July in review: Live from IFT First 2024, Beneo’s Palatinose for “Olympic” sports nutrition

31 Jul 2024 --- In July’s major health and nutrition industry news, Nutiani published its latest report on “Proactive Nutrition for Healthy Aging,” Bioiberica told us about the science behind Collavant n2 collagen and we talked with School Food Matters about the need for greater access to healthy foods for school children.

In our July review, Nutrition Insight looks back at some of the biggest stories of the month, including our conversation with Beneo about glucose management for “Olympic” performance, the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) latest assessment of climate change and nutrition security and a study that revealed the negative effects of cutting calories to remain lean.

Nutiani spots an “incredible opportunity” for targeted healthy aging solutions
We caught up with Charlotte Ortiz, the global brand marketing manager at Nutiani, about the company’s latest “Proactive Nutrition for Healthy Aging” report and the current consumer landscape and implications for the nutrition industry. Ortiz explained the need for nutrition brands to address the growing range of consumer demands in the expanding healthy aging market and pointed out that perceptions of healthy aging are evolving, requiring brands to develop targeted solutions for holistic well-being, including physical, mental and overall health. She also highlighted nutrition’s crucial role in supporting healthy lifestyles and advised that brands cater to both senior consumers and younger individuals seeking preventive solutions.We caught up with Dr. Wookyung Chung, the VP and head of Food R&D at Samyang at the company’s headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, to discuss the company’s latest innovations.

Bioiberica discusses the science behind Collavant n2 collagen and plans for future research
Bioiberica experts Antonio Vendrel, the company’s marketing and communications director, and Daniel Martinez-Puig, its R&D manager, sat down with us to talk about Bioiberica’s Collavant n2 collagen and the latest research on the ingredient’s health benefits. Collavant n2, a native (undenatured) type II collagen, works effectively at a low dose of 40 mg per day through Oral Tolerance, which helps reduce the immune system’s response against endogenous collagen and supports joint health. Vendrell explained that this low dosage is significantly less than the 10 g needed for hydrolyzed collagen to be effective. At the same time, Martinez-Puig underscores the results of a 2013 study involving women aged 40–80 with knee osteoarthritis, comparing the effects of Collavant n2 and exercise.

School Food Matters calls on new UK government to ensure school children’s access to adequate nutrition
On the heels of the Labour Party forming a new government for the first time in 14 years following the UK’s latest election, we spoke with Stephanie Slater, the founder and CE of School Food Matters. The NGO urged the new administration to boost food and nutrition security for children and emphasized the need to reform the school food system to support Labour’s Child Health Action Plan goal of creating the healthiest generation ever. The NGO’s 2024 Manifesto called for fully funded, nutritious and sustainable school meals for all children, as well as breakfast clubs and permanent School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme funding. Slater also advocated for improved food education, including reintroducing Food A-Level and ensuring every child can grow food at school.

IFT First 2024 live: Beneo showcases Palatinose carbohydrate for weight loss and more
At the IFT First 2024 trade show in Chicago, US, we caught up with Jon Peters, Beneo’s regional sales director, and Denisse Colindres, its manager of nutrition communication, to discuss the company’s Palatinose carbohydrate and other weight management ingredients. Colindres and Peters emphasized the benefits of Palatinose — a slow-release carbohydrate sourced from sugar beets — and pointed out that, unlike sucrose, Palatinose provides sustained energy with a low glycemic response and with only a moderate impact on insulin levels. New research presented at the event demonstrated that Palatinose promotes a longer-lasting release of GLP-1 compared to sucrose. Additionally, Peters highlighted that Palatinose has recently received a structure-function claim in the US for promoting natural GLP-1 production and aiding weight management and fat burning.In the first part of our interview with David Deeley, the insights manager at Kerry, he detailed the company’s proprietary foresight program, Future Lens. 

IFT First 2024: Kyowa Hakko targets functional F&B with cognition and immune-boosting ingredients
Also at IFT First 2024, we sat down with Karen Todd, the VP of global brand marketing at Kyowa Hakko, US, to discuss how the company’s premium citicoline ingredient, Cognizin, can be incorporated into functional protein bars, gummies, lollipops and beverages. According to Todd, Cognizin enhances brain function by increasing acetylcholine levels, which aids focus, attention and memory. We also talked about its immune health offering Immuse — a Non-GMO Project Verified solution that supports immunity and gut health. It contains heat-treated Lactococcus lactis bacteria and is stable, versatile and suitable for gummies, melts and beverages.

Endurance inhibitor: Caloric cuts compromise athletic performance, study flags
We examined recent research from the University of Copenhagen showing that caloric restriction among athletes, particularly female endurance athletes, could be detrimental to both performance and health. The study found that insufficient energy intake (LEA) negatively impacted athletic performance and health, with female athletes being especially vulnerable. The researchers warned that, despite awareness of LEA’s harmful effects, many women unintentionally suffer from it due to their inability to balance high exercise-induced energy expenditure with adequate food intake. The study tested twelve female triathletes under two conditions — one with sufficient calories and another with only 50% of their energy needs. The latter condition led to a 4% body weight loss, half of which was muscle mass, and a performance decline of 7.7% in a 20-minute bike trial, with an 18% drop in a more intense test. LEA was also linked to reduced performance, missed periods, compromised bone health and metabolic changes.

Umami Bioworks and Friends & Family Pet Food unveil cultivated fish cat treats
Umami BioWorks and Friends & Family Pet Food unveiled a new line of cultivated fish cat treats. The collaboration marked a significant innovation in pet food by introducing products made from lab-grown fish. These treats were developed to offer a more sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional fish-based pet foods. We discussed the new sustainable cat treats with Mihir Pershad, the CEO of Umami Bioworks, and Joshua Errett, founder and CEO of Friends & Family Pet Food. The two explained that the cultivated fish used in these treats was grown using advanced biotechnological methods, aiming to reduce the environmental impact associated with conventional fishing practices, such as overfishing and deteriorating ocean sustainability.We sat down with Angie Jang, Daesang’s marketing manager for the marketing division of the ingredient business unit, to discuss the benefits and versatility of its GoldRella and White Chlorella solutions.

Warmer waters: EFSA warns of the spread of “fleshing-eating” bacteria in seafood
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a new assessment indicating that climate change would increase the prevalence of Vibrio spp. bacteria in seafood globally and across Europe, particularly in low salinity or brackish waters. At the same time, antimicrobial resistance in these bacteria is a growing concern, with resistance to critical antibiotics becoming more common in certain strains. We spoke with the ESFA about the public health risks associated with Vibrio spp. from seafood consumption, including gastroenteritis and severe infections. The assessment highlighted the need for proper seafood handling and storage — especially for raw consumption — and how measures like high-pressure processing, irradiation and freezing can help reduce Vibrio levels.

Beneo champions blood glucose management to boost “Olympic factor” endurance
Ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, we sat down with Klaudia Volmer, the product manager for  functional carbohydrates at Beneo, to discuss the latest advancements in sports nutrition. Volmer underscored the importance of sustained energy, hydration, thermoregulation, muscle recovery and protein synthesis for athletes and highlighted Beneo’s Palatinose (isomaltulose) ingredient as key for maintaining stable blood glucose levels — crucial for optimal performance. She further noted that the Olympics inspire increased consumer interest in health and nutrition and explained how Palatinose — a slow-release carbohydrate — is ideal for endurance sports, supports fat oxidation and provides sustained energy. Unlike high-glycemic carbohydrates, it prevents rapid spikes in blood glucose and boosts hydration and thermoregulation.

Innovative and sustainable: CJ Bio’s latest offerings at the forefront of nutritional wellness
At CJ BIO’s headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, we caught up with Steve Pak, the company’s chief marketing officer to discuss the company’s latest nutritional innovations. Pak told us about CJ BIO’s new microbiome and gut axes brand BiomeNrich. BiomeNrich features condition-specific postbiotics and the first product in the range for Sleep & Skin functionality, launched at the IFT First trade show in Chicago, US. He also detailed how CJ Bio’s technological edge lies in its fermentation expertise and explained that the company employs a value design strategy and utilizes thousands of patented strains, including Lactobacillus plantarum, to innovate products. The company will also address current trends in healthy aging and women’s specific needs, with a new muscle loss prevention solution planned for early next year.

By William Bradford Nichols