China Focus: Nutraceutical trends, first Safeway store in China, krill oil, and more
China trends data: Bone and joint the mainstay, growing attention on fish oil, novel ingredient NPD
China’s nutraceutical market is seeing burgeoning interest in fish oil omega-3 and liver health, but bone and joint health remains one of the strongest categories, according to our in-depth analysis with experts in the country.
Additionally, a growing list of novel food ingredients approved for use in 1) nutraceuticals and 2) conventionally regarded as both food and Chinese medicinal herbs is set to fuel new product innovation.
MEBO Group to set up Safeway’s first China branch in Shanghai next year
Multinational firm MEBO Group is looking to set up US supermarket chain Safeway’s first China store in Shanghai next year, paving the way for more US nutrition, food and beverage brands to enter China.
At present, MEBO Group is already introducing brands sold on Safeway into China via its MEBOGO International Trade and Service Sharing Platform set up in 2021.
Products sold include general foods as well as health supplement brands Open Nature and Signature Care.
Krill oil NPD: China firms apply phospholipid omega-3 into adult milk powder and more
China companies are driving new innovation in the krill oil sector, with milk powder firm Beingmate (贝因美) incorporating the phospholipid-bound omega-3 into adult milk powder and others combining it with multiple functional ingredients for specific health purposes.
Most krill oil products are typically sold as soft gel capsules and come in a single formulation – meaning the product only contains krill oil. However, innovation in dosage formats and formulations have popped up in the China market in the past year.
Fibre from resistant starch may aid weight loss via gut microbiota modulation – RCT
A new trial revealed that resistant starch intake aids weight loss among obese individuals via modulation of the gut microbiota.
Resistant starch is a fermentable dietary fibre that cannot be digested in the small intestine and moves into the colon, where it undergoes fermentation by gut microbiota. As resistant starch occurs naturally in foods like legumes, cereal, rice, and wholegrain bread, the findings provide a pragmatic solution to treat obesity and its related metabolic disorders.
Manipulating the gut microbial composition through diet may represent a strategy for modifying host energy balance to promote health.
Filling a gap: Sinopharm, Probi join hands in developing sports nutrition for bone, joint health
Sinopharm Foreign Trade and Probi AB have developed a new sports nutrition product for supporting bone and joint health, targeting especially seniors who would like to maintain an active lifestyle.
The new product, which will be launched under the brand Oyfusion, or Yue Le Wei (悦乐维) in Chinese, contains Probi’s probiotic blend marketed as Probi®Osteo.
