Weekly Roundup: Aker BioMarine achieves GRAS status for Invi, Sabi-Sabinsa wins US$1M in case against Prakruti Products

11 Jun 2021 --- This week in industry news, Aker BioMarine’s krill protein hydrolysate product Invi was determined to be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and Sabi-Sabinsa won a long-running court case against Prakruti Products. Meanwhile, researchers found that dietary health plays a stronger role in women’s mental health than men’s. 

In brief: Business news 
Sami-Sabinsa group was awarded US$1 million in legal fees and costs against Prakruti Products following a two-year court battle over an alleged patent infringement of Sami-Sabinsa’s Curcumin C3 Complex. The patented name refers to the product’s three main chemical compounds: curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. According to Sami-Sabinsa, Prakruti Products engaged in discovery misconduct after attempting to fight legal sanctions imposed by a magistrate judge. 

In brief: Accreditations and confirmations 
Aker BioMarine’s krill protein hydrolysate product Invi received self-affirmed GRAS status for the US food and drinks. Following an in-depth research and evaluation process, an independent panel unanimously concluded that the intended uses of Invi Protein met all appropriate food-grade guidelines, in line with requirements for GRAS status. This allows the company to begin sales and marketing of Invi in the US as a source of protein for food and beverage categories, including nutritional beverages, protein beverages, weight control drinks, protein powders, energy bars, nutrition bars and protein bars.

Click to EnlargeNOW recently received ISO accreditation by A2LA for its analytical and microbiological laboratories.NOW received International Organization for Standardization (ISO) accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) for analytical and microbiological laboratories. The accreditation demonstrates that NOW meets technical and quality benchmarks for research. The certification isn’t typically something that in-house labs pursue, but rather something that contract labs seek to show some measure of competency, says the company. Given different regulatory requirements throughout the world, and the recent discussion of ISO accreditation for dietary supplement sellers on Amazon, NOW says it decided to add ISO accreditation to its existing range of third-party certifications. 

Amorepacific’s green tea probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum APsulloc 331261 qualified as a new dietary ingredient and was affirmed by the US FDA. Amorepacific discovered the new probiotic strain in its Jeju Dolsongi organic green tea field in 2010 and has since further studied the plant. Through research, the company demonstrated that its green tea strains are superior to commonly known strains in terms of survival and persistence in the intestinal tract and their anti-inflammatory properties. 

The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) added two new members to its ranks: UK-based CBD producer Cannaray and Chinese low-calorie drinks company Genki Forest. The two companies are pledging to uphold ESSNA’s core values of the highest safety standards and EU regulations on the content and labeling of sports nutrition products. 

In brief: Launches and releases
Click to EnlargeThe TrueVine CNMN organic double strength liquid Ceylon cinnamon product.True Vine Organics unveiled a 100 percent natural and USDA-certified organic, double-strength liquid Ceylon cinnamon product, which the company touts for strengthening the body against cardiovascular disease. Branded TrueVine CNMN, the product is a 3,200 mg dietary supplement. Cinnamon’s antihyperglycemic properties can help aid blood vessel dilation and alleviate cholesterol and blood pressure, says the company. 

Following Growve launching Fruily organic real fruit gummies, the natural wellness brand aggregator and operator now has “a strong commitment” of over 5,000 retail shops in North America. The ten products include multivitamins, elderberry immune support, vitamin C, apple cider vinegar, and biotin for hair, skin and nails. The range is made without adding processed sugars, high-fructose corn syrup, synthetic colors or preservatives. 

Gaia Herbs added two USDA-certified organic and non-GMO project verified gummy supplements to its Turmeric Supreme line: Turmeric Supreme Adult Daily Gummies and Turmeric Supreme Extra Strength Gummies. The company says the additions bring improved absorption and proven bioavailability to the line and provide the same curcuminoids, turmerones and polysaccharides in easier-to-digest formats.  

Click to EnlargeWomen are more impacted in mental health by their dietary patterns than men, suggests new research.In brief: Research and studies 
Dietary health may have a stronger impact on women’s mental health than men’s, according to research by Binghamton University, State University of New York, US. Researchers looked at food groups associated with mental distress in men and women aged 30 years and older and studied different dietary patterns in relation to exercise frequency and mental distress. The results suggest women’s mental health has a higher association with dietary factors than with men. In addition, mental distress and exercise frequency were associated with different dietary and lifestyle patterns, which supports customized diet and lifestyle factors to improve mental well-being. 

TargEDys’ probiotic Hafnia alvei HA4597 can help improve weight loss, hip circumference reduction and metabolic parameters, according to a study conducted in 230 overweight adults over 12 weeks. In addition, mechanistic and preclinical studies showed Hafnia alvei could produce caseinolytic peptidase B, a protein mimicking the hormone of satiety alpha-MSH, and reducing food intake in murine models of obesity. The new results confirm that the strain supports feelings of fullness and weight loss in overweight subjects and reduces hip circumference and glycemia. With an average of 3.6 percent weight loss in 12 weeks in the probiotic group, Hafnia alvei is “dramatically more effective” than any other probiotic studied in weight management, says the company. 

BGG World performed a clinical trial for MyrtiPro for eye health, revealing a positive impact on screen-induced eye fatigue. The trial used 120 mg of MyrtiPro BGG’s standardized bilberry extract containing 36 percent anthocyanins. The 32 healthy Japanese participants in the double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized parallel-group trial were given either one MyrtiPro capsule containing 43.2 mg anthocyanins per day or a placebo. The bilberry extract “inhibited the decline in accommodative function caused by oxidative stress caused by pre- and post- terminal display use,” according to the researchers. 

By Louis Gore-Langton, with additional reporting by Nicole Kerr

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