Weekly Roundup: US consumers rank clean water as top health desire, high protein diet reduces risk of diabetes for those with fatty liver

17 Aug 2018 --- The weekly roundup is NutritionInsight's collection of global nutrition stories from the past week. A Nestlé Waters commissioned survey found that clean water is the most important health factor to US consumers and a study found that increasing the amount of protein in the diet may reduce the risk of diabetes in people with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Australia based Freedom Foods acquired protein product brand Crankt to strengthen its position in the sports nutrition market. The European Commission (EC) approved an application from DSM Europe to rename the carotenoid zeaxanthin in the novel food register. CBI and Campden BRI are teaming up for a Colombian product development workshop and, lastly, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) announced eleven new additions to its membership ranks.

In brief: Research studies
Americans rank clean water as the most important factor to a healthy life (27 percent), higher than getting enough sleep (25 percent) and eating healthy foods (23 percent), according to a recent survey commissioned by Nestlé Waters North America. The survey of 6,142 American consumers and experts also notes that Americans show a willingness to learn about how to conserve water better, but one in three lack the knowledge over how to do so significantly.

Increasing the amount of protein in the diet may reduce the liver's fat content and lower the risk of diabetes in people with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), a study published in the American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism has found. Twenty-five adult volunteers, 15 of whom had been previously diagnosed with NAFLD, participated in a low-calorie diet for eight weeks to lose up to eight percent of their body weight. Following the weight loss, they either followed a moderate or high protein diet. After two years of maintaining their weight loss, the increase in dietary protein was associated with reduced liver fat content in the volunteers. In addition, more than half of the participants who were previously diagnosed with NAFLD no longer had a fatty liver. 

In brief: Acquisitions and mergers
Australia based Freedom Foods has acquired protein product Crankt in a US$2.5 million deal. Crankt produces a range of protein bars and drinks for both the Australian and New Zealand markets and the deal is hoped to strengthen Freedom Foods’ stance in the sports nutrition market.

In brief: Product launches and certifications
The European Commission (EC) has approved an application from DSM Europe to rename the carotenoid zeaxanthin, currently listed in the novel foods register. Zeaxanthin is produced synthetically, as are many other novel foods, however, zeaxanthin is the only synthetically produced novel food for which the term “synthetic” is required. Therefore, to ensure a level playing field with other synthetically produced novel foods, DSM launched an application that requested that the term “synthetic” be removed from the novel food designation. This was due to the “potentially negative economic impact” that the use of the term synthetic could bring.

In brief: Miscellaneous
CBI and Campden BRI are teaming up for a second South America product development workshop, this time in Colombia. Colombia has a strong food processing industry, with companies like Nutresa, Colombina, Alpina and many upcoming SME companies. To support the national food processing industry in meeting the demand for innovation, CBI and ProColombia invited two experts from the British food and drink research company Campden BRI. Workshop participants will learn about market trends in processing technology and product reformulation, especially using local ingredients such as ancient grains, tropical fruits and cacao. The workshop is part of a CBI export-coaching project that supports a group of Colombian food companies in growing their exports to the European market.

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry which represents over 150 manufacturers, has announced eleven new companies who have joined the association’s membership ranks. The voting members include DSE Health Solutions, International Dehydrated Foods, Lief Organics, MeriCal/Linden Capital Partners, Nelson Bach USA and Wellisen Nutraceuticals. Associate members include BSCG (Banned Substances Control Group), Microbac Laboratories, PTM Food Consulting, Susan B. Levy Consulting and ToxStrategies.

By Laxmi Haigh