Nutraceuticals International articles from March 2004

Nutraceuticals International archives from March 2004

Plant-based therapies under threat in Spain.
March 1, 2004... Spanish producers of special plant- and herb-based medicinal products and dietary supplements have complained that the Ministry of Health's recently-imposed restrictions on the use of 197 plants in therapeutic products because of their alleged...

EU to regulate PAHs in supplements.(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
March 1, 2004... The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in foods has been of concern for a number of years, and a particular worry in the Europe Union for the past two years. Product surveillance carried out within the EU, especially in the...

EP tasks ahead of dissolution.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Before its dissolution this May ahead of June elections, the European Parliament has a number of important decisions which are required to be finalized, among which are nutritional labeling and a proposal to amend the novel foods regulation.

Challenges facing vitamins, minerals, supps and tonics in Europe.
March 1, 2004... With 43% of market sales coming from growth brands there are some attractive opportunities in an otherwise gloomy European vitamins, minerals, supplements and tonics markets, so says a new eight European country report, Vitamins, Minerals,...

EU helps fund project to investigate health benefits of seafood.
March 1, 2004... The Danish Institute for Fisheries Research, a government body, says that the European Union is sponsoring an integrated seafood research project that, in its form and scale, is unique throughout Europe. Under the name SEAFOODplus, the main...

Vits and herbal news from eastern Europe.(B&V Herbs OOD to start new facility for the processing of medicinal herbs)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... B&V Herbs OOD, a Bulgarian-Dutch joint venture established in Bulgaria late last year, is building a modern facility for the processing of medicinal herbs in the Troyan region of the country, according to the Bulgarian Economic Review. Drying...

Irradiation still a problem with herbal supplements on Irish market.
March 1, 2004... The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has once again discovered worrying levels of irradiation in herbal supplements on the Irish market. Moreover, none of the supplements identified as irradiated in the second such investigation by the FSAI in...

Energy drinks under scrutiny in Ireland.(Ireland's Department of Health)
March 1, 2004... Ireland's Department of Health is taking another look at energy drinks in the light of the recent European Court of Justice decision that upheld the French ban on Red Bull and other caffeine-enhanced drinks. The court's judgment, which...

Blacklists resisted for fortified foods.
March 1, 2004... European Union discussions in Parliament on the European Commission's proposed regulation for fortified foods are stiffening resistance to one of its more contentious provisions: the negative lists envisaged for substances other than vitamins...

EFSA head weighs in on health claims.(European Food Safety Authority)
March 1, 2004... The head of the new European Food Safety Authority has thrown his weight behind the controversial provisions for nutrient profiling in the European Commission's proposed regulation on nutrition and health claims (NIs passim). In an...

Latest NFPA, CHPA responses to FDA call for comment on qualified health claims.(National Food Processors Association)(Consumer Healthcare Products Association )(United States Food and Drug Administration )
March 1, 2004... The US National Food Processors Association has urged the Food and Drug Administration to provide flexibility in making qualified health claims or dietary guidance statements on food labels. This recommendation was made in comments...

US grocery manufacturers urge FDA for carbohydrate claims regulations.
March 1, 2004... The Grocery Manufacturers of America has called on the US Food and Drug Administration to establish new regulations for carbohydrate nutrient content claims. The current lack of such regulations limits the ability of food and beverage companies...

Low-carb foods "create new health problems".(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Cutting the carbohydrates out of wheat products and concentrating the gluten and allergenic proteins, as is the norm in the popular new low- carb breads and pasta, is a disaster, says US nutritionist Melissa Diane Smith. "People who load...

US FDA Final Rule bans sale of ephedra-containing diet supps, effective April 12.
March 1, 2004... The US Food and Drug Administration has now issued a Final Rule banning the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids (ephedra) because, it concludes, they present an unreasonable risk of illness or injury. The Rule was...

US study shows supps brand satisfaction.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... According to a study by the USA's ConsumerLab.com, 78% of consumers recently surveyed report being "extremely" or "very" satisfied with the supplement brands they used. Ratings varied by brand, with the highest for Nutrilite (96%), a...

A reflection on the impact of DSHEA on global supplement regs.(Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act)
March 1, 2004... With the US Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act almost 10 years old, it is interesting to reflect on the impact it has had on the global supplements industry over the past decade. The passing of DSHEA in 1994 and its introduction in...

WHO guidelines for medicinal plants address quality, biodiversity.
March 1, 2004... A downside to the growing use of herbal medicines worldwide has been the corresponding increase in reports of adverse reactions to these products. New guidelines from the World Health Organization tackle what the WHO sees as a root cause of...

NZ moves ahead on permitted list for complementary medicines.(New Zealand)
March 1, 2004... The treaty for a single therapeutic products agency signed last December by the Australian and New Zealand governments may have infuriated the more vocal elements of the NZ dietary supplements sector (NI vol 9, no 1). But some sections of the...

Vitamin D may protect against MS.(multiple sclerosis)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Results from a new study published in the January 13 issue of Neurology suggests that vitamin D from dietary supplements significantly reduces the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. The analysis included 187,563 women, enrolled in the...

Melatonin - new role as antihypertensive?(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Melatonin supplements, which are currently used to lessen the effects of jet lag, may also help reduce blood pressure, according to findings reported in the February issue of Hypertension. In the study, conducted at the Netherlands...

Capsaicin shows promise against cancer.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Several recent studies have demonstrated that capsaicin, the principal ingredient of red pepper, may actually prevent the growth of certain types of cancer. In a Japanese study, the effects of capsaicin on leukemic cells in vitro and in...

Fiber from fruits and cereals reduces CHD.(coronary heart disease)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... According to an article published in the February 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, dietary fiber obtained from fruits, vegetables, grains and cereals may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering blood pressure and...

Pycnogenol reduces need for antihypertensives.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... New research conducted by Chinese scientists showed that supplementation with the antioxidant Pycnogenol over 12 weeks allowed patients with high blood pressure to reduce their dosage of the calcium antagonist nifedipine.

Fats damage neurons in AD patients.(Alzheimer's disease)
March 1, 2004... Research presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Seattle, suggests that alterations in fats may contribute to a "neurodegenerative cascade" that destroys neurons in Alzheimer's disease...

Cholesterol-lowering supp from Berkeley.(Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals introduces supplement Rovicid)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... USA-based Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals has launched Rovicid, which the firm describes as a once-daily, gentle dietary supplement that helps support improved cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol, onto the domestic market. The...

Anti-oxidant ice cream launched in Australia.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Wendy's Supa Sundaes has introduced the first anti-oxidant-enriched ice cream in Australia. Marketed under its existing Chocollo brand, this innovative product contains Wendy's' 99% fat-free Chocollo formulation with Vinlife, a rich and...

Melatonin milk being launched in UK.(Night-Time Milk Co)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... UK scientists have concluded research on a new type of milk which is said to help people with sleep problems to establish improved nocturnal patterns within just two weeks. The milk, which contains higher levels of melatonin, comes from dairy...

Natural Bio debuts Young Bones in USA.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Taiwanese biotechnology firm Sagittarius Life Sciences' US subsidiary, Natural Bio Care, has launched Young Bones, an all-natural bone health supplement designed to strengthen bones and temper the pain and stiffness associated with aging and...

Soy-enriched bread from Allied Bakeries.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Allied Bakeries has introduced a soy-enriched bread in the UK under its Burgen range, which contains Abacor, a patented soy composition developed by Norway's Nutri Pharma, that is said to reduce cholesterol. (see also page 22). Abacor is a...

Apple-extract nutras developed in NZ.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... New health products based on apple extracts are being developed jointly by Enzafoods New Zealand and the NZ government's HortResearch, according to NI's local correspondent. Apples are a rich source of fiber, pectin and vitamin C, but also...

GNC takes on Scolr's CDT glucosamine.(General Nutrition Centers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... USA-based Scolr says that General Nutrition Centers, the largest US retailer of nutritional supplements, is now carrying CDT (controlled delivery technology) glucosamine and chondroitin. The 12-hour formulation of 500mg glucosamine and 400mg...

Tsumura developing herbal HRT for USA.(hormone replacement therapy)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Japanese company Tsumura plans to begin developing Chinese herbal medicines in the USA. The company is working with Gregory Plotnikoff, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, who is currently researching traditional medicines at...

Berkeley launches Rogisen and Altovis.(product introduction)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... USA-based Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals says it has introduced two new products on the domestic market, one aimed at improving night vision and the other to help combat fatigue. The first is Rogisen, a once-daily, non-prescription dietary...

Millennium Health's appetite suppressant.(Hoodia gordonii)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... A 100% pure Hoodia gordonii product, which is said to curb appetite and help prevent obesity (based on studies by the UK drug firm Phytopharma), has been launched onto the North American market by Millennium Health supplements (Canada).When...

Emmi introduces lactose-free milk.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Swiss dairy company Emmi AG has launched a lactose-free milk, based on a manufacturing process developed and patented by Finland's Valio. The 1.5% fat content milk drink is 100% lactose-free and, according to Emmi, has an "unparalleled,...

Pharm East launches Holistrol for BP.(blood pressure control)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Hawaii, USA-based Pharm East has launched a natural remedy, Holistrol, which is said to safely and effectively help support healthy blood pressure without side effects. Holistrol, a patent-pending proprietary herbal blend, contains natural...

Emer'gen-C fastest-growing vit C in USA.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Alacer Corp's Emer'gen-C brand vitamin drink mix has been cited as the fastest-growing vitamin-C brand out of the top 10 sold in US food and drug outlets and mass merchandisers, according to data from market research firm A C Nielson. The...

EU clears L-carnitine L-tartrate for Parnuts.(European Union. European Food Safety Authority services)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Swiss chemicals group Lonza says that L-carnitine L-tartrate has been approved in the European Union for use in all foods intended for particular nutritional uses (Parnuts). The company is the world's leading manufacturer of L-carnitine. ...

St John's wort safety stressed by BR Pharm.(misleading information)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... UK health care products supplier BR Pharmaceuticals has dismissed claims that St John's wort is often packaged with misleading information, stressing that its own supplement is still safe to consume. Recent research has suggested that many St...

Directly Young debuts SeroFem in USA.(product introduction)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... SeroFem, claimed to be the first serotonin supplement designed to meet the needs of menopausal women and those afflicted with premenstrual syndrome, has been introduced in the USA by Directly Young. In addition to serotonin, a naturally...

Betapol lipid gains US GRAS status.(Generally Recognized As Safe status )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The US Food and Drug Administration has conferred Generally Recognized As Safe status - for use in infant formulae - on Betapol lipid, a human milk fat replacement produced by Lipid Nutrition, part of the Dutch Loders Croklaan group, according...

Three Pharbio prods launched in Spain.(production introduction)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Swedish drugmaker Cederroth has launched three new products from its Pharbio natural medicines line to treat insomnia, nervousness and urinary retention in Spain under the trade names Valsedan, Relana and Diurette respectively. In a statement,...

Thebe's Probiotics study causes a stir.(probiotic products recalled for study)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... South Africa's Thebe Pharmaceuticals, a division of Thebe Investment Corp, is being threatened with legal action for promoting a scientific study which appears to discredit its competitors in the probiotic market, reports the Business Day...

Cargill and Mistui deal for erythritol in Japan.(distribution agreement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... USA-based Cargill and Japan's Mitsui have entered into an agreement for the distribution of Cargill-made erythritol to food company customers in Japan. Under the terms of the accord, Mitsui subsidiary Nikken Fine Chemicals will be...

Reliv operations head for Singapore.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... US nutritional supplements firm Reliv International will initiate sales operations in Singapore on March 22. This opening sees the company serving five markets in the Asia-Pacific region and 10 countries worldwide. Reliv's chief executive,...

Clover forms JV to drive soy bean sales.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Australia's Clover Corp has developed and licensed a processed soy matrix technology, with the aim of delivering the health benefits of soy beans without their bland taste, reports NutraIngredients.com. Clover is hoping to increase demand for...

Fonterra plans to fully acquire Soprole.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... New Zealand-based Fonterra is planning to purchase the remaining 43% of its Chilean dairy venture Soprole. The proposed move comes from the decision to fold Soprole into the company's Dairy Partners Americas venture with Switzerland's Nestle,...

Inovatech unveils new name and logo.(unit renamed as Vitalus Nutrition)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Canada's egg ingredients company Inovatech has renamed its nutrition unit Vitalus Nutrition, and has assigned a new logo to the business, which manufactures a range of speciality proteins with a focus on dairy products, reports NutraIngredients...

Renaissance fights for HCA patent in India.(Vittal Mallya Scientific Research Foundation)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... California, USA-headquartered Renaissance Herbs has filed hydroxycitric acid patent revocation petitions in the Indian court system against the Vittal Mallya Scientific Research Foundation. Petitions were filed in late 2003 on six Indian...

Norway's Nutri Pharma comes through tough year with high hopes for Abacor.(sales and earnings)
March 1, 2004... Nutri Pharma ASA of Norway has posted a major reduction in net loss for full-year 2003, noting that it fell to 10.5 million Norwegian kroner ($9.6 million) compared with 66.6 million kroner in 2002. Rather more disappointing was the news...

Turbulent times at Royal Wessanen.(decline in sales)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Dutch health and wellness firm Royal Wessanen has posted a 6% decline in sales for 2003 to 2.41 billion euros ($3.0 billion) but, more worryingly, reported a net loss of 34.2 million euros compared with a profit of 101.4 million euros in 2002....

Rising sales lift Puleva's profits.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Puleva Biotech, a leading Spanish biotechnology and nutraceuticals company, posted a 57% jump in 2003 net profit to 1.9 million euros ($2.4 million), boosted by a strong third-party R&D business and the launch of its key CV-17 nutritional...

Himalaya Drug targets new export markets.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Indian herbal health care major Himalaya Drug Co says it plans to enter more export markets in Europe, Russia, the Far East and South America for its personal care and consumer health products. The company has drawn up a plan to achieve 50%...

Itochu and Sanjiu set up herbals JV.(Sanjiu Enterprise group in joint venture)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... A joint venture has been established by Japanese firms Itochu and Sanjiu Enterprise group to build a plant in Shanghai, China, to produce ingredients for herbal medicines. An analysis center at the plant will monitor and collect data concerning...

New innovation center for Eire's Glambia.(expansion planning)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Leading Irish dairy processing company Glambia has announced plans for a world-class group innovation center to be located in Kilkenny, which will complement the firm's R&D center in Idaho, USA. The project, supported by Enterprise Ireland and...

Hero buys nutra brands from Wander.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Hero has acquired the infant nutritional brands Galactina, Adapta and Ceralino from fellow Swiss foods company Wander. Hero, which is controlled by the Oeteker industrial group, has not discussed the price paid for the brands. The former...

Nature's Sunshine sees rise in 4th-qtr sales.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... USA-based herbals and vitamins manufacturer Nature's Sunshine ended 2003 on a high, following a substantial rise in sales and profits in the fourth quarter, driven by record international sales. For the fourth quarter, revenues hit $78.8...

Hain Celestial acquires Natumi.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... US natural and organic foods company Hain Celestial Group has announced that its Belgian subsidiary has acquired Natumi AG, a producer of non- dairy beverages and desserts based in Germany. The purchase of Natumi adds the Milkfree brand to...

Ajinomoto's sales driven by Amino Vital.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Japan's Ajinomoto saw its revenues in the first nine months of fiscal 2003 reach 795.8 billion yen ($7.3 billion), primarily driven by continued high demand for its amino acid supplement Amino Vital. Sales of Amino Vital were boosted by...

NBTY sales up 64% in January.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Leading USA-based nutritional supplements manufacturer and marketer NBTY saw its sales leap 64% to $150 million for the month of January, compared to $91 million for the like month of 2003. US nutrition wholesales rocketed 163% to $66...

Wild Oats posts drop in 4th-qtr income.(sales report 2003)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... US natural and organics food retailer Wild Oats Markets has reported a lower income for the fourth quarter of 2003 despite enjoying higher sales resulting from the ongoing grocery strike in California. The company generated net sales of...

Nutrition 21 upbeat about future.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Nutrition 21, a USA-based developer and marketer of chromium-based nutritional supplements, says that its net loss for the fiscal second quarter ended December 2003 was reduced 47.8% to $1.2 million or $0.03 per share, while revenues reached...

Natural Alternatives receives Swiss license.(Natural Alternatives International Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The European subsidiary of the USA's Natural Alternatives International, which is noted for its customized nutritional supplements, says that the Swiss medicines authority, Swissmedic, has granted the firm a license to process pharmaceuticals....

Nutri Pharmaceuticals Research on the up.(signed a distribution agreement with Kenko Corp of Tokyo)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Las Vegas, USA-based firm Nutri Pharmaceuticals Research says that demand for O2P, the firm's proprietary oil-to-powder product line, has been so strong that in January and February, sales totaled $250,000, a 75% increase over the same period...

Nestle financials for 2003 fail to impress.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Switzerland's Nestle, the world's largest consumer foods group, has posted a fairly disappointing set of financials for 2003 which reveal an 18% decline in net income to 6.21 billion Swiss francs ($4.90 billion), although the group said the...

Leche Pascual wins suit over Actimel ad.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Leche Pascual, a major Spanish dairy firm, has won a law suit against rival food giant Danone that alleged the French multinational used false advertising to promote its big-selling Actimel sports yogurt, a Leche Pascual spokeswoman confirmed....

Rhodia sells food ingred unit to Danisco.(ingredients)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Following weeks of speculation, France's Rhodia has confirmed that it has received "an acceptable" offer from Danish major Danisco for its food ingredients business. This includes its cultures, hydrocolloids and food safety products activities,...

Numico rationalizing plan progresses.(Royal Numico)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Dutch company Royal Numico says that it has successfully completed negotiations with European and local works councils on implementing its optimization plan to reduce the number of baby food manufacturing plants from the current 16 to nine, by...

Novartis completes Mead acquisition.(Novartis AG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. Mead Johnson Nutritional Group)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Swiss health care major Novartis has completed its previously-announced purchase of Bristol-Myers Squibb's Mead Johnson unit's global adult medical nutrition business in a $385 million cash deal (NI vol 9, no 1). The acquired business had 2002...

Forthcoming meetings/events.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... Health Ingredients Europe 2004 will be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands from November 1618 2004. For details, contact CMP Information in the Netherlands at tel: +31 346 559444; fax: +31 346 573811; or go online to www.hi-events.com. Food...

People on the move.(Food Safety Authority)(US Consumer Healthcare Products Association)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The US Food and Drug Administration is looking for a new Commissioner after President Bush said he would nominate the current FDA head, Mark McClellan, to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the Department of Health and Human...