In this round-up of new regulatory developments, we look at hemp, CBD, and fish oil related regulatory changes in Thailand, as well as how South Korean and Chinese authorities are coping with non-compliant products.
A light-to-moderate consumption of raw garlic, one to three times per week, appears to provide heart health benefits among Chinese adults, according to a new population study.
2020 was a year of changing business practices, challenged global supply chains, and skyrocketing sales of dietary supplements and functional foods as consumers took more control of their own health and wellness.
India’s dietary supplement and health foods retailer Fitday has detailed how it plans to offer new in-store services, including hair scalp and skin condition screening, as it embarks on ambitious plans to open 50 new stores nationwide.
South Korea has finally laid out the governance rules for ‘elderly-friendly foods’ based on main ingredient ratios, with experts believing that this will have a significant impacts on a number of categories.
People suffering from diabetes or have a family history of chronic diseases were more willing to adopt novel staple foods, compromising on taste and cost, compared to their healthier peers, according to a study conducted in Singapore.
People living in India’s rural villages were found to have a richer fibre diet and healthier gut microbiome composition compared to those living in urban slums.
A number of Thai companies, including CP Foods and DOD Biotech, have stated their intentions in developing new food, supplement and beverages containing hemp, as new regulatory developments unfold in the country.
Australian health and nutrition company ATP Science is branching into the FMCG space with the launch of a range of high protein, low calorie, low sugar ice-cream, plus venturing into practitioner-only supplements for gut health.
Singapore start-up AMiLi (short for Asian Microbiome Library) has launched Bio+ME, its flagship gut microbiome test that comes with personalised nutrition recommendations – claiming it is a first such test in South East Asia (SEA).
South Korea’s import of health functional foods was up 23.4 per cent last year, higher than the three-year annual average of 21.4 per cent, with the US taking the top spot in product volumes.
South Korea will start the third phase of its mandatory traceability programme for special purpose foods, while international brands selling co-enzyme Q10, fish oil and melatonin into China for the first time will still need to enter the market via the...
Researchers have consolidated the glycaemic index (GI) of 940 common Asian and Middle Eastern food items such as nasi lemak, chapati, dim sum, dates and habba hamra in a review article published in the Nutrition and Diabetes journal.
India’s nutraceutical industry’s hopes of a reduced GST rate on supplements was squashed again when there was no mentioned of special grant for the sector during the recent budget announcement.
Malaysia olive supplement company Nutriva International is set to launch new product for diabetic patients, as well as entering new markets such as Thailand this year.
Singapore firm Silverconnect will focus on expanding its snacks and breakfast options for dysphagia patients for this year, including a pureed pineapple tart in time for the Chinese New Year.
Meluka Australia has expanded into the offline channel in the US with Whole Foods Market, a subsidiary of Amazon, on the back of growing demand for its organic honey.
South Korea has announced that general foods can make functional claims so long as there is sufficient scientific evidence backing the claims, but experts have said they do not believe that it will be to the detriment of the nation’s functional foods...
In this round-up, we shine the spotlight on nutra trends analysis and forecast from major brands GNC, Nestle, as well as new product development from BY-HEALTH, FANCL, and more.
South Korean direct-selling company Atomy, which sells health supplements, personal care and household items, is on an expansion spree and is set to enter New Zealand in March, and later in Turkey and the UK.
Omega-3 supplementation has shown to increase muscle mass and even increase walking speed among seniors age 60 and above, according to a meta-analysis conducted by Taiwanese researchers.
Developing functional foods that deliver health benefits to support the population’s immune and nutrition status is important in the battle against COVID-19, says an ex-policy expert from the Philippines.
Regulatory authorities across APAC are primed to announce new directions or updates to monitor the dietary supplements industry in 2021…Here’s what you need to know.
Vietnam, India and the regional halal market are on the radar for supplement companies when it comes to their expansion plans, according to a raft of top companies.
See our top 10 most read trends stories of 2020, including the bestselling nutraceuticals amid COVID-19, new immune health product launches, and consumption behaviour in China.
E-commerce giant JD has seen a boom in organic product sales in China after working with brand partners to establish the country’s first-ever organic alliance, with the firm saying demand has been boosted by consumers seeking 'safer and healthier'...
See November's 10 most read stories, including the testing of vitamin C levels and supplementation in COVID-19 patients, brands which topped double 11 sales in China and more.
Atlas Biomed has launched its home-based gut microbiome test in Japan as part of its personalised nutrition service – the first APAC venture for the company.
The combined supplementation of the botanical berberine and probiotics has been found to help reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, more so than taking each product alone, says a 12-week RCT conducted in China.
The ever-changing China health foods industry is seeing new waves of trends, with a sudden interest in nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), the prevalence of livestreaming in product marketing, and the potential for further e-commerce growth.
A new Australian study has revealed that different types of whole grains have particular benefits for lowering different areas of heart disease risk – but refined grains are also still recommended as part of a balanced diet.
There is no strong evidence from existing human clinical trials to support the supplementation of vitamin C to reduce cataract risk in populations with adequate baseline figures, although it may be beneficial in those with lower than optimal levels.
China consumers are placing more trust in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), with a declining interest in overseas supplement brands and functional foods with health claims, said a consumer survey funded by the High-Value Nutrition National Science...
Australia’s recent bill amendment on the country-of-origin labelling will provide “long-term certainty” for supplements that meet the requirements to make the coveted ‘Made in Australia’ claim, said an industry body.
In this round-up of industry developments in China, we will look at beauty and nutrition consumption trends, how the country has become Asia’s probiotic powerhouse, and a new scientific research project linked to COVID-19.
A randomised controlled trial in China has shown that consuming a low carbohydrate and almond-rich diet could improve depression and sugar metabolism in Type II diabetic patients.
Phynova Group, the winner of the healthy ageing ingredient of the year award in this year’s NutraIngredients-Asia awards, says there are huge opportunities in Asia for glucose controlling products due to heightened consumer awareness.
A group of Chinese researchers is screening one million functional foods ligands (or molecules) in their search for the ones that could potentially inhibit the main protease of COVID-19.
Experts have weighed in on the importance of educating consumers on the concept of healthy ageing, and upcoming innovations in ingredients and delivery formats to drive the concept in the rapidly ageing Asia-Pacific region.
See September's 10 most read stories, including the launch of probiotic curd from Indian brand Milky Mist, the most commonly reported side effects of probiotics, omega-3 supplementation in South Korea and more.
The third NutraIngredients-Asia Awards held last Tuesday (September 22) saw 39 finalists vying for 13 award categories. Take a look at the winners of the Special Award category.
Cambodia-based exporter and producer of rice Bayon Cereal is planning to launch three low to mid glycaemic index (GI) products next year, after achieving certification from Australia’s Glycemic Index Foundation (GIF) and being spurred into action after...
There is a decline in the consumption of raw ginseng amongst South Koreans, with more preferring to consume ready-to-eat red ginseng products, said the Korea Ginseng Association.
China e-commerce giant Alibaba has teamed up with nutraceutical brands, including Swisse, to provide a new online-to-offline shopping experience targeted at Generation Z consumers.
Products with multiple health claims are on the rise in Japan’s Food with Function (FFC) market with numbers expected to surpass 300 this year, according to exclusive data revealed in the first of our spotlights on the market.
Food fortification and developing healthier food options are crucial in tackling the double burden of undernutrition and obesity, but the unique cultural aspects of dietary patterns should not be neglected, says the guest who stars in our latest podcast.
During the height of the pandemic, I spoke with 21 health experts about our ability to cope during troubled times, writes Gillian Fish, the founder and CEO of Sydney communications agency 6am.
