Beyond The Headlines: Nutrition labels advance to White House, Novo Holdings acquires aquaculture biotech

This week in nutrition news, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) urged the US government to release an FDA proposal for front-of-package nutrition labels, while the UK government opened applications for early adopters in the free breakfast club public school program. Novo Holdings announced its plans to acquire the aquaculture biotechnology company Benchmark Genetics to advance innovation and sustainability.

Nutrition news

The US FDA completed a proposed rule to create front-of-package nutrition labels to help consumers select healthier foods and avoid diet-related diseases. The CSPI president, Dr. Peter Lurie, called for the White House to release the proposal for public input, expecting it to include mandatory, evidence-based, interpretive labels and identify when foods are high in excess sodium, added sugars and saturated fat linked to chronic disease.

As of this week, UK schools with primary-aged children can apply to become early adopters in the government’s free breakfast club program. Around 750 schools will be selected to participate in the program for one year, starting in April 2025. Their experiences will help test the program before a national rollout. Early adopter schools will receive funding for food, delivery and staffing costs. The government expects participating schools to create breakfast clubs that provide healthy food that complies with school food standards. State-funded schools, with and without existing breakfast provisions, are eligible to apply, with applications closing on December 20 this year. 

Benchmark Genetics helps aquaculture producers increase quality, yield, health and animal welfare (Image credit: Novo Holdings).Business news

Novo Holdings, the majority shareholder of Novonesis and Novo Nordisk, has agreed to acquire the Norwegian aquaculture biotechnology company Benchmark Genetics for an enterprise value of up to £230 million (US$291.7 million). Benchmark helps aquaculture producers increase quality, yield, health and animal welfare. The acquisition aligns with the Novo Holdings Planetary Health Investment team on aquaculture to drive growth, innovation and sustainability. Aleks Engel, a partner on the team, says that animal and plant genetics hold “immense potential to transform the global food industry.” The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025, subject to shareholder approval and receipt of customary regulatory clearances. 

FutureCeuticals announced a strategic partnership with India-based Global Calcium to expand its supplement portfolio into high-growth markets in India, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The partnership leverages Global Calcium’s manufacturing and sales network in India and its expertise in calcium-based minerals. It will initially focus on FruiteX-B calcium fructoborate. This patented mineral complex developed by FutureCeuticals has applications in joint, mobility and bone health products. Global Calcium’s CEO, Sahil Vaz, says the product is a “natural extension of our existing specialty mineral active offerings.” 

Sustainable food chain investor Paine Schwartz Partners acquired Promix, a brand of high-quality protein mixes, supplements, vitamins and better-for-you snacks, through its Food Chain Fund VI. The acquisition aligns with Paine Schwartz’s core investment theme by providing consumers with access to high-protein, convenient, easy-to-prepare, low-sugar and nutritious functional food options. Promix’s CEO and COO will continue to lead the business with support from the Paine Schwartz team. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

Researchers will examine bacterial genetic variations to understand how bacterial vaginosis develops and examine treatment options.Scientific research

Researchers at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, US, received a US$1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the dynamics of bacterial vaginosis. This is the most prevalent condition affecting the female reproductive system in women aged 15 to 44 and is linked to severe health risks, including preterm birth, gynecological malignancies and sexually transmitted diseases. With the funding, the research team aims to identify a more effective treatment approach, as long-term treatments are limited. Bacterial vaginosis occurs from an imbalance in vaginal bacteria. The team will examine the genetic variations within bacterial cells from the vaginal microbiome to help understand how bacterial vaginosis develops and why some women respond better to treatment than others. 

Research published in Cureus revealed that dietary intervention combined with physical activity support leads to significant weight loss and improved body composition in obese adults. The authors note that their findings support the effectiveness of comprehensive weight loss strategies, including nutrition education, to manage obesity. The study involved 50 participants aged 18 to 40, randomized into two groups. The control group received group counseling, and the intervention group received individualized diet plans and exercise routines. The participants were assessed at baseline, months one, two and three. After three months, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in weight over time, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and body fat percentage, while the control group showed inconsistent results.