Weekly Roundup: Abitec and Larodan refresh brand identity, FDA advances digital transformation with new office

17 Sep 2021 --- This week in nutrition news, Abitec and Larodan launched a brand makeover in light of their partnership. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prioritized effective and efficient use of data by reorganizing the organization’s IT, data and cybersecurity functions. Meanwhile, new legislation from the US House of Representatives could expand consumer access to nutritional supplements.

In brief: Business news
Manufacturer lipid ingredients company, Abitec and Larodan, a Swedish lipid manufacturer, announced a brand refresh after the successful integration of the two companies. In addition to the advanced technologies that Larodan is contributing, the relationship has been sealed with a visual branding refresh to strengthen the connection and presence in the market. Abitec and ABF Ingredients previously acquired Larodan. Following the merge, Abitec felt it was essential to maintain both brands but find a way to align them visually.

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals committed to funding a five-year harvest impact study on goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). Goldenseal is a deciduous forest perennial whose rhizomes are harvested as an ingredient in dietary supplements and other herbal products. The purpose of the project is to improve the understanding of harvest impacts on natural and forest-farmed populations of goldenseal and to develop recommendations for harvest methods, intensities and cultivation that support the long-term viability of this species. Also, the researchers will share knowledge of goldenseal with stakeholders.Unknown illegal substances in dietary supplements detected in scientific literature thanks to AI from Wageningen Food Safety Research.

A Global Organization for EPA and DHA omega 3 (GOED) details that the EPA and DHA omega 3 ingredient market size in 2020 was US$1.4 billion. This value represents an increase of 3.6% from the previous year. The scope of the global omega 3 market in volume was 110,802 metric tons, a 1.0% year-on-year increase. Every year, GOED publishes an Ingredient Market Report that provides a detailed description of the size and value of the global ingredients market for EPA and DHA oils. The report also includes a detailed analysis of the market trends and factors influencing market growth; in particular, this year’s information contains specifics on the impact of COVID-19 on the omega 3 market in 2020.

In brief: Announcements and certifications
USANA, a cellular nutrition company, was recognized with a seal of approval by third-party assessor ConsumerLab for its Procosa joint-support supplement. To be awarded this seal of approval, USANA’s Procosa supplement had to contain 100% of the claimed amount of glucosamine and turmeric used to keep joints and cartilage strong and healthy. The supplement also met heavy metal limits and set quality disintegration levels. ConsumerLab is an independent tester of the quality, purity and label accuracy of health and wellness products. 

In brief: Regulation and recommendations
The FDA reorganized the agency’s information technology (IT), data management and cybersecurity functions into the new Office of Digital Transformation. The FDA will bring more effective and efficient data and IT management to streamline and advance FDA operations by reducing duplicative processes and promoting shared services within agency offices and centers to strategically and securely further the agency’s regulatory agenda.

The US House of Representatives introduced legislation to expand access to nutritional supplements to reach underserved communities. The legislation would expand health savings accounts, reimbursement arrangements and flexible spending accounts to cover dietary supplements. This law enactment follows efforts from the Natural Products Association to ensure nutritional supplement access to all communities through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.Prebiotics could play an essential role in preventing jet lag-type symptoms as they influence the brain and behavior.

Researchers from the New York University School of Global Public Health urge the US government to strengthen its regulation of marketing messages on formula websites and product labeling. This follows a study finding that despite public health efforts to support breastfeeding and informed choice, websites for baby formula manufacturers have messages and images that discourage breastfeeding while touting the benefits of formula. The researchers also identified marketing tactics such as discounts or coupons and claims of health and nutritional benefits of infant formula over breast milk. The World Health Organization also urges countries to ban the marketing of formula to consumers, but the US still allows it.

In brief: Launches and releases
The US-based multivitamin company Solaray engaged in a complete brand relaunch designed to directly reach customers and encourage them to embrace their wellness journey. This will be achieved through the Live Brighter campaign, which includes a complete portfolio rebrand of labeling and logos. As an extension of the campaign, Solaray partnered with agency Edible to host a personalized nutritional experience introducing the brand campaign, values, and products to health and wellness stakeholders. It will allow customers to better match their health interests with the correct supplements from the Solaray product portfolio. The brand also announced its new post-consumer recycled bottle and new comprehensive sustainability commitments.

In brief: Research and studies
In Bangalore, India, a study found that supplementation with Andrographis paniculata extract (AP-Bio from Natural Remedies) improved and modulated the immune response. This was evidenced by the effects of the extract on the immune cells and cytokines. The results of the 30 participants who ingested 200 mg of SAPE for 30 days showed an increase in immune T cells, T helper cells, T cytotoxic cells and cytokines such as IFN-y, IL-4 and IL-2.The US House of Representatives introduced legislation to expand access to nutritional supplements to reach underserved communities.

Through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), Wageningen Food Safety Research found that food supplements contain illegal substances. Emphasizing this further, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority showed that 64% of food supplements contain one or more unauthorized pharmacological active substances or toxic plant substances. This control was based on an existing list of illegal substances. The researchers from Wageningen used an AI algorithm to trace new illegal substances that were not on the list yet but are mentioned in scientific literature. The algorithm was designed to find words with the same meaning or related to “stimulant.” In the end, 20 unknown illegal stimulants were found and added to the database used to control dietary supplements.

A rat study conducted at the University of Colorado Boulder and funded by the US Navy suggested that prebiotics could play an essential role in preventing jet lag-type symptoms as they influence the brain and behavior. The researchers found that rats on the prebiotic diet hosted an abundance of several health-promoting microbes, including Ruminiclostridium 5 (shown in other studies to reduce fragmented sleep) and Parabacteroides distasonis. The rats that ingested the prebiotics hosted more good bacteria, producing metabolites that protected them from something akin to jet lag. The study was published in the Journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity.

By Nicole Kerr