Nutraceuticals International articles from November 2004

Nutraceuticals International archives from November 2004

CRN conference hears Crawford preview FDA's new DSHEA implementation strategy.
November 1, 2004... The US Food and Drug Administration is shortly to publish a guidance and documents which will outline in detail its umbrella strategy for further implementation of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, according to Acting FDA...

US FDA warning over ED supplements.(Food and Drug Administration )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The US Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to purchase or to consume Actra-Rx or Yilishen, two products promoted and offered for sale on web sites as dietary supplements for treating erectile dysfunction and enhancing sexual...

US FTC targets supps over cortisol claims.(Federal Trade Commission )
November 1, 2004... The US Federal Trade Commission has charged marketers of two dietary supplements with claiming, falsely and without substantiation, that their products can cause weight loss and reduce the risk of, or prevent, serious health conditions. ...

"Beauty foods" a growing trend among US consumers, says Datamonitor report.
November 1, 2004... The US functional health products market is booming as consumers continue to seek quick fixes in their never-ending quest to keep healthy and stay beautiful. Indeed, a new report by independent market analyst Datamonitor, in collaboration with...

FDA to review new dietary ingredients.(Food and Drug Administration )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The US Food and Drug Administration is planning to hold a public meeting on November 15 at which the dietary supplements industry and consumers will have the opportunity of discussing the agency's pre-market notification program for new dietary...

Soy isoflavones' effects on body tissue to be investigated in a five- year US study.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The effects of dietary supplements containing soy isoflavones on various body tissues will form the basis of a multidisciplinary study by scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA, according to Nutra.Ingredients-usa.com....

USA's 10-year-old dietary supps law keeps potentially unsafe ingredients from market.
November 1, 2004... A new study has revealed that the US Food and Drug Administration has rejected about 70% of the herbs submitted to the agency for safety acceptance. The report also suggests that some of the "new" herbal ingredients proposed to the agency may...

Americans are confident in their dietary supplements, research shows.
November 1, 2004... An Ipsos-Public Affairs survey has found that more than three-quarters of American adults have confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of dietary supplements, according to results released at the US Council for Responsible...

CRN slams Lancet meta-analysis of antioxidants.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Following the publication of research suggesting that the use of antioxidants may increase the risk of early death in the peer-reviewed UK medical journal The Lancet (NI vol 9, no 10), the US Council for Responsible Nutrition has put out a...

Christian Boiron "worn out" by French politics.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Christian Boiron, the president of the leading French homeopathic drug producer Laboratoire Boiron, has said that he is "tired, and sometimes frankly discouraged," by the current political climate affecting the homeopathic drugs sector. ...

EU food supplements Directive and future of herbal supps.(European Union)
November 1, 2004... By July 2007, the European Commission must deliver a report to the Council and Parliament giving its plans for the extension of the Food Supplements Directive to include other substances. In the preamble to the directive (2002/46/EC), it...

EFSA releases discussion paper on botanicals and botanical preparations.(European Food Safety Authority)
November 1, 2004... Following adoption of the European Food Safety Authority's discussion paper on botanicals and botanical preparations in June by written procedure, the paper was submitted to the agency's Advisory Forum during its meeting in October. Among...

Western Europe's functional soft drinks market sees strong growth.
November 1, 2004... With another 8% growth in 2003 to 3,780 million liters, western Europe's functional soft drinks sector has become a force to be reckoned with, according to the 2004 West Europe Functional Soft Drinks report from drinks consultancy Zenith...

Probiotics lead Europe functional dairy mkt.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Thanks to their health benefits and convenient format, probiotic drinking yogurts have been the fastest-growing dairy products in Europe in the last five years. According to market research by Euromonitor, sales of probiotics have increased 52%...

Controlling claims: public interest and private progress.
November 1, 2004... Consumers as well as companies will be confounded by the proposed European Union Regulation on Nutrition and Health Claims (NIs passims). Public health as well as new product development will be impeded by some of its restrictions and...

EU approves novel corn from Monsanto.(European Union)(Roundup Ready Corn 2)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The European Commission has approved the use of US firm Monsanto's Roundup Ready Corn NK603 and its processed products as food and food ingredients under the Novel Foods Regulation. Monsanto's NK603, which is designed to be tolerant to the...

Malaysia warns on "miracle" supps.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... John Chang, the president of the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society, has warned consumers to beware of "miracle" drugs or "health" supplements distributed by direct-sales companies and medicine shops. At a press conference, he said: "such...

TCMs face golden chance to go global.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Traditional Chinese medicine is now facing the perfect chance to go global, as dissatisfaction with western medicines grows and doctors are turning to alternative ways to heal their patients, according to a report carried by Xinhua Online. ...

UN controls planned for Hoodia herb.(United Nations)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... After African countries put forward a proposal to control trade in the increasingly-popular appetite-suppressant herb Hoodia, a United Nations conference has said that it should be listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade...

UNICEF report on IQ and nutrition.(United Nations Children's Fund)(Intelligence Quotient )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The United Nations Children's Fund, in cooperation with the Micronutrient Initiative, has released a report which shows that lack of certain vitamins and minerals can result in lower IQ, even when there is no overall food shortage. The study...

India: regulatory issues delay biofortified food.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Complex regulatory issues are among the reasons for the delay in bringing the results of biofortified foods research in India to market, according to the Financial Express of India. Some of the holdups include the lack of efficient protocols...

Codex c'ttee moves on vit/mineral supps.
November 1, 2004... Members of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses meeting in Bonn, Germany, this month finalized the most significant and far-reaching international guidelines for legislation governing the sale and marketing of...

Herbal medicine, India and GMPs.(Good Manufacturing Practices)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... To take advantage of the demand for herbal products in western countries, Indian companies need to adopt Good Manufacturing Practices so that they can export these products, according to DR Garg, Commissioner for Indian Medicine and Homeopathy....

Cranberries may be benefical in herpes.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Alpine cranberries have significant biological activity that can help to combat herpes virus type II (HSV-2) infection, one of the most common viral infections in humans, according to research published in the Journal of the Science of Food and...

Omega-3 fats benefit cardiovascular health, more US research shows.
November 1, 2004... USA peer-reviewed research continues to show the cardiovascular benefits of fish consumption or intake of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAs). Several studies described in the September issue of the PUFA Newsletter...

Arizona Nutritional debuts Weil supps.(Arizona Nutritional Supplements)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Arizona Nutritional Supplements has gained an exclusive US license from Weil Lifestyle to market, manufacture and distribute a nutritional supplement based on nutritionist Andrew Weil's recommendations and proprietary formulas. The range is Dr...

Osteoporosis patients require vitamin D.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A new study, presented at the 26th annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in Seattle, Washington, suggests that vitamin D inadequacy is widespread among women being treated for osteoporosis. The investigation...

Vit E/lycopene combo enters clinical trials.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Scientists have confirmed that a combination of vitamin E and lycopene, a carotenoid that gives the red color to tomatoes and other fruits, has a beneficial effect against human prostate tumors grown in mice. A Phase II study testing the...

Wine has compounds to stop Alzheimer's.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... New research by Japanese scientists suggests that the reason why drinking wine appears to prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease is because it contains compounds that inhibit an enzyme implicated in the disorder, reports...

New data on safety of chromium picolinate.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Two new genotoxicity studies re-affirm the safety of chromium picolinate, says the USA's Nutrition 21, a developer of chromium-based nutritional supplements. The new research was conducted to clarify the findings of two in vitro studies...

Omega finishes new US center in Virginia.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Omega Protein Corp, a manufacturer of fish oils containing long-chain omega-3 fatty acids rich in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, says that its new Health and Science Center in Reedville, Virginia, USA, has been completed. ...

Momentous Solutions launch strip vitamins.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... New Jersey,USA-headquartered Momentous Solutions has launched Healthy Moments, which are flavored, micro-thin soluble strips that dissolve in the mouth, thereby providing a novel and easy way to meet the recommended daily intake of vitamins and...

Earth Power launched PhytoChi Caplets.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Earth Power says it has launched PhytoChi Caplets, a daily supplement of 16 tonic herbs for people with hectic lifestyles in a more portable version of the popular liquid formulation. It is the only herbal tonic made in the USA that is for...

Lipid Nutrition launches Marinol Omega 3 HS.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Lipid Nutrition, a division of Loders Croklaan, has launched Marinol Omega-3 HS (high stability) Powder in Europe. The product is a patented, high-potency fish oil powder with superior stability which has the ability to fortify food and keep...

SourceOne expands deal with Beijing Ginko.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... US ingredients supplier SourceOne is broadening its strategic alliance with Chinese firm Beijing Ginkgo Group to include a deal for the distribution of the cholesterol-lowering supplement Sytrinol throughout Japan and China, reports...

Sutherlandia plant may reduce stress.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Findings from new research into the properties of the Sutherlandia plant, traditionally used in South Africa to tackle a range of health problems, suggests that it may be effective in the reduction of stress and inflammation, reports South...

DTB questions benefits of probiotics.(Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A recent report in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, published by the Which? consumer affairs group in the UK, highlights the uncertainties surrounding the benefits of using probiotics in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. ...

Danone changes drinks strategy in China.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Shanghai, China-based Group Danone, an affiliate of French firm Danone, is getting ready to launch new products in China in order to reposition its drinks business by appealing to more sophisticated consumers, as well as to overcome rising raw...

Nature's Products seeks to market noni as novel.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... New Zealand's Nature's Products is seeking approval from the UK Food Standards Agency to market its noni juice, derived from the fruit of Morinda citrifolia, as a novel food. The juice is already sold in Germany by GSE Vertrieb and Nature's...

PBM launches diabetic drink with Martek DHA.(docosahexaeonic acid )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... USA-based Martek Biosciences Corp says that PBM Products has launched the first drink containing Martek's docosahexaeonic acid designed to meet the dietary requirements of diabetics and people who are glucose- intolerant. Marking the first...

Multibene and General Mills sign license deal.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Multibene Products has signed a licensing deal with General Mills, a leading North American food manufacturer, enabling the latter firm to use the MultiBene innovation in breakfast cereals, cereal bars, yoghurts and soy-based drinks in the USA,...

DSM introduces active peptide PeptoPro.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Dutch life science and nutrition group DSM has commercially launched its active peptide, PeptoPro, which delivers 5% better muscle recovery times for athletes, the firm claims. The drink has, thus far, only been exclusively available to the...

French govt hesitates on Boiron-Dolisos deal.
November 1, 2004... The French Economics Ministry has referred the projected merger of the country's homeopathic drug companies, Boiron and Dolisos, to the Council on Competition. The Council has three months to decide whether to recommend approval and, even if it...

Abbott Labs to pay $320M for EAS.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... US pharmaceutical and health care major Abbott Laboratories says that it has entered into an agreement to acquire EAS, a leading US nutrition firm based in Golden, Colorado. EAS has a portfolio of nationally- recognized brands including EAS,...

Natraceuticals' 9-mth profits rise 40%.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Spanish functional foods supplier Natraceuticals has posted a 40% jump to 1.9 million euros ($2.5 million) in nine-month net profits amid rising sales. The Valencia-based company said revenues rose to 20.2 million euros from 14.3 million euros...

Panel highlights benefits of probiotics.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A European expert panel, comprising microbiologists, immunologists and gastroenterologists from the UK, Germany and Sweden, has, for the first time, achieved a consensus on the standards, indication fields and pre- requisites to ensure high...

Drinking tea may help prevent Alzheimer's.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Results reported in Phytotherapy Research suggest that drinking regular cups of tea may help to protect against Alzheimer's disease. Researchers from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, found that both green and black tea inhibited...

Cranberries increase "good" cholesterol.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Cranberry juice may be just as good for the heart as red wine and grape juice, according to new results presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Society's Annual Congress in Calgary. The 12-week study involved 30 men, aged 18-70 who were...

Pycnogenol shows promise in diabetes.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Findings published in the October 8 issue of Life Sciences show that the pine bark supplement pycnogenol lowers blood sugar levels in diabetics and improves blood vessel function. Pycnogenol is a potent antioxidant because of its high content...

Spain's Ebro Puleva buys Riviana.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Ebro Puleva SA of Spain has completed the acquisition of Riviana Foods, which is headquartered in Houston, Texas, USA. Under the terms of the deal, Ebro Puleva has bought over 13 million shares of Riviana which were priced at $25.75 each.

DSM opens world's largest vitamin E plant.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... DSM Nutritional Products has unveiled the world's largest vitamin E plant in Sisseln, Switzerland, a facility which has the capacity to produce around 25,000 tons of vitamin E a year. Chief operating officer Bob Hartmayer said that the deal...

So Natural raises funds for Thorpedo.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... So Natural Foods Australia says that it has raised A$5 million ($3.7 million) through a share issue from investors to fund the expansion of Thorpedo Foods, a functional food and drinks venture. The venture was launched in February between...

Danisco Sweden in move to Belgium.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Danisco Flavours is to move production from Danisco Sweden AB to the firm's headquarters in Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium, which it says will ensure improved profitability and place production closer to its research center. The company said...

Strong earnings rise at Weider Nutrition.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Salt Lake City, USA-based Weider Nutrition International has announced results for its fiscal first quarter ended August 31, which show that net sales reached $69.8 million, a rise of 9.7% compared with the like, year-earlier period. Net income...

Initial public offering for Herbalife.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Herbalife International of Los Angeles, USA, says that its parent company, WH Holdings of the Cayman Islands, has filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering by WH...

Omega Protein signs National Starch deal.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Omega Protein Corporation, the Houston, USA-based firm which says it is world's largest manufacturer of fish oils containing long-chain omega-3 fatty acid, has entered into a manufacturing and supply deal with National Starch and Chemical Co of...

Naturex posts rise of 46% in 1st-half profit.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Naturex, the French producer of natural ingredients for the nutraceutical and food industries, has achieved a 46.6% increase in net profits to 1.3 million euros ($1.6 million) on sales up 24.2% at 17.5 million euros in the first half of 2004....

Spain's Puleva Biotech lowers its three-year financial outlook.
November 1, 2004... Spanish functional foods company Puleva Biotech has lowered its financial outlook for the next three years as a result of the cancellation and risk-assessment of several of its research projects, the company has announced in a statement to the...

Nutra division drives growth at Zila.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Zila of Phoenix, USA, has announced its financial results for the fiscal fourth quarter ended July 31, which show that revenues declined 7% to $11.1 million, while net loss was $240,000 compared to a profit of $14.5 million in the comparable...

BI Nutra signs deal with Mexico's PIVEG.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Zuellig Botanicals' BI Nutraceuticals subsidiary has partnered with Pigmentos Vegetales del Centro, a raw materials manufacturer in Mexico, to be the exclusive North American distributor for the firm's ingredients. Specifically, it will...

NIC buys Pilgrim's Natureway assets.(Nutraceutical International Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... USA-based nutritional supplements firm Nutraceutical International Corp says it has entered into an agreement, through its subsidiary Fresh Vitamins, to acquire substantially all of the operating assets of Pilgrim's Natureway. The deal is...

HSG Group acquires Polymann Tech.(Health Sciences Group Inc. )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Health Sciences Group has announced the acquisition of Polymann Technologies, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UTEK Corp, in a stock transaction, though specific terms have not been disclosed. The rationale behind the deal revolves around the...

Natural Alternatives sales strong again.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... San Marcos, California, USA-based Natural Alternatives International, which specializes in customized nutritional supplements, says that net sales for the first fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2004, rose 36% to $22.7 million, helped by a 50%...

Asian sales boost Nature's Sunshine.
November 1, 2004... USA-based herbals and vitamins manufacturer Nature's Sunshine Products has reported record net sales revenue for the three and nine-month periods of its fiscal year ended September 30, 2004. For the third quarter, revenues were up 31.7% to...

Fytokem financing.(Fytokem Products Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Saskatoon, Canada-headquartered Fytokem Products, a producer of plant- based ingredients, has announced a private placement of up to 2.5 million shares which is expected to raise C$125,000 ($102,338).

Record quarter for USANA Health.(USANA Health Sciences Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... USANA Health Sciences, a Salt Lake City, USA-based firm which specializes in nutritional and weight-management products, says that sales reached $68.7 million for the fiscal third quarter ended October 2, 2004, a rise of 30.8% compared with the...

Forthcoming meetings/events.
November 1, 2004... The European Functional Foods Summit, organized by IIR, will take place in London, UK, on December 6-8, and will include a pre-conference workshop looking at conceptualizing and formulating new products for the functional food market. For...

People on the move.(Technical Sourcing International)(Chemi Nutra)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Dutch company Royal Numico has appointed Peter Bennemeer as regional vice president - baby food - for the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium and as managing director of Baby Food Netherlands. He joins Numico from HJ Heinz Dietary supplements...