Probiotics, prebiotics & postbiotics

Australia supplement breaches: Labelling and advertising woes form the majority of offences - TGA

06-Oct-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Problems with product labelling and advertising are the most common compliance breaches found in listed complementary medicines in Australia, according to new data from the regulator Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Trending terms: ‘Gut Flora’ out of fashion as shoppers learn strain names

05-Oct-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Consumers are no longer reverting to simplistic phrases like ‘gut flora’ but are instead researching the specific bacterial strains associated with their target health concerns, according to a new trends analysis tool from Lumina Intelligence.

Regulatory review: Sports nutrition in Australia, mandatory fortification in India and more

02-Oct-2020 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we look at the new regulatory developments across APAC, including the new sports nutrition regulation in Australia, mandatory fortification for edible oil and milk in India, and more.

NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2020

GALLERY: Meet the winners of the NutraIngredients-Asia Special Awards 2020

30-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

The third NutraIngredients-Asia Awards held last Tuesday (September 22) saw 39 finalists vying for 13 award categories. Take a look at the winners of the Special Award category.

Over-regulation? Australian trade body slams new sports nutrition rule as a costly hurdle

30-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Australia’s supplements industry body has described the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) decision to class certain sports nutrition products as listed products as an over-regulation, adding that this will result in higher production costs which...

NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2020

GALLERY: Meet winners of NutraIngredients-Asia Product of the Year award 2020

29-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The third NutraIngredients-Asia Awards held last Tuesday (Sep 22) saw 39 finalists vying for 13 award categories. Take a look at what the judges have to say about the winners of the Product of the Year award.

NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2020

GALLERY: Meet winners of NutraIngredients-Asia Ingredient of the Year award 2020

28-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The third NutraIngredients-Asia Awards held last Tuesday (Sep 22) saw 39 finalists vying for 13 award categories. Take a look at what the judges have to say about the winners of the Ingredient of the Year award.

NutraIngredients-Asia Awards 2020

Double win: NutraIngredients-Asia prebiotics winner Anagenix’s latest clinical results show bowel regularity benefits

28-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

New Zealand’s Anagenix, the winner of the prebiotic ingredient of the year award in this year’s NutraIngredients-Asia and USA awards, has revealed new scientific findings on its ingredient, including how it could improve stool form and increased bowel...

Retail revival: Alibaba and Swisse unite for link up for new online-to-offline shopping experience

28-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

China e-commerce giant Alibaba has teamed up with nutraceutical brands, including Swisse, to provide a new online-to-offline shopping experience targeted at Generation Z consumers.

Science shorts: Probiotics for cholesterol health, Anagenix's online clinical trial and more

25-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up of new scientific findings, we look at how probiotics supplementation could bring about cardio benefits, how companies such as Anagenix has turned to online arrangements for its clinical trial and more.

Muscle-building probiotics: Taiwan’s Synbiotech partners with Lonza for US and Europe entry

24-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Taiwanese firm Synbiotech is introducing its proprietary muscle-building probiotic ingredient beyond the APAC markets through an exclusive partnership with Lonza.

Probiotics for preterm babies: Supplementation reduces bile acids in gastric residuals, shortens time to full feeds

22-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Probiotics supplementation has shown to reduce the amount of bile acids – an important component of nutrition – in the gastric residuals of extremely pre-term babies, according to an RCT from Australia.

Kefir and wine by-product: Combination of paraprobiotic and prebiotic may work as potential anti-obesity functional ingredient

21-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

The combination of a paraprobiotic derived from kefir and a prebiotic obtained from grape seed flour has been found to have anti-obesity effects in a mouse model.

Probiotics and heart health: Multi-strain supplementation significantly decreases total cholesterol - Meta-analysis

16-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Supplementation of probiotics was found to significantly decrease total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LCL) in hypercholesterolemic patients, according to a recent systematic review and meta-analysis.

Japan’s functional food insights part 1: Products with multiple health claims on the rise – exclusive data

16-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Products with multiple health claims are on the rise in Japan’s Food with Function (FFC) market with numbers expected to surpass 300 this year, according to exclusive data revealed in the first of our spotlights on the market.

South Korea functional foods growth: Probiotics booming but ginseng still tops chart – new data

15-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Probiotics and ginseng are two key categories driving functional food growth in South Korea last year, according to a new government report.

Lung and gum health in focus: South Korea draws guidelines for claims evaluation

14-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The South Korean authorities have published a guide to evaluate the functionality of health foods that make respiratory and gum health claims, amid rising consumer and industry interest in such products.

Status symbol: Morinaga obtains self-affirmed GRAS status for M-63 probiotic strain

10-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Japan’s Morinaga Milk Industry has obtained a self-affirmed Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS) status for its Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 probiotic, for use in general foods and infant formula in US.

Healthy Dahi: India’s Milky Mist rolls out probiotic curd with immunity and digestion benefits

10-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

India-based dairy company Milky Mist has launched a probiotic curd, also called Dahi, with claims of boosting the immune system and aiding digestion.

Molson Coors launches probiotic seltzer

09-Sep-2020 By Rachel Arthur

Molson Coors is launching non-alcoholic HUZZAH Probiotic Seltzer in the US, promising more innovations in the non-alcoholic category are to follow.

Mid-year import report: China demand up by a third with big hikes in seal oil, bird's nest

09-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

China imported dietary supplements worth US$2bn, up 32.1%, with a new report highlighting edible bird’s nest and seal oil as categories with big growth.

Frosty Boy hopes for warm response in China, Middle East and Indonesia with new nutritional beverages

09-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Australian dessert manufacturer Frosty Boy has made its first foray into nutritional beverages and plans to make a push into major markets such as China, Middle East, and Indonesia.

‘Time is running out’: Four-pronged approach for firms to meet Australian TGA’s new health claim rules

08-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Nutra firms preparing to meet Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) new health claim rules should follow a four-pronged approach to ensure they meet the looming deadline.

How COVID-19 legitimised the importance of health supplements in four ASEAN countries: AAHSA

08-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The outbreak of COVID-19 has led a number of ASEAN countries in “fully recognising the importance of health supplements” in optimising or maintaining the public health, according to a regional trade association.

China probiotics research results: Studies largely ‘foundational’ and lacking technical insights

07-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

There is a lot of foundational research on probiotics in China, but few studies on their technical application, a leading Chinese academic institute has ruled as the sector continues to boom in the country.

Brand new: Amway's tech for health goals, H&H's and Blackmores' financials

04-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up looks at Amway's social commerce, big data ambitions for its health and nutrition business in APAC, H&H's and Blackmores' latest financial updates and more.

Half-year report: ASEAN is China’s biggest dietary supplements export destination, with good growth in Middle East

02-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was China’s biggest export destination for dietary supplement ingredients and products in the first half of this year, while the Middle East is likely to offer further growth potential, says a report...

Thinking out of the box: Tea, coffee and honey come to the boil for probiotic beverage innovation

01-Sep-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

APAC’s probiotics sector is continuing to soar, but consumers are increasingly seeking applications beyond supplements and dairy, with honey, tea and coffee emerging as potential formats for innovation.

Supplement side-effects in South Korea: Probiotics, omega-3, garcinia cambogia linked to most cases - officials

01-Sep-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Probiotics, omega-3 DHA/EPA, and supplements containing the garcinia cambogia extract are linked to the majority cases of unwanted side effects linked to nutraceutical use in South Korea, health officials have reported.

Gold standard? Olympian-derived probiotic improves running test and gut microbiota – Taiwan study

31-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

An Oympian-derived probiotic strain has shown to improve running test and gut microbiota amongst middle- and long-distance runners, a five-week trial in Taiwan has shown.

WATCH: Tech for health – Amway on its big tech, social commerce, big data ambitions

31-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Amway has identified digital transformation, social commerce, and big data analytics as key in its development of new nutrition products and services.

Japan focus: Three-part functional food insights, Kirin-Dentsu JV, Eminet's liquid collagen sachet

28-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

This round-up includes a three-part feature on Japan's Foods with Function Claims (FFC) market, Kirin-Dentsu JV launching a hop extract supplement for cognitive health, Eminet entering the Thai beauty market with a liquid collagen sachet product...

Supplements for Indians: Nutrova to drive clinical trials for existing and upcoming new products

27-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Mumbai-based nutraceutical brand Nutrova is planning to conduct more clinical trials on the Indian population, as it seeks to build its reputation as a scientifically backed industry player.

Immunity products and China sales a major boost for Swisse-owner H&H as ANZ revenue plunges by a third

26-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Swisse and Biostime owner Health and Happiness (H&H) Group saw demand for immunity products surge, especially in China, as it announced an 8.9% increase in net profit in the first half of this year, despite seeing revenues in Australia and New Zealand...

Probiotics for endurance: Four-week trial shows improvement in exercise endurance and GI health

26-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The consumption of the proprietary probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 has shown to increase exercise endurance in triathletes by improving gastrointestinal health (GI), according to a four-week RCT.

Blackmores 66% profits plunge: Firm refocuses to boost hires in Asia amid 10% jobs cut in ANZ

25-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Blackmores’ top priority now is to tap into strong growth in Asia by shifting some manpower resources from Australia to strategic markets such as China and South East Asia, the company said as it announced a 66.1% drop in net profit on Tuesday (August...

US brands top list of problematic supplements in South Korea’s online market inspection

25-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

An inspection and review conducted by South Korea’s authorities found that most of the supplements of questionable quality being sold only were from US brands.

Japan’s functional food insights part 3: Why do so many products not stand the test of time? – Exclusive data

18-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

End-of-sale, product reformulation, and the lack of a positive sales outlook are the top three reasons for the withdrawal of Foods with Functional Claims (FFCs) from the market, according to exclusive data revealed in our third spotlight on the Japan...

Knowledge gap: Consumer awareness of Japan’s health and functional food categories remains low – new data

18-Aug-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Recently published survey findings from Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) have revealed that a high percentage of consumers were not actively taking health or functional foods, with a local expert attributing this to a lack of knowledge, unmet health...

Probiotics in the Middle East: Functional dairy foods contain fewer multi probiotic strains than pharma products - study

18-Aug-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

A cross-sectional study has found that functional foods contain fewer multi probiotic strains compared to over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products in the Middle East.

Japan’s functional food insights part 2: GABA, indigestible dextrin, omega-3 most popular ingredients - exclusive data

18-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), indigestible dextrin, and omega-3 are three of the most commonly used ingredients in Foods with Function Claims (FFCs) in Japan, according to exclusive data revealed in the second of our spotlights on the market.

E-commerce struggle: Brands with strong pharmacy presence reluctant to make digital shift in Malaysia

18-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Dietary supplement brands which sell through pharmacies are reluctant or finding it difficult to establish their own e-commerce operations, despite the importance of a digital presence in the COVID-19 era, according to the country’s health supplement...

Probiotics for menopause: South Korea’s Huons targets Japan’s ageing market with newly acquired patent

17-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

South Korean biotech company Huons has acquired a patent in Japan for a probiotic product targeted at alleviating menopausal symptoms.

Asmara rolls out two ginseng para-probiotic powdered blends

12-Aug-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Singapore beverage and supplement brand Asmara has launched two new products combining ginseng and para-probiotics in a powder format.

Recovery-associated bacteria: Research highlights potential benefits of Alistipes, Ruminococcus species

12-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

A five-year-long research has identified 21 recovery-associated bacteria (RABs) from the Alistipes, Ruminococcus, Parabacteroides species, as well as the more well-known Bifidobacterium species, as key in restoring microbial balance in the gut.

Shanghai inspections: New health foods and infant formula rules won’t increase red tape - expert

11-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The Shanghai authorities have introduced new rules for health foods and infant formula production, with an industry expert assuring this won’t lead to extra red tape or cost for the manufacturers.

Fonterra’s China strategy: R&D focus on nutrition for beauty and cognition, alongside immunity needs

11-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Fonterra is gearing its China R&D nutrition strategy around beauty and mental health, alongside tapping in to the ongoing trend for immune health products.

China focus: Danone, BY-HEALTH, newly-listed Beijing Scitop Biotech in spotlight

07-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

In this round-up, we look at how Danone is banking on new HMO, A2 toddler formulas for success in China, financial performance from BY-HEALTH in the first six months of 2020, and the expansion plans of probiotics firm Scitop Bio-tech.

Antibiotic-inulin therapy lowers amounts of enzyme linked to liver damage in NAFLD patients – RCT

05-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

Taking inulin after an antibiotic therapy could reduce the amount of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) – an enzyme linked to liver damage – in individuals suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a study has shown.

GALLERY: The 10 most read APAC health and nutrition stories in July

05-Aug-2020 By Tingmin Koe

See July's 10 most read stories, including new findings on the types of health supplements that could reduce COVID-19 severity, products that consumers in China have been taking during the COVID-19 lockdown, as well as brand stories.