Beyond The Headlines: Prolactal releases its sustainability goals, Upcoming hackathon to help tackle food waste

07 Jul 2023 --- This week in nutrition news, Prolactal reveals it will reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20% by 2025. A group of waste prevention companies and organizations will host a “hackathon” to tackle food waste in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Prolacta Bioscience hailed the Ohio, US, legislature’s decision to advance the availability of human milk and human milk-based products for infants and babies.

In brief: Nutrition news
Prolactal, a company specializing in organic dairy ingredients for infant formula, stated that it is actively working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its facility in Austria, with a focus on protecting resources for future generations. The company said it aims to achieve an additional 20% reduction in emissions by the end of 2025 compared to its 2018 levels. The project involves interventions designed for organic farming, targeting both biogenic and fossil emissions and includes a partnership with Raumberg-Gumpenstein and Bio Austria to enhance its knowledge and strengthen the project. The initial phase includes 14 pilot farms, with plans to expand to 65 organic dairy farms, ultimately producing about 9 million liters of organic raw milk annually with a significantly lower carbon footprint. By addressing GHGs across the supply chain, Prolactal says its initiative will support a sustainable and ecological environment and help it to align with the rising consumer demand for natural products. Additionally, the company affirms it plans to continue the initiative beyond 2025 to further reduce its carbon footprint and solidify its position as a sustainable organic dairy ingredients company.In September, a hackathon will be held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, with the goal of reducing food waste.

A group of waste prevention nonprofits, food companies, public institutions and logistics providers – including Lineage Logistics, Foodvalley NL, Instock and Van Geloven – have come together to launch a hackathon called “Tackling Food Waste for a Sustainable Future.” The event will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on September 20 and 21 and looks to raise awareness of food waste and find innovative solutions using technology. Participants will collaborate to develop solutions to tackle food waste within a 24-hour period. The event will feature an expert judging panel, with the winning team receiving mentorship and funding for their solution. The hackathon will be promoted as an opportunity to contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which aims to halve food waste by 2030 and is expected to help raise awareness of food waste as an environmental, humanitarian and societal issue, which can have a significant impact on carbon emissions and global hunger.

Prolacta Bioscience is commending the Ohio legislature for passing budget language that will provide Medicaid reimbursement for donor human milk and other human milk-based products in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The company hails the decision as a significant victory for Ohio’s most vulnerable infants, particularly premature babies, who will now have access to the necessary nutrients and food they need for proper development. Moreover, the company says that the Medicaid reimbursements will support improved health outcomes, offer cost savings for taxpayers, prioritize the needs of low birth weight premature infants and provide them with much needed nutrition. 

NuLiv Science revealed the results of a recent human clinical trial on its flagship ingredient, AstraGin. The study shows that the functional ingredient significantly improves arginine absorption and nitric oxide production – two crucial factors for pre-workout effectiveness and cardiovascular health. The trial study involved healthy adults who received arginine powder along with AstraGin or a placebo and the results demonstrated an increase in arginine absorption and a significant improvement in the arginine/asymmetric dimethylarginine ratio – a key indicator of enhanced cardiovascular health. Additionally, critical biomarkers for cardiovascular health, such as urinary nitrate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels, also increased. These findings establish the ingredient’s efficacy for pre-workout routines as well as its ability to improve cardiovascular well-being through dietary supplements.Wag is launching its Cat Food Advisor platform that will help pet owners establish personalized nutrition goals for their cats.

Body Ecology introduced a reformulated version of its dietary supplement EcoBloom blended with BeniCaros from NutriLeads BV. The prebiotic blend will support a stronger immune system, a healthy gut microbiome and help improve digestive health. The company highlights that EcoBloom is available in a tasteless powder formula that can be easily incorporated into various food and beverage preparations. The supplement contains dietary fibers and prebiotics known for their low gas production, including Sunfiber from the Indian guar bean, acacia fiber from the acacia tree and the precision prebiotic fiber BeniCaros – derived from upcycled carrot pomace. The company notes that BeniCaros specifically nourishes beneficial gut microorganisms and supports a healthy immune system and improved immune responses.

In Brief: Animal nutrition
Cult Food Science released the results of an independent laboratory testing on its cultivated pet food ingredient, Bmmune, revealing that it exceeds industry-defined standards for protein and essential amino acids and positions it as a viable alternative to popular animal proteins like chicken and lamb. The patented blend of high-protein nutritional yeast and fermentation products showcased nearly twice the level of protein compared to the industry standard according to the third-party testing results. Additionally, Bmmune surpasses the minimum requirements set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials for essential amino acids in dog foods, including those typically lower in plant-based proteins. The company further explains that the results demonstrate Bmmune is a sustainable and premium protein source, offering an all-natural, environmentally low-impact and “future-proof” pet nutrition ingredient. 

Wag has introduced its Cat Food Advisor, an online resource dedicated to feline nutrition, following the success of its Dog Food Advisor. The company says the platform launch expands its commitment and ability to provide valuable guidance to pet owners and will empower cat owners with knowledge about their pet’s nutrition and needs through in-depth reviews, nutritional analyses and expert recommendations. With a focus on science-backed content, the platform will offer a user-friendly interface, personalized recommendations and valuable articles from veterinary professionals.

In brief: Scientific studies
A new study has shown that neither unprocessed red meats or whole grains significantly impacted development of CVD.Though diets emphasizing fruits, vegetables, mainly whole-fat dairy, nuts, legumes and fish have been associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature death, a recent global study conducted in 80 countries found that the addition or exclusion of unprocessed red meat and whole grains had little effect on health outcomes. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, challenges the prevailing belief that low-fat diets are universally beneficial for heart health. The study utilized a diet score based on the consumption of six key food groups linked to longevity and participants with higher scores had a significantly lower risk of death and CVD. Moreover, the findings were consistent across diverse populations, including individuals from high-, middle- and low-income countries, leading the study’s authors to call for a reevaluation of guidelines that recommend avoiding whole-fat dairy products and, potentially, unprocessed red meats. It also emphasized the need for nutrition policies, industry innovations and healthcare interventions to align with the scientific evidence while supporting the role of protective foods in promoting cardiovascular health. The authors also reveal that the study highlights the potential of improving global health outcomes by addressing diet-related chronic diseases through evidence-based nutrition policies and interventions.

Finally, Taiyo revealed that a recent study has reaffirmed the superior bioavailability of its endosomal iron brand, SunActive Fe, compared to other commercially available iron supplements. The study spotlights the unique absorption pathway of SunActive Fe and how its patented delivery system can create iron pyrophosphate particles that are easily absorbed by cells through cellular process of endocytosis. The company further explains that the novel pathway causes the higher bioavailability of SunActive Fe compared to other iron pyrophosphate materials with larger particle sizes. The study compared SunActive Fe with other iron ingredients and found that it was absorbed 2-4 times better and offered other benefits such as no stomach irritation, metallic taste, teeth staining, constipation or other common issues associated with iron supplements.

By William Bradford Nichols