1) Danone Dumex formula recalled in Singapore after cronobacter sakazakii bacteria detected
Topping the list is the recall of Danone's Dumex formula in Singapore, following the detection of cronobacter sakazakii bacteria.
The recall of Dumex Mamil Gold Infant Milk Formula - Step 1 (850g), was made by Singapore’s Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA).
The product, imported by Danone Dumex, was manufactured in Malaysia. The effected batch number is 09117R1, with an expiry date of September 11 2019.
AVA said in a statement: “Consumers who have purchased the affected product are advised not to consume it.”
2) Say 'no' to nootropics? Expert advises extreme caution and extensive research
Nootropics have been gaining plenty of media attention – and it’s the same on our social channels – after one Australian researcher expressed concerns about consumers' tendency to 'stack' a variety of products, claiming it has unknown effects on health, and urgently requires more research.
Sarah Benson, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Swinburne University’s Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, has been researching nootropics — cognitive enhancers meant to improve concentration, alertness and memory.
She said that that while there was “compelling evidence” from clinical trials showing that certain nutraceuticals were indeed able to enhance cognitive function, it was imperative to note that their efficacy could differ depending on the standardisation and compositions of the ingredients used, and what they were taken alongside.
3) Black cohosh and Jamaican dogwood among ingredients in BioCeuticals' new women’s health range
Blackmores’ practitioner-only firm BioCeuticals takes the third spot in our chart, with details of how it has taken advantage of several uncommon ingredients to develop its latest offering, the BioCeuticals Women's Range.
The range consists of four products: Women's Essentials (for overall health and stress relief), FemmeBalance (for menstrual regulation and PMS), FemiPain (for menstrual pains), and MenoPlus 8-PN (for women going through menopause).
Black cohosh, a medicinal plant native to eastern North America, is one of ingredients in FemiPain, which also contains zinc, vitamin B1, and ginger.
4) Japan leading the charge for DNA testing trend in boost for personalised nutrition firms
Taking fourth spot on our list is news that Japan's consumer genetic testing industry is booming, buoying hopes that personalised nutrition firms can tap into demands for tailored products, especially among the elderly.
According to the Fuji Chimera Research Institute, the consumer genetic testing industry — which is tipped to reach a value of ¥6.6bn by 2022, a 35% increase from ¥4.3bn in 2017 — has so far been dominated by two domestic firms: Genesis Healthcare and Genequest Inc.
Both companies offer DNA testing products and services to customers, who need only provide cheek swabs for testing so they can receive detailed reports on aspects of their health such as allergies and disease risk. Services cost anywhere from ¥5,000 to ¥30,000.
5) Freedom Foods eyeing APAC's infant formula market with reformulated pro- and prebiotic range
Our final trending story focuses on how Australian firm Freedom Foods is targeting China and parts of South East Asia with its reformulated and repackaged infant formula range.
The range, called Australia's Own Diamond Pro+, comprises three products: Premium Infant Formula (for infants up to six months old), Follow-On Formula (for children between six and 12 months old) and Toddler Milk Drink (for children aged one and older).
All products feature a combination of probiotics and prebiotics, in addition to a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
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