Weekly Roundup: Danone partners with Brightseed on AI phytonutrient mapping, Bayer and Bioiberica pet arms sign distribution deal

12 Jun 2020 --- This week in nutrition news, Danone North America partnered with biosciences company Brightseed to boost the scientific discovery of the health benefits in key plant-based ingredients. In the same week, Bayer Animal Health and Bioiberica Companion Animal Health signed a strategic distribution deal for the latter’s pet health products. Additionally, Nexira launched a new website, while an algae type was found to aid in weight management.

In brief: Business news
Danone North America and Brightseed, a biosciences company and developer of the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) that maps novel plant nutrients to human health, have entered into a partnership. Leveraging its AI-powered approach, Brightseed will profile key plant sources for Danone to reveal previously unknown health and nutrition benefits. The partnership is multi-phased and will pioneer scientific discovery of the health benefits in key plant-based ingredients, beginning with soy. As a versatile and nutrient-rich whole food ingredient, the soybean is one of the richest sources of high-quality proteins in the plant-based world. Brightseed is identifying potential new molecular connections between certain compounds present in Danone’s raw soy and new-found health benefits previously unlinked to the crop. Brightseed’s insights will illuminate the health benefits that may exist in one of the world’s most popular plants and enable Danone to accelerate nutrition innovation across their family of brands.

Bayer Animal Health and Bioiberica Companion Animal Health have signed a strategic distribution deal.Bayer Animal Health and Bioiberica Companion Animal Health have signed a strategic distribution deal. Under the agreement, Bayer will distribute and market selected products from Bioiberica’s portfolio in Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and South Korea, starting in the first quarter of 2020. For Spain and Portugal, the two companies entered a co-marketing agreement to jointly market the products. The selected product portfolio consists of nutritional solutions and dermatology products backed by scientific evidence. The products help maintain the health of dogs and cats that suffer from chronic diseases in the areas of joint health (Condrovet Force HA), dermatology (Atopivet Spot-On and Atopivet Capsules), and internal medicine (Impromune, Calmurofel and EnteroChronic).

Acacia gum player Nexira has launched a new website. Touted as “faster, sleeker and more intuitive,” the new website has been completely redesigned to offer a more expedient, streamlined user experience with a highly responsive web design, the company says. This new website also brings a renewed visual identity of the company reflecting the quality of Nexia’s natural ingredients and its commitments in sustainable development. 

In brief: Launches and releases
Chubby Organics, a US-based Nut Butter & Jam company, has launched “grab-and-go” packaged superfood sandwiches. The launch comes in a variety of flavor combinations and can be purchased online and at local cafes throughout Los Angeles. By swapping out the “junk and preservatives” for high-quality, organic, whole food ingredients, these locally made sandwiches are an upgrade to tradition, the company says. Chilled for freshness and to promote the quality of its ingredients, the products boast nutritional macros rivaling protein bars.

Chubby Organics, a US-based Nut Butter & Jam company, has launched “grab-and-go” packaged superfood sandwiches.US-based Radio, a brand of cannabidiol (CBD) remedies that aid in relief, resilience and recovery, has launched a line of functional Hemp Extract Tinctures. With an approach that harnesses nature’s finest ingredients to craft the potent formulations, Radio says it offers a comprehensive collection of finely-tuned, efficacious and innovative products that make CBD more accessible and digestible to all. Through the utilization of botanical terpenes and proprietary formulas, each Radio product features enhanced effects to help relieve discomfort, improve rest, manage stress, increase focus and more.

In brief: Research and study
Dunaliella tertiolecta, an algae type, may be able to retard diet-induced obesity, based on a mouse study published in Nutrients. In the study, thermoneutral mice were subject to diet-induced obesity through a high-fat diet over the course of 12 weeks. Experimental groups’ diets were supplemented with either 10 g or 25 g of algae powder per kg of food, while a placebo group received none of it. With no differences in food intake, supplementation with Dunaliella tertiolecta resulted in significantly reduced body weight gain in the 25 g Dunaliella tertiolecta group. Tissue analyses indicated that the algae attenuated the activity of brown adipose tissue, or brown fat, which is a known accelerant of diet-induced obesity.

A new study endorsed by the British Fruit Juice Association, published in BMC Nutrition found that drinking fruit juice in early years is associated with healthier dietary patterns later in life. A spokesperson from the association says: “Our own research shows that adults and children who drink pure fruit juice are about twice as likely to reach their recommended minimum of 5 A Day as non-drinkers. At a time where all age groups in the UK are falling short on their 5 A Day consumption of fruit and vegetables, this study emphasises the important role 100 percent juice has to play in the health of the nation.”

A highly bioavailable curcumin extract was found to improve working memory while also reducing fatigue and stress reactivity significantly, in a 12-week study. The research involved a cohort of 80 healthy men and women between the ages of 50 and 80 years who supplemented with curcumin. Assessment took place at baseline, and then at four and 12 weeks of supplementation. The results were evaluated based on a combination of cognitive performance tests, mood assessments, and biomarker analysis. Compared with placebo, curcumin was associated with several significant effects. Memory performance improved at 12 weeks at both four and 12 weeks, lower fatigue scores were recorded for curcumin groups on the Profile of Mood States test, while tension, anger, confusion and total mood disturbance were significantly improved at four weeks only.

In brief: Awards and recognition
Since 2017, the Danone Institute International (DII) has given a new focus to its prestigious global prize for outstanding research in nutrition. In hopes to achieve ground-breaking benefits to the planet and human health, the prize is being opened to mid-career researchers in the field. It will reward pioneering research that spans multiple disciplines and represents a major advance. Danone International Prize for Alimentation (DIPA) replaces the long-standing Danone International Prize for Nutrition (DIPN) and is awarded by the DII and French research organization Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM).

By Kristiana Lalou