as making "a positive contribution to a healthy diet." The ad, printed on a beer mat...

Netherlands imposes strict new limits on PAHs in natural-source vitamin E.
March 1, 2003... The authorities in the Netherlands have imposed new requirements on levels of benzo(a)pyrene in natural-source vitamin E, after a sampling exercise conducted in January of this year found that some samples contained varying amounts of BaP,...

New sweetener for use in food in Ireland.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has granted a temporary authorization for the marketing and use of the sweetener sucralose as an ingredient in a range of foodstuffs and as a table top sweetener under the relevant provisions of Statutory...

Portugal issues draft food supps law.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A new draft law implementing the European Union Food Supplements Directive (NIs passim) has been issued by the Portuguese authorities which is more or less in line with EU legislation requirements, although it does stipulate some specific...

New moves on Italy's herbal rules.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Following a challenge to the rules recognizing herbal supplements last year by the Italian Herbalists' Federation, the FEI, and Italy's National Union of Herbalists, the UNERBE, the Administrative Court of the Region of Lazio has made its...

EU proposal to control micronutrients addition to all foods/drinks.
March 1, 2003... A new area of regulation which has been proposed by the European Commission will have serious implications for the nutraceutical industry in Europe. This legislation, for which a draft was published at the end of January 2003, has the...

The Genome Generation and Gray Disgracefuls of UK health care consumers.
March 1, 2003... 64% of women in the UK aged 20-29 believe all the daily health issues in their lives can now be dealt with through scientifically-based over- the-counter solutions, according to a new survey of 1,000 British women aged 20-40 conducted for...

EU food claims reg: Byrne seeks informed choice through science-based valuation.(European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne)
March 1, 2003... The demand for European Union legislation on food claims comes from right across the spectrum of interested parties, including industry, retailers and consumers, while the European Parliament has identified it as a priority measure, European...

Key trends in global market for dietetic foods assessed by Euromonitor.(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2003... Development of sales of dietetic foods in major markets varies according to the specific nature of each individual sector, but some overall factors have a significant influence, notes a new report from market analysts Euromonitor, entitled The...

Functional drinks grow at double digits.(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2003... The functional soft drinks market displayed double-digit growth across the USA, Japan and 16 west European countries in 2002, according to a new report from Zenith International, which lists a total of 785 new product launches and provides...

Vitamin C price set to stay above $4/kg.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The average price of vitamin C is expected to stay above $5 a kilogram in 2003, according to a company spokesman for China Pharmaceutical Enterprise & Investment Corp, the world's largest producer of this product, reports Dow Jones. This firm...

Blackmores Australia; correction.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2003... Contrary to what was printed in the January issue of NI, Blackmores is not being investigated by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration for making claims that are in breach of advertising regulations, the firm's public relations...

Nigeria prohibiting herbal drug ads.
March 1, 2003... Speaking about Nigeria's adulterated drugs problem, Joshua Eniojukan, director of the Registration and Regulatory Affairs Agency also warned against illegal advertisements of unregistered drugs, and said the advertising of herbal medicines, in...

Turkish importers fight supplement regs.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Food supplement companies working within the Turkish Food Importers Association (TUGIDER) have started to formulate their response to draft rules on food supplement registration requirements, which were published by the Turkish Ministry of...

Kampo training under scrutiny at symposium.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... There is a pressing need for medical training in Japan to develop in order to bring through physicians who can offer both western and oriental medicines. This was one of the main findings of the Kampo Medical Symposium 2003, entitled 21st...

$40M fund to widen access to Codex.(Codex Alimentarius)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A $40 million trust fund has been set up by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization in order to help the world's least-developed countries participate in Codex Alimentarius deliberations. The...

Australian state sets up health claims panel.(New South Wales is the state)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The government of New South Wales in Australia has unveiled plans to set up a Health Claims & Consumer Protection Advisory Committee, with the remit of reviewing existing laws and regulations available to stop health professionals making false...

US regulators start to tighten noose on ephedra supplements.
March 1, 2003... US federal health authorities have announced a fresh batch of measures to limit the risks of dietary supplements containing ephedra. They include a proposal for tough new label warnings on ephedra products, as well as action against marketers...

FDA clears qualified health claims for selenium, phosphatidylserine.(Wellness Lifestyles and Kyl Smith are involved)
March 1, 2003... The US Food and Drug Administration has allowed two qualified health claims apiece for dietary supplements containing selenium and phosphatidylserine. The claims were the subject of petitions filed by, respectively, Wellness Lifestyles...

Global Source products seized over claims.(Global Source Management and Consulting)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... US Marshals acting for the Food and Drug Administration have seized dietary supplements worth a total of nearly $19,000 from Global Source Management and Consulting of Sunrise, Florida. The FDA had previously warned the company that many of its...

CFSAN realigns dietary supplement office.(Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrion)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The US Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition has realigned its Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements. The Office now has separate units for dietary supplements, nutrition labeling...

Proposed GMPs: where are they?(Good Manufacturing Practice)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Another month has passed without the appearance of the Food and Drug Administration's long-awaited Good Manufacturing Practice proposals for dietary supplements. There was widespread speculation in late January that the GMP regulations were...

NEJM warning on piggyback advertising.(New England Journal of Medicine )
March 1, 2003... The New England Journal of Medicine has issued a warning about dietary supplement manufacturers using research published in the Journal to make deceptive advertising claims for their products. In an article headlined "Inappropriate...

Tetley launches Tea:therapy functional tea blends in the UK market.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Tetley Tea has branched out into the functional tea category in the UK with the launch of a new range of tea and herb blends which promise various physical and mental benefits. Tetley already emphasizes the health-benefiting aspects of...

UK's Golden Wonder launches fruit snack for kids called FruitWonders.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Golden Wonder of the UK, best known for its potato-based savories, has introduced a range of fruit-based snacks designed as an alternative to candy that will appeal to children and, more importantly, their parents. The FruitWonders range is...

Certified TeaForHealth launched in USA.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... US firm Dr Lee's TeaForHealth has started shipping a laboratory- certified, high-potency green tea, as well as a new steeper device intended to boost the levels of antioxidants in brewed tea, to its US customers. The company said in a statement...

"Topical" nutraceutical from Triad debuts.(Triad Specialty Products )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Triad Specialty Products has launched a product, called Escalade, which it describes as a "topical nutraceutical" for joints and muscles. The company claims that Escalade, which is applied directly to the skin, provides "immediate and targeted...

Airozin set for US launch in April as first medical food for asthma.
March 1, 2003... Pilot Therapeutics has set a date of April 7 for the first launch of Airozin, its medical food product intended for individuals with asthma. The product will initially roll out in North and South Carolina, USA, which will serve as test markets...

AutoImmune starts Colloral sales in USA.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... AutoImmune has begun direct sales of Colloral, its collagen-based product for nutritional support of people with rheumatoid arthritis, through its joint venture with Deseret Laboratories International. The product was originally developed as a...

Humanetics says 7-Keto product cuts weight.
March 1, 2003... Humanetics Corp of the USA has reported the top-line results of a clinical trial looking at the effects of its dietary ingredient 7-Keto, as a key part of a supplement formulation developed by Satori Global Technologies, on weight loss....

Teriaka's Diminicol rated GRAS by FDA.(Generally Recognized As Safe status )
March 1, 2003... Paulig Group subsidiary Teriaka has been granted Generally Recognized As Safe status in the USA for Diminicol, its phytosterol-based cholesterol-lowering ingredient. The new ingredient will rival the likes of McNeil Consumer Health/Raisio's...

Nutrition 21 launches Lite Bites to retailers.(Lite Bites Fat Fighting System )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Nutrtion 21 of New York, USA, has introduced its Lite Bites Fat Fighting System nutrition bars in their first retail test market. The range had earlier only been available through the QVC Home Shopping Network, but will now roll out in 50 Sam's...

MindFX Science unveils "college" supplements.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... MindFX Science of Los Angeles, USA, has introduced a range of herbal supplement products intended to answer the nutritional needs of college and other students, with the emphasis on providing an alternative to sugar and caffeine drinks for...

Recovery Pharma's new product for alcoholics.(Recovery Pharmaceuticals launches ThiaSure)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Recovery Pharmaceuticals of the USA has introduced a new dietary supplement intended to address the nutritional deficiencies found in many alcoholics. The new product, ThiaSure, contains a lipid-soluble form of thiamine, "a form of vitamin B1...

SCOLR ships BIO-tract to first customer.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... SCOLR (formerly Nutraceutix) has shipped its first consignment of BIO- tract, a targeted probiotic delivery technology designed to improve the survival of beneficial bacteria until they reach the lower gastrointestinal tract. However, the...

Colostrum technology bought by Pharmanex.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Pharmanex of Utah, USA, which produces science-supported nutritional supplements and is perhaps best known for its Cholestin cholesterol- lowering product, has recently acquired what it claims is a unique patented technology which can...

Nutrophy latest co to offer tailored nutrition.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... A new US company called Nutrophy, based in Miami, Florida, has become the latest company claiming to offer personalized nutritional therapy to consumers based on a survey of their diet and lifestyle habits and a sample of body fluids such as...

Herbn Love drink rolls out in USA.(HerbnTonics is the supplier)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Florida-based firm HerbnTonics has launched a new drink in the USA which promises to pep up the sex lives of those who drink it. Herbn Love is akin to an energy drink, coming in a similar "tall and skinny" eight-ounce can and containing...

Pinnacle WOW drink launched in USA.(Adirondack Pure Springs and Bodyonics join forces)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... US alternative beverages company Adirondack Pure Springs has joined forces with dietary supplement firm Bodyonics to introduce a new energy drink. Pinnacle WOW, which stands for Whacked Out Water, is claimed to be the first energy drink...

Vitamin D prevents fractures in elderly.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Vitamin D supplements can reduce fractures in men and women aged over 65 living in the general community, according to a clinical trial reported in the British Medical Journal (March 1). The study included 2,686 people (2,037 men and 649...

Wrigley pulls Surpass gum off US maket.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Wrigley has announced that it will stop shipping its Surpass antacid chewing gum as of March 28. The product was introduced two years ago by Wrigley's health care division as a functional gum providing heartburn relief. "Despite its...

Spectrum Foods unveils non-GM, organic soy.(Nexsoy is the brand)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Illinois, USA-based Spectrum Foods has launched a new range of non- genetically-modified, organic soy ingredients under the Nexsoy brand. The range is said to be free of the "beany" taste that some consumers dislike in soyfoods.

Coca-Cola launches Bonaqua in Latvia.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Coca-Cola was gearing up to launch a new vitamin-fortified cranberry and grapefruit-flavored drink in its Bonaqua range in Latvia during February, according to Baltic Business News. The drink contains B vitamins and added minerals and will be...

Central Soya introduces new soy protein.(Alpha 5812 has been introduced)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Central Soya of the USA has introduced Alpha 5812 soy protein, the second product in the Alpha range. The product takes the form of a spray-dried, dispersible soy protein intended for use in dry powdered beverage mixes and other applications...

B&L launches eye supplement in UK.(Bausch & Lomb's UK subidiary launches OcuVite PreserVision)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Opthalmic product specialist Bausch & Lomb has introduced a new antioxidant dietary supplement which offers the same active ingredients, at the same doses, as the therapy for age-related macular degeneration used in the Age-Related Eye Disease...

Andean Medicine Centre's sore throat spray.(Vilcacora with Thyme has been launched)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Andean Medicine Centre of the UK has lauched a herbal spray to soothe sore throats. The product, Vilcacora with Thyme, combines liquid extracts of the Amazonian herb vilcacora (Uncaria tomentosa) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) in a 30ml bottle and...

Pronova launches Triomega for women.(Pronova Biocare)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Norway's Pronova Biocare has launched a supplement for females, Triomega Woman, based on omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and viamins D and E. The firm already markets Triomega products for chldren and general use.

Brunel intoduces gelatin-free VMS range.(Brunel Healthcare)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Brunel Healthcare of the UK has introduced two new items in its vertese range of gelatin-free soft capsule vitamin and mineral supplements, namely vertese Omega Oils 3+6+9 and Flaxseed Oil and vertese Omega Oils 3+6+9 500mg.

Mediterranean diet helps in arthritis.
March 1, 2003... Eating a Mediterranean diet can significantly lessen the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, according to the results of a small Swedish study reported in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2003; 62: 208-14). However, the study has also shown...

Eat fruit in childhood to ward off illness.
March 1, 2003... A childhood diet rich in fruit may protect against the development of certain cancers in later life, according to the results of a long-term study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (2003; 57: 218-25). The findings...

Forthcoming meetings/events.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... - Natural Products Europe, joined this year for the first time by a sister event, Organic Products Europe, will take place April 6-7 in London, UK. More information is available at www.naturalproducts.co.uk; - Food Ingredients Central &...

People on the move.(Nutraceutical industry staff briefs)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... - Royal Numico of the Netherlands has announced the appointment Jean- Marc Huet as chief financial officer, replacing Pim Oomens who has just resigned. This is the latest in a wave of executive replacements at the firm (NI vol 8, no 2); -...