Beyond The Headlines: Epax reaches ingredients biocircularity milestone, Bioberica receives Novel Food Status for enzyme ingredient

26 May 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, Bioiberica revealed that it received Novel Food Status for DAOgest. Also, Epax reported it had achieved significant biocircularity for its fisheries in 2022. Meanwhile, Phytéo Laboratoire launched Phyteasy, a line of turnkey nutraceutical solutions for F&B products and supplements.

In brief: Nutrition news
Global life science leader Bioiberica received Novel Food Status from the European Commission (EC) for its DAOgest enzyme ingredient, which is used to develop food supplements that aid histamine intolerance – a gastrointestinal condition that affects an estimated 1-3% of the global population. The approval allows European formulators to create new solutions for this emerging health issue. DAOgest is already used successfully in the US at a low-dose solution of 4.2 mg per serving and has been shown to help manage symptoms like sneezing, hives and some gastrointestinal problems.Epax reported substantial gains in biocircularity during 2022 and pledged greater advances for 2023.

Norway-based marine lipid specialist Epax reported it has achieved substantial biocircularity in its marine biomaterials utilizing a strict zero-waste policy. In 2022, 96.7% of by-products from the production of Epax’s marine oil ingredients were repurposed for valuable resources such as animal feed, fertilizers and biofuel. This milestone is outlined in the company’s first annual Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, wherein the company pledges to raise the utilization figure to 98% by the end of 2023. Moreover, Epax stated it is the first omega 3 ingredients supplier to establish biocircularity targets and disclose its progress. The company’s ESG strategy also encompasses reductions in fuel oil use and CO2 emissions and sets out goals aligned with several UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Phytéo Laboratoire, a brand of Herbarom, introduced Phyteasy – a line turnkey of solutions to drive innovation in the food supplement industry. According to the company, the offering caters to nutraceutical brands and newcomers, serves as a driver for innovation and product marketing and addresses the challenges of the competitive nutraceutical market. The two options, Phyteasy Ready to Go and Phyteasy Dev’Up, offer tailored solutions for clients with comprehensive services for a rapid market launch.

In brief: Product launches
Smart for Life revealed it will launch a new line of Sports Illustrated protein bars it says are tailored to active lifestyles. The company stated that the protein-based bars are designed to meet the demand for clean and nutritious products suitable for athletes and health-conscious consumers. The bars are non-GMO, cold-pressed and free from sucralose and preservatives, with some options being gluten-free as well. The new flavors include Triple Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, Blueberry White Chocolate and Strawberry Chocolate. The bars will be released in select markets for testing in Q3 of 2023 and are intended to serve as a healthy meal replacement or energy boost that is high in fiber, antioxidants and collagen and low in sugar.

BioCraft Pet Nutrition aims to provide pet food companies with cultured meat that is free from contaminants, antibiotics and hormones.The UK-based sports nutrition brand Applied Nutrition has partnered with Swizzels Sweets to launch a “Drumstick Original Raspberry” flavor of its Body Fuel hydration drink. According to the company’s national account controller, the flavor is a re-creation of Swizzels Sweets’ famous “Drumstick Lollies” and “Squashies” ice cream bars. The company further notes that Body Fuel has achieved significant success since its launch in December 2022 and now comes in seven flavors, including a variant endorsed by UFC fighter Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett.

In brief: Animal Nutrition
Because Animals, a biotech company specializing in cultured meat for the pet food market, has rebranded as BioCraft Pet Nutrition. The company explains that the name change reflects BioCraft’s shift toward working directly with pet food manufacturers interested in sustainable high-quality cultured meat. Additionally, the company revealed it has discontinued its plant-based products and is focusing solely on commercializing cultured meat through research and development, infrastructure and collaborative relationships. Moreover, BioCraft said it aims to provide pet food companies with a more consistent and pathogen-free raw material that will reduce the risk of recalls. Biocraft stated that its cultured meat is free from contaminants, antibiotics, hormones and GMOs while being “nutritionally robust” and affirmed its plans to become a leading provider of cultured meat for the pet food supply chain to address the environmental impact and health concerns associated with conventional meat production.

At the same time, Cult Food Science is introducing its Noochies line of pet performance supplements called Sprinkles. The pet supplements are made with functional ingredients that provide nutritional benefits to pets. The brand focuses on cultured ingredients that promote immune and digestive functions, as well as longevity in dogs and cats. The company highlights that Noochies is the only brand featuring Bmmune – a high-protein blend of nutritional yeast for digestion and immunity – and Bflora – an exclusive probiotic blend designed for cats and dogs. The product line includes Wellness Sprinkles for overall health, Joint Boost Sprinkles for joint health using plant-based glucosamine and Immune Sprinkles for gut health with a synbiotic blend of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics.A review of clinicals trials including 2,737 individuals found that plant-based diets reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 7%.

In brief: Scientific studies
A recent analysis of randomized trials published since 1982 revealed that vegetarian and vegan diets are associated with lower levels of cholesterol and fats in the blood. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, suggests that plant-based diets can play a significant role in reducing blocked arteries, lowering the risk of heart and blood vessel diseases such as stroke and heart attacks. The analysis included 30 trials with a total of 2,372 participants and found that individuals following plant-based diets experienced a 7% reduction in total cholesterol levels, a 10% reduction in LDL cholesterol levels – known as “bad” cholesterol – and a 14% reduction in apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels. ApoB is a protein that carries fat and cholesterol in the blood and is an indicator of the total amount of harmful fats and cholesterol in the body. The study’s findings suggest that a plant-based diet for five years could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 7%. The researchers note that while statin treatment is still the most effective solution for reducing fats and cholesterol levels, combining statins with plant-based diets could have a synergistic effect.

Finally, researchers have found that excessive sugar intake impedes the renewal of the colon’s lining in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study, published in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, suggests that limiting sugary foods could alleviate IBD symptoms. The researchers fed mice either a standard or high-sugar diet and induced IBD symptoms through colon damage. The mice on the high-sugar diet died within nine days, while those on the standard diet survived the 14-day experiment, leading the researchers to believe that sugar adversely affects the colon directly, independently of the gut microbiome. Furthermore, sugar impaired cell division and altered metabolic pathways, leading to reduced energy production and hindering the renewal of the colon lining. The researchers further stated that the findings could help explain the negative impact of sweetened beverages on IBD patients and highlight the importance of exploring suitable diets for patients with intestinal damage and the role of diet and immune response in IBD.

By William Bradford Nichols