Beyond The Headlines: Oatly enters Irish plant-based market, GenoPalate analyzes DNA for personalized nutrition

27 Jan 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, plant-based dairy brand Oatly launched its first major campaign in Ireland following new research on the Irish plant-based market. GenoPalate unveiled a line of personalized supplements to meet consumers’ genetically-based nutrient needs. Meanwhile, Kellogg Canada launched 11 new offerings with new flavors and added nutritional benefits.

In brief: Nutrition news
Dairy milk alternative Oatly launched a campaign across the Irish market on the heels of a study the company commissioned showing that consumption of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives are poised to hit the mainstream in the country this year. According to the research, three out of ten Irish adults plan to adopt more flexitarian diets and incorporate more plant-based products into their daily diets. 

GenoPalate unveiled its personalized supplement platform that analyzes consumers’ DNA via the company’s at-home DNA testing kit and customizes supplements based on analysis results, diet and age. The kit tests for the genetic need for 23 nutrients, lactose and gluten sensitivities, ability to metabolize caffeine and alcohol and eating predispositions (snacking, stress eating, flavor preference, etc.) and uses the information obtained to create personalized macro and micronutrients, minerals, probiotics and omega 3s. 

Kellogg Canada released 11 new offerings in the Canadian market, including an apple and cinnamon-flavored breakfast cereal with 10 g of protein and 14 g of whole grains per serving and a vanilla-almond protein bar with 12 g of protein. Additionally, the company is releasing a cinnamon-pecan version of Special K cereal, a maple cinnamon-flavored edition of Frosted Flakes, a brownie-flavored version of Krave cereal and a maple waffle version of Kashi cereal. The company is also introducing a Cinnabon flavored cereal, a thick and fluffy version of Eggo Waffles, four new flavors of Scorchin’ potato chips as well as a larger version of its traditional Rice Krispies Squares. The new offerings are intended to expand the company’s place in the North American market this year.

A recent study revealed that adding one ounce of walnuts to a daily diet improved diet quality and nutrient and fiber intake.At the same time, Quest introduced Quest Cheese Crackers in Cheddar Blast flavor. The snack contains 10 g of protein with 5 g of net carbs per serving and the company states that the snack meets its “athlete-worthy” nutritional standards. Together with Aoki, the company is launching a cheese party challenge on TikTok where customers can win Dim Mak x Quest merchandise.

In brief: Industry news
Abbott Nutrition revealed its Q4 and end-of-year earnings for 2022, with Q4 sales totaling US$10.1 billion, which represents a year-over-year drop of 12% reported and a decline of 6.1% on an organic basis. Moreover, the company’s infant formula sales were down 28.7% following several manufacturing disruptions, including a halt of production at its Michigan plant by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to possible contamination and a separate closure of the same plant due to flooding. The company’s total sales for the year were US$43.7 billion – a growth of 1.3% for the year.

Also, Infant nutrition company ByHeart acquired an infant formula production facility in Allerton, Iowa, US, which it says will triple production capacity in the US. The company stated that the facility is still awaiting FDA approval, yet, it expects all of its facilities to be fully operational by the end of Q2 2023 and highlighted that the new production plant would put the company at sufficient capacity to feed 500,000 babies annually. Additionally, the company stated that the acquisition would allow the company to help safeguard the US from future infant formula shortages and help create a more resilient infant formula supply chain.

BASF and Cargill revealed an expanded enzyme feed solution partnership to the US, allowing the two companies to add the country to the existing feed enzymes distribution and development agreement – opening an “innovation pipeline” for animal-based protein producers in the US. According to the companies, the expansion will help animal protein producers access to enzyme feed solutions that are sustainable, increase productivity and address cost challenges and inflation in animal nutrition.

The France-based food supplement and active ingredient producer Activ’Inside invested US$13.1 million in a 3,200 square-meter (34,444 square-feet) food supplement factory in Beychac et Caillau, France. The factory will have an application laboratory for R&D and QC of products as well as production lines for premixing, manufacturing of pectin-based gummies and capsules and line packaging – giving the company end-to-end oversight of production. The new facility is slated for completion by the middle of 2023.ByHeart stated that the recent acquisition of an infant formula manufacturing plant would increase its production capacity threefold.

In brief: Research and studies
A new study, published in Nutrients, found that adding one ounce of walnuts to the diet improves diet quality. Advanced statistical modeling techniques were used to see what would happen when one ounce of walnuts was added to the typical daily diet of nearly 8,000 Americans who do not currently eat nuts. The researchers evaluated diet quality with and without the added one ounce of walnuts using the 2015 Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015). In addition to significant improvements in diet quality, fiber intake improved across all ages and genders in the study. However, the research has some limitations, such as self-reported dietary data.

A separate 24-week, randomized and controlled clinical trial study, also published in Nutrients, found that consuming mixed tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts) had a positive effect on the metabolism of the essential amino acid tryptophan in overweight and obese individuals. The study included 131 participants between the ages of 30 to 68 with BMIs between 27.0 and 35.0. The results showed an increase in both cardioprotective tryptophan metabolites and the neurotransmitter serotonin and suggest that consuming mixed tree nuts may help improve overall health and reduce the risk for several non-communicable and weight-related diseases.

By William Bradford Nichols