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Promotional banner for Vitafoods Europe in Barcelona, May 5–7, 2026, featuring booth 3K104 details and two people smiling beside Novonesis logo.
Vitafoods Europe 2025

Vitafoods Europe 2026 explores beauty supplements amid nutricosmetics boom

For the first time, this year’s Vitafoods Europe trade show will include a dedicated nutricosmetics spotlight, reflecting the rapidly accelerating beauty-from-within market. The event organizers note that innovation in this space is expanding beyond traditional supplements into functional foods, beverages, and longevity-focused nutrition as consumers link appearance with overall well-being. Ahead of the event on May 5–7, Nutrition Insight speaks with Francesca Berry, head of Content Programming for Vitafoods Europe, about what visitors can expect in Barcelona, Spain. 
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Next-gen hydration: Functional beverages tap into holistic health
Hydration has evolved from simply drinking to quench thirst to a holistic health approach. Functional beverages formulated to optimize cognitive health, sports performance, and beauty are emerging as convenient on-the-go health solutions. Nutrition Insight speaks with experts from dsm-firmenich and Sirio to dive deeper into what consumers expect from functional beverages, must-knows for formulators, and the most sought-after vitamins and minerals filling different health purposes.
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Prinova explores how GLP-1 drugs drive demand for protein and gut health in hydration
The range of functional beverages is expanding as new demands appear in the market. GLP-1 drugs are growing in popularity and influencing how supplemental nutrition is moving from foods and snacks into hydration solutions. An increased health-consciousness among consumers leads them to seek more nutrients from drinks.Nutrition Insight sits down with Nirmal Patel, R&D scientist II at Prinova, to discuss hydration trends, the importance of setting an intended market, and how functional beverages are tapping into GLP-1 solutions.
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MenaQ7® — The Natural, Clinically Proven Vitamin K2, Backed by Nearly Two Decades of Clinical Evidence
Access the comprehensive scientific whitepaper on MenaQ7®, the world's most clinically proven natural Vitamin K2. From established benefits in bone and cardiovascular health to emerging research areas — all the evidence designed for R&D, product development teams, scientific affairs, purchasing departments, and brand owners who require evidence-graded data to support formulation decisions.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Gnosis by Lesaffre.
Gnosis by Lesaffre Webinar
Innovating Skin Supplements: New Folate Evidence for Beauty from Within
Whether you're developing new concepts or improving existing skin health portfolios, this webinar will offer the scientific rationale and strategic insights necessary to innovate confidently. While topical solutions are most common, new research highlights a powerful complementary approach: skin health from within.   This webinar explores how active folate is emerging as a revolutionary ingredient in next-generation skin supplements designed to combat photoaging at the cellular level.

Attendees will learn about the latest study results revealing the biological roles of folate in DNA synthesis and repair, methylation processes, and antioxidant defenses, all of which are directly linked to skin resilience and longevity. We will also highlight market trends and opportunities for differentiation in the rapidly growing nutricosmetics industry.
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Vitafoods Europe 2026 preview: Nutraceuticals, functional food & targeted wellness
At the Vitafoods Europe 2026 trade show (May 5–7), the nutraceutical industry will showcase its ingredients, functional foods, and new product applications for increasingly health-conscious consumers. In Barcelona, Spain, suppliers will gather to present the latest innovations in gut health, longevity, women’s health, beauty-from-within, sports nutrition, pet care, and metabolic health. Exhibitors are set to highlight proteins, postbiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, botanicals, enzymes, and flavors. We preview some of the standout companies and innovations.

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CSPI criticizes Trump administration for misleading MAHA nutrition claims
the white house
The US Center for Public Interest (CSPI) has deemed the Trump administration’s attempt to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) to be misleading, claiming it is not based on science for a healthy diet, but may be rather harmful for consumers and increases the risk of diet-related chronic disease. A statement from the organization contends that MAHA uses “misguided” and “downright cruel” policies. CSPI points to the federal initiative’s recommendations of consuming full-fat dairy, red meat, and beef tallow, which disregard science-backed nutrition recommendations.
OmniActive expands EU botanical ingredient operations with new facilities in...
The Port of Rotterdam
India-headquartered OmniActive Health Technologies has inaugurated facilities in the Netherlands, including an office in Amsterdam and a centralized warehouse in Rotterdam. 
Bult’s nutrition strategy for long-term men’s sexual wellness & health
Healthy man smiling
Men’s sexual wellness supplement brand Bult is gearing up to launch its flagship once-daily supplement system this summer, designed as a foundational men’s health formula rather than a stimulant-based performance product. Rather than relying only on ingredients that provide short-term stimulation, Bult is anchored on supporting vascular health, hormone balance, stress resilience, and metabolic health over time.
Breast milk enables major symbiotic relationship in infant gut microbiome
Close-up of young black mother breastfeeding baby
Researchers have found that sugars in breast milk support a beneficial balance of gut bacteria in infants. They hope that their findings could inform future treatments to support gut health in pre-term babies or those lacking consistent breast milk. 
Plastic in focus: Multiple studies confirm health harm from food packaging
foods packaged in plastic containers
Research from Earth Action has quantified the amount of microplastics coming from packaging into food and drinks to 1,000 metric tons annually. The microplastics are released from the food packaging into the digestive system, and since the particles are of such a small size, they penetrate cell barriers and can affect biological systems. Meanwhile, another new study has linked microplastics to liver disease. The amount of plastic in human liver tissue has increased in the past 10 years, raising questions of how plastics from food impact human health.
The year of fiber: How Danone turns surging demand into scalable product...
Activia yogurts in supermarket.

Food Ingredients First

Fiber has moved from a nutrition afterthought to a formulation priority for F&B manufacturers, as Western consumers increasingly prioritize gut health to support their overall well-being. Food leaders like Danone view fiber as a long-term strategic ingredient, but success depends on balancing functionality, sensory performance, and scalable sourcing in fiber-enriched products. Innova Market Insights ranks fiber as the second most popular functional ingredient for consumers in the US, behind protein. Around two in five say they are highly interested in fibers, signaling a strong baseline demand. Although WHO recommends a minimum of 25 g of fiber per day, most consumers in developed markets fall significantly short, highlighting a persistent “fiber gap.”
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Key interview
Expert calls for tailored nutrition as GLP-1 muscle loss...
Menopause brings various health changes driven by shifts in hormones, metabolism, and body composition. It is a life stage where many women gain weight, and as a result, turn to GLP-1 drugs. However, these drugs make users lose more than body fat. They have been shown to decrease muscle mass, which is essential for blood sugar regulation, bone density, and strength, and especially important for perimenopausal and menopausal women. Nutrition Insight sits down with Cindi Stickle, a functional nutrition practitioner and certified menopause specialist, to discuss the emerging concerns about GLP-1 use for perimenopausal and menopausal women.
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Nutrition & Health News
Cargill showcases nutrition concepts to support active...
At the upcoming Vitafoods Europe 2026 trade show (May 5–7), Cargill will highlight how active nutrition is expanding beyond sports performance to address broader health trends, such as gut health, reduced sugar, and GLP-1-driven dietary changes. In Barcelona, Spain, the company will display a 30% reduced-sugar isotonic hydration drink, sugar-free gummies with the EpiCor postbiotic, a performance bar combining plant and dairy proteins, a high-protein nutrition shake, and bite-sized formats designed for portion flexibility. 
Young woman making choice, donut or apple
Nutrition & Health News
Industry urges nutrition focus to curb ultra-processed...
Scientists are calling out health-harming corporate tactics amid the global rise in chronic disease. They mainly target the manufacturing and marketing of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) linked to cancer, diabetes, neurocognitive disorders, and infertility. The literature review in the New England Journal of Medicine specifies five commercial products linked to 31% of annual deaths. UPFs contribute to 2.3 million deaths annually, trailing fossil fuels, tobacco, toxic chemicals, and alcohol. The review’s lead author calls for countering health harms by taking lessons from research on the tobacco industry.

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Performance protein trendsApr2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that consumers are increasingly taking protein to improve their physical health. Protein bars and snacks, as well as powders and shakes, are the most popular form...

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Eye wellness support Apr 2026

According to Innova Market Insights, 16% of consumers globally have actively tried to improve their eye health over the past 12 months. Among these, one in three say that they choose supplements as part of their approach, highlighting a growing reliance on functional nutrition solutions to support vision and long-term eye health.

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Future of pet nutritionApr 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates a 26% compound annual growth rate in global pet food launches between 2021 and 2025. According to their Top Global Trends 2026 in Pet Food, wellness is a key focus, and product attributes are driven by pet owners’ interest in clean label, health ingredients, and more.

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Promotional banner for Tirlán at Vitafoods Europe featuring a female boxer training, with event details including stand number 3J240 and dates 5th–7th May 2026.
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Meet the Tirlán team at Vitafoods this May

Meet Tirlán at Vitafoods this May on stand 3J240 to discover high quality dairy proteins and plant based ingredients. From performance nutrition to everyday wellness, our portfolio supports taste, texture, and nutrition, helping brands develop great-tasting, functional solutions that meet...

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Morinaga Nutritional Foods: Unlocking the science behind probiotic strains
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Innovating Skin Supplements: New Folate Evidence for Beauty from Within
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R&D program manager explores AI’s role in accelerating nutraceutical innovation
Vertical Novonesis banner promoting bio-solutions for women’s longevity, with event info and close-up of smiling woman.
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