Kemin launches CBD in Brazil as market expands to address immunity

15 Apr 2020 --- Brazilian patients will now be able to purchase CBD Calm-branded medical cannabis products. This online launch from Kemin Industries, which is acting as a consultant to MedPharm Iowa – a medical cannabis manufacturer and dispensary – is in collaboration with CBD Vida, a Brazilian provider of medical cannabis products. This announcement comes at a time when cannabidiol (CBD) NPD continues to grow, addressing a variety of needs, including immunity.

“Kemin Industries is committed to the Brazilian market and has been operating in Brazil since 2004 serving the needs of a variety of industries. We understand this market and see medical cannabis derived from hemp as an exciting new frontier with the opportunity to transform lives. We will work together with our local partner, CBD Vida, to remain responsive to requirements in this developing market to deliver quality cannabis products to the market,” Miguel Martinho, Marketing Manager Kemin Human Nutrition and Health Europe and LATAM, tells NutritionInsight.

Brazilian regulations recently changed to allow patients to buy products containing CBD, under prescription, directly from pharmacies. CBD Vida plans to offer medical cannabis products to Brazilian pharmacies and drugstores later this year. Martinho notes that the current choice of an online channel is related to Brazilian legislation, and not to COVID-19

 The partnership between Kemin and CBD Vida enables Brazilian patients to access CBD Calm in accordance with the new criteria for the importation of cannabidiol into Brazil, as defined by the Brazilian Resolution No. 335 of January 24, 2020. 

Additionally, the companies are partnering to meet all documentation and technical requirements of the Brazilian National Agency’s (Anvisa) Resolution No. 327 of December 12, 2019. As a consultant to MedPharm Iowa, Kemin partnered with CBD Vida last month to distribute cannabinoid-containing products at pharmaceutical standards in Brazil.

This move comes as the majority of global consumers surveyed by Innova Market Insights are open to accepting cannabis and CBD as an ingredient. Notably, this figure of 59 percent globally rises to 71 percent in the US and 85 percent in India. Consumers are also increasingly aware of its benefits, naming pain relief, reducing anxiety or distress, and promoting relaxation as the top three benefits of cannabis-derived and CBD ingredients.

BlosumCBD is now offering its CBD oil in gummy form.NPD across sectors

In other CBD developments, BlosumCBD is now offering its CBD oil in gummy form. The US-based company has released Broad-Spectrum CBD Vegan and Full-Spectrum Multivitamin Gummies. These products are designed to give customers a “less intimidating method” to incorporate infused organic CBD as a part of their health and wellness routines. 

“This is a very exciting time for BlosumCBD as we explore new ways to help people improve their lives. We are experiencing a dramatic shift in the wellness industry as more people are turning to CBD products to help their bodies achieve the best performance possible,” says Anthony Kay, Director of Operations at BlosumCBD.

Gummies have been a popular delivery format in recent years as pill fatigue continues to be a major concern among today’s consumers. Other CBD companies such as Social CBD also offer gummies, while Favour recently released a CBD chewing gum.

While supplements lead CBD launches, making up over half of the 2019 total recorded NPD by Innova Market Insights, the ingredient is now also evident across a whole range of F&B products, led by soft drinks and confectionery.

CBD addresses immunityCBD + Immune Support Drops combine broad-spectrum hemp with astaxanthin.
Innova Market Insights also reports that NPD was very modest until 2017 and then started to jump in 2018 before seeing exponential growth in 2019. This remains concentrated in North America and Western Europe, however, with these two regions accounting for 97 percent of the total. These launches tap into a variety of needs, including immunity.

In this space, US-based One CBD has launched CBD + Immune Support Drops, which combines broad-spectrum hemp with astaxanthin, touted as supporting the body’s antioxidant and immune response. Last month, Cardax announced it is seeking strategic collaborations to develop astaxanthin for the treatment of COVID-19, stating that it could hold promise for boosting the immune system and reducing extreme inflammatory response.

One CBD notes that “immune support products are increasingly important during these unique times we are facing. People are now adding these potent drops to their daily routines for added immune support.” While this new product has been extremely successful, One CBD is not surprised by the high demand.

“Working closely with our Chief Science Officer, and after extensively reviewing the available research, we were able to formulate a product designed specifically for immune support. Our ability as a company to quickly develop and launch new products to meet the needs of our customers is a testament to our expertise,” explains Ty Burgess, CEO and Founder. 

Immunity is having a major moment in the spotlight as COVID-19 continues to spread globally. According to John Quilter, Vice President and General Manager at Kerry, these shifts in popular attitudes surrounding immune health will be “long-lasting.” Meanwhile, Probi pegged the global probiotics market for growth in light of rising immunity interest. 

Other key ingredients have come under the spotlight, including zinc, which contributes to both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Experts at Lehvoss Nutrition noted that its customers who are developing immune health food supplements are likely to include zinc. 

Vitamin C has also been a point of interest, with Nic Dam, Prinova Group’s Managing Director, telling NutritionInsight there has been a significant increase in demand for the vitamin in recent weeks. Finally, recent research examining the connection between vitamin D and respiratory infections has led to calls for “urgent supplementation” in groups vulnerable to COVID-19.

In light of these rapid developments NutritionInsight has launched a daily news feed for the coronavirus-related information and insights you need to guide your business through this challenging period.

By Katherine Durrell