The Chinese government’s new draft regulations governing the labelling of pre-packaged foods and beverages contains stricter guidelines, including mandating manufacturers to include clearer information on compound ingredients as well as more country of...
Electrolyte drink Pocari Sweat is seeing strong demand, especially in China in the post-pandemic era, having surpassed the growth rate of sports drinks in the APAC market by more than five times.
A recent study has found that supplementation with a mixture of Crataegus pinnatifida leaves and Citrus unshiu peels, resulted in significant improvements to body weight and fat percentage in overweight adults.
Kirin has reported strong revenue growth for its non-alcoholic beverage business, driven by demand for health functional drinks and especially those in small-volume PET bottles, the company said in its FY2023 financial results.
Oral supplementation of hyaluronic acid in the form of sodium hyaluronate could help older adults maintain their knees in “healthy condition”, says findings from a 12-week RCT funded by Kewpie.
Taiwan is set to add new functional claims for health foods containing selenium and zinc, with regulators stating this will bring them into line with international standards.
Taiwan-based health food manufacturer Daiken Biomedical believes that patent grants are the “most secure and safe guarantee” to gain consumer trust, and could play a major role in driving business expansion.
There is an ongoing trend of processed sugar products being advertised as Health Functional Foods in South Korea, with products making fatigue recovery and blood sugar control claims sold on e-commerce platforms, warned the country’s food and drug safety...
Multi-strain probiotics supplementation has been found to have positive effects on neurotrophic factors, oxidative stress and inflammation, which play important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to Taiwan researchers.
The supplementation of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium breve M-16V has shown to modulate the nervous system, such as decreasing heart rate during stress and increasing the production of pipecolic acid – a GABA-like substance for supporting stress...
Meiji has joined hands with skincare and cosmetic brand Albion in launching chocolates and jelly drinks containing glucosylceramide, which Meiji claims is a moisturising ingredient derived from cacao.
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) is planning to allow the reselling of Health Functional Foods (HFF), including red ginseng, probiotics, and vitamins, between individuals.
South Korea is re-evaluating the safety and functionality of evening primrose seed extract and eight other raw materials that are used in health functional foods, said the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS).
Dietary supplementation of yeast mannan (YM) as a prebiotic could boost gut motility, improve constipation symptoms, and contribute to better sleep quality, say Japanese researchers.
New York-based CURE aims to launch its range of CBD-focused functional beverages and dietary supplements in Japan by April, while adapting some of its products to meet regulatory requirements in other Asian markets.
Boston-based plant cell tech company Ayana Bio has signed a seven-figure joint development agreement with South Korea’s Wooree Green Science to develop plant cell-derived saffron and other important bioactive ingredients.
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet, specifically a higher intake of fruits and nuts, has been linked to a notable decrease in the risk of cognitive impairment among elderly Chinese individuals.
Kirin-owned Kyowa Hakko Bio will be collaborating with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore to advance research on human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and explore their potential applications, particularly in the areas...
China Nutrition and Health Food Association (CNHFA) has decided to draft industry standards for quantifying postbiotics or inactivated cells and is rallying industry players and the public to take part in the drafting process.
Researchers have argued that the rich and diverse content of proteins in donkey milk could promote cell growth and proliferation, stimulate the immune system, exert anti-ageing effects, and possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties....
Hong Kong Biotechnology firm GenieBiome has set sights on expanding its probiotics range in Singapore, including one that has been clinically studied to improve eczema in young children.
China’s recent removal of tariffs on all dairy products from New Zealand, including milk powder used for both general consumption and processing to infant formula, could spell huge potential for brands that have a strong focus on quality and sustainability.
The Hong Kong Consumer Council is urging the government to set up legislation to regulate dietary supplements, including probiotics, the Council announced when releasing the findings of its review of 40 commercially available probiotics products.
Health functional Foods (HFF) containing vitamin C in Korea must now display caution statements warning consumers against overconsumption, and that kidney disease patients should consult a specialist before using the product, the Ministry of Food and...
A synbiotic formula (SIM01) developed by Hong Kong firm GenieBiome in collaboration with the Chinese University of Hong Kong has been shown to alleviate multiple symptoms of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS), while also benefiting children after their...
Shiseido will be launching a new set of beauty-from-within supplements that comes in the form of ampoule drinks in Japan and China in 2024, senior vice president of the company’s China Business Innovations and Investments told us.
Companies aiming to tap into China and India’s ingestible beauty markets, which are seeing rising demand, should target young consumers and utilise proven ingredients to push growth, say industry experts.
Caviar extract demonstrates significant efficacy in combating skin ageing, including improvements in skin hydration, whitening, and wrinkle reduction, and could serve as a promising food ingredient for enhancing overall skin health.
Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) is known for its longevity-related health claims, but a new observational study from Meiji claims that a higher concentration of the NMN in breast milk is linked to significantly better motor and communication skills...
The effects of different vitamins on diabetes must be more thoroughly explored through clinical trials in order to determine and take advantage of their therapeutic potential, according to a Chinese review.
South Korean brand Castoma says nanotechnology has enabled the company to shrink down the molecules of curcumin and boost its effectiveness against common stomach problems.
Vitamin E could be used as a prevention strategy for the occurrence of Parkinson's disease (PD), a new study assessing data from 13,340 participants concluded.
A plant-based diet may have the potential to lower the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy, according to researchers in Fujian Province, China.
A new meta-analysis suggests omega-3 supplementation may be beneficial for COVID-19 patients, but academics say there is an urgent need for large and rigorous trials to establish better data on timing, dosage and mechanism of action.
Japan is to implement self-inspection and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards for companies in the health foods business, with a particular focus on tablets, capsules and liquids.
South Korea’s Monolabs, which has its roots in mobile gaming, is launching its personalised nutrition service ‘I AM’ into China via the messaging mobile app WeChat, making the country its first overseas personalised nutrition market.
Kirin Holdings and Kao Corporation have collaborated to introduce a dual-function supplement targeting immunity and visceral fat, said to be two increasingly top-of-mind concerns faced by the Japanese population.
Modulation of the gut microbiome via probiotics could enhance the clinical outcomes of cirrhosis patients by reducing inflammatory factors, according to a new meta-analysis.
Eight nutritional supplements show promise in enhancing endocrine function and glucolipid metabolism in Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, but large-scale clinical trials are necessary to validate their effects, according to Chinese researchers.
Supplementation of the postbiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum TWK10 (TWK10) has shown to reduce physical fatigue and improve exercise endurance even at a low dose, according to a six-week trial conducted by Synbio Tech, National University of Taiwan...
The combination of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) supplementation and walking exercise have shown significant improvements in both physical and mental subjective health of older Japanese individuals, according to new findings.
The food and beverage major has released its first product range that leverages milk made with the company's proprietary enzymatic solution that can naturally turn lactose into dietary fiber.
Nestle has launched in China its first growing up formula containing human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), namely 2'-fucosyllactose (2'FL) and lacto-N-(neo)tetraose (LNnT).
The Chinese authorities have added American ginseng and eight other ingredients into the Directory of substances which could be conventionally regarded as both food and Chinese medicinal herbs.
A lack of dietary intake and supplementation of EPA and DHA in pregnant Japanese women, especially during the second trimester, are risk factors for low birth weight (LBW) babies, say researchers.
The Japanese government is planning to commit approximately US$20mn into projects to expand the use of rice flour across more food product innovations in its latest initiative to improve local self-sufficiency and food security.
Type 2 diabetes patients experienced significant improvement in blood glucose and cholesterol levels when administered vitamin D supplementation in addition to conventional treatment, according to a retrospective analysis of 162 patients in China.
Chinese consumers’ increasing demands for functional and fortified foods and beverages to support a lifestyle based on ‘punk nutrition’ has opened up massive innovation opportunities for brands across various product categories.
