06 Aug 2018 --- A team of UK-based researchers has a developed a novel app for kids aimed at getting them to eat more healthily and try more vegetables. The app game, Vegetable Maths Masters is designed to expose children between the ages of 3 and 7 years old to vegetables via a mathematics gaming app where children can practice core maths skills developed in KS1. Depending on the child’s age they can count with vegetables, draw numbers with vegetables, add/ subtract with vegetables and practice multiplication and division skills.
02 Aug 2018 --- The first week of August marks the US National Women Infants and Children (WIC) Breastfeeding Week, which aims to promote and support breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for a baby’s first year of life. This year the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is launching a new breastfeeding campaign entitled “WIC Breastfeeding Support – Learn Together. Grow Together.”
02 Aug 2018 --- The consumption of iron-biofortified pearl millet can significantly improve cognitive abilities in Indian adolescents, a study published in the Journal of Nutrition has found. Biofortification uses conventional crop breeding to increase micronutrient levels, to help address preventable deficiencies of key vitamins and minerals. The researchers note that the study findings indicate the potential long-term effects of boosting Indian adolescents’ cognition, potentially increasing social mobility through improved academic and professional performance.
02 Aug 2018 --- Happy Family Organics, the US’ largest organic baby food brand, is furthering its mission to change the trajectory of children’s health through nutrition by expanding its Happy Baby Clearly Crafted line with the addition of a jars offering. The line extension means the company can offer products that adhere to the guidelines of The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
01 Aug 2018 --- Whey basic protein isolate is safe for use in infant and follow‐on formula and meal replacement beverages, dietary foods for special medical purposes and as food supplements, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded. The application for EFSA’s scientific opinion was submitted by French dairy ingedients company Armor Protéines.
01 Aug 2018 --- New research published in the July edition of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry has pointed to a strong correlation between blood levels of omega 3s, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and better brain function in children aged two to six years old. Although the benefits of omega 3s in certain populations are hotly debated, the authors of this study conclude that these findings provided an “impetus for further studies into possible interventions to improve essential fatty acid status of children in developing countries.”
26 Jul 2018 --- Further benefits of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMO) for infant formula hoped to be unlocked through a new BASF and the University of California Davis (UC Davis) collaboration. The long-term objective of the strategic partnership is to tap into the gut-brain axis by developing and validating second-generation HMO molecules as potent bioactive compounds.
24 Jul 2018 --- Video games, in combination with fitness coaching and a step tracker, can help overweight children lose weight, lower their blood pressure and cholesterol and increase their physical activity, a new study from LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center has shown.
12 Jul 2018 --- Consuming chicory root fibers can bring important health benefits to kindergarten children aged three to six years, according to research by Professor Tamás Decsi and Szminoetta Lohner at the Department of Pediatrics, University of Pécs, Hungary. Previous studies have demonstrated a strengthening of the natural defense system in infants and children between birth and two years of age. However, this is the first time this evidence has been established for this age group.
11 Jul 2018 --- Following parent complaints that its infant nutrition formula was causing infants to become unwell, Danone UK has reportedly said there are “no safety issues” with the new formulation of its Aptamil baby milk product. The BBC reported this week that some parents had taken to social media to complain that the new formula is causing their infants to be sick and that the new formula does not mix as easily as before.
11 Jul 2018 --- A study has found that NZMP SureStart BifidoB 019 supplemented formula can help reduce physician-confirmed infections as well as the need for prescribed antibiotic or antiviral medication in infants aged 6-15 months consuming the formula relative to an unsupplemented control group.
06 Jul 2018 --- French dairy cooperative Laïta is launching a new B2B division focused on nutrition and health coined ESI Nutrition. The nutrition division will specialize in the development, industrialization, and manufacturing of pre-packaged, high-end nutritional products and will roll out worldwide.
03 Jul 2018 --- Research published in The Journal of Pediatrics has found that nearly half of parents of children with downs syndrome – who participated in the study – give or have given supplements to their children in an effort to improve their health outcomes. However, this information was routinely withheld from clinicians, prompting the study’s author to advise parents to proceed with caution.
28 Jun 2018 --- In 2016, 12.9 million children lived in food-insecure households. These children represent a vulnerable population since their developing brains can suffer long-term negative consequences from undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that among these vulnerable children, food insecurity had a greater impact on behavior problems in young children of single mothers living in urban neighborhoods.
27 Jun 2018 --- The 2018 World Food Prize has been awarded to Dr. Lawrence Haddad and Dr. David Nabarro to reward their “individual but complementary” global leadership in elevating maternal and child undernutrition within the food security and development dialogue. Their combined efforts resulted in reducing the world’s number of stunted children by 10 million between 2012 and 2017.
25 Jun 2018 --- The UK government has announced new measures aimed at halving childhood obesity rates by 2030, including efforts to prevent stores from displaying unhealthy food at checkouts and to ban the sale of caffeine-laden energy drinks to children. Although industry and lobby groups have generally welcomed the announcement, the UK Food and Drink Federation (FDF) cautions that government restrictions to industry’s ability to advertise healthier options to shoppers, could jeopardize the success of the reformulation program. Building on the first chapter of the Childhood Obesity Plan, the new measures will also aim to achieve clear, consistent calorie labeling on menus in restaurants, cafés and takeaways.
22 Jun 2018 --- Danone Early Life Nutrition has revamped both of its baby food brands, Cow & Gate and Aptamil. Cow & Gate is launching fifteen new food recipes across the pouch, cereal, jar and tray product ranges, as well as a complete packaging re-brand across its entire formula milk and food portfolio. Starting from mid-June, the changes will be the “biggest the brand has ever undergone.” Aptamil is also launching a new patented next-generation powder formulation and a complete packaging refresh across its entire range.
19 Jun 2018 --- Tapping into a space opened up by “millennial parents” who want nutritious food for their infants, with an environmentally-friendly seal of appeal, is Raised Real. The California start-up offers an innovative baby food meal-kit delivery solution, touting nutritionally balanced meals and an innovative freeze-cooling packaging system. Speaking to Santiago Merea, CEO and co-founder, Steven Kontz, co-founder and CFO and Benish Shah, VP of Marketing, NutritionInsight looks into how the company is minimizing food waste while maximizing nutrition and protecting the environment through packaging choices.
18 Jun 2018 --- The World Health Organization (WHO) solidly recommends breastfeeding for infants. However, there are situations – medical, situational or personal – that necessitate good quality breast milk substitutes (BMS), such as formulas. In a bid to produce a formula that is closest in composition to human breast milk, manufacturers face a range of unique R&D challenges. In this two-part series on Infant Nutrition, NutritionInsight speaks to a number of key suppliers and experts about these challenges.
18 Jun 2018 --- By increasing their risk of preeclampsia, mothers with low selenium levels may also be at increased risk for heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure later in life, a Cypress Systems executive summary suggests. The summary calls for higher levels of supplementation of high selenium yeast to combat heart health threats.
