Using a supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) process to encapsulate
lycopene could lead to greater stability and offer important
advantages over the conventional method of encapsulation.
The board of the UK's Food Standards Agency yesterday gave the
go-ahead for the recommendation on mandatory folic acid
fortification be made to health ministers, but it remains unclear
whether the nutrient will be added to flour...
Scientists in Australia are scrutinizing the country's flora for
fruit with the potential to tap into the growing trend of exotic
fruits as sources of colours, flavours and health ingredients.
Organic products containing certain non-organic minor ingredients
are now officially in non-compliance with US government organic
certifications, following the implementation of a new rule last
week.
The UK's Food Standards Agency has issued a draft opinion on that
would grant refined echium oil the go-ahead to be marketed in
Europe as a novel food and is seeking comments prior to its final
decision.
Researchers from Taiwan are eying a combination of gelatin and
poly(-glutamic acid) (-PGA) for the encapsulation of lycopene from
tomato pulp waste, offering alternatives for the ingredient
increasingly in the consumer's eye.
A new report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
recommends alternative methods that could be implemented to help
consumers make healthy food choices, including placing limits on
purchases made in grocery stores and in schools.
A UK food safety panel is recommending that the mandatory addition
of folic acid should be made at the milling stage rather than at
the manufacturing stage, shifting the cost burden to suppliers.
Ajinomoto plans to merge with Japanese compatriot Calpis, in a
bid to further its transformation into a health and nutrition
company and develop more value-added products to meet market
demands.
Tate & Lyle has announced the introduction of a new line of
branded fibre ingredients called Promitor, which can be used in a
broad range of food products to help consumers meet fibre intake
targets.
Folic acid does not decrease the risk of benign colorectal tumours
and may increase the likelihood of contracting some types
of tumours, say researchers - but the supplements industry urges
caution in light of documented benefits.
DSM Food Specialities is launching a range of yeast-derived taste
potentiators called Sensarite, aimed at maintaining an authentic
taste profile in bakery and dairy products reformulated to be
better for health and nutrition.
A diet rich in B vitamins may decrease the risk of slim people
contracting pancreatic cancer, according to a meta-analysis, but
supplements may have the opposite effect.
Consumer interest in eating locally-sourced produce is encouraging
food manufacturers to develop ready-meals made with ingredients
sourced from the same region in which the product is sold, says
analyst Datamonitor.
Prickly pear cactus pads, consumed regularly in Mexico, could
reduce blood sugar rises after a meal by up to 50 per cent,
suggests a new study that may have implications for diabetes
management.
The West Coast's thirst for energy drinks has driven nutrient
premix specialist Fortitech to open a new manufacturing facility in
Califoria set to increase the company's production for the Western
United States by 350 percent.
Fortitech Asia Pacific has been appointed to manufacture a vitamin
and mineral premix containing Akzo Nobel's Ferrazone iron for
Pakistan's National Wheat Fortification Program - a contract that
underscores confidence in...
Negotiations are underway between private-equity groups over the
sale of French natural ingredients firm Diana-Ingredients,
indicating a positive view of the company's potential in the
marketplace.
Burly sailors like Popeye may not be the only ones to benefits from
spinach, with new research suggesting that women who eat
spinach may have a lower risk of ovarian cancer than women who
don't.
Drinking a whopping ten cups of coffee a day or more could slash
the risk of developing Parkinson's disease by 74 per cent, suggests
a new prospective study from Finland.
Tate & Lyle has reported a strong full year 2007, the third
consecutive year of sales growth and a key one for repositioning
towards value added ingredients. But despite this, EU sugar reform
continues to prove a drag.
The continued success of probiotics will depend on finding ways of
protecting the friendly bacteria during processing, opening up
opportunities for food ingredients and biopolymers, experts say.
A meta-analysis of human studies supports claims that conjugated
linoleic acid (CLA) has the potential to help reduce fat mass,
highlighting it as a possible aid in the fight against obesity.
The new health claims regulation has rekindled interest in
exploring the benefits of wholegrains, said consultant Prof David
Richardson, but there is a need for action in Europe to ensure
grains do not miss out in the implementation...
The image of grains needs a fundamental makeover in order to
encourage consumption globally, according to the R&D director
of pasta firm Barilla, who said the enduring perception of grains
as 'empty' energy is the major...
A protein-pectin combination could be effective for
encapsulating water-soluble ingredients like some vitamins for use
in acidic foods, Canadian scientists have reported.
Solae and Senomyx have entered into a collaborative agreement for
the development of new flavor ingredients intended to enhance the
taste characteristics of soy proteins.
Polyphenols, antioxidants linked to a long list of health benefits,
may not be so good for you when taken in larger doses found in
supplements and foritified foods, researchers have said.
Soy hypocotyls, a by-product of the soy protein industry, could
offer a cheap and readily accessible alternative of protein
isolates, a joint US-China study has reported.
The agreements just keep rolling in for Probi after the probiotic
company announced a new license agreement with an unnamed, but
well-established European food company.
Martek has added a new patent to its store of European intellectual
property on ARA from Mortierella alpine microorganisms for
infant formulas, reinforcing its position after an opposition
hearing in 2005 narrowed the scope of the...
Acid modified tapioca starch may offer significant advantages as an
encapsulation material, producing better results than native
starch, says new research.
Barentz Europe is strengthening its position bakery ingredients
with the acquisition of family-run MDB Twello - a move expected to
boost distribution for the latter's ingredients and may thus
introduce more manufacturers to lupin...
Irish mineral specialist Marigot's Aquamin complex appears to have
benefits beyond enhancing the mineral content of certain specialist
bakery products: it has also been seen to improve the texture of
gluten-free bread.
Furcellaran, a co-polymer of beta and kappa-carrageenan extracted
from red algae, has been identified as a novel new encapsulation
material, researchers from Estonia report.
Niche fragrance provider IBI has launched what is claimed to be the
first ever 'spiritual' perfume, a product that its creators claim
has been formulated and marketed to remind wearers of God.
The European market for lycopene as a functional food ingredient
looks to be opening up, since Vitatene gained novel foods approval
for its ingredient derived from the Blakeslea trispora
fungus last year.
The trend for 'clean label' foods containing few E-numbers is
emanating from the UK market but it is not yet a keen priority for
consumers, retailers and manufacturers in every country, says GC
Hahn.
Big hitters in the food industry, including Danone, Unilever,
Nestle and Coca-Cola, have announced they plan to roll out a
nutrition labelling system based on Guideline Daily Amounts in
France.
Flavours giant Givaudan has entered into a research and licensing
agreement with taste technology developer Redpoint Bio Corp, which
is expected to build the company's TasteSolutions programme for
health and wellness.
Converting food and beverage product labels from US to EC
format requires an in-depth understanding of European labeling
legislation, which is more complex than it often appears to be,
regulatory experts at consultancy firm Leatherhead...
DSM Nutritional Products is emphasising quality as the crucial
point of differentiation between the vitamin C it produces in the
green hills of Scotland - now known as Quali-C - and cheaper
material from Asia.
Parents aspire to offer the very best to their children, which of course requires high standards of quality and food safety. It also means introducing...