UK-based ingredients giant Tate & Lyle has dipped into its independent €30+m venture capital fund to the tune of €3.5m to partner with a Belgian start-up researching the gut health and antioxidant properties of bran fibres.
Italians and women are the most interested western Europeans
in digestive health claims while Dutch are the least, according to
new consumer research funded by French fibre specialist Syral.
Modifying the population of bacteria in the gut may improve the regulation of glycemic control and reverse the insulin resistance that occurs with obesity, suggests a new study from the Nestlé Research Center.
'Growing up in an obesogenic environment', 'Have we sacrificed our
children on the altar of a free market?', 'Endocrine disrupters and
obesity - old chemicals, new questions' and other presentations
will...
The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has this morning played down
claims that dairy processors could face having to include
cigarette-style health warnings on products like cheese and butter.
A UK-based nutrition group has this week kicked off a new scheme
designed to promote the consumption of dairy products like cheeses
and milk as a key element of good dental health.
The increasing use of probiotics and antioxidants will continue to
develop in 2008 but products positioned at heart health will not
perform so well, a report has said.
Lactose intolerant Brits may be missing the high calcium health benefits of dairy goods due to the misapprehension that they cannot eat cheese, according to a new survey conducted by the British Cheese Board (BCB).
Sales of organic milk within the UK are up by about 11
per cent to 200m litres a year, boosted by studies linking the
product with a number of health benefits, a leading dairy
processor claims.
Friesland Foods Domo has invested €6M in its whey protein plant in
Workum, The Netherlands, allowing it to increase production of
infant formula ingredients and produce its new low-fat ingredient
for dairy applications.
Higher pricing and an increasing focus on healthier products
continues to ensure that Dairy Crest remains in line to achieve its
full year sales targets, the company announced today.
Danone has increased like-for-like sales by 8.2 per cent to €7.5bn
during the first half of the year as it continues to refocus its
operations towards health and nutrition.
Ireland's food safety regulator has urged the nation's food
industry to be more involved with the EU health claims process to
make the most of the opportunities it offers.
Regional cheese producers are enjoying a revival in the UK, but the
market as a whole is struggling to grow volumes against an
unhealthy image with consumers.
A group of UK celebrities led by the footballer Wayne Rooney's
fiancée have linked up with dairy firms to promote the health
benefits of milk among teenage girls.
The identity of the mystery multinational with which Provexis has
been exploring new formats of its Fruitflow technology is unveiled
as Unilever; and the two companies also plan to collaborate over
new IP on related products and processes.
All adverts for food and drink in France must now carry healthy
eating messages or companies will face fines, under rules launched
by the government to tackle obesity.
For the first time, researchers say they have direct evidence that
Europeans' bodies evolved to digest milk much later and more
rapidly than previously thought.
Sales at the group rose to CHF98.5 billion (€60.5bn) while organic
growth was 6.2 per cent and net profit was up 13.8 per cent to a
record CHF9.2 billion (€5.6bn).
Danone gave a bullish account of its 2006 performance, citing
strong growth for blockbuster dairy brands and an 'outstanding'
performance in beverage markets.
French dairy group Danone has bought complete control of its
Japanese joint venture, lured by the promise of riches from rapidly
growing consumer demand for healthy dairy products.
A mature US yoghurt market does not mean there is no room for
growth, according to a new report, which identifies huge expansion
possibilities particularly in the area of probiotic and prebiotic
yoghurt products.
European food companies are already being asked to submit health
claims for approval to agencies at national level, following the
adoption of the new EU regulation on nutrition and health claims
last week.
A new report examining how dairy companies are successfully
targeting healthy products to children underlines the growing
importance of this particular food category.
Sometimes I just love eating fatty, greasy, unquestionably
hazardous foods. But I don't like trans fats, that come as a
by-product in some processed foods, and have been linked to high
cholesterol and heart problems.
Efforts to save money and make farm inspections more efficient in
the UK have seen the Dairy Hygiene Inspectorate merge with the
country's veterinary service this week.
Organic milk producers took a blow Tuesday after UK food
authorities said their milk was not healthier than conventional
varieties just because it contained more omega-3.
The new European Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation hit an
unexpected barrier to its adoption yesterday, since it was found to
contain the wrong comitology procedure. Rectifying the oversight
could take months and may re-open...
Children with lactose intolerance are missing out on essential
nutrients by avoiding dairy, and could benefit from probiotics and
aged cheeses, say a review from the American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP).
A group of American consumers are set to appeal against a court
ruling that said dairy products did not have to carry labels
warning about the dangers of lactose intolerance.
The UK's Joint Health Claims Initiative (JHCI) has conducted a
review of its own guidance on health claims submissions, with the
aim of helping the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) develop
processes for when the impending...
Unilever must change its British television advert for Flora
pro.activ margarine as it contains unsubstantiated health claims,
said the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
Dairy Crest has criticised Britain's advert watchdog for telling
the company to drop claims that its omega-3 milk could improve
children's ability to learn.
Beer, bakery, confectionery, sweet drinks, pizzas, snacks galore,
and even dog food. The list of products with World Cup tie-ins is
dominated by junk food, while healthy food makers seem content to
pass up the marketing opportunities...
World trade discussions and communicating the health benefits of
dairy were the two main topics for discussion in a meeting between
the European Dairy Association and European Commission last week.
The US food regulatory agency last week rejected a proposed health
claim submitted by Nestlé, which would have implied that its whey
protein infant formulas reduced the risk of food allergy symptoms.
Healthy eating is no longer motivated simply by self-interest.
Family welfare has become the overriding concern, and children have
become the real driving force behind the health trend.
Britain's formula milk industry has faced down a new wave of
criticism from senior paediatricians, who accused it of dodging a
ban on direct advertising by snuggling up to doctors and health
professionals.
Sheep's milk has a higher content of essential vitamins and
minerals than cow's milk and could be used to cater to consumers'
appetite for healthy products. But presently it seems only
small-time producers are sizing...
Nestlé has finalised arrangements for a new fund that will invest
in food companies producing for the health, well-being and
nutrition sectors, as part of the group's drive to stay on top of
consumer health trends.
Intake of omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish and fish oil
supplements has no effect on mortality, heart disease or cancer,
concludes a new review, but guidelines should continue for
consumption.
Sales of a DHA-fortified children's yoghurt launched last month in
Canada are already exceeding expectations, with parents keen to
improve their children's brain development through nutrition, says
manufacturer Danone Canada.
Gatorade has challenged a recent advertising campaign that claims
that chocolate milk helps athletes to work out longer than
conventional sports drinks.
