Beyond The Headlines: Fooditive prepares food system for humans on Mars, Animal releases updated version of Pak

17 Feb 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, Fooditive became the only food production company to sign the Washington Compact on Norms of Behavior for Commercial Space Operations. Sports nutrition supplement producer, Animal, released a revitalized version of its renowned Animal Pak multivitamin. Meanwhile, the International Probiotics Association (IPA) revealed that it would include syn-, pre- and postbiotics within the scope to support the totality of biotic offerings.

In brief: Nutrition news
Fooditive, has become a signatory to the Washington Compact on Norms of Behavior for Commercial Space Operations, which outlines non-binding principles for businesses operating in outer space. The company stated that it has been interested in the future of space exploration for several years and is developing a 3D printing technology called BioPrint that can produce food from waste plastic, which is expected to be ready for use in time for the first mission to land humans on Mars, which is expected to launch in the late 2030s or early 2040s. The compact is intended to ensure responsible behavior in space by companies and civilians. It has been signed by 53 individuals, organizations and companies, including Fooditive – the only signatory from the global food production sector.

Sports supplement brand Animal has released a reimagined version of Pak, its top-selling performance multivitamin pack. The reformulation includes new ingredients, such as Spectra – a blend of 29 fruits, vegetables and herbs that the company states helps to improve blood flow to muscles and support cellular energy. It also includes spirulina, chlorella and ginkgo biloba to boost immunity. Additionally, the company states that the combination of AstraGin and BioPerine improves nutrient bioavailability. The “sports-scientist-curated formula” is designed to deliver even more nutritional benefits to athletes and fitness enthusiasts and Animal holds it replaces the equivalent of 12 supplements and delivers over 85 nutrients to aid in total body nutrition and overall mental and physical health. Moreover, the reformulation allows for concentrated pill forms it says deliver results with 25% fewer pills than the previous formulation.

The International Probiotics Association (IPA) is expanding its scope to include prebiotics, postbiotics and synbiotics, alongside probiotics, within the human, infant and companion animal segments of food and dietary supplements. The expansion aims to strengthen the ownership and growth of the biotics industry in response to market demands. The IPA will build frameworks and organizational structures it says will ensure a successful future for the probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics and synbiotics industry, as it replicates its past achievements in the additional biotics categories. George Paraskevakos, the executive director of IPA, described the expansion as a natural progression for the organization’s evolution.

In brief: Industry news
MuscleTech revealed that it will showcase its latest tech and supplement innovations, which include a collaboration with Black Box VR, at the Arnold Sports Festival from March 2-5, to highlight one of its Virtual Sport Training Centers. The interactive experience will combine gaming with real exercise to build muscle and burn fat. MuscleTech’s booth will also feature several of the team’s bodybuilders, including Blessing “The Boogieman” Awodibu. The two newest product innovations for the company– Euphoriq and Burn iQ, both available for purchase on the company’s website – will also be available for sampling by the attendees. Both products feature Enfinity Paraxanthine, a metabolite of caffeine that the company says allows for greater focus and energy enhancement during workouts.

At the same time, Asahi Kasei has completed the construction of its second plant for Ceolus microcrystalline cellulose at its Mizushima Works in Okayama, Japan. The company states that the opening cements its commitment to meet the growing demand for the product. Ceolus microcrystalline cellulose is primarily used as a tablet binder for pharmaceuticals, and demand for its proprietary Ceolus KG and Ceolus UF is growing substantially. The new plant is undergoing trial operations, with commercial production scheduled to begin in April 2023. The second plant will increase supply capacity and enhance supply stability throughout production at multiple sites, making it more accessible to patients globally. 

In brief: Research and studies
A recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, has found that acylated anthocyanins, which are found in purple potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, radishes, purple carrots and red cabbages, are more effective in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes than nonacylated anthocyanins found in bilberries and mulberries. Acylated anthocyanins are anthocyanins with an added acyl group on the sugars of the pigment. The study compared the effects of the pigments, which are found in fruits, vegetables and tubers, on energy metabolism, gut microbiota and inflammation and found that acylated anthocyanins can modulate glucose and lipid metabolisms, maintain gut microbiota homeostasis and suppress pro-inflammatory pathways.

A team of international researchers published a study in BMJ, revealing that health and nutrition claims on many infant formula products are not supported by high-quality scientific evidence. Common claims include benefits for brain development, immunity and growth in young infants. The team states that revised regulations are needed to better protect consumers and avoid the harms associated with aggressive marketing of such products. Infant formula claims are controversial as some organizations and experts have said they can undermine breastfeeding. Researchers reviewed health and nutrition claims for infant formula products in 15 countries and evaluated the validity of the evidence used to support these claims. They found that of the 608 products with one or more claims – the most common claims of which were related to brain and eye development, immunity and growth – only 26% of these products provided scientific reference to support the claims, while 74% did not.

Lastly, a study published in the journal, Food and Function, shows that consuming prunes daily may improve the gut microbiome of postmenopausal women. The study showed an enrichment in bacteria from the Lachnospiraceae family, which has been associated with decreasing inflammatory markers in the body and helping to maintain the integrity of the gut barrier. The goal of the study was to investigate the impact of prune supplementation on the gut microbiome of postmenopausal women, whose gut microbiome is affected by a decline in ovarian hormones. The randomized controlled trial included 143 postmenopausal women, and the results indicated significant changes in the microbiomes for those in the prune treatment groups. Furthermore, the enrichment of the Lachnospiraceae family of bacteria may have implications for the use of prunes as a non-pharmacological whole-food intervention for gut health. Additionally, prunes may support bone health due to their phenolic compounds and dietary fiber content.

By William Bradford Nichols