Robertet and Zeria food supplement receives anti-stress health claim from Japanese authority

18 Feb 2020 --- Japan-based Zeria Healthway’s food supplement has obtained an anti-stress health claim from the Consumer Affairs Agency of Japan. “Yasuragi Life – Peaceful life,” is largely based on the active ingredient Extramel produced by French ingredient company Robertet. The approval means that manufacturers that use Extramel to formulate FFC (Food with Function Claims) with Zeria will be able to get the claim “reduces the perceived stress of everyday life and physical and mental fatigue” on their final product in Japan. The claim approval comes at a time when industry is increasingly seeking ingredients that regulate mood and enhance performance. 

The key ingredient to the new health claim is Extramel, an ingredient that was added to Robertet’s portfolio with the acquisition of Bionov. Extramel is a melon juice concentrate, obtained from a proprietary Cantaloupe variety (Cucumis melo. L), grown exclusively in the south of France. The presence of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) in the ingredient said to assist in overcoming feelings of stress. Moreover, Extramel may contribute to maintaining cognitive and physical performance by significantly increasing mental focus and decreasing fatigue, sleep troubles, irritability and physical pain.

The market for anti-stress supplements is a promising one. Modern lifestyle induces daily situations and pressures that cause stress: responsibilities, heavy workloads, financial obligations, emotional problems. In Japan, stress is a real public health issue, leading to overwork. According to news site Japan Today, up to 40 percent of the Japanese men couldn’t sleep because of work stress. 

Echoing this sentiment, Innova Market Insights has signaled The Right Bite as one of its Top Ten Trends for 2020. The market researcher identifies an uptick in foods that appeal to consumers who are stressed, on-the-go and searching for foods that can help them cope with the challenges of a face-paced life. 

Extramel is a melon juice concentrate, obtained from a proprietary Cantaloupe variety (Cucumis melo. L), grown exclusively in the south of France.As a producer of natural ingredients, Robertet sees a field of potential in the Japanese market. “Cradled by its culture of traditional medicine, the Japanese nutrition market is driven by naturality. The health benefits of these natural ingredients are widely recognized and appreciated by the Japanese population,” according to the company. 

On Japanese regulation
The FFC class was introduced in April 2015 to simplify the registration process for industry players and to facilitate consumer choice with more clearly labeled products.

In the case of FFC, products can label the function of a food and its specific health effects. The registration, approved by the Japanese Authority, requires data on the safety of the product, its effectiveness, as well as the precise identification and quantification of the active ingredient driving this effectiveness. Despite a simplified procedure, the failure rate of FFC remains relatively high.

In addition to this claim obtained in Japan, Extramel also benefits from registration in the Canadian Natural Health Products Database. Several other procedures are being processed for our melon concentrate rich in SOD, such as in Brazil or Korea. 

Robertet has been active in expanding its applications into nutraceuticals and functional food and drinks. Last September, the company patented a technology that formulates essential oils in powder form.

Moreover, the company announced it would double the production capacity of Lipowheat by early 2020. The move is a response to the increasing demand for nutricosmetics, which is seeing accelerated growth, according to Robertet. Lipowheat is a plant-based ingredient that targets skin beauty and anti-aging. 

Edited by Missy Green