Weekly Digest: Strategies to reduce kid’s sugary drink intake, Global krill companies pledge sustainable Antarctic harvesting

20 Jul 2018 --- In nutrition news this week, Croda Health Care became the first omega 3 fish oil supplier to achieve the five-star IFOS certification. A review highlighted the most successful strategies for reducing kid’s sugary drink consumption and the Mediterranean diet was found to improve adolescent’s academic performance. Eighty-five percent of global krill fishing companies have promised to fish more sustainably in the Antarctic ocean and Stepan Lipid Nutrition launched a newly designed website for its sports nutrition brand.

In brief: Product launches and certifications
Croda Health Care has become the first omega 3 fish oil supplier to achieve the five star International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) Program for its Incromega brand fish oil concentrates. The IFOS Program is a third-party certification program that tests fish oils to the highest, most stringent standards for omega 3 content, contaminants and stability worldwide. The accreditation for the Incromega range publicly showcases the high quality of its oil, the company reports.

In brief: Research studies
A recent review published in Obesity Reviews highlighted which strategies are most important in reducing the consumption of sugary drinks among the under-fives. The research identified that the preschool/daycare setting may be necessary for interventions and that in-person individual education, changes in the physical access to beverages and provider training are evidence-based strategies that may encourage behavior change. However, the researchers note that future research should examine the same strategies across multiple settings and populations, identify which strategies are more effective when combined and utilize a more rigorous research methodology.

Further in children’s research, the Mediterranean diet may improve adolescents’ academic performance, a Spanish study has found, due to the effect the diet has on sleep quality. The research was conducted amongst 269 adolescents from 38 schools and sports clubs.

In brief: Miscellaneous 
Greenpeace has called the announcement from 85 percent of global krill harvesting companies that they will stop fishing for krill in large areas of the Antarctic Ocean a “positive step in a long process.” The promise to fish more sustainably comes amid Greenpeace highlighting the damage mass fishing has done, such as disrupting the Antarctic food chain and contaminating a pristine area with vessel fuel spills and fires. “At the moment their promises are just voluntary ones, so what we want to do is enshrine this promise in an actual international law which creates these sanctuaries so they cannot be touched,” says Phil Vine, Greenpeace New Zealand spokesperson. “Without krill we have nothing – everything will go.”

Stepan Lipid Nutrition has launched a newly designed website with improved user experience for their premier sports nutrition brand Clarinol CLA. “We are excited to unveil our redesigned website and the improved experience it provides for our consumers,” says Bob Peacock, V.P. and General Manager of Stepan's Specialty Products Business. The redesigned website delivers improved user experience through a simple, clean design with enhanced features and functionality which includes an updated “Where to Buy” section with direct links for purchase. “The site redesign and enhanced features demonstrate Stepan’s commitment to providing ongoing support for its Clarinol CLA brand,” added Peacock.

By Laxmi Haigh