Nutraceuticals International articles from November 2005

Nutraceuticals International archives from November 2005

Finland blends nutrition and business into five-year ERA program.(Company Profile)
November 1, 2005... Finland's National Fund for Research and Development (SITRA) has unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to make the country a global leader in healthy nutrition, providing funding opportunities for companies involved in the development of...

UK GPs concerned at vitamin "overdosing".
November 1, 2005... 41% of UK general practitioners believe their patients are overdosing on vitamins and that they remain in the dark about the negative effects that some vitamins can have on their health, insurer Norwich Union Healthcare's latest annual Health...

Probiotic use leads to fewer sick days: study.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Employees who take probiotics daily are less likely to be off work with common illnesses, such as colds and gastroenteritis, than those who do not, an exploratory study published in the open-access journal Environmental Health has reported. ...

UK MHRA probe finds mercury in TCMs.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... A UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency inspection of a London wholesaler has found two traditional Chinese medicines containing very high levels of mercury. One, Fufang Luhui Jiaonang capsules, contained around 13%...

UK Food Standards Agency seeks views on "traffic light" labeling of foods.
November 1, 2005... On November 16, the UK Food Standards Agency announced the launch of a consultation on a food labeling scheme providing at-a-glance information on whether a food is high, medium or low in total fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt. It said...

Fines for misleading ads in Bulgaria.
November 1, 2005... Advertisers of health foods and vitamin supplements in Bulgaria will be liable to fines of 5,000-25,000 Bulgarian levs ($3,100-$15,500) if their advertisements are found to be misleading or untrue, according to the Bulgarian Economic Review....

Quality matters - particularly for dietary supplements.
November 1, 2005... Over the past years, dietary supplements have not had the highest reputation for quality. There have been a number of reports from national authorities, consumer organizations and independent laboratories that supplements do not meet label...

Survey shows millions of Americans turn to dietary supps for overall health.
November 1, 2005... As American adults become more educated about their health care options, a new consumer survey estimates 187 million of them are choosing dietary supplements to improve their overall health and well-being. The Barometer Survey, a nationwide...

FDA warns on unproven fruit claims.
November 1, 2005... The US Food and Drug Administration has issued warning letters to 29 companies that manufacture, market, or distribute products made from cherries or other fruits. These told the firms to stop making unproven claims on their web sites and...

US FDA warning on alternative hormone replacement therapy.
November 1, 2005... The US Food and Drug Administration has taken action against a number of companies marketing unapproved alternative hormone therapies because the products these firms are selling are unapproved new drugs that have not been found safe and...

FDA approves qualified prostate health claim for processed tomatoes and tomato sauces.
November 1, 2005... The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a qualified health claim on raw, cooked, dried or canned tomatoes and tomato sauces, indicating that half to one cup of such products weekly may be beneficial in reducing the risk of prostate...

US citizens are concerned about nutrition but are less willing to pay more: study.
November 1, 2005... New consumer research in the USA has highlighted a fundamental shift in opinion when it comes to nutrition. Recent findings from the 12th Annual Consumer Attitudes about Nutrition Study suggest that, while nine out of 10 people remain concerned...

New US initiaitive for obesity risk children.
November 1, 2005... The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition and the American Dietetic Association Foundation have announced a new initiative focusing on African-American and Hispanic children, populations that data show to be at particular risk of obesity....

ITV Direct joins effort to stop US govt "censorship" over supplements.
November 1, 2005... ITV Direct, along with the Coalition to Stop FDA & FTC Censorship, has testified at a US Food and Drug Administration hearing this month in support of the Health Freedom Protection Act, which has been introduced in the Congress. Having...

US industry coalition advises against use of dietary supplements as remedy for avian flu.
November 1, 2005... The leading US trade associations of the dietary supplement industry - the American Herbal Products Association, Consumer Healthcare Products Association, the Council for Responsible Nutrition and the National Nutritional Foods Association -...

HealthPricer.com launched in USA.(One Person Health Inc)
November 1, 2005... One Person Health Inc, an expert in on-line comparison health, has unveiled HealthPricer.com, a US comparison shopping site focused on the health care products market. It says that this provides visitors with the most comprehensive product and...

Savings for Medicare from US use of supps.
November 1, 2005... The USA-based market research firm The Lewin Group has released further data showing that significant savings can be made for the nation's Medicare system through the use by senior citizens of certain dietary supplements, in this case...

Solae temporarily drops health claim.
November 1, 2005... Following an analysis of recent health claim decisions, US dietary supplements firm Solae has temporarily withdrawn its request to the Food and Drug Administration for a qualified health claim related to soy protein consumption and cancer...

Growing Thai soy milk consumption.
November 1, 2005... Thailand's domestic market for soy milk is estimated to be worth about 5.3 billion baht ($129.9 million), with UHT products accounting for 60%, followed by sterilized soy milk in glass bottles at 39% and pasteurized 1%. Last year, the total soy...

Vietnam to produce Crila capsules.
November 1, 2005... Vietnam's Ministry of Health has recently granted a license for the mass production of Crila capsules, for use in treating prostatomegaly, according to the Vietnamese News Agency. This herbal medicine is produced from an alkaloid substance...

Japan gluconic acid and curcuma standards.
November 1, 2005... The Japan Health Food & Nutrition Food Association recently announced that it has established a standard for dietary supplements containing gluconic acid and Curcuma longa. This was formally approved as a new requirement at its scientific...

Africans urged to use traditional medicines.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Arrey Musafayad, director of the Buea, Camaroon-based non-governmental organization ANAMEDAH (Action for Natural Medicine and the Fight Against HIV/AIDS), has said that the best alternative for the cure of most of the diseases plaguing African...

Mexico, USA, Canada fight weight-loss fraud.
November 1, 2005... Under a Trilateral Cooperation Charter agreement between Mexico, the USA and Canada signed in 2003, six agencies (two from each country) have announced that they have taken nearly 730 compliance actions against companies that promote bogus...

Testing of Indian ayurvedics ordered.
November 1, 2005... As of January 1, 2006, all ayurvedic medicines to be exported from India must be tested for heavy metals and labels for these products must specify the heavy metal content. The move comes after a study published in the Journal of American...

Bifidus improves pollenosis symptoms.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Bifidobacteria Rongum (BB536) can improve the symptoms of discomfort caused by pollenosis, Japan's Morinaga Milk Industry's Food Research and Development Laboratory announced in a presentation at the 55th annual meeting of the Japanese Society...

Soy isoflavones as HRT safety confirmed.
November 1, 2005... New results, based on studies of an experimental model designed to investigate consumption of soy-derived products as a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy in post-menopausal breast cancer patients, were presented at the 6th...

Tocomin and stroke.
November 1, 2005... The Malaysian-owned firm Carotech has revealed the results of a US National Institutes of Health-funded study which suggest that Tocomin, a natural, full-spectrum palm tocotrienol complex, may significantly benefit patients with stroke-induced...

Probi's probiotics boost immune system.
November 1, 2005... A study conducted on health volunteers at the Sahlgrenska Hospital in Goteborg, Sweden, indicates that Probi's probiotic bacteria can selectively affect various functions in the immune system. The trial, which was presented at the European...

Flavonoid antioxidants in tea may be good for cardiovascular health.
November 1, 2005... Research presented at the American Dietetic Association's annual meeting revealed that tea provides more flavonoid antioxidants than any other food or beverage in the US diet. Other studies presented at the conference indicated that tea...

Sauerkraut may reduce cancer risk.
November 1, 2005... According to a recently-completed study, sauerkraut, the traditional German dish which is popular with health-conscious US citizens, may reduce the risk of breast cancer by up to 74%. The work, carried out by a team led by Dorothy Pathak at...

Gamma linolenic acid aids Herceptin's function.
November 1, 2005... Scientists at the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare research Institute, in Chicago, USA, say that Gamma-linolenic acid, which is found is several plant oils and used in herbal medicine, appears to prevent the development of resistance to Roche's...

Omega-3s may reduce risk of brain diseases.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... A series of studies conducted in animal models has indicated that a deficiency in long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids hastens the progression of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The assessment, carried out in mice engineered to...

Soy isoflavones as HRT substitute, says study.
November 1, 2005... New data presented at the International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Preventing and Treating Chronic Disease, held in Chicago, USA, suggest that the consumption of soy-derived products is a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy...

SierraSil efficacy in osteoarthritis shown.
November 1, 2005... It is claimed that the results of a new clinical trial offer hope for the possibility of fast, effective symptom relief to millions suffering from osteoarthritis, a widespread condition affecting millions of people. The study points to the...

Chromax "is safe," says news study.
November 1, 2005... US dietary supplements maker Nutrition 21 says that the results of a new study have found its Chromax brand of chromium picolinate does not produce chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The study will be published in an...

Melbourne biotech to unlock milk secrets.
November 1, 2005... Melbourne, Australia-based biotechnology company Cryptome Pharmaceuticals is set to receive more than $850,000 from Dairy Australia over the next three years to conduct research that could unlock hidden pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals in...

Low-fat milk may prevent high BP.
November 1, 2005... Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects one in four Americans, but new research suggests that low-fat milk may help reduce the risk of this. Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 8 issue, the study found that...

Vietnamese herb seen as melanoma therapy.
November 1, 2005... Researchers at New Zealand's Wellington School of Medicine are working on a possible treatment for melanoma derived from a Vietnamese herb. This herb came to their attention through a project that aims to save endangered medicinal plants and...

Second-generation probiotics will grow market beyond yogurt, says Chr Hansen.
November 1, 2005... Probiotics are already a very successful ingredient in modern, functional foods and the market seems set to expand even further as sector leader, Denmark-headquartered Chr Hansen, now plans to take the beneficial bacteria beyond yogurt. Fresh,...

Study shows higher DHA levels in breast milk benefit behavior of newborns.
November 1, 2005... A new study published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychiatry, September issue, has revealed a positive correlation between DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) levels in breast milk and newborn neurobehavioral function. These findings support numerous...

Ginkgo extract helps QoL in Alzheimer's.
November 1, 2005... A major new study could provide good news in the fight against Alzheimer's disease; Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 (manufactured by the Dr Willmar Schwabe Co) has been shown to improve cognitive functions, neuropsychiatric symptoms and the...

GRAS status for Enzymotic's CardiaBeat.(Generally Recognized as Safe)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... US firm Enzymotec's CardiaBeat, an advanced sterol-based ingredient, has recently gained a Generally Recognized as Safe approval by an expert panel, allowing its use in a wide variety of food applications. "We have now successfully concluded,...

Broccoli sprouts may aid in cancer therapy.
November 1, 2005... A clinical trial conducted in China shows broccoli sprouts can help the body detoxify carcinogens, which may reduce the risk of developing liver cancer. A team from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public...

US launch of be energy and wellness bars.(be)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... be, a Milwaukee, USA-based health food maker, has launched a new line of all-natural protein and energy bars, on the domestic market. On October 23, be powered protein bars and be vitalized energy bars were exclusively introduced in Target...

Nordic Naturals launches Synergy supplements.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Nordic Naturals, a USA-based supplier of fish oil and essential fatty acid supplements, has introduced its new Synergy Line of fish oil formulas, designed to address condition-specific nutritional needs. Heart Synergy, a concentrated blend...

Glucorell launches antidiabetes supp.
November 1, 2005... Glucorell, a US manufacturer and distributor of health products, has launched Insulow, an all-natural oral supplement to help diabetics and prediabetics achieve glycemic control. The Orlando, Florida-headquartered firm claims that Insulow...

Gulf Biomed to launch ED supplement in USA.(Gulf Biomedical)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Gulf Biomedical has filed mandatory papers with the US Food and Drug Administration in order to market and sell LoveMagic, its new all- natural herbal product to help with erectile dysfunction. As NI went to press, the supplement was thought to...

Danone makes acquisitions to strengthen position in North Africa and Middle East.
November 1, 2005... France's leading yogurt, food and drinks producer Groupe Danone, which continues to be the subject of foreign takeover rumors despite the strong opposition expressed by the French government earlier this year to the suggestions that PepsiCo...

Carabao looks to overseas markets.(Carabao Tawandang Co.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Thailand's Carabao Tawandang is seeking to export its Carabao Dang energy drink in the face of stiffer competition at home from other health beverages, as growth in the domestic 14.0 billion-baht ($339.8 million) energy drinks market has slowed...

Euromed completes saw palmetto plant.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Euromed USA, a subsidiary of the similarly-named Spanish group, has successfully completed the construction of a new saw palmetto berry processing plant in Florida, USA, in time for processing this year's crop. This is the first time a major...

Dutch grant for Thai supplements project.(Codrico BV)(PG&P Group)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The Dutch government has made a grant of 50.0 million baht ($1.2 million) to support a 120.0 million-baht joint venture between the Netherlands-based Codrico BV and Thailand's PG&P Group to produce about 3,000 tonnes of food supplements and...

NutraCea inks deal with Ecuador's Pronaca.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... USA-based NutraCea says that it has signed a binding letter of intent with Pronaca, one of the largest commercial food producers in Ecuador. This provides for an exclusive 60-day period of time during which NutraCea and Pronaca will...

Naturex' 3rd-qtr 2005 sales soar 84%.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Naturex, a French producer of natural ingredients for the nutraceuticals and food industries, has reported an 84.1% rise to 16.0 million euros ($19.2 million) in sales for the third quarter of 2005, bringing total turnover for the first nine...

Tough few quarters predicted for NAI.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... San Marcos, California, USA-based Natural Alternatives International, which specializes in customized nutritional supplements, has posted a 4% decrease in revenues for the fiscal first quarter ended September 30, 2005, to $21.7 million, while...

Nutraceutical sales drive growth at Zila.
November 1, 2005... Zila of Phoenix, USA, has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 ended July 31, which show that revenues rose 24% to $11.5 million, while net income was $8.6 million, or $0.19 per share, compared to a loss of...

NBTY posts unspectacular sales growth for year.
November 1, 2005... US nutritional supplements giant NBTY has published preliminary unaudited figures for the fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2005, which show that sales rose 2% to $435.0 million. Revenues at the firm's wholesale division, which...

Weider now trading as Schiff Nutrition.
November 1, 2005... The end of an era has come for Salt Lake City, USA-based Weider Nutrition International, after the firm announced its formal name change to Schiff Nutrition International. The company began trading under its new name on the New York Stock...

Nutrition 21 posts strong revenue rise.
November 1, 2005... The USA's Nutrition 21 has posted a 31% increase in revenues for its fiscal first quarter ended September 30, 2005, to $3.6 million, while net loss was flat at $1.1 million, or $0.03 per share. Gross profit was $3.0 million, a 41% jump compared...

Perrigo & Scolr link up.
November 1, 2005... US vitamin, mineral and supplement supplier Perrigo has teamed up with Scolr Pharma in a deal that will see the former manufacturing and marketing certain sustained-release nutritional products based on Scolr's proprietary CDT drug delivery...

Pharmanex drives Nu Skin sales growth.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Nu Skin Enterprises says that for the third quarter ended September 30, 2005, revenues rose 3% to $290.8 million, while net income slipped to $17.7 million or $0.25 per share, down from $20.9 million or $0.29 per share in the like, year-earlier...

Forbes Medi-Tech 3rd-qtr sales rise 12%.
November 1, 2005... Canada's Forbes Medi-Tech has reported a 12% rise in third-quarter 2005 sales to C$6.0 million ($5.0 million). However, the firm's loss for the period increased to C$2.9 million versus C$1.6 million, or C$0.09 vs C$0.05 per share in the like...

Israel's LycoRed buys Buckton Scott.
November 1, 2005... In a move aimed at strengthening its position in the USA's nutritional ingredients market, LycoRed Corp, a division of Israeli firm MA Industries, has acquired the assets and business of Buckton Scott Nutrition of Fairfield, New Jersey, a...

Fonterra to open NZ$16M R&D unit.(Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... New Zealand's Fonterra plans to set up a dairy innovation center in Melbourne, Australia, to complement its main research facilities in Palmerston North. The project involves an investment of NZ$16.0 million ($10.9 million), construction is...

Natraceutical's nine-month profit up 5%.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Spanish functional foods maker Natraceutical has reported a 5% jump to 2.5 million euros ($2.9 million) in nine-month 2005 net profits, boosted by a 68% rise in sales to 34.2 million euros. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and...

Potter's goes on acquisition trail.
November 1, 2005... Potter's Herbal Medicines, a Wigan, UK-based company which has been making herbal medicines for almost 200 years, has announced the acquisition of five new complementary brands: Seatone, Isogel, Sure-lax and Thomas and Friends multivitamins...

Numico expands into Asia, buying EAC unit.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Royal Numico of the Netherlands has said it will buy East Asiatic's nutrition businesses for 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) to become a major maker of baby food in the Asian market.The Dutch food company, the largest European maker of baby...

Forthcoming meetings/events.(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... Vitafoods International 2006, Europe's largest nutraceuticals event, is taking steps to create a big impression in its ninth year, with the participation of the Swiss Import Promotion Program. Additionally, says the sponsor, companies from...

People on the move.
November 1, 2005... - Germany-headquartered Cognis, a worldwide supplier of specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients, has appointed Simon Frauchiger as European sales manager for its Transfer Technology division, based in Switzerland. - US firm Zuellig...