Weekly Roundup: Nestlé Purina PetCare acquires Lily’s Kitchen, Early solid food introduction predisposes infants to obesity

03 Apr 2020 --- This week in nutrition news, Nestlé Purina PetCare acquired natural pet food brand Lily’s Kitchen. A US study revealed that infants introduced early to solid foods show gut bacteria changes that may portend future health risks. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth start-up Fruit Street Health joined forces with plant-based meal kit company Purple Carrot to increase healthy food access to people in need. While Youtheory received USP certification for its Turmeric Extra Strength supplement, Restoridyn produced by Verdure Sciences obtained Non-GMO Project Verified status. Also, Medical Marijuana introduced two new flavors to its cannabidiol (CBD) oil tinctures and MegaFoods welcomed two botanical supplement additions to its line of wellness products.

In brief: Business news
Nestlé Purina PetCare acquired natural pet food brand Lily’s Kitchen, a UK producer of premium wet and dry natural foods for dogs and cats. According to Bernard Meunier, CEO of Nestlé Purina PetCare EMENA, natural foods represent an “exciting and rapidly expanding” part of the petcare market. Lily’s Kitchen recently expanded into the Middle East and Asia and already has a growing presence in France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany. Lily’s Kitchen will continue to run as a stand-alone business from its base in London.

Nestlé Purina PetCare aquired UK-based Lily's Kitchen.

Fruit Street Health and Purple Carrot joined forces to provide dietitian-approved, plant-based meals to the participants of its diabetes prevention program (DPP). Moreover, the program now includes low-risk individuals as well as Type 2 diabetes patients to sign up to the DPP program at a reduced cost in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fruit Street’s registered dietitians reviewed and verified that the Purple Carrot meals adhere to the dietary guidelines that Fruit Street participants are encouraged to follow to lose weight and reduce their risk for Type 2 diabetes. Participants can then use the Fruit Street app to take pictures of the Purple Carrot meals they have cooked at home and receive encouragement from their dietitian and other group members.

In brief: Awards and certifications
Youtheory’s flagship supplement Turmeric Extra Strength received USP certification, which verifies identity, purity, potency and performance inside the body. Turmeric Extra Strength features Curcumin C3 Complex proven to support a healthy inflammation response in the body and underwent extensive testing and evaluation to prove its authenticity. The golden spice is derived from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. 

Restoridyn, a sports nutrition blend of proprietary polyphenols produced by Verdure Sciences, obtained Non-GMO Project Verified status, joining the company’s portfolio of performance ingredients. The verification helps establish products incorporating Restoridyn as a clean label ingredient, which helps to distinguish the sports nutrition solution and offers additional credibility and transparency to the polyphenol blend. 

OmniActive’s Co-Founder and Managing Director, Sanjaya Mariwala, was named Nutraceutical Influencer of the Era by the Expert Nutraceutical Advocacy Council (ENAC) during the Education, Awareness, Engagement, Network (EAEN) awards. The ENAC brings experts from academia, industry and government together to support nutraceutical development. Building upon that growth, the ENAC fosters education and establishes positive networks through a systematic hub of information in the field of nutraceuticals.

Medical Marijuana launched two new natural flavors to its line of CBD oil tinctures.A US panel of independent experts confirmed a self-affirmed Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) status to Savanna Ingredients for its low-caloric sugar allulose. The defined end-uses include beverages, bakery products, confectionery, dressings and sauces, dairy products, jams and preserves, processed meat and syrups at levels ranging up to 55 percent. D-Allulose is a plant-based monosaccharide, considering it is manufactured by enzymatic epimerization from fructose obtained from locally cultivated sugar beets (Beta vulgaris). All raw materials used for the production of Savanna Ingredients’ allulose are GMO-free. Allulose occurs naturally in small quantities in dried figs, kiwis and raisins. 

In brief: Launches and releases
Medical Marijuana’s subsidiary HempMeds included strawberry and tangerine as two new natural flavors to its line of Dixie Botanicals Dew Drops CBD Oil Tinctures. Rapidly absorbed when taken under the tongue, both flavors are available in one oz bottles of 250 mg of CBD and 2 oz bottles, providing 500 mg. The oil tinctures come with a convenient dropper to easily measure intake and are packaged in an amber bottle to preserve freshness.

 Real food supplement producer MegaFood added two new offerings to its line of health and wellness products. MegaFood Herbal Sleep aims to support restful and restorative sleep with a blend of soothing botanicals, including valerian, ashwagandha, hops and passion flower. On the other hand, Morning Sickness Nausea Relief Soft Chews combines ginger and vitamin B6 into a convenient chew that helps alleviate nausea and occasional indigestion related to morning sickness when pregnant. 

In brief: Research and study
Infants who were weaned on solid foods at or before three months of age demonstrated significant microbial changes in stool samples, according to a study from researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, US. Published in BMC Microbiology, the research team compared the timing of solid food introduction with the bacterial species and byproducts found in the stool samples of 67 children after three and 12 months. Their findings suggest that early solid food introduction may predispose infants to overweight and obesity, at least in part, by altering the gut bacterial population. Their conclusion is consistent with the emerging evidence that gut microbiome changes are critical factors in the development of common metabolic and immune conditions.

By Anni Schleicher