Beyond The Headlines: Aker Biomarine receives IKOS certification, Beneo increases food and nutrition security in Laos

10 Mar 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, Aker Biomarine revealed that it now has the first only krill oil to receive International Krill Oil Standards (IKOS) certification. Beneo has provided over 100 small-scale farmers in Laos with harvesting and threshing machinery to increase nutrition and food security and improve working conditions. Meanwhile, Pāmu announced that consumption of its deer milk products can improve the physical health of women over 65 years of age.

In brief: Nutrition news
Aker BioMarine’s Superba 2 and Superba Boost have become the first raw krill oil ingredients to receive IKOS certification. The program is a third-party testing and certification program exclusively for krill oils. By receiving this certification, Aker BioMarine states that this has added another layer of transparency to its supply chain and allows the company to showcase its products’ pure, high quality and premium standards. IKOS tests products for omega 3 and astaxanthin content, contaminants and freshness. The company further states that the certification will help it to differentiate its products from competitors, raise standards in the industry and reduce the cost of testing for brands that use Aker BioMarine’s certified ingredients.

Pāmu’s deer may improve muscle mass and physical performance for women aged 65 and above.Beneo’s rice ingredients production plant in Wijgmaal, Belgium, has provided over 100 small-scale farmers in Laos with harvesting and threshing machinery, in partnership with the leading producer and supplier of rice in Laos, IDP. The investment has improved working conditions for farmers, increased yields and provided an opportunity for additional income through renting out the machines. Beneo retains full ownership of the equipment, but the farmers have been trained on how to use and maintain it. The initiative’s success has prompted the company to plan another project of this type in the coming year to support more rice farmers.

New Zealand-based Pāmu announced the regular consumption of deer milk improves the nutritional status, muscle mass and physical performance of women aged 65 and above, according to a clinical trial conducted by Pāmu in conjunction with Massey University. The trial recruited 120 women over ten weeks to consume either 200 ml of Pāmu Deer Milk or a market-leading commercial oral nutritional supplement daily. Studies have shown that people lose muscle mass and bone density as they age, increasing the risk of falls and fractures. This new research affirms that Pāmu’s deer milk is higher in protein and calcium content than other milk products. It could also make a considerable difference in the lives of women over 65, including improving both strength and mobility. 

The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program is offering financial incentives for healthy eating through Nutrition Incentive and Produce Prescription programs. A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior examines how nutrition educators work with these programs to support participants in making healthy choices. It found that nutrition educators provide participant-centered education and navigate food environments that can make healthy eating difficult. It also highlights the value of cross-sector partnerships with healthcare centers and community organizations. Nutrition educators identified challenges in providing quality nutrition education while also engaging in meaningful program evaluation. The study suggests that expanding peer educator and community health worker models through competitive salaries could be beneficial in improving fruit and vegetable intake.

In brief: Industry news
Informed Choice, LGC’s global quality assurance program, has announced a new certification for cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp products for use in nutritional, nutraceutical and other products. The certification was developed to provide label accuracy to consumers and to minimize the risk of contamination with prohibited substances. To be awarded the Informed Choice certification, each batch of the product must have a consumption limit of less than 0.083 mg per day of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The certification includes a thorough manufacturing review and regular product testing for over 250 prohibited and potentially harmful substances. Certified products will carry the Informed Choice logo on product packaging and will be listed on the Informed Choice website with all tested batch numbers.Beneo provided over 100 small-scale farmers in Laos with harvesting and threshing machinery.

Contract research organization Nutrasource Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Services has registered its NutraStrong trademark in several countries, including Brazil, China and the European Union. The trademark covers goods and services, such as testing, evaluating and certifying, as well as conducting clinical trials for natural health products and pharmaceuticals. The organization states that the NutraStrong program aims to classify products with specific standards for each product category to ensure quality and transparency and to prevent companies with misleading claims or inaccurate certificates of analysis from selling products alongside premium brands. Nutrasource has also registered its logo in the European Union and the United Kingdom and has pending applications in other countries.

In brief: Scientific studies
Consuming colorful fruits and vegetables regularly reduces the risk of prostate cancer (PC) in men, according to two studies by University of South Australia scientists. The research, published in the journal Cancers, shows that low levels of lutein, lycopene, alpha-carotene and selenium are associated with PC. Increased DNA damage after radiation exposure was also linked to low lycopene and selenium levels in blood plasma and men with low plasma concentrations of lycopene and selenium were found to be more sensitive to the damaging effects of radiation. The study recommends consuming foods rich in lycopene, such as tomatoes, melons and papayas. It also recommends foods rich in selenium, exemplifying white meat, fish and nuts.

A new study by nutrition researchers at Anglia Ruskin University has found that a natural by-product of olive oil production, called olive fruit water, could potentially have antioxidant benefits and support exercise. Olive fruit water is a waste product of olive oil production that contains polyphenols with antioxidant properties. The study, published in the journal Nutrients, involved 29 recreationally active participants who consumed either olive fruit water or a placebo for 16 consecutive days. Positive effects on several key markers of running performance were found in the olive fruit water group. It improved respiratory parameters at the onset of exercise, as well as oxygen consumption and running economy at lower levels of intensity. The researchers believe that the findings suggest the potential for the product to benefit those who regularly undertake aerobic exercise training. Further research will be carried out at Anglia Ruskin University to corroborate these findings, including investigating whether the product can be used for marathon training and recovery.

By William Bradford Nichols