Beyond The Headlines: Chobani moves to alleviate child hunger, CRN reveals increased use and trust in supplements
06 Oct 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, Chobani announced a campaign to help combat child hunger in light of World Food Day. At the same time, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) published the results of a survey which suggests that trust and use of dietary supplements are increasing. Meanwhile, Gnosh.bio joined forces with Gingko Bioworks to create the next generation of animal-free functional proteins.
Nutrition news
On the occasion of World Food Day, Chobani, the food and beverage company recognized for its Greek yogurt, took steps to combat child hunger. The company has launched “Let’s Eat Week,” a week-long initiative involving Chobani employees and community leaders in its hometowns. During this event, they will assemble and distribute meals to aid over 8,000 children and families in need. Chobani is also partnering with nine organizations to bolster efforts to eliminate child hunger at local levels, focusing on programs addressing school and child hunger, as well as broader food insecurity issues. The company highlights that child hunger is a pressing issue worldwide, with millions of children affected and notes that in the US alone, nine million children are food insecure, according to Feeding America.
A CRN survey suggests increased trust and use of dietary supplements by US consumers.
CRN released the results of its annual survey on dietary supplement usage among US adults. Conducted by Ipsos, the survey reveals that dietary supplements have become mainstream, with 74 percent of US adults using them and 55 percent being regular users. While many people use supplements to address nutritional gaps, the survey also found that they are increasingly seen as a way to support active and healthy lifestyles and achieve optimal wellness. While still a top reason for supplement use, immunity has seen a slight decline. Notably, 92 percent of supplement users believe that dietary supplements are essential for maintaining their health. The survey was conducted online in August 2023 and included 3,192 participants. CRN says it provides insights into changing consumer attitudes, trust and spending habits related to supplements and reveals rising confidence in sports nutrition and weight management supplements — in terms of safety, quality and effectiveness.
German start-up Nosh.bio joined forces with Ginkgo Bioworks to develop animal-free and highly functional protein ingredients for alternative food products. Nosh.bio specializes in creating animal-free, single-ingredient meat alternatives using fungal biomass and said the partnership will utilize Ginkgo Bioworks’s Strain Optimization Services to identify protein-producing fungal strains with superior sensory profiles. The stated goal is to produce a mycoprotein that offers a rich, savory and natural meaty taste in food products with the goal of developing a single-ingredient animal-free product that closely mimics the taste, texture and juiciness of red meat, while being healthier and more sustainable. Ginkgo plans to discover and provide a fungi strain with higher native proteins that contribute to the desired meat-like qualities and said its encapsulation and screening technology will enable the rapid screening of up to one million strain variants to select the most promising candidates for further development.
Business news
Ingredients by Nature published research on its citrus flavonoid blend Eriomin, spotlighting its effects on prediabetic microbiota. The 12-week double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial study, published in the Food Science & Nutrition Journal, demonstrated that Eriomin could mitigate intestinal dysbiosis. The study included male and female volunteers aged 30-69 with prediabetes and participants received 200 mg/day of Eriomin or a placebo while maintaining their usual diets. Blood and fecal samples were collected at the study’s beginning and end. The results showed that Eriomin reduced the growth of Firmicutes, a major microbiota phylum often found in high levels in prediabetic and obese individuals. It also decreased the abundance of the Lachnospiraceae family, which is linked to glycemic dysregulation and metabolic syndrome. At the same time, the Ruminococcaceae family — a species of microorganisms shown to produce short-chain fatty acids that support intestinal health and healthy inflammatory responses — increased by 38%. Eriomin also reduced fasting blood glucose by 6.5% and increased GLP-1 incretin by 22%.
Animal launched a range of chewable fitness nutrition products.
Kensing, a manufacturer of natural vitamin E, plant sterols, and high-purity surfactants, has acquired Advanced Organic Materials (AOM), a producer of non-GMO plant-based vitamin E and phytosterols derived from sunflower and rapeseed. The acquisition will expand Kensing’s range of non-GMO plant-based ingredients, provide access to new sources of natural raw materials and open up new end markets. AOM, known for its clean label alternatives, operates facilities in Valencia, Spain, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, serving customers in over 34 countries across the nutrition, personal care and food and beverage sectors.
Product launches
Fitness nutrition brand Animal introduced a new line of chewable energy and recovery products, building on the success of their chewable creatine product. According to the company, the chews are designed to enhance the fitness experience by offering convenience and performance benefits. Additionally, the company highlights that the chews require no water, no measuring and leave no messy residue, making them ideal for on-the-go fitness enthusiasts. The new chewable line aims to cater to the evolving needs of fitness enthusiasts and athletes, focusing on convenience, speed and customization.
HUM Nutrition launched a supplement offering dubbed “Best of Berberine,” which contains 1200 mg of pure berberine. The 30-day supply supplement is vegan, clean label and formulated with a clinically tested dose of berberine, making it beneficial for managing weight and promoting healthy glucose levels. Berberine is an organic alkaloid compound found in various plants, which the company said has demonstrated its effectiveness in clinical trials in supporting cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol, regulating blood sugar levels and aiding in weight loss. Moreover, it helps regulate glucose metabolism, leading to better blood sugar control, sustained energy and increased feelings of fullness. Regulating blood sugar is essential for healthy weight management and appetite control. The company further states that consumers can expect initial results within four weeks, with continued benefits after eight weeks.
A study found an increase in sugary beverage consumption since 2018, especially in the US, Mexico, Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Scientific studies
Swapping meat for Quorn brand protein may help reduce cholesterol levels and waist circumference, according to a study by Northumbria University, Newcastle, published in the European Journal of Nutrition. Over two weeks, participants who consumed Quorn-based meat substitutes saw a significant 12% decrease in ‘bad’ low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and a 7% reduction in total cholesterol compared to those who consumed similar products made from red and processed meat and reduced their waist circumference by almost one centimeter on average. The researchers emphasized that such a drop in total cholesterol levels could reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 9%. The researchers further noted that waist circumference is a key marker of cardiovascular health, with a reduction suggesting potential heart health benefits. The study involved 20 healthy male adults who consumed 240 grams of red and processed meat or an equivalent amount of Quorn over two 14-day periods. The researchers also found a clinically meaningful trend toward lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the mycoprotein group.
Lastly, a study published in Nature Communications revealed that the decision to consume sugary drinks may be influenced by geographical location. It underscored that while the overall consumption of sweetened drinks increased by nearly 16% worldwide between 1990 and 2018, regional intake varied significantly. In 2018, the average person consumed 2.7 servings of sugary drinks per week, but this ranged from 0.7 servings per week in South Asia to 7.8 servings per week in Latin America and the Caribbean. The study also found variations in consumption based on factors such as gender, age, education and urban or rural residency. The countries with the highest sugary drink consumption per week in 2018 included Mexico (8.9 servings), Ethiopia (7.1 servings), the US (4.9 servings) and Nigeria (4.9 servings), while India, China and Bangladesh had the lowest consumption at 0.2 servings each. The study suggests that targeted interventions, such as marketing regulations, food labeling and soda taxes, may be necessary to reduce sugary drink consumption, particularly in regions with high intake.
By William Bradford Nichols
