May in review: Innovations at Vitafoods Europe 2024, Nutri-Score creator responds to bias accusations

31 May 2024 --- In May’s major health and nutrition industry news, the Innovation Institute for Food and Health (IIFH) spoke with us about utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to help create consumer-focused formulations, the creator of the Nutri-Score talked with us about whether the system is biased against traditional Italian foods and we discussed the diet disparities in adolescents with the World Health Organization (WHO).

In our May review, Nutrition Insight looks back at some of the biggest stories of the month, including Rousselot’s latest collagen peptide innovation, a conversation with ADM and Sirio Pharma about the latest women’s health innovations and Cargill’s focus on active aging and lifespan health.

May
“Use-inspired research”: UC Davis drives nutrition innovation with consumers in mind
The IIFH at the University of California (UC), Davis, talked with us about its focus on use-inspired research that it utilizes to foster innovations that respond directly to consumer needs. John Melo, a member of the IIFH advisory board, emphasized the importance of understanding consumer preferences to ensure that technological innovations have the greatest impact. He also noted that shortening the time and cutting the cost associated with the adoption of new technologies is crucial for success. The IIFH board member further said AI can analyze consumer data more efficiently, which will aid in creating product formulations that better meet consumer demands, such as creating a “better-for-you” snack that received positive feedback due to its flavor and health benefits. The institute said the approach underscores its strategy to produce innovative products that cater directly to consumer needs and have enhanced commercial viability and health impact.

Nutri-Score creator accuses Italian government of “gastro-populism” in food sovereignty dispute
Meanwhile, the Italian government, under Giorgia Meloni, proposed constitutional amendments that would hinder the country’s adoption of the Nutri-Score food labeling system. The government claims the system is biased against Italian food products and threatens the country’s national identity. We sat down with Serge Hercberg, the nutrition professor behind the Nutri-Score system, who said the real problem was food lobbyists and political interests.We spoke with Thomas Ahlinder, the CEO and president of Kerry Europe, about its postbiotic launch and the latest industry trends. Hercberg denied the claims of bias and underscored that the Nutri-Score system is only meant to provide transparency about food quality and to aid consumers in making healthy choices. Moreover, Hercberg argued that the system does not specifically target Italian products. For example, he revealed that Italian cheeses like Mozzarella and Ricotta score better than many French cheeses. However, Hercberg did agree that foods high in saturated fats and salt — like many traditional cheeses and meats — score lower and said their scores reflect general public health recommendations, which advise only moderate consumption.

CARE calls for urgent action against hunger and gender inequality crises in conflict zones
The humanitarian organization CARE called for immediate international action to end the hunger crisis affecting people in conflict zones such as Haiti, Gaza and Sudan. According to CARE, the 2024 Global Report on Food Crises found that 281 million people in 59 countries experienced significant food insecurity in 2023. It also found that conflicts exacerbated these issues. The organization’s humanitarian advocacy advisor talked with us about the role that gender inequality plays in perpetuating food insecurity and stressed that countries with greater gender disparities often face more severe food crises. CARE urged the humanitarian community to include gender analysis in all food insecurity assessments and called for sustained funding for women-led organizations while noting that addressing women’s unique nutritional needs and protection against gender-based violence is critical.

Vitafoods Europe 2024 live: Rousselot unveils breakthrough collagen peptide innovation
Rousselot unveiled Nextida, a new platform featuring specialized collagen peptide compositions that target specific health benefits at this year’s trade show. We caught up with the company’s global business development manager for health and nutrition, who told us that the innovation is the result of extensive research into the “language” of collagen. Using this research, Rousselot is developing a comprehensive library of collagen peptide compositions that will be scientifically validated. Nextida.GC, the first product from this platform, targets the reduction of post-meal sugar spikes in healthy individuals. The company said it will reveal details on the offering’s impact on glucose metabolism at the upcoming annual SupplySide West trade show in Las Vegas, Nevadas, US (October 30–31).

Vitafoods Europe 2024 live: Cargill spotlights innovations for “health that lasts a lifetime”
We also talked with Cargill’s managing director for specialized nutrition and supplements at the trade show about the company’s most recent innovations in lifespan nutrition.We sat down with Despina Ioannides Black, the global marketing manager Early Life Nutrition at dsm-firmenich, to discuss the importance of DHA supplementation. The company spotlighted the importance of the “first 1000 days” of a child’s life. We also discussed Cargill’s ingredients for infant formula and its expertise in infant-grade oils and carbohydrates. The company touted its algal-based docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is crucial for the brain development of infants and young children. The company further pointed out that its DHA addresses sustainability concerns due to overfishing and climate change. Furthermore, the company stressed the importance of nutrition for lifelong health. Cargill stated that, with an aging population that is increasingly interested in active lifestyle solutions, it will continue to produce and develop ingredients that meet healthy and active aging demands.

Vitafoods Europe 2024 live: dsm-firmenich unveils innovative microbiome-targeted vitamin B2 solution
At the trade show, dsm-firmenich launched Humiome B2, a novel biotic vitamin B2 designed to deliver targeted health benefits by releasing most of its contents in the colon. dsm-firmenich explained that the product employs a dual-layer coating technology that protects the vitamin from stomach acids and ensures its release in the colon. In this way, Humione B2 provides prebiotic-like benefits that support gut health and immunity. This is accomplished by using a pH-responsive outer layer and an enzyme-responsive inner layer, which the company said ensures over 90% of the vitamin B2 reaches the colon.

Director of IFOAM Organics Europe highlights challenges and opportunities facing the industry
As the June EU parliamentary elections approach, we sat down with the director of IFOAM Organics Europe, who outlined challenges and opportunities for the EU’s organic farming and food industry. The director stressed the need for EU policymakers to support organic farming. IFOAM also highlighted the environmental and socioeconomic benefits of organic farming, such as increased agrobiodiversity and healthier soil that stores more carbon. Additionally, the organization said these practices can help revitalize rural economies and promote healthier lifestyles. The director further argued that EU policies should better reward sustainable farmers and strive toward consumer awareness to prevent confusion from misleading green claims and labels.

Women’s health at Vitafoods: ADM and Sirio Pharma spotlight supplement innovations
Women’s health emerged as a key theme at Vitafoods Europe this year.We talked with the SVP and VP of human health biosolutions at Novonesis about the future of the company at its first Vitafoods Europe trade show exhibition since the merger. We talked with experts from ADM and Sirio Pharma, who emphasized the need for products that cater to the many stages of a woman’s life. Sirio Pharma launched a women’s health platform at the event, which featured 25 concepts in diverse delivery formats, such as soft gels and gummies. ADM said it was focusing on menopausal women, as over one billion women are projected to be in menopause by 2025. The company also highlighted the need for solutions that address the diverse symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes and sleep disturbances.

WHO Europe identifies significant socioeconomic disparities in diets of adolescents
According to the WHO Europe report, which is based on data from 44 countries in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, unhealthy eating habits, obesity rates and low physical activity has increased among adolescents. The report showed that the trend is especially prevalent among those from less affluent backgrounds. The study further revealed that less than 40% of adolescents consume fruits or vegetables daily and over half of them do not eat these foods regularly. At the same time, sugary snacks and drinks are staples in many adolescent diets. We talked with the technical officer in the nutrition, obesity and physical activity program at WHO Europe, who stressed the need for urgent action to address these unhealthy trends and the socioeconomic disparities that exacerbate them.

Climate-positive production: Water and energy targets lead the charge as circular goals shape business strategy
In a special report, we sat down with Bioiberica’s CEO and FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ head of sustainability to discuss climate-positive production. FrieslandCampina Ingredients explained ways to remove more CO2 than is produced during manufacturing. The company also stated that setting measurable goals, like those from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), is important. Bioiberica revealed it has held certifications, such as ISO 14001, for over 25 years. The company also participates in the SBTi and has a goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. Both companies said they are committed to reducing scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. They also said they apply circular bioeconomy principles to reduce waste and emissions and practice oversight of their supply chains. Bioiberica stated that its production model also minimizes water, energy and raw material consumption.

By William Bradford Nichols