Beyond The Headlines: Nature’s Way boosts nutrition innovation, Mom’s meals combats US nutrition insecurity

This week in nutrition news, Nature’s Way introduced its vitamin supplement Innovation Challenge to improve and advance nutrition. At the same time, US-based Mom’s Meals revealed it made significant strides in combating US nutrition insecurity, while Hofseth BioCare (HBC) partnered with Symrise to increase the company’s nutrition industry presence.

Nutrition news

Nature’s Way launched its Innovation Challenge to support emerging scientific innovators in the vitamin and supplement industry. The initiative provides funding and expert support to start-ups, academics, and researchers in the US and Canada to foster innovation in health and wellness. For its inaugural challenge, the company sought science-backed solutions for gastrointestinal health and supported users of GLP-1 medications to address rising consumer demand for gut health and weight management solutions.

US-based Mom’s Meals reveals it made significant efforts in combating nutrition insecurity last year by donating 37,470 medically tailored meals — surpassing its goal of 30,000 — through the Hunger Challenge initiative. Additionally, the organization said that over five years it has provided 80,419 meals to individuals lacking access to proper nutrition. It also donated US$256,000 in ingredients to food banks, provided 83,775 shelf-stable meals for disaster relief, and engaged employees in food drives and charitable efforts. The organization pledged to continue expanding its impact through partnerships and corporate social responsibility initiatives.Celsius acquired Alani Nutrition to boost its presence in the functional beverage space (Image Credit: Celsius).

Business news

HBC partnered with Symrise to expand HBC’s presence in the human and pet health sectors with clinically proven marine ingredients. Symrise provided a loan to support the construction of a second facility in Berkåk, Norway, which will triple HBC’s production capacity. The facility is now fully funded and production is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2027. The agreement also granted Symrise exclusive distribution rights to HBC’s branded ingredients for four global key accounts. Both companies said they plan to explore new product developments.

Lallemand Bio-Ingredients’ alternative protein, Engevita HiPro Beyond, was determined to be GRAS (generally recognized as safe) under its intended conditions of use. This vegan, allergen-free yeast protein contains over 80% protein and was designed for food applications, including beverages, dairy alternatives, snacks, and cereals. The company credited its regulatory team for their efforts in the GRAS approval process.

Kyowa Hakko Bio announced that its 2’-Fucosyllactose (2’-FL), a human milk oligosaccharide (HMO), received approval as a food additive from China’s National Health Commission, allowing its 2’-FL to be used in four food categories, including infant formula and specialized medical formulas. The company highlights that as the most abundant HMO in human breast milk, 2’-FL was recognized for its prebiotic benefits. Kyowa Hakko Bio has been producing HMOs in Thailand since 2022 and has already entered markets in the US, EU, and Southeast Asia.

Celsius Holdings announced an agreement to acquire Alani Nutrition for US$1.8 billion, including US$150 million in tax assets, for a net purchase price of US$1.65 billion in cash and stock. The acquisition merges two fast-growing energy drink brands and expands Celsius’ reach in the zero-sugar, functional beverage market. Alani Nu focused on female consumers and wellness products. Upon closing, it will operate under Celsius, with key leaders continuing as advisors. The transaction is set to close in Q2 of 2025.Barbell introduced a vegan Caramel Peanut protein bar (Image Credit: Barbell).

Product launches

Kabrita introduced its Goat Milk-Based Infant Formula for babies 0–12 months in Canada, following approval from Health Canada. The formula became available at Walmart and on Amazon.ca, with plans to expand to other major retailers. It is offered in 800 g and 400 g canisters, providing 44 and 22 servings, respectively. The formula is made with grass-fed goat milk, which Kabrita says makes it gentle and easy to digest while providing 25 vitamins, minerals, omega-3s, and prebiotics.

Barebells unveiled two new protein bars in the Netherlands — Chocolate Ball and Vegan Caramel Peanut. The Chocolate Ball, inspired by Swedish fika, features a chocolate and coffee flavor with a creamy coconut filling, a milk chocolate coating, 16 g of protein, and no added sugars. Part of the Soft Bar Family, it continues Barebells’ trend of softer protein bars. The Caramel Peanut introduced a new vegan option with a crunchy peanut base, caramel topping, a smooth chocolate coating, 15 g of plant-based protein, and no added sugars.

Scientific studies

Researchers at UC Davis investigated cattle behavior to improve grazing efficiency.Researchers at the University of California Davis, US, investigated how grazing cattle behave by offering them sweet molasses feed to determine whether cows would wander widely or stay near the herd, water sources, and feed stations. The study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, provided a cost-effective way for ranchers to identify optimal cattle for grazing efficiency and land management. Tracking 50 pregnant Angus and Hereford cows over two years, researchers used GPS collars to monitor movement across a 625-acre site. By observing behavior during pregnancy checks and vaccinations, they identified grazing personalities and found that cows that moved slowly through chutes and detoured for feed tended to be wanderers, while those that rejoined the herd quickly remained close-knit. Future research will examine whether grazing traits pass to offspring.

The latest WAFOOD survey found that groceries were the most difficult expense for Washington, US, residents to afford in the past month, followed by housing. Rising food prices and the expiration of pandemic-era assistance programs intensified financial pressures on households. Led by the University of Washington and Washington State University, the WAFOOD survey have tracked food insecurity trends since 2020. The fifth wave, conducted from August to October 2024, revealed that food insecurity disproportionately affected households with children, larger families, lower-income groups, and certain racial minorities. Among key findings, 78% of respondents noticed price increases, 70% of food-insecure individuals reduced food quantity and quality, and 84% of food-insecure households reported high stress.