Beyond The Headlines: Hypoallergenic infant formula recall, Dr. Reddy’s acquires menopause supplement range

05 Jan 2024 --- This week in nutrition news, Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition recalled several batches of an infant formula powder product after a sample tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii contamination at the Israeli border. At the same time, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories acquired the menopause supplement range MenoLabs from Amyris, while the sale of Evolva AG to a Swiss affiliate of Lallemand was finalized.

Industry news
Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN) has voluntarily recalled six batches of Nutramigen hypoallergenic infant formula powder products due to possible Cronobacter sakazakii contamination. The Israeli Ministry of Health had notified the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after a product tested positive for the bacteria at the Israeli border. This was later confirmed through whole genome sequencing on the sample. Meanwhile, MJN reports it found no contamination, and no illnesses have been reported regarding the recall. The recall covers 675,030 cans of the powdered formula distributed to the US. Consumers who purchased recalled products should discard the product and contact MJN for a refund. Nutramigen is a hypoallergenic infant formula used by infants allergic to cow’s milk. The FDA has requested assistance from different manufacturers to ensure a robust supply of hypoallergenic products. 

Indian pharmaceutical company Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has acquired MenoLabs, a women’s health and dietary supplement branded portfolio from Amyris. MenoLabs includes seven branded products designed to provide health support and address symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, such as MenoFit, MenoGlow probiotics and Athena’s Shield menopause support supplement, as well as Goodness Glow and Keep Glowing Gorgeous supplements for healthy aging support. With the deal, Dr. Reddy’s also acquired the MenoLife health tracker app, which supports the product line and provides community, education and information to consumers regarding menopause. The supplement portfolio is mainly sold in the US through e-commerce marketplaces. 

Purple sweet potatoes contain the antioxidant anthocyanin, vitamins A, B6 and C, potassium and fiber (Image credit: Veganuary).Evolva Holding and Lallemand finalized the sale of Evolva AG to Danstar Ferment AG, a Swiss affiliate of Lallemand. Following the closing, the initial price of CHF20 million (US$23.5 million) may be adjusted depending on share purchase agreements. The transaction is also subject to an earn-out payable to Evolva Holding of up to CHF10 million (US$11.7 million) based on the achievement of specific product-based sales targets. The net proceeds from the transaction will be distributed to the company’s shareholders and the liquidation is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. Evolva Holding’s board of directors and management estimates the potential liquidation dividend to range between CHF0.70 (US$0.82) and CHF2.40 (US$2.82) per share, depending on purchase price adjustments and earn-out potential achieved. The shares’ delisting is expected to occur in the next six to twelve months. 

Kyowa Hakko Bio, a subsidiary of Kirin Holdings, celebrated the opening of its expanded citicoline manufacturing facilities in Japan. Under the company’s brand, Cognizin, this compound enhances cognitive function in healthy foods. Expanding its manufacturing capacity helps Kyowa Hakko Bio meet a growing US demand for citicoline from an aging population and a growing esports market. Moreover, it helps the company establish a resilient global supply network catering to pharmaceutical and health food manufacturers. Kirin Holdings aims to integrate citicoline into upcoming product development initiatives. 

Nutrition news 
Veganuary US, the global movement to try veganism in January, has launched its 2024 campaign by announcing the purple sweet potato as the first-ever “Vegetable of the Year.” The vegetable was selected by a panel of experts, including food futurologists, chefs and members of key nutrition, retail and sustainability councils, based on five criteria — growing popularity, versatility, sustainability, health/nutrition and affordability/accessibility. The theme of this year’s global Veganuary campaign is “Vote for Veggies,” which aims to celebrate vegetables and highlight their relationship with sustainability, creativity, taste, trends and longevity. Purple sweet potatoes contain the antioxidant anthocyanin — responsible for their color — vitamins A, B6 and C, potassium and fiber. 

The British Nutrition Foundation has warned against using social media for diet information in response to findings from its online survey, where 56% of respondents who use social media for health information say they would likely change their diet based on information on platforms such as Tik Tok or Instagram. Moreover, 27% of those surveyed say they had recently read information on diet and health on social media, with weight loss (40%) and improving fitness (36%) being the top motivators to change diet. The foundation cautions that some of the biggest social media diet trends are not based on sound science, would be challenging to maintain and could even pose health risks. For example, some diets widely shared on social media, such as the carnivore, 10-day egg, cabbage soup and baby food diets, severely restrict the variety of foods eaten and are nutritionally unbalanced. PawCo Foods launched two new plant-based dog food products using its plant-based meat GreenMeat (Image credit: PawCo Foods).

Product launches 
Pet nutrition brand PawCo Foods launched two new plant-based dog food products — InstaBites and LuxBites. With the latest launches, the company expands its product range based on GreenMeat, the first entirely plant-based meat tailored for pet food. InstaBites is a fresh, shelf-stable, plant-based dog food offering pet owners a low-cost alternative to kibbles that combine the quality of fresh food with the ease of dry food storage. Meanwhile, LuxBites fresh dog food is formulated with postbiotics and fermented protein to enhance gut health, boost immunity and ensure optimal nutrient absorption. PawCo Foods uses AI for nutrition optimization and palatability improvement of its products. 

US health and wellness company Shaklee launched MultiTaskers — a new line of supplements designed to target multiple solutions related to critical health concerns, including stress, mood, energy, sleep, gut health, hair, skin and nails, healthy aging and women’s health. Each of the five products offers complementary, two-in-one benefits. “Up & Glowing” is a vanilla latte that boosts energy levels and supports healthy hair, skin and nails by combining caffeine with beauty-boosting ingredients such as collagen and hyaluronic acid. “Rest & Rewind” is a melatonin-free mint tea with magnesium and lemon balm, “Cheer Up & Chill Out” strawberry gummies with ashwagandha and L-theanine provide stress relief and a mood boost and “Flora & Flow” help restore and maintain a healthy vaginal microbiome and pH levels with a blend of probiotics and lactoferrin. The “Good Gut & Go” raspberry mix includes probiotics and the prebiotic inulin to promote gut health. 

Researchers have designed a vegetarian salad with ingredients that can be grown in space and meet male astronauts’ nutritional needs.Scientific studies 
Reporting their findings in ACS Food Science & Technology, researchers have designed the optimal “space meal,” a vegetarian salad containing soybeans, poppy seeds, barley, kale, peanuts, sweet potato and sunflower seeds. The authors chose fresh ingredients that can be grown in space and meet male astronauts’ specialized nutritional needs as they burn more calories and require extra micronutrients, such as calcium, compared to humans on Earth. Through linear programming, the researchers assessed which combinations of fresh ingredients could meet male astronauts’ daily nutritional needs, requiring minimal water to grow and little fertilizer, time and land to produce. While the vegetarian salad could not provide all the micronutrients needed, the researchers suggest adding the missing components in a supplement. In the future, the researchers aim to use the computer model to develop options for female astronauts and expand the crop variety in their database. 

According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, food insecurity among low-income adults dropped nearly 5% in the COVID-19 pandemic era, which the authors link to the expansions of benefits in the US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at that time. The researchers used data from the National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative survey, to examine food security during and before the pandemic. Despite worsening unemployment and economic loss, the data showed that food insecurity dropped from 20.6% in 2019 to 15.5% in 2021. Food insecurity rates returned to pre-pandemic levels by 2022 but remained lower for low-income adults who receive SNAP benefits. The authors emphasize that these findings highlight the importance of financial relief and nutritional benefits for vulnerable populations. 

By Jolanda van Hal