Beyond The Headlines: ESSNA’s EU supplement recommendations, NY to prioritize human milk-based products
This week in nutrition news, the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) unveiled policy recommendations for the incoming EU policymakers. Meanwhile, Prolacta Bioscience touted the passing of Bill A7790A in New York (NY), US, and Cauldron Ferm received government funding to build a state-of-the-art fermentation facility in Australia.
Nutrition news
The ESSNA recently unveiled its policy priorities for the sports and active nutrition sector tailored for the incoming EU policymakers. Ahead of the new European Commission’s operations, ESSNA presented a manifesto detailing nine critical areas for attention over the next five years. These priorities are meant to promote the recognition of athletes’ specific nutritional needs, streamline the marketing regulations for sports foods and novel products and foster a regulatory environment conducive to innovation and sector growth while ensuring consumer empowerment in health and well-being decisions. ESSNA’s call to action for the new European policymakers includes acknowledging the essential role of sports foods, ensuring health and nutrition claims are tied to physical activity, streamlining novel foods approval for enhanced consumer safety, distinguishing between unhealthy and processed foods with science-based legislation and harmonizing recycling and doping regulations.
Prolacta Bioscience, a leading provider of 100% human milk-based nutritional products for critically ill and premature infants, applauded the Hochul Administration and New York State Legislature for enacting legislation that supports the nutritional needs of vulnerable infants. The newly signed NY Bill A7790A amends the Insurance Law to ensure commercial health insurance covers pasteurized donor human milk and derived products in outpatient settings. Prolacta Bioscience’s CEO said the legislative step was a significant advancement for health equity, providing essential nutrition access to fragile populations post-hospitalization. It also broadens insurance coverage for human milk-based products and addresses a critical gap where donor human milk is crucial when a mother’s own milk is unavailable. This was previously not covered by insurance beyond inpatient care.
Prolacta Bioscience commended the New York Legislature for expanding insurance coverage for pasteurized donor human milk and products.
The Australia-based biomanufacturing company Cauldron Ferm received support from the Queensland Government through its Industry Partnership Program to establish a state-of-the-art precision fermentation contract manufacturing facility in Mackay. The initiative is part of Queensland’s strategy to foster new industries that are crucial as global efforts toward decarbonization intensify. The project will integrate biomanufacturing with traditional production methods to bolster national resilience, improve food security, advance national decarbonization goals and generate jobs by building domestic supply chains. According to the company, the facility, known as Cauldron Bio-fab, will be the premier large-scale manufacturer of precision-fermented bioproducts in the Asia-Pacific region and utilize Cauldron’s hyper-fermentation technology to cut costs and match the prices of conventional products significantly.
Business news
In business news, The Vitamin Shoppe announced a long-term sponsorship through its BodyTech Elite brand, Altered Strength, of Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), a health and wellness community for US veterans. From now until July 2025, for every Altered Strength pre-workout product sold at The Vitamin Shoppe, Super Supplements stores, or online, US$1 will be donated to Team RWB, with a maximum contribution of US$20,000. The Vitamin Shoppe’s CEO emphasized the personal significance of supporting Team RWB, noting his father’s military service and the organization’s impact on veterans’ mental, emotional and physical health. Altered Strength pre-workout products are designed to enhance workouts by increasing energy and focus, using ingredients like natural caffeine and nootropics.
The Vitamin Shoppe sponsors Team Red, White & Blue via its BodyTech Elite brand, Altered Strength, to support veteran’s health (Image Credit: The Vitamin Shoppe).Lesaffre acquired a majority stake in Biorigin, a subsidiary of Zilor that produces yeast-derivative products. The move will boost Lesaffre’s capacity to supply yeast derivatives for savory ingredients, leveraging the industrial strengths of both companies. Following the acquisition, Lesaffre will hold 70% of Biorigin’s corporate capital, while Zilor will retain a 30% share. The transaction includes Biorigins production facilities in Quatá, São Paulo, Brazil, a region rich in sugar, water and renewable resources, bolstering the production capabilities for a global customer base. The collaboration will combine Lesaffre’s and Biorigin’s expertise to deliver advanced yeast derivative solutions and savory ingredients to the human food and animal nutrition markets. The deal awaits approval from creditors and regulatory bodies and is expected to close in the coming months. Until then, Biorigin and Lesaffre will operate independently.
Product launches
In new product development news, Future Salad, the creator of a carbon-neutral drinkable salad, closed a Series A funding round and secured US$5 million to expand into new markets and increase its product development. This funding, led by DL Securities, boosted the Future Salad’s valuation to US$50 million. The company revealed that, since its inception, it has sold over 4 million packs of its flagship Detox Salad Drink Mix. The drink mix supports detoxification and promotes gut health, energy and skin clarity. Following this success, Future Salad plans to launch a new product line, Future Salad Kids. Future Salad also said that it contributes to environmental sustainability, with each pack reducing CO2 emissions through global tree planting efforts.
Meanwhile, Force Factor, in partnership with Nutrition21, introduced a new product line, Hair Growth Accelerator, to boost hair health, strength, thickness and growth. The collaboration resulted in two formats of the product — clinical-strength capsules and soft chews — both featuring Lustriva, a unique ingredient from Nutrition21. Lustriva combines bonded arginine silicate with magnesium biotinate, which has demonstrated hair growth support in clinical studies. The ingredients have been shown to help achieve a fuller look within weeks. The capsules are enriched with vitamins D and E, collagen and ashwagandha, targeting all hair growth stages, while the soft chews contain vitamins C and E for follicle strength and come in fruit flavor.
Force Factor and Nutrition21 launched Hair Growth Accelerator in capsules and chews, featuring Lustriva to enhance hair health.
Life Extension has updated its Cardio Peak supplement by incorporating arjuna extract, recognized for its beneficial impact on heart health. The company highlighted that clinical studies involving older adults and active young men over an eight-week period showed that arjuna extract supports cardiac function by improving the heart’s blood-pumping capacity compared to a placebo. Additionally, the company revealed that the use of arjuna bark is supported by both traditional applications and modern research, which shows that polyphenols and glycosides are beneficial for cardiac output.
Scientific studies
At the same time, a recent clinical trial by the Salk Institute and University of California San Diego School of Medicine, US, discovered that time-restricted eating could significantly benefit adults with metabolic syndrome. By eating within an eight-to-ten-hour window daily for three months, participants noted improvements in blood sugar regulation and metabolic function compared to those receiving standard treatments.
Researchers found that “chrononutrition” could help reduce BMI over the long term. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, revealed that eating patterns could help to restore the body’s natural metabolism and increase health. The trial was the first to assess the benefits of customized time-restricted eating schedules for patients on medication for metabolic syndrome and included 108 adults participants who, alongside standard care and nutritional counseling, either adhered to a time-restricted eating plan or followed their usual eating schedule. Results showed that the time-restricted group experienced significant improvements in cardiometabolic health markers, such as reduced blood sugar levels and cholesterol, without significant loss of muscle mass. The researchers stress that this approach offers a sustainable, side-effect-free alternative to pharmacological treatments, potentially making it an accessible option for improving health outcomes in metabolic syndrome patients.
Finally, a study conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that two specific eating habits — maintaining a longer overnight fast and consuming an early breakfast — are linked to a lower body mass index (BMI) over the long term. This study analyzed data from over 7,000 individuals aged 40–65, with follow-ups conducted five years later. The findings indicated that these eating habits might align better with human circadian rhythms, potentially improving calorie burning and appetite control. The study also observed differences in eating patterns between genders, with women generally displaying healthier lifestyle habits compared to men. Moreover, a subset of men who ate their first meal after 14:00 and fasted for approximately 17 hours exhibited less healthy lifestyles and socioeconomic challenges. The study is part of broader research in “chrononutrition,” exploring how the timing of meals interacts with the body’s circadian rhythms.
