Holiday Roundup: Nestlé Health Sciences achieves zero landfill waste, FDA warns of contaminated sex enhancement products

04 Jan 2021 --- Following the end of a busy year in nutrition news, NutritionInsight provides an overview of the various business developments over the holiday period to ensure you don’t miss a beat. 

Among notable highlights, Nestlé Health Sciences achieved zero-waste-to-landfill in all of its factories, while Texas researchers uncovered the mechanism of maternal diets on breast milk. Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers that nearly 50 male sexual enhancement and weight loss products sold on Amazon and eBay are contaminated with unlisted additives. 

In brief: Business news 
Nestlé Health Sciences achieved zero-waste-to-landfill, meaning all products entering its factories are either reused, reduced, recycled or recovered. The efforts come after the company found that its factories could each produce 200 metric tons of waste, which are sent to landfill every year. This is equivalent to the weight of 115 cars. The company says eliminating its landfill waste is a significant step toward its 2050 sustainability goals.

Else Nutrition’s plant-based baby formula found success through Amazon’s online sales ratings.DuPont’s board of directors approved the separation of its Nutrition and Biosciences (N&B) business through an exchange offer whereby DuPont stockholders can elect to sell shares of DuPont common stock in exchange for shares of N&B. The separation will be followed by the combination of N&B with International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), in which shares of one can be converted into shares of the other. 

Norwegian biotech company Hofseth BioCare disclosed large shareholdings, made possible following the transfer of shares from four subsidiary companies. Hofseth, Seafood Farmers of Norway, Hofseth Aalesund and Hofseth Logistics transferred all their respective shares to the company’s international branch, Hofseth International (HI), surpassing the threshold for disclosure of large shareholdings. After the transaction, HI’s total shareholdings are equal to 16 percent of the total shares and voting rights of Hofseth Biocare. 

Canada-based Else Nutrition, plant-based children and toddlers’ nutrition company said its powdered baby formula became number one Amazon’s best-selling hot new release in the Baby & Toddler Formula category. The company also said customer feedback was “overwhelmingly positive” with high-levels of satisfaction with product quality and effect on children. The company is increasing its production plans to meet rising demand in 2021. 

In brief: Research and study 
Researchers at the Bayor College of Medicine in Texas, US, uncovered scientific mechanisms that explain the impact of maternal diets on breastmilk and its subsequent effects on infant health. The report offers evidence that a mother’s diet while breastfeeding shapes the profile of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Changing the HMOs, which are essential for healthy microbes, modifies the milk microbiome’s functional abilities. Previous research has proposed the establishment of a healthy microbiome in newborns and infants influences lifelong metabolic health.

In brief: RegulationNature’s Bounty says it will feed up to 2 million at need US families by donating all its January supplement sales profits.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) clarified its position on CBD to the UK’s Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI). It emphasizes that ingredients classified as novel foods are not permissible on the Scottish market from a legal perspective until they have a full novel foods authorization. The clarification comes after the FSS conducted a sampling study of CBD products currently on the Scottish market and found a number of issues. This means that the FSS is not aligning with the UK Food Standards Authority (FSA), which has allowed products to remain on the shelves pending full authorization. 

The US FDA warned consumers to avoid a range of nearly 50 male sexual enhancement and weight loss products that were found to be tainted with potentially dangerous hidden additives. The products found are being sold on Amazon, eBay and other retailers, and FDA testing showed them to contain active pharmaceutical ingredients not listed on their labels, including some with ingredients found in prescription drugs.

The FDA is warning consumers to avoid dozens of contaminated male sexual enhancement products being sold on Amazon and eBay.In brief: Miscellaneous 
Sahar El Aidy received the NWO Athena Award for outstanding female researchers who are also excellent role models. Dr. El Aidy, an assistant professor at the University of Groningen, will receive €50,000 (US$61,000) to fund her research into microbiomes, with a particular focus on the activity and role of gut metabolites in human mental and neurological function. The Dutch Research Council (NWO) promotes quality and innovation in science and is one of the most important science funding bodies in the Netherlands.

Health and wellness supplement company Nature’s Bounty entered a partnership with US charity Feeding America, the country’s largest hunger-relief organization, aiming to provide five million meals to families in need. In addition, Nature’s Bounty says it will provide an additional two million meals by donating profits from sales of any of its supplement products this month. 

The Whole Grains Council (WGC) outlined its plans and projects for 202, including increased media advocacy for whole-grain products, educational resources for schools and nonprofits, assistance to scientific researchers and a nationwide consumer insights survey. The organization will also be partnering with food service providers in hospitals, supermarkets and schools to offer tasting opportunities and other promotional activities. 

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) clarified its position on CBD to the UK’s Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI). It emphasizes that ingredients classified as novel foods are not permissible on the Scottish market from a legal perspective until they have a full novel foods authorization. The clarification comes after the FSS conducted a sampling study of CBD products currently on the Scottish market and found a number of issues. This means that the FSS is not aligning with the UK Food Standards Authority (FSA), which has allowed products to remain on the shelves pending full authorization. 

Edited

By Louis Gore-Langton