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(Actuele) publicaties 2007 Algemeen
| 13-12-2007: | "Draft guidance will improve botanical safety" |
| 08-10-2007: | "China price hikes affecting global food chain" |
| 12-09-2007: | "Alternative Herbal Medicines - Best Way to Cure Disease" |
| 27-08-2007: | "Weight Loss - Herbal Safety Guidelines" |
| 16-08-2007: | "All Chinese exports to be checked from September" |
| 03-07-2007: | "Nutrition claim threat to botanics?" |
| 02-07-2007: | "European health claim rules come into force" |
| 28-06-2007: | "Industry's Article 13 list expected by July" |
| 04-06-2007: | "Could organic eat itself?" |
| 01-06-2007: | "CITES meeting to impact sustainable sourcing" |
| 25-04-2007: | "Supplement regulations start to ease trade" |
| 15-02-2007: | "Consultant calls for more research on plant extracts" |
| 05-01-2007: | "McCormick identifies ten new flavors for 2007" |
| 05-01-2007: | "Weight management trends for 2007" |
Draft guidance will improve botanical safety
13/12/2007 - Draft guidance on safety assessment of botanicals for use in supplements and those botanicals that should be prioritised for safety assessment is expected from EFSA this month.
As a result of a 2004 discussion paper on botanicals and botanical preparations, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) asked its scientific committee to prepare the two compendia. Comments will be accepted on both until February 15 2008.
Brussels-based European Botanical Forum (EBF) said the move would remove existing grey areas, which gives the potential for some botanicals considered dangerous in one member state to be used in another.
The guidance document is another step in the harmonisation of food laws across Europe, and should be ready by mid-December, an EFSA spokesperson told NutraIngredients.com.
In an interview with NutraIngredients.com, EBF forum chairman Manfred Ruthsatz said:
"You have some prohibited plants in some markets but the same plant can appear on a list in other countries."
Ruthsatz said there are some clear examples of botanicals never to appear in food supplements, such as foxglove.
He added:
"This will establish clearly what can and can't be used, but also to create transparency in the process.
"To establish a toxic plant list sounds easy, but there is a lot to gain if we do it in the right way, but there can be a lot to lose."
The group has established its own list which includes some 60 plants which should be considered toxic and not be allowed for food supplements.
EBF is also pressing for traditional knowledge to be considered in EFSA's evaluation of health claims for botanicals, under the health and nutrition claims regulation.
If traditional evidence were to be disregarded, there is a chance that botanicals and botanical-containing products could be left out in the cold by the new regulations.
This could create a barrier to the market since botanical companies may not have the budget required to deliver another layer of proof through clinical trials.
Harmony
The European Commission is in the throes of harmonising food law across the bloc.
Steps so far include setting a unified upper level for mineral and vitamins in supplements and fortified foods.
This move has caused concern among the industry as countries currently differ radically on what they allow, with some preferring higher levels than others.
The rules for marketing botanical products in the European Union are not yet harmonised and complex national rules can make it tough to bring products to the shelves.
This also means some botanicals can be classed as a medicinal in one country and as a food supplement in another.
Ginkgo biloba, for example, is classed as medicinal in Germany and Spain, but as a food supplement in Italy and Belgium.
Botanical products include herbs and plants, herbal infusions, and herbal extracts used in regular foods and in food supplements.
This article has been amended from the original published on December 6 to represent EFSA's role as a risk assessor, and not as a regulator with the authority to impose a ban, as implied.
NutraIngredients.com apologises for any misunderstanding caused by the error.
A spokesperson for EFSA said:
"EFSA is not establishing any list of botanicals that should be banned. EFSA's scientific committee is developing two compendia listing botanicals and botanical preparations that have been used in food and are known to contain undesirable substance. There is no judgement on whehter these botanicals are safe or unsafe for food use. These botanicals contain naturally some pompounds that deserve special attention when looking at the safety aspects."
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=81882&m=2NIED07&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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China price hikes affecting global food chain
08/10/2007 - Food and ingredient prices are growing at a faster pace in China than anywhere else in the world, having serious repercussions for business both domestically and on an international field.
For several years Western economies have regarded China as a source of cheap materials, labour and inexpensive food imports. However, food companies around the world now have to deal with the effects that Westernised eating habits, a booming population and higher consumer prices in China are having on the rest of the world.
The country's booming population is currently gobbling up massive amounts of the world's food supply, and the country's grain demand will rise to 550m tonnes by 2010, compared to an output of 490m tonnes in 2006, according to the White Book of China's Grain Issues, released by the State Council.
China will therefore have to increase its annual grain output by at least 2.5m tonnes every year until 2010 to cope with the growing population, or try to import it from elsewhere.
In an article written for the Financial Times, Dow Jones financial expert Tracy Zheng said that the government has already started selling off its limited reserves.
"It sold 200,000 tons of vegetable oil offered at an auction. The oil went at the high end of market prices, indicating that there is a strong domestic demand," she said. "What's more, China will hold auctions to sell imported wheat from reserves once or twice a month."
To compound matters, drought weather conditions, attributed to global warming are currently affecting several grain growing nations, reducing the amount of available imports.
For example, grain value is expected to undergo about a 21 per cent rise over the year to AUS$273 (€166) due to drought conditions brought on by global warming, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE).
In the EU's 27 member countries, a lower than expected harvest in 2006 of 265.5m tonnes has led to tightening supplies at the end of the growing season in 2007.
Another factor putting pressure on China's food supply is increasingly Westernised eating habits.
In the past, a large part of the Chinese diet was based on fish, rice and vegetables, all available in large supplies in and around the region, whereas now the Chinese have acquired a taste for meat, eggs and dairy products.
While no-one could begrudge any nation the right to decide whatever they so choose to put on their plates, certain sectors are feeling their supplies are starting to dwindle.
In the dairy sector, for example, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) last month reported that the price of milk is up 98 per cent from last year, setting the highest price on record at $21 per 100 pounds of farm milk.
The US is not the only country having to pay for China's demand for dairy products, as the price of cream in the UK has jumped by 23 per cent this year, and in Australia consumers are paying 60 per cent more for skimmed milk than they did six months ago.
We live in an increasingly globalised economy, and we are certainly fed thanks to a globalised food chain, (and) so no-one could pretend that these events in China will not have an effect on the rest of the world.
Consumers in China are now experiencing some of the highest food prices in years, prompting fears these higher costs will now spread to the rest of the world.
According to Philip Bowring writing for the Asia Sentinel, in August consumer price inflation hit a 10 year high of 5.6 per cent.
"This comes on the feels of declining imports from China," he said. "It can not be regarded as a one-off event, as it is likely to be the beginning of a sustained rise fuelled by several factors."
Bowring argues that the Westernisation of China, resulting in a demand for higher wages, consumer spending power and richer diets, will result in food companies paying the price in the future.
"Taking all factors into account it seems very likely that the China effect will contribute significantly to keeping prices, and inflation, high," he said.
Bowring and thousand of other experts who predict "agri-flation" have had their opinions validated by the financial statements of many companies all over the world.
Only last week, New Zealand Woolworth's boss Michael Luscombe warned that the company's target will be a 40 per cent reduction by 2015 against business as usual performance because of the crushing combination of export demand from China and India as well as drought weather conditions.
While company bosses such as Luscombe do try to keep prices low, many companies have admitted in recent months that consumers will have to pay more.
US dairy giant Dean Foods have this month been forced to up the price of milk, cream and yoghurts, "as a result of this extreme commodity environment," while ingredients company Purac has announced it is increasing its prices increases for lactic acid, lactates, gluconic acid and gluconates because of the higher commodity prices.
In the wealthier West, no-one envisages riots breaking out just yet, as almost happened in China last year when the price of noodles went up, but with the threat of high inflation hanging over the US and the UK, companies are certainly fearing a consumer backlash over extra costs.
All is not doom and gloom, however, as some companies are still managing to make a healthy profit despite the global repercussions that China is having on the food industry.
Many companies have diversified operations in recent years, turning from traditionally popular products towards processed or easily exportable brands.
Russian dairy producer Will-Bill-Dann has been particularly profitable this year, with shares rocketing 132 per cent in 2007. The company's success could be due diversifying into areas such as the beauty food market, with its antioxidant drink, or the functional dairy foods arena.
Many experts also believe that another way to survive is indeed to market products specifically made for Asian consumers, such as dried milk powder hot chocolate mix and certain brands of processed cheese.
Mergers and acquisitions have also been popular this year, as companies reposition themselves in a complex market, either to enter into growth areas such as health and nutritional products, or to have a stronger food hold in the high growth regions of Asia and Eastern Europe.
This year Nestlé, Cadbury, Diageo, Heineken, Intersnack in Germany, Unilever and Frutarom have all been in M&A deals in recent months, or are thought to be on the prowl for suitable investments.
FROM: http://www.ap-foodtechnology.com/news/ng.asp?n=80370-us-department-of-agriculture-dean-foods-wimm-bill-dann
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Alternative Herbal Medicines - Best Way to Cure Disease
September 12, 2007 - Alternative herbal medicine is one of the best ways to cure chronic or other disease, in many cases. The major benefit of herbal medicines is that it is 100% natural and does not have any side effects, if taken according to the advice of a competent doctor. Look for and use organic herbs when ever possible.
Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) is the wonder medicine made from primrose, borage or currant seed oil that is extremely effective for treatment of alcohol addicts. Alcohol intake in huge amounts has the chances of slowing down your brain cells. This particular effect of alcohol can be checked by Valerian herb. Another effectual herbal medicine for people suffering from emotional or physical stress is Skullcap.
The alternative herbal remedies for stress, anxiety or depression are St. John's wort, ashwagandha, valerian and hops, ginseng, and Motherwort.
If one is suffering from any degree of sleeplessness, the most helpful herbal medicines are lemon balm, linden, chamomile and ginger tea. For quick relief from common ailments like the odd headache, you can go for eucalyptus or peppermint oil and lavender while for rapid pain relief or inflammation, one can take meadowsweet or willow bark instead of chemical painkillers.
Salicylic acid, the chief component of the pain-killer aspirin, is found in its salicin form in willow bark and meadowsweet. The salicin is reacted upon in the stomach and transformed to salicylic acid, which grants you instant relief from pain. Ginger, which reduces the prostaglandin levels in the body, is another useful pain reliever.
Thanks to the hectic modern style of present day living, most of us suffer from stress in different forms. Herbal medicine is a great way to counter this. ginseng and Siberian ginseng are two of the most potent stress relievers. Herbal medicines like gingko biloba, ginseng, Siberian ginseng and gotu kola are also successful in curing partial memory loss. Hawthorn, ginseng, motherwort, valerian and pineapple are the wonder herbs that help in curing angina or irregular heartbeat.
Most herbal medicines are prepared from the major herbal ingredient along with other contents. At present, almost 80% of all the medicines have some herbal ingredients.
Although herbal medicines have been extremely successful in treating many diseases, prescription drugs still hold the fort when it comes to treating critical diseases. Thus, one should not consider alternative herbal medicine to be a competitor of prescription drugs, but as a new and effective form of medicine that works in tandem with prescription drugs to treat certain illnesses.
Another benefit of herbal medicines is that it is accessible to most everyone. Herbal treatment is not at all expensive and the herbs can even be grown in your backyard! In fact, prescription drugs are much more expensive and associated with a greater amount of risk.
Alternative medicine is cheap, effective and most importantly, natural and free from any side effects.
FROM: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=37454
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Weight Loss - Herbal Safety Guidelines
August 27, 2007 - Before using an herb you are unfamiliar with, find out its medicinal properties. Research it thoroughly and/or consult with an appropriately qualified practitioner or expert. If you are taking prescription drugs,
or have a medical condition check with an appropriately qualified practitioner before using herbs medicinally. Herbs have shown overwhelming evidence that they work. Just because a small amount works well does NOT mean that more is better.
As individuals we all have different constitutions, sensitivities, allergic reactions and possible health conditions. The following are merely guidelines. They include herbs offered on our websites. This list does not help with administering information on possible interactions and contraindications with prescription medicine. This needs to be discussed with your physician.
SHOULD I CHECK WITH MY DOCTOR OR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BEFORE USING A SUPPLEMENT?
This is a good idea, especially for certain population groups. Dietary supplements may not be risk-free under certain circumstances. If you are pregnant, nursing a baby, or have a chronic medical condition, such as, diabetes, hypertension or heart disease, be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist before purchasing or taking any supplement.
While vitamin and mineral supplements are widely used and generally considered safe, you may wish to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking these or any other dietary supplements. If you plan to use a dietary supplement in place of drugs or in combination with any drug, tell your health care provider first. Many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong biological effects and their safety is not always assured in all users. If you have certain health conditions and take these products, you may be placing yourself at risk.
SOME SUPPLEMENTS MAY INTERACT WITH PRESCRIPTION AND OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINES.
Taking a combination of supplements or using these products together with medications (whether prescription or OTC drugs) could under certain circumstances produce adverse effects. Be alert to advisories about these products, whether taken alone or in combination. For example: Coumadin (a prescription medicine), ginkgo biloba (an herbal supplement), aspirin (an OTC drug) and vitamin E (a vitamin supplement) can each thin the blood, and taking any of these products together can increase the potential for internal bleeding.
SOME SUPPLEMENTS CAN HAVE UNWATED EFFECTS DURING SURGERY.
It is important to fully inform your doctor about the vitamins, minerals, herbals or any other supplements you are taking, especially before elective surgery. You may be asked to stop taking these products at least 2-3 weeks ahead of the procedure to avoid potentially dangerous supplement/drug interactions -- such as changes in heart rate, blood pressure and increased bleeding - that could adversely affect the outcome of your surgery.
NOT TO BE USED DURING PREGNANCY, OR IF YOU ARE NURSING:
Alkanet, Aloe, Angelica, Anise, Anise Star, Arnica, Ashwaganda, Barley Grass, Barberry, Basil, Bitter Melon, Black Cohosh, Bladderwrack, Blessed Thistle, Blood Root, Blue Cohosh, Blue Flag, Blue Vervain, Borage, Buckthorn, California Poppy, Cascara Sagrada, Catnip, Celandine, Celery, Chervil, Cinnamon, Club Moss, Comfrey, Coltsfoot, Cubeb, Dong Quai, Elecampane, Ephedra, False Unicorn, Fenugreek, Feverfew, Ginger, Golden Seal, Gravel, Guarana, Gymnema, Horehound, Horsetail, Hyssop, Juniper, Lemongrass, Licorice, Lobelia, Lovage, Lungwort, Mace, Motherwort, Mugwort, Muira Puama, Myrrh, Neem, Oregon Grape, Osha, Parsley, Pennyroyal, Pleurisy, Prickly Ash, Red Clover, Rhodiola, Rosemary, Rue, Sage, Sassafras, Sarsaparilla, Senna, Shepherds Purse, Spikenard, Turkey Rhubarb, Turmeric, Uva Ursi, Vitex, Watercress, White Sage, Wormwood, Yarrow.
NOT FOR PERSONS WITH HISTORY OF KIDNEY STONES, LIVER DISORDERS, RENAL DYSFUNCTION OR INFLAMMATION.
Cubeb, Essiac, Horsetail, Hydrangea, Juniper Berries, Kava Kava, Parsley Root, Pennyroyal, Sheep Sorrel, Shepherds Purse, Suma, Sumac, Uva Ursi, Yellowdock, Yohimbe.
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR PERSON CURRENTLY TAKING BLOOD THINNING MEDICATIONS:
Alfalfa, Angelica, Cramp Bark, Cubeb, Dong Quai, Ginkgo, meadowsweet, Red Clover, Sarsaparilla, Yohimbe.
NOT FOR PERSONS WITH STOMACH INFLAMMATION/ULCERS SERIOUS DIGESTION AND/OR LIVER PROBLEMS. MAY CAUSE GASTROINTESTINAL UPSET:
Black Haw, Blue Flag, Chaparral, Club Moss, Crampbark, Devils Claw, Eucalyptus, Elecampane, Essiac, Gentian, Ginger, Licorice, Lobelia, Parsley Root, Pleurisy, Pygeum, Solomans Seal, Tribulus, Turmeric, Yohimbe.
NOT FOR LONG-TERM USE:
Bilberry Leaf, Black Walnut, Blessed thistle, Borage, Cascara Sagrada, Comfrey, Coltsfoot, Chaparral, Elecampane, Ephedra, Flax, Horsetail, Gentian, Goldenseal, Guarana, Juniper berries, Licorice, Lobelia, Lungwort, Mullein, Nettle Root, Rhubarb, Sage, Sassafras, Sarsaparilla, Senna, Sheep Sorrel, Wild Cherry, Wormwood, Uva Ursi, Yohimbe.
TO BE USED ONLY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN EXPERT QUALIFIED IN THE APPROPRIATE USE OF THIS SUBSTANCE:
Calamus, Horse Chestnut, Lobelia, Licorice, Mandrake, Poke, Tonka.
DO NOT USE IF YOU HAVE ABDOMINAL PAIN OR DIARRHEA, DISCONTINUE IF THESE OCCUR. CONSULT HEALTH PRACTITIONER PRIOR TO USE IF PREGNANT, NURSING, AND TAKING MEDICATION OR HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION. DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE. NOT FOR LONG TERM USE:
Aloe, Buckthorn, Cascara Sagrada, Senna, Turkey Rhubarb, Yohimbe.
MAY CAUSE PHOTO TOXICITY IN SOME INDIVIDUALS AT HIGH DOSAGE. AVOID LONG EXPOSURE TO SUN IF USING INTERNALLY:
Angelica, Celery Seed, Orange Peel, Rue, St. Johns Wort.
SEEK ADVICE FROM HEALTH PRACTITIONER PRIOR TO USE IF PREGNANT, NURSING, HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, HEART OR THYROID DISEASE, DIABETES, DIFFICULTY IN URINATION DUE TO PROSTATE ENLARGEMENT, OR IF TAKING MAO INHIBITOR OR OTHER PRESCRIPTION DRUG. REDUCE/DISCONTINUE USE IF NERVOUSNESS, TREMOR, SLEEPLESSNESS, LOSS OF APPETITE OR NAUSEA OCCUR. DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN:
Ephedra, St. Johns Wort, Yohimbe.
SEEK ADVICE FROM A HEALTH PRACTITIONER BEFORE USE IF YOU HAVE/MAY HAVE HAD KIDNEY OR LIVER DISEASE. DISCONTINUE USE IF NAUSEA, FEVER, FATIGUE OR JAUNDICE (DARK URINE, YELLOW DISCOLORATION OF EYES) SHOULD OCCUR:
Boldo, Chaparral.
Regarding Hoodia Gordonii Plus mentioned at this site, it does not fall under any of the above herbal products that can be dangerous is some situations. However, if you are concerned about taking it, check with your doctor first, especially if you are now taking any prescription drugs.
Statements made by Ultra Herbal have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. The FDA Does not evaluate or test herbs. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Consult with your physician for diagnosis or treatment. Use herbs as per instructions and always watch for any allergic reactions.
In summary, you should be okay if you check with your doctor, if needed and follow these herbal guidelines.
FROM: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=36146
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All Chinese exports to be checked from September
16/08/2007 - Samples from every Chinese food shipment to the US and other countries will be tested for safety under new requirements by Chinese officials from 1 September, according to senior Chinese trade official based in Washington.
Zhao Baoqing, first commercial secretary of the Chinese Embassy, yesterday at a press conference said that all types of food would be examined, with at least one box checked from each shipment -- confirmed by a government seal attached to a package or shipment, according to reports in US media.
The measure is the latest attempt by Chinese authorities to bolster the safety of its products shipped abroad. Recently a series of health scares and contamination problems with exported goods have led to widespread concerns about the safety of Chinese food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
A raft of regulations have been implemented and are planned for later this year in an attempt to tighten up the national food manufacturing industry.
Last month the Chinese food regulator, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, announced that half of small processors would close amid fears that smaller unregulated operations accounted for many of the food safety problems.
Zhao said China's food safety needed improving, but that the vast majority of the exports to US were of high quality.
"During 2004 to 2006, more than 99 per cent of Chinese food to the US met the US safety and quality standards," he said.
The former food safety official said the Chinese government has been actively cooperating with other countries to seek solutions and called for global cooperation to improve food safety and product quality.
FROM: http://www.ap-foodtechnology.com/news/ng.asp?n=79075&m=2FLG822&idP=17&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj&idcat=0
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Nutrition claim threat to botanics?
03/07/2007 - The European Botanical Forum has said there needs to be changes to the health and nutrition claims regulation, which does not include any reference to the traditional use of botanicals as food ingredients.
The group says traditional botanicals now face an uncertain future in wake of the EU rule, which came into force on Sunday.
Under the new regulations any company making a food or nutritional claim on its product has to be backed up and clarified by a scientific fact.
The regulations mean that no food product will be allowed to be labelled under vague or generic terms such as 'good for your heart', 'help lower cholesterol' or branded as a 'superfood' without scientific backing.
But the European Botanical Forum (EBF) want another clause to be added to the list of acceptable claims for botanicals in food if there has been long-standing use and a history of safe experiences.
The European Commission insists the regulations will make food labels in the EU clear and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will decide which health claims are accessible.
The authority said then that only a claim which is scientifically substantiated will be authorised.
Although the regulation came into force from Sunday, companies and businesses will have until September 21 to get their health or nutritional claim added to the official list before it is agreed by member states.
Previously the rules on claims have been very general, but this regulation will mean vague nutritional claims like 'low in salt' and 'light' will have to meet a standardized definition agreed by the EU.
EBF fears a whole range of botanicals maybe under threat. For example, teas containing plant extracts such as camomile may not be able to claim the drink was relaxing without a clinical trial being carried out. Should this happen the financial burden may fall on an individual small to medium enterprise to carry out the trial, the forum said.
At the moment the forum says EFSA has not stated what health or nutritional claims it would accept for botanics.
EBF secretary general Patrick Coppens told NutraIngredients.com:
"It is a very uncertain time at the moment. If botanicals were not allowed to make a claim it would be difficult for consumers to know what the product is for. It would be a dangerous situation."
The forum feels particularly aggrieved as the commission allows for some types of plant-derived ingredient to be us as herbal medicine based on whether it has a traditional use of more than 30 years with no clinical proof.
Forum chairman Manfred Ruthsatz said:
"It is disproportionate and incongruous that a product for a therapeutic purpose can be based on traditional use with no evidence of efficacy required, and yet a health claim on a food that is based on traditional use has no opportunity in the EFSA document to be used as supporting evidence.
"Botanical ingredients are a growing market in terms of both food and food supplements, and traditional use should be taken into account so as not to endanger the use of botanicals in foods, herbal teas and food supplements. This way the market can continue to provide all European consumers with safe and well-established products to enhance their health in a natural way."
The EFSA, which is in charge of drawing up a list of permitted health claims, was not available for comment prior to publication.
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=77862&m=2FLG711&idP=2&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj&idcat=0
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European health claim rules come into force
02/07/2007 - The European Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation came into force yesterday, meaning food companies will only be able to make claims about their nutritional or health benefits approved by the European Food Safety Authority.
No food product will be allowed to be labeled under vague or generic terms such as 'good for your heart', 'help lower cholesterol' or branded as a 'superfood' without scientific backing.
The European Commission, which has been working on the document since 2003, insists the regulations will make food labels in the EU clear, accurate and substantiated.
This, it says, will enable consumers to make informed and meaningful choices when it comes to food and drinks.
Previously the rules on claims have been very general, but this regulation will mean vague nutritional claims like 'low in salt' and 'light' will have to meet a standardized definition agreed by the EU.
Beans, blueberries, broccoli, salmon, spinach, tea, tomatoes, and walnuts have all been hailed as so-called superfoods because they are foods rich in nutrients and some have been linked to having a positive effect on health.
Sales of superfoods have soared in the UK, according to market analyst AC Neilsen, which said sales of blueberries shot up by £55 million (€81 million) in two years, from £40 million (€59 million) in May 2005 to around £95 million (€140 million) in the same month of this year.
In addition to the 132 per cent increase in blueberry sales, spinach sales are reported to have grown by 26 per cent in the same period, with the market currently valued at £42 million (€62 million). Tomato sales have also increased by 16 per cent, said AC Neilsen, with estimated putting the market at £625 million (€921 million).
It is not yet known how the changes could impact on the market, but the UK Food Standards Agency said there is still a "transition period" to give businesses enough time to comply with the new rules,
"Therefore it will be some time yet before we see the changes in the shops,"
a spokesperson added.
In future, any claims made in relation to the nutrition and health benefits of a food will only be allowed if the claims are one of an approved list.
The European Commission is drawing up a list of health claims that can be used on food products. General claims such as 'healthy' or 'good for you' will not be listed but will only be allowed if backed up by an appropriate claim from the list.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned the changes will have a negative impact for health conscious Brits.
BRC director general Kevin Hawkins said:
"It is right that claims such as 'reduced fat' or 'good for your heart' are supported by science but customers must not be denied nutrition and health messages they find valuable.
"It could thwart national health campaigns and compromise innovation of healthier products. We will need to keep the impact of this regulation under review."
The FSA is collating a list of claims to send to the commission, which will then be validated by EFSA.
So far the agency's list includes suggestive wording for calcium, iron and folate, as: Calcium helps build strong bones and teeth; Iron helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body; Folate is necessary for the normal structure of the neural tube in developing embryos.
The deadline for businesses to get their claims added to the commission's list is September 21.
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=77827&m=2ICT704&idP=2&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj&idcat=0
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Industry's Article 13 list expected by July
28/06/2007 - European trade associations for health products and food supplements have announced that the EU-wide industry list of hundreds of Article 13 health claims for authorisation should be finished by the end July.
The European Federation of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM) and the European Responsible Nutrition Alliance (ERNA) announced that more than 625 dossiers have been compiled including vitamin and mineral claims, macronutrients, other substances, botanicals and probiotics, which they hope will be accepted onto Member State lists.
"We are in the final stage of one of the most substantial activities this industry has ever taken on - the development of the EU industry list of health claims,"
said Peter van Doorn, EHPM chairman.
"It has been an enormously labour-intensive task due to the complexity of discussions, but the list will be completed well in time for submission to most Member States' lists,"
he added.
Article 13, on well-established claims, must be submitted by member states by early 2008, after which the final list will be drawn up within two years. But there are no guarantees that proposed claims will make it onto the final list, and if there are any surprises companies may find themselves having to withdraw products immediately.
Claims under Article 13 must be substantiated on the basis of generally accepted scientific evidence, and well understood by the average consumer. However, this topic is surrounded in uncertainty since no guidelines have been issued by the European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) concerning how much or what type of scientific evidence is needed, and how the "average consumer" is defined.
To counter this uncertainty, the associations asked independent experts to develop their own guidelines for the process, taking into account food and food categories, diet and nutrients, health relationships and conditions of use, as well as the nature of the evidence and examples of label and advertising wording.
"We have used a grading of evidence system to help judge the validity of the scientific evidence. Claims that did not meet our standards have been rejected. We hope that our efforts will be rewarded at national and EU level,"
said Patrick Coppens, secretary general ERNA.
The trade associations have reportedly spent the last 12 months working on the creation of a credible list of scientifically substantiated dossiers for substances for amino acids, proteins and botanicals.
Contributions to the industry list came from EHPM, ERNA, the European Botanical Forum (EBF) and the Confederation of Food and Drink Industries of the EEC (CIAA).
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=77069&m=2ICT606&idP=5&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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Could organic eat itself?
6/4/2007 - Just when organic food has begun to make a noticeable dent in the overall food market, air freighting - a measure that solves the segment's biggest current problem - is facing potential prohibition
The UK's influential Soil Association last week launched a debate on whether the increasing use of air freighting organic foods into the country goes against the principles behind such products.
In a debate paper the association indicates that such a prohibition should be made as air freighting is considered to be more damaging than shipping or road delivery.
As an organic certifier and an environmental campaigner, the association's proposal could be a classic case of putting principle before practicality.
Removing suppliers' ability to import organic produce by air could have a damaging effect on the organic industry as a whole.
Organic now makes up about two per cent of the entire food market, largely thanks to the work of the Soil Association, the UK's largest certifier. About 70 per cent of all organic food sold in the UK carries its logo.
However, the number one reason given in surveys as to why more organic food isn't sold is supply. Put simply, there isn't enough of the stuff to meet the demand.
At first glance, this situation may appear to be a strong position for the organic industry, giving it the ability to charge consumers higher prices. But supply problems could also have the opposite effect on demand.
Is there a danger that by removing the certification from suppliers that continue to air freight and thus restricting the supply, the whole organic market could fall to a point below its critical mass?
Given the tiny amount of produce actually air freighted, probably not.
But imposing a ban will definitely reduce the range of organic products available to UK consumers. Such a situation would be especially true for seasonal and perishable products, such as organic pineapples and papayas.
Regular, year-round supplies are being demanded, but with up to 95 per cent of fruit imported, and about 50 per cent of vegetables sourced from abroad, according to a 2006 Farmers Weekly survey.
Cutting organic suppliers' ability to meet short-term demand will push consumers to switch to non-organic choices. Keeping the shelves bare will just enforce this choice.
Air freighting is the most expensive and most environmentally damaging mode of transporting food. One per cent of food consumed in the UK is air freighted and is responsible for 11 per cent of the total food transport CO2 emissions, according to the Soil Association.
Therefore it is and should be a mode only used when absolutely necessary. Still, is it not better for the organic industry, that air freighting continues to be an importation channel left open to suppliers?
Surely it's preferable to have the odd plane delivering organic green beans from Kenya when supplies are low, than to have no organic green beans at all because local and shipped supplies cannot meet demand?
The ability to have the flexibility to provide customers a year round supply of organics and a wider range of products that include exotic fruits has a halo effect on the industry.
The more products on the shelves in terms of both volume and range, the more likely people are going to accept organic as a practical alternative to non-organic products.
The Soil Association's proposal could be a self fulfilling prophecy. If suppliers cannot meet demand for year-round supplies, organic food could be forced aside by other products, such as Fairtrade, and the industry will have to content itself only with supplies that are shipped or produced locally.
The organisation is attempting to raise the profile of organics as environmentally friendly foods along the whole supply chain.
Yet an air freight ban, with its best intentions, could end up having a damaging effect on the industry as a whole.
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=77069&m=2ICT606&idP=5&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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CITES meeting to impact sustainable sourcing
01/06/2007 - The triennial Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) conference, beginning Sunday in The Hague, is set to influence regulations for the nutraceutical ingredients trade.
While the main issues relate to over-fishing and over-logging, the topic of plant protection and their sustainable use will also be raised. CITES is an agreement between 169 governments, who aim to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Decisions made at CITES could affect the interests of stakeholders in the dietary supplement industry by potentially encouraging trade restrictions and supporting the long-term protection of ingredients. The meeting agenda will also call into question how the practices of international companies trading such goods affect vulnerable populations.
"The acute challenges of the 21st century - from achieving the 2010 target for reducing the rate of loss of biodiversity to realizing the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 - make CITES more relevant today than ever before," said executive director Achim Steiner of the United Nations Environment Programme, in charge of administering the CITES secretariat.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) form a United Nations initiative primarily designed to improve the lot of those living in conditions of extreme poverty. The aim is to reduce the spread of disease and improve access to education by 2015.
Herbal ingredients fit under this far-reaching policy umbrella because they relate to the goals of sustainable development and reversing the loss of environmental resources.
The CITES conference, running through to 15 June, will also be looking to hammer out a plan to enforce its regulations controlling illegal trade and its potential effects on the livelihoods of the rural poor between 2008 and 2013,
Depending on a company's practices, this tightening of regulations could be seen as a help or a hindrance.
Companies not integrating the economic empowerment of communities into their practices could one day feel the regulatory weight on their shoulders.
The Amazon rainforest, the largest single national section of which expands across Brazil, presents a microcosm of the challenges found in other economies and areas facing development and environmental challenges.
In November, Mintel identified the "Amazonia movement" as a key trend for 2007 because of the growing interest in ingredients sourced from the rainforest.
However, unless the economic lot of local populations is improved and companies with unethical practices are punishes, these sources are at peril.
In the long-run industry will also suffer, and industries covered by CITES, such as logging, will also have a spin-off effect on the sourcing of ingredients.
The World Wildlife Fund estimates that the Amazon rainforest holds approximately 30 per cent of the world's plant species. The Amazon River is also the world's largest water basin, with a flow volume equal to 20 percent of the joint volume of all rivers on the planet.
Yet according to Brazilian government estimates, the Amazon forest will have lost 25 percent of its original area by 2020. This would be disastrous not only for the ecosystem of the region, but also for the world's climate.
Logging, and the unsustainable farming that leads to more logging, has been erasing large swaths of the rainforest as migrants exploit the land to earn a living. Cattle ranching and soybean farming are the two main industries for which trees are cleared.
Rules and regulations coming from the top down have had notoriously little impact in the Brazilian Amazon. Lack of funding and sufficient numbers of on-the-ground personnel, as well as administrative and corporate corruption, have made protecting the rainforest seem futile.
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=77024&m=2NIE601&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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Supplement regulations start to ease trade
4/25/2007 - Regulatory changes made in 2006 have had a positive effect on global dietary supplement trade according to the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA), but improvements are still needed in some regions to remove barriers
IADSA,, which represents 57 national trade associations across six continents, promotes free trade for dietary supplements and a regulatory framework to protect this. The international body values the global dietary supplement market at over US$60.2bn, with the biggest markets being the United States, the European Union and Japan.
The organization recently gave the global regulatory environment a 'six out of ten' for improvements made, with the missing four points being lost for technical barriers to trade such as the categorization of supplements as medicines in some regions and the continued struggle to keep certain food additives from being banned by the Codex Alimentarius.
"Unjustified restrictions continue on the sale of supplements in many parts of the world, but overall it would appear that legislation is moving in the right direction," said David Pineda, IADSA's manager of regulatory affairs. "In terms of improved regulations that prevent barriers to trade, 2006 was a good year."
According to IADSA, favourable regulatory developments in 2006 included South Africa's decision to create a draft law for complementary medicines and dietary supplements and the Association of South East Asian Nations' (ASEAN) discussions on the harmonisation of food supplements.
In 2006 IADSA prevented the removal of four additives from dietary supplements - iron oxides, castor oil, chlorophylls/copper complexes and erythrosine. In addition, IADSA succeeded in raising the levels of BHA, BHT and carnauba wax.
The motive behind preserving such additives is to eliminate confusion between countries that could result in barriers to trade.
At the domestic level, IADSA highlights what it calls technical trade barriers. These include overly bureaucratic and expensive approval systems, restrictive import licensing requirements, as well as restrictions on sales, distribution, dosage, ingredients and claims.
The very manner in which dietary supplements are defined can be a potential barrier to trade.
"…Although the majority of countries in the world classify food supplements under food law, some countries regulate them under medicine law," Pineda told NutraIngredients-USA. "Since on the latter food supplements are classified and defined as medicines, they have problems accessing other markets because of their classification."
Codex Alimentarius, set up by the Food and Agricultural Organisation and the World Health Organisation in 1961, establishes guidelines to level the playing field of food trade. While the standards are not binding, they tend to influence less liberal markets and those without a regulatory framework in place, which has been particularly common in supplements.
IADSA is currently attending the 39th session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives, being held in Beijing, in order to protect an additional 22 additives found in food supplements that are also scheduled for a Codex decision.
The organization just wrapped up a workshop it held in Yokohama, Japan, where legislators from Asia, Europe and North America discussed international models of regulation. Japan is the world's second largest single market for dietary supplements, and IADSA deems it to be a springboard for other Asian markets.
"In addition to regulation discussions with Japan, 2007 is a key year in the process of regional harmonisation in South East Asia and Codex Alimentarius initiatives on additives, health claims and the safety of supplement ingredients," said Pineda.
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=76028-iadsa-codex-trade
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Consultant calls for more research on plant extracts
15/02/2007 - Companies should invest in R&D for plant extracts in preparation for health claims regulations and to boost consumer confidence, urges Frost & Sullivan.
The consultancy, which has just published a report entitled Developments in the Global Phytonutrients Market, says that there is strong interest in phytonutrients or ingredients from plant extracts on the basis of their purported health benefits - not only from the functional foods and supplements industries but also from cosmetics companies.
But it expects that stringent regulations in some markets - such as the new health and nutrition claims regulation in the EU - could impede future growth unless the ingredients come with a body of science to back up their efficacy.
Amongst the phytonutrient categories that have built up a strong reputation, both at industry and consumer level, are phytosterols that are used in cholesterol-lowering foods (from dairy products to bakery and even cold cuts).
Isoflavones are also the subject of research into potential for hormone-related disturbances such as breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Research analyst Balaji Vasudevamurthy said that the category is doing well presently because of the overall trend towards preventative medicine.
"If companies can establish the effectiveness of products, this can help boost the confidence levels of consumers," he said.
"Companies can also consider working on a partnership basis or form joint ventures, as this can help in sharing research costs and capabilities."
Frost & Sullivan has not publicly released a figure for the global phytonutrient market. But it valued the European phytosterols market at US$184.6m (around €140.5m at today's exchange rates) in 2005, and estimates this to reach $395.2m (€300.9) by 2012, an increase of 114 per cent.
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McCormick identifies ten new flavors for 2007
1/5/2007 - Flavor firm McCormick has identified ten new flavor pairings for 2007.
Tangerine and thyme, crystallized ginger and salted pistachio, wasabi and maple are just three of the new combinations unveiled in the company's annual flavor forecast, and suggest that exotic and unusual combinations will be a major trend this year.
Altogether, the top ten flavor pairings chosen by McCormick for 2007 are Clove and Green Apple, Thyme and Tangerine, Tellicherry Black Pepper and Berry, Sea Salt and Smoked Tea, Lavender and Honey, Crystallized Ginger and Salted Pistachio, Cumin and Apricot, Toasted Mustard and Fennel Seeds, Wasabi and Maple and Caramelized Garlic and Riesling Vinegar.
"In creating this report, we examined two overarching trends influencing flavor,"
said Laurie Harrsen, director of consumer communications at McCormick.
"The first is the ever-expanding breadth of choices, specifically within individual ingredients. Even staples like salt are now available in a diverse palette of flavor, color and texture.
"Also, global cuisines, particularly those of North Africa, Asia and the Middle East, continue to drive our exploration of new foods and flavors."
Along with the flavor experts at McCormick, chefs, television personalities, and cookbook authors contributed their thoughts to the Flavor Forecast. Since 2000, McCormick has forecasted the flavors and trends that will be on Americans' plates.
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=74241&m=2ICT215&idP=2&c=tbcofwatvvhylkj
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Weight management trends for 2007
2007/01/05 - A diet is not just for January. Sure, the wagon-ride to a healthy weight is a bumpy one and some won't manage to cling on. But global government efforts to reduce the impact of the obesity crisis on public health are ongoing, and greater awareness is the cue for the food and supplements to innovate with products that can help people stay on the wagon.
Satiety
Alongside - and often within - food products aimed specifically at dieters, ingredients to boost satiety and help control appetite are gaining recognition as useful ways to help dieters stay on track.
Although there are numerous fad diets that promise weight-loss by restricting certain food groups, most dieticians recommend a balanced healthy diet including copious fruits and veg, combined with regular exercise.
But for people who have previously subsisted on burgers, red meat, and processed food, smaller portions of healthier foods may leave them feeling less full - and more likely to break ranks and reach for snacks between meals.
A growing host of ingredients are becoming available for manufacturers to boost the satiety provided by their products - from DSM's Fabuless to Lipid Nutrition's Pinnothin. And responsibility is not left just to the food-makers: the success of satiety supplements such as Slumthru (containing Fabuless), recently launched in the UK, depend on consumers grasping the concept.
Boosting the benefits of exercise
"Calories in, versus calories out"
is one mantra popular with responsible weight loss advocates.
But what if the pain resulted in a little more gain?
French company Berkem has tapped the potential of coffee beans to this end. It is aiming to extend uses of its Svetol ingredient from supplements to functional foods as it conducts more research into its benefits.
The company says Svetol has two uses: to regulate of blood glucose levels; and to spur weight loss.
In the first instance, it is taken before a meal. In the second, it is taken afterwards to encourage energy to be drawn from fat deposits rather than from stores in the liver, thereby encouraging weight loss.
The proposed mechanism of action is that it inhibits the activity of glucose-6-phytophase, which is responsible for the release of glucose stored in the liver into general circulation. This means that glucose is instead drawn from deposits in adipose tissue, stimulating weight loss.
Under normal circumstances it take 15 to 20 minutes of exercise before the energy in adipose tissue is tapped. Thus, says Berkem, Svetol saves 20 minutes - but that is enough to have an action on fat.
Calorie neutral, calorie negative
A drink that tastes good and has a calorie count of big fat zero? The beverage giants cottoned on decades ago with diet drinks that 'Can help weight loss as part of a calorie controlled diet'.
It's taken a while for the market to get to the next step. But last year saw the launch of Enviga from Nestle and Coca Cola following research that found that green tea extract EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) could speed up metabolism and energy use when combined with caffeine.
Tests have shown that drinking three cans of Enviga everyday could burn an extra 60-100 calories in thin to normal weight people, the firms announced.
Useful tool or a gimmick that preys on dieter's pockets? Pressure group the Center for Science in the Public Interest is cynical about the significance of the calorie negative effect. So much so, in fact, that it has threatened the companies with legal action unless it curbs the claims it is making.
Whether CSPI or the food giants win out remains to be seen, but sales of Enviga will be closely watched in the coming year. If it does well, it could herald the start of the calorie negative era for the diet foods industry.
Marketing weight loss responsibly
Yesterday's announcement by the US Federal Trade Commission that it has reached settlements with marketers of weight that it says made unsubstantiated claims about supplement products may have some effect in the sector's credibility, however - at least on that side of the Atlantic.
"Diet pills only lighten wallet"
, screams the headline in the Hamilton Spectator, Canada;
"Eager to work off the holiday turkey and sugar cookies that have lodged in your hips and thighs? You might want to pass on the diet pills,"
says Florida's St Petersburg Times
But the FTC's objections lie with the marketing of products, not in their formulation
Green tea extract or Hoodia gordonii might not be a magic bullet. But lets not forget that there is a responsible side to the weight loss industry that is not claiming it is so, just to get the impatient to part with their cash.
Some positive results have been seen in studies, and dismissing all these ingredients wholesale as a result of a handful of companies over-egging the science could amount to throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Not only could it stymie a growing market, but it could turn dieters away from tools that could actually help them on their way.
FROM: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=73126-weight-management-satiety
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