Weekly Roundup: Catalent achieves 97% renewable electricity, ANSES reviews nanomaterial definition

06 Aug 2021 --- This week in nutrition news, Catalent signed an agreement to reduce greenhouse emissions with Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi). Meanwhile, ANSES seeks a more protective and comprehensive definition for nanomaterials, and a study found that a low glycaemic diet improves diabetic symptoms.

In brief: Business news
Catalent signed a commitment letter with the Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi), joining the list of companies setting actionable, science-based greenhouse gas emission reduction targets to limit global warming. This commitment will include reducing direct and indirect emissions. Separately, the company is now sourcing 97 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. It will purchase renewable energy certificates for sites located in North America, South America, Europe, and most of its Asia-based facilities.

Pure Harvest agreed to supply CBD products to individuals covered under self-insured corporate health and wellness plans through third-party administrators. The deal will allow it to provide CBD, nutraceuticals and other health and wellness products on behalf of Doc.U.Care to patients within a network of Third-Party Administrators for self-insured corporate health and wellness plans.Catalent signed an agreement with SBTI to reduce both direct and indirect greenhouse emissions.

Marcor, an Azelis Americas company, will now distribute SPI Pharma’s formulation solutions in the US, and Azelis Canada Pharma Division will be responsible for the Canadian market. The new partnership will extend the organoleptic excipients in Azelis’ range, complementing the existing starches, sugars and flavors. The alliance also expands Azelis’ antacid actives for pharmaceuticals and highly bioavailable metal salts for the nutraceuticals market.

In brief: Launches and releases
Global Foods UK, a date supplier, launched a 1.2 mm filtered Deglet Nour date paste aimed at the healthy snacking sector. Industrial dates that are dark in color can have a bitter aftertaste. Manufacturers have to rely on other ingredients to eliminate this taste, but the Deglet Nour paste (a retail, not industrial date) eliminates this allowing for simpler recipe production. The paste has a soft melt-in-the-mouth texture. The paste was only previously available in a 3 mm filter profile, leaving a fiber and structure in the paste. Tailoring the paste to customer needs, such as customized moisture levels, eliminates risks of off-target textures for brands.

In brief: Regulations and rulings
Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that Kendal Nutricare’s infant formulas have breached the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct and Promotional Marketing (CAP Code). The ASA investigated four issues where Kendal Nutricare had breached the Code through its website content. The ASA instructed the company to not make statements that discourage breastfeeding; make health or nutrition claims for infant formula; or state or imply that food could prevent, treat or cure human disease.

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) urged the European Commission to not exclude specific nanomaterials that could be problematic for human or environmental health from its potential cross-industry definition. ANSES stresses that definitions vary between sectors, with the same material not being considered to be nano in foodstuffs but identified as such in cosmetics, for example. Therefore, it argues the definition should be as comprehensive as possible and define nanomaterials in a unique way based on physico-chemical criteria. 

In brief: Research and studies
A study conducted on 64 participants between the ages of 35 and 41 revealed that daily supplementation with antioxidant-rich Pycnogenol French maritime bark extract may relieve recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Additionally, the ingredient also decreased oxidative stress in patients with interstitial cystitis (IC). The researchers observed that Pycnogenol outperformed cranberry extract in reducing infection occurrence and decreasing painful symptoms.Global Foods UK launched a 1.2 mm Deglet Nour date paste.

A study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that a low glycaemic diet shows meaningful improvements for people with diabetes. The study involved 1,617 participants with type 1 or 2 diabetes, predominantly middle-aged, overweight or obese with moderately controlled type 2 diabetes treated with drugs or insulin. For people with diabetes, a low glycaemic diet results in minor improvements in blood sugar levels, cholesterol, weight and other risk factors. The improvements suggest that a low glycaemic diet might be beneficial as an add-on treatment to help those with diabetes better achieve their targets.

A study conducted by the Karolinska Institute revealed that vitamin D reduced the need for opioid use in palliative cancer. It was conducted on 244 cancer patients enrolled in Advanced Medical Home Care (ASIH ). The patients who received the vitamin D supplementation had a reduced need for pain relief and lower fatigue levels in palliative cancer treatment. The study is published in the scientific journal Cancers.

A Foodspace Technology survey found that consumers would like more information and transparency about allergens, particularly when shopping online. US consumers with food allergies want to learn more about how they shop and their nutrition concerns. The results showed that 30 percent of online shoppers are concerned about the accuracy of the information available on the products. Additionally, 49 percent said they have difficulties accessing the complete ingredient list, nutrition information or allergy information.

In brief: Announcements and certifications
Clasado Biosciences has been featured in a book called 300 Years of Leadership and Innovation, which aims to demonstrate the “excellence, ingenuity, leadership and heritage” of UK businesses. It features articles on key personalities that have shaped British society and culture, as well as taking a closer look at the origins of Clasado’s business and the journey to its current position of “leading commercial prebiotic science.”

By Nicole Kerr