Functional beverage is becoming a cheaper alternative to health supplement as consumers tighten their budget amid the current microeconomic environment, according to the observations of functional ingredients distributor Brenntag.
Consumers in the Middle East are increasingly looking for protein-rich products to fulfil various needs, with claims ranging from sports performance to age-related muscle support.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FFSAI) is cracking down on companies that do not adhere to safety standards, as recent data from sampling checks have led to rising numbers of civil and criminal cases.
Kirin Holdings and Kellogg’s Japan have co-developed a functional food with “double health claims”, which could also serve as a meal substitute, to meet the rising demand for products that improve intestinal environment and provide immune support at the...
Japanese firm Shinryo Healthcare has overcome application challenges posed by hydrogen molecules to develop a jelly supplement that claims to improve sleep quality.
Japanese firm Senju Pharmaceutical says consumers are increasingly opting for functional foods over supplements, after debuting its first range of eye products under the Food with Function Claims (FFCs) system that come in chocolate, candy and gummy formats....
Japan's Food with Function claims regulation (FFC) has encouraged more SMEs to enter the market, while the major players which have launched products under the scheme are enjoying higher growth, according to new data.
This round-up looks at how brands from Singapore and Australia have formulated postbiotic supplements and coffee, as well as how a South Korean vitamin sachet brand is planning to expand its presence in South East Asia.
This industry trends round-up features the state of Japan's functional yogurt market, factors driving the growth of China's 'underdeveloped' adult probiotic sector, and nutricosmetics consumption behaviour in Malaysia.
JOYRE, a Singapore TCM wellness company specialising in spa services, has developed its first range of functional foods and supplements based on traditional Chinese medicine concepts and modern science, with both local and overseas markets in sight.
With concerns of ‘pill fatigue’ and a growing emphasis on convenience and enjoyment, here is our latest round-up of functional product innovation, including developments from Australia, Japan, China, India, and Singapore.
New Zealand has long enjoyed a good reputation for high-quality and safe food exports, and the industry is now beefing up its efforts in the functional ingredient and foods space, with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and China top of mind.
Japan’s health food industry needs to better ensure that functional foods are advertised accurately and include validated efficacy information, according to a new report.
Problems with registration and ingredient compliance are some of the most common mistakes that nutraceutical firms have made when exporting their products to South Korea, according to a regulatory consultancy firm.
The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating interest in functional foods and could prove to be a boon for flavour firms which can help mask undesirable taste profiles.
A group of South Korean researchers is proposing the intake of sword bean and burdock to improve the immune system after yielding evidence from an eight-week RCT.
South Korea is promoting the use of a beta-glucan rich barley in functional foods, following promising findings on how the ingredient could suppress obesity and osteoporosis.
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.
Products with Food for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU or TOKUHO) claims still represent the largest share in the health foods and supplements market, although products with Food with Function Claims (FFC) have been growing steadily since 2015.
New Zealand’s High-Value Nutrition (HVN) National Science Challenge and industry partners are seeking to establish two new ‘highly functional natural foods’ – Karengo, a type of edible seaweed, and Mamaku, a type of tree fern.
Singapore-based Avida Health is driving the development of beauty-from-within functional food products via a partnership with Japan firm Pharma Foods International (PFI).
The market for functional foods containing omega-3 is ripe for innovation in Asia and the Middle East, with one start-up claiming it can provide 250mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in 30g of chocolate.
Components of the Mediterranean diet could provide a multi-component model for functional foods to combat type 2 diabetes, according to a recent review.
Creating products based on personalised nutrition and sustainable functional foods from waste products, along with improving shelf life by using new technology, offer the biggest growth opportunities for Australian nutrition and food firms in an increasingly...
Asia’s functional foods and supplements industry needs to stop making unfounded health claims, while also better educating policy makers about the sound science behind its reputable products.