Beyond The Headlines: Solabia-BioActor awarded GRAS status by FDA, NutriLeads moves to center BeniCaros

15 Mar 2024 --- This week in nutrition news, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status to Solabia-BioActor’s Bonolive ingredient. Meanwhile, Nutrileads revealed it has revamped its websites to showcase its BeniCaros prebiotic. At the same time, Probi announced a partnership with Matas to expand into the Danish market.

Nutrition news
Solabia-BioActor’s Bonolive has been granted GRAS status by the FDA for use in dietary supplements, beverages and functional foods. Bonolive is an estrogen-free ingredient derived from olives, standardized for high levels of oleuropein and clinically validated to support women’s health, particularly in post-menopausal women. It has been shown to stimulate bone production, improve blood lipid profiles, reduce joint pain and alleviate menopause-related symptoms. Additionally, the company says its bioavailability is enhanced in post-menopausal women, making it a significant innovation in natural, safe solutions for managing peri- and post-menopause challenges.NutriLeads has changed its websites to focus on its prebiotic gut-health ingredient, BeniCaros.

NutriLeads unveiled its revamped corporate and product website, showcasing BeniCaros, a precision prebiotic and immune-training fiber. The website positions BeniCaros as an innovative ingredient for the food, beverage and dietary supplement sectors. The launch is accompanied by a new advertising campaign, emphasizing BeniCaros’ benefits, including its precision prebiotic properties, small serving size, upcycled and plant-based nature and ideal formulation properties. Nutrileads said the move meets the increasing consumer demand for gut and immune health products.

Business news
Probi revealed it is expanding into the Danish market through a partnership with the Matas retail chain to strengthen its position in the Nordics. After taking full ownership of its consumer product value chain, Probi aims for further growth in 2024 by leveraging its high brand recognition in Sweden and presence in Norway and Iceland. Probi is also collaborating with the advertising agency Silver to refine its brand strategy, enhance its packaging design and communication and to consolidate its leadership in dietary supplements with lactic acid bacteria across the Nordic market.

Maypro established a new European office in Italy’s Lombardy region to expand its access to its growing nutraceutical market, which the company expects to grow significantly through 2027. The move will enhance ingredient sales in the European Economic Area and broaden its proprietary branded ingredients portfolio for global markets. Additionally, Maypro Ventures, a business accelerator, has been launched to support the commercialization of innovative nutraceutical ingredients in North America, provide comprehensive support to bridge gaps toward successful market entry, expand the company’s global footprint and foster innovation in the nutraceutical industry.

Product Launches
Natures Crops International introduced its Ahiflower Omega Crumbles and Ahiflower Press Cake for pet nutrition. According to the company, the new offerings provide a sustainable, plant-based omega-rich ingredient from proprietary varieties of Buglossoides arvensis. These products offer a complete multi-omega composition, essential minerals and amino acids that support the health and well-being of pets with a traceable, sustainable and cost-competitive option. Moreover, the company says its unique processing enhances nutrient availability and digestibility and promotes dental health and gastric pH balance for pets.Natures Crops International introduced two new ahiflower-based pet nutrition ingredients.

Axichem announced OmneDiem’s launch of two new products with Axivite in the US.  Axivite contains phenylcapsaicin, a patented natural analogue of capsaicin, which is found in chili peppers. The products expand the company’s presence in the fitness and wellness sectors. Axichem states that it looks to meet the growing demand for science-backed supplements focusing on gut health and overall wellness. Its other brand, Body6, also introduced a ready-to-drink pre-workout supplement and thermogenic fat management product and has partnered with Planet Fitness to be featured at the gym during key fitness events. OmneDiem’s MaxRep Elite targets e-commerce and retail, enhancing workout performance and endurance, which contains the ingredient as well.

Bizz Energy launched an energy drink with its zero-sugar, health-focused formula. According to the company, Bizz Energy offers a clean, crashless boost of energy without unhealthy ingredients by utilizing a unique form of soluble Turkesterone — a type of plant steroid that has been shown to help build muscle — for physical and mental energy, alongside 200 mg of caffeine anhydrous per can. The drink also incorporates nutrients like creatine, essential amino acids, Niacin and Biotin for muscle growth, protein synthesis and metabolic support, which the company says makes it both an energy booster and a nutritional supplement.

Bioriginal Food & Science introduced a sustainable omega-3 product line using Cooke’s aquaculture resources and POS Biosciences’ technology. This range includes fish, algal and plant-based oils, prioritizing environmental sustainability and traceability from farm to shelf. The initiative aligns with industry efforts to provide sustainable omega-3 sources, minimizing impacts on wild fish populations. Bioriginal says its collaboration with POS and Cooke will advance technology for a reliable supply of essential omega-3 nutrients that provide responsible sourcing in the nutrition industry.A UK-based study found that people should weigh the nutrition outcomes against the carbon footprint of meat consumption.

Scientific Studies
A collaborative study by Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales, Bangor University, Queen’s University and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute stressed that consumers must consider meat’s nutritional value alongside its carbon footprint. Published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, the research focuses on Welsh lamb, comparing different production systems and their environmental impacts. The researchers highlight that traditional carbon footprint metrics overlook nutritional contributions. The study also found that lamb’s omega-3 content significantly alters its carbon efficiency, advocating for a nuanced approach to evaluating meat’s environmental impact. The researchers assert that this perspective supports balanced human diets and encourages sustainable farming practices that consider both ecological and nutritional outcomes.

A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign study investigated how home food availability changes from ages two to four can significantly impact children’s nutrient intake. The Home Food Inventory measured food types in homes, correlating with children’s diets reported by mothers. Published in Public Health Nutrition, the study’s findings show an increase in less nutritious food types by age 48 months, although vegetable availability also increased. They also highlight the importance of the environment on children’s dietary habits and validate the Home Food Inventory to measure young children’s food environment. The research further emphasizes the need to support parents in healthy food choices amid the complex factors affecting food decisions.

By William Bradford Nichols