Beyond The Headlines: Nutrition council calls for FDA support, UNICEF focalizes child nutrition in South America

11 Aug 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) urged the US FDA to allocate more resources to regulating supplements. UNICEF partnered with Amway to support children’s access to nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean. Also, Innit launched an AI platform with expert validations of diet, cooking and healthy eating requirements.

In brief: Nutrition news 
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) urged the FDA to allocate resources to enforce the agency’s Dietary Supplement Master Files: Draft Guidance for Industry, which the FDA has listed as a priority guidance document in 2023. The new guidance is part of the agency’s New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) notification final guidance to be released. Experts presume that the new supplement master files will be similar to Drug Master Files, which companies must complete to support drug submissions. CRN notes that the FDA informed it did not intend to devote resources to enforcing a master file program for supplements. The organization requests the FDA to rethink prioritizing a master files guidance unless resources are allocated to regulating supplements, adding that other pressing supplement issues await the agency’s action. 

Amway and UNICEF announced a new regional partnership to support children’s access to nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable diets in Latin America and the Caribbean. UNICEF notes over ten million children under five years-old are malnourished in the region. UNICEF will increase its capacity of healthcare workers to monitor child growth through Amway’s contribution. The organization will also counsel caregivers and parents on breastfeeding and young child feeding practices. Also, the partnership will contribute to UNICEF’s advocacy efforts to strengthen regulatory policies that shape food environments. Amway is a global provider of nutrition, beauty and home products, which has implemented several social responsibility programs worldwide, focusing on broadening nutrition to help children and families live healthy lives.

Innit has launched an AI platform with expert validations of diet, cooking and healthy eating requirements.In brief: Product launches  
Innit, a US-based company in personalized food intelligence, launched FoodLM, a generative AI platform that integrates expert validations of diet, cooking and healthy eating requirements. The platform helps deliver AI-powered food services to consumers for different businesses. Retailers can use FoodLM’s semantic search to build a better consumer understanding, while brands can use the tool to provide consumers with AI assistance from product selection through preparation. Health providers that support patients with chronic diseases can use the tool to science-backed aid for healthy eating and food as medicine. 

Genuine Health, a supplier of natural supplements, launched a product line of supplements formulated with saffron, which the company notes has been linked to several brain health benefits, such as reducing stress, enhancing mood and improving memory. To reinforce the benefits of saffron, the three supplement products – stress, mood and memory – combine saffron with adaptogens, such as Ginkgo biloba, Ashwagandha and antioxidants, including turmeric and sage. The products are vegan, gluten- and dairy-free. 

In brief: Pet nutrition 
Meal kit company HelloFresh has launched a premium pet food brand in the US: The Pets Table. This will offer customized, human-grade fresh and air-dried meals for dogs on a prescription basis. With the addition, HelloFresh aims to diversify its portfolio, leveraging the growing market share of premium pet nutrition. The new brand will leverage HelloFresh’s manufacturing capabilities, technological infrastructure and operational network. The company notes that pet food lends itself well to such a prescription model, as pet owners regularly purchase nutritional products for their pets and see convenience in home delivery. The Pets Table will offer four dog food plans to consumers, allowing them to customize these to help a dog’s individual dietary needs. The meals contain superfoods, vitamin A, postbiotics and other ingredients to support health and wellness.

Greenies brand launched a digestive probiotic supplement powder for dogs (Image credit: Greenies). Mars petcare’s Greenies brand launched a digestive probiotic supplement powder for dogs. The brand notes the supplement can help maintain a natural balance in a dog’s digestive system, promoting digestive health and optimal stool quality. The supplement includes dried yeast, Bifidobacterium animalis and other functional ingredients to promote a healthy intestinal microbiome. It is free from artificial preservatives, flavors and colors. Greenis developed the new product with nutritionists, researchers and a veterinarian. The supplement is meant to be added to meals and aimed at dogs of all ages. 

Insect-protein dog food producer Percuro invested in production capacity to keep up with global sales growth. The European company is experiencing significant growth this year, with sales rising 300% compared to 2022. The company is increasing its production capacity at its co-manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands and Belgium to facilitate this growth. The company specializes in sustainable insect protein- and plant-based adult and puppy dog food, using a low inflammation formula by excluding inflammatory ingredients such as beef, chicken, wheat, soy and corn. Percuro aims to secure 1% of the global premium pet food market and plans to expand its exports to new markets. 

In brief: Studies 
Research in the American Chemical Society Central Science found that sugars naturally found in breast milk can stop a common prenatal infection in human tissues and pregnant mice. The researchers posit that this finding could help avoid preterm births or complications without additional antibiotics someday. The authors analyzed the protective effects of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) on human tissue infected with Group B streptococcus, one of the most common bacteria that can affect pregnancies if left untreated. When the researchers added a mixture of HMOs designed to mimic the sugar composition in breast milk, the bacteria could not adhere and form colonies. When tested on pregnant mice infected with the bacteria, the number of bacteria in several productive tissues reduced and the mice did not experience preterm births. 

Research found people with low vitamin K levels in their blood are more likely to have poor lung function.A study published in ERJ Open Research found that people with low vitamin K levels in their blood are more likely to have poor lung function and suffer from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and wheezing. The vitamin is found in leafy green vegetables, vegetable oils and cereal grains. Although it is known to play a role in blood clotting, little research has been conducted on the vitamin’s role in lung health. Over 4,000 people participated in the study, undergoing lung function testing, providing blood samples and filling out questionnaires on health and lifestyles. The researchers note that the findings do not alter current vitamin K intake recommendations but suggest that more research is needed to assess whether people with lung diseases could benefit from supplementation. The authors will develop a large clinical trial to compare supplementation with a placebo and evaluate its effects on heart and bone health.

By Jolanda van Hal