Dated: 1 August 2008
NEW PRENATAL PRODUCT FOR EASTERN EUROPE
Martek Biosciences says life'sDHA is now available to Eastern European consumers in the new Pregnium prenatal supplement from Walmark. It is a patented, vegetarian form of DHA-omega 3 essential for infant brain and eye development. At 200 mg per serving of life'sDHA, Pregnium is available at major retailers in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania.
DECISIONS ARE SHOWING RESULTS
Danisco says 2007/08 was an eventful year for the company and results have started to materialize through the decisions to exit the sugar and flavors business and the recently announced second-generation bioethanol joint venture with DuPont. Group revenue is reported at DKK 18,778 million ($3,996 million). Its ingredients business recorded organic growth of five percent for the year driven by solid momentum in cultures, Genencor and emulsifiers. The group expects revenue of around DKK 19.4 billion in 2008/09.
GLOBAL TMHS REGULATIONS FOR ASEAN MODEL
Over 200 industry delegates attended a seminar in Malaysia in June to discuss regional and global developments on Traditional Medicines and Health Supplements (TMHS), says International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations. The seminar focused on the harmonization process for TMHS within the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), offering representatives the opportunity to learn about other regulatory systems against which the emerging ASEAN model could be benchmarked.
NEW CELANESE CENTER FOR ASIA IN SHANGHAI
Celanese China has signed an agreement with Shanghai Zhangjiang (Group) to establish an integrated technology and marketing facility in the Zhangjiang High-Tech Park, Shanghai, China. This combines the headquarters for Celanese’s Asia businesses, customer application development and research and development center. Upon completion in early 2010, the 20,000 square-meter facility will join together the company's business segments in Asia, including acetyl intermediates, advanced engineered materials and consumer and industrial specialties. The company also operates an integrated chemical complex in Nanjing, China, that houses seven operating units in one world-scale facility.
SPICY, HERBAL ANTIOXIDANTS
McCormick says spices and herbs are also extremely rich in antioxidants – with levels comparable to many types of fruit and vegetables, including today’s popular “super foods.” For example, half teaspoon of dried oregano packs as many antioxidants as a quarter cup of almonds or almost four cups of fresh spinach. The company has identified seven super spices that may hold the greatest potential to improve health that are commonly found in the kitchen cabinet: cinnamon, ginger, oregano, red peppers (including cayenne, crushed red pepper and paprika), rosemary, thyme and yellow curry.
DANISCO CULTURES INVESTS IN KEFIR
Danisco has completed a major expansion of its kefir culture processing plant in Olsztyn, Poland, more than trebling capacity to meet the growing international demand for kefir products. The investment, comprising a new, highly automated lactic acid bacteria fermentation line, also marks a further optimization of kefir cultures. The plant will be commercially producing traditional kefir grains, which enables the company to blend the grains with its freeze-dried cultures. In addition, all the cultures are for direct vat inoculation, enabling faster and more reliable kefir production.
NEW REGULATORY GUIDE ON NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS
Food and nutrition policy consultancy European Advisory Services (EAS) has released its latest regulatory guide to help companies launch nutritional products in 10 Asian markets. The guide gives an up-to-date analysis of national rules relating to health supplements, fortified and functional foods; the addition of vitamins and minerals to food and food supplements; herbs and other functional ingredients; and health claims in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Brunei.
FOOD DETECTION THROUGH PCR
China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has recently published a professional standard for entry/exit inspection and quarantine in the PRC. Called Standard SN/T1869-2007, it describes the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for rapid pathogen detection. It names DuPont’s automated BAX system as an approved PCR method for detecting Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni and E. sakazakii in food.
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