Weekly Roundup: Gerber brings A2 formula to US children, Danone supports microbiome research

01 May 2020 --- This week in nutrition news, Gerber introduced two children’s A2 formulas to the US market, rich in probiotics, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and protein. In sustainability strides, Balchem Corporations released its annual Sustainability Report for 2019 and Specialty Enzymes & Probiotics achieved Non-GMO Project verification for a range of its products. While Lonza voted on the composition of its Board of Directors at its Annual General Meeting, Danone North America funded two US students for their respective research on yogurt and the gut microbiome.

In brief: Launches and releases
Gerber launched two Good Start A2 Infant Formula and Good Start A2 Toddler Drink in the US. Each product contains probiotics and HMOs, as well as easy-to-digest A2 β-casein protein, which is a high-quality protein found in A2 milk. Gerber points to emerging evidence suggesting that A2 milk – cows’ milk mostly lacking a β-casein protein called A1 – supports good digestive tolerance in children. “Until now, an A2 infant formula had not been available in the US market. Given its popularity in places like Australia and China, we are thrilled to respond to the call from parents to bring an A2 infant formula to the US and introduce a first-of-its-kind A2 toddler drink,” says Gao Dan, Business Executive of Infant Formula at Gerber.

Kyowa Hakko USA has launched Velox, a blend touted by the company as rapidly increasing blood Arginine levels, increasing power output, reducing muscle soreness and synergistically increasing blood Arginine levels. The clinically studied combination of Kyowa’s L-Citrulline and L-Arginine showed the new blend can increase nitric oxide production and boost nitric oxide levels more rapidly than L-Arginine alone. The ingredient is made in the US, is non-GMO and vegetarian. Velox can be used in a wide variety of food, beverage and dietary supplement applications, Kyowa Hakko notes.

GreenWay Herbal Products launched its full spectrum water-soluble hemp extract drink concentrate, which presents a new way of extracting CBD using water. GreenWay Herbal Products launched its full spectrum water-soluble hemp extract drink concentrate, which presents a new way of extracting cannabidiol (CBD) using water. Its formulation of CBD and CBDA – a cannabinoid concentration that starts in a powder form – results in CBD water-soluble drops that can be added to a drink of choice. The benefits of water-soluble CBD products, according to the company, include rapid absorption, less waste, as well as requiring lesser doses than conventional CBD products. The company’s entire product portfolio includes hemp-derived full spectrum tinctures, capsules, lotions, salves and red panax ginseng extract capsules.

In brief: Sustainability
Balchem Corporation released its 2019 Sustainability Report, highlighting how the company is “proud” that it impacted 1.4 billion people globally in 2019 through “human nutrition products and people being fed by animals supplemented with our vital nutrients.” Moreover, 78 percent of its R&D funds focused on health and nutrition research. While its Human Nutrition and Health segment developed spray-dried and agglomerated lipid nutrition systems for the beverage and sports nutrition markets, this segment also actively contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing.

US-based Specialty Enzymes & Probiotics achieved Non-GMO Project verification for 20 of its enzyme and probiotics products. The company says it now has the broadest portfolio of enzyme products verified from the Non-GMO Project, which is considered North America’s premier third-party verification for non-GMO foods and products. “Consumers are increasingly demanding clean label products, and we help our customers meet that demand with our natural, efficacious enzymes and probiotics,” says Vic Rathi, CEO and Founder of Specialty Enzymes & Probiotics. “We’re happy to work with the Non-GMO Project to ensure consumers know and trust what they are buying.”

In brief: Business news
At Lonza’s Annual General Meeting hosted this week, board members re-elected Albert Baehny as its Chairman of the Board of Directors for another one-year term in office. Shareholders further re-elected all existing members of the Board of Directors who stood for re-election and elected Dorothée Deuring and Moncef Slaoui as new members of the Board of Directors. A dividend of CHF2.75 (US$2.85) per share will be paid out as of May 5, 2020.

For the eighth consecutive year, Danone North America awarded a total of US$50,000 in student grants via its Danone Gut Microbiome, Yogurt and Probiotics Fellowship Grant Program. The funding is designed to help this year’s winners, Erica Kosmerl of The Ohio State University and Elizabeth Morrison of Indiana University, US, continue their independent studies on the impact of yogurt and the gut microbiome. Kosmerl’s research will examine the impact of dairy intake and bifidobacteria on the gut microbiome during infancy and Morrison’s research will assess the role of probiotic B. Infantis on infant gut microbiome.

Quimdis became the distributor of Natural Remedies’ range of nutraceutical ingredients in France. This collaboration completes the range of products offered by the Quimdis dietary sector. As Natural Remedies’ competency lies in manufacturing standardized herbal extracts, partnering with Quimidis in France is an important strategic decision to deliver higher value propositions to customers, according to the company’s CEO Anurag Agarwal.

By Katherine Durrell and Anni Schleicher