Safety first: NMN, protein powder, product traceability round-up

Quality control: Industry sets self-regulating standards to safeguard NMN quality in China​​

A group of companies making nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and industry big names such as hyaluronic acid specialist Bloomage Biotechnology have published a set of technical standards to safeguard the quality of NMN products sold in China.

The standards, known as ‘Product requirements and test methods for β-nicotinamide mononucleotide’​, were published on August 12.

NutraIngredients-Asia ​understands that this has been put in place as there is currently no national standards (known as Guobiao/ GB standards) regulating NMN products in China. 

‘Demonstrating quality’: MuscleBlaze develops test kit for consumers to verify protein powder authenticity​

India sports nutrition company MuscleBlaze has developed and launched a test kit designed to detect the presence and amount of whey protein present in protein powder.

Known as MB ProCheck, the test can detect the presence of whey protein in five to seven minutes and takes longer at 18 to 24 hours if one wants to detect the percentage of whey protein present.

Each test kit box contains two test kit and is sold at US$2.40 each.

‘Strong supporter’: Singapore industry body says voluntary notification initiative helpful for local, overseas consumers​

The Health Supplements Industry Association of Singapore (HSIAS) has voiced its support for a newly introduced voluntary notification scheme, explaining that it could support the credential of locally made products in both domestic and overseas markets.

The database, which consists of a list of safe and good quality complementary health products, has been made publicly available since August 1.

No fee is required for companies making the notification and the turn-around-time for each submission is 60 working days.

Uphold safety: China’s SAMR sought public input for methods to test laxatives, beta-blockers in health foods​ 

Chinese regulator State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has sought public input for methods to detect the presence of laxatives and beta-blockers in health foods and general foods.

The key is to discover new ways of detecting beta-blockers and anti-rheumatism ingredients in health foods, as well as new-gen laxatives in fat reduction tea, enzymes, and dried fruit products.

The SAMR said this was to combat the problem of products being tainted with illegal additives, address food safety risk, and strengthen food safety monitoring techniques.

Not just the data: Amway, BYHEALTH, Danone on bringing product traceability to life for consumers​

Food and nutrition companies, as well as government agencies, are increasingly invested in product traceability. In this edition of VitamINSIGHTS, we shine the spotlight on supplement and infant formula brands that have made strides in this area, including Amway, Danone, and BYHEALTH.

Amway, for example, launched its Nutrilite Traceability program four years ago, tapping on digital technologies such as web-based augmented reality and livestreaming to “bring product traceability to life” ​for consumers.

Danone, on the other hand, has developed a dual-QR code packaging for its infant formulas sold in countries such as China.