Japan’s Taisho Pharmaceutical Holdings is stepping up product development in its nutrition business, as its prescription pharmaceutical struggles to secure significant growth opportunities.
BY-HEALTH is aiming to raise RMB$3.6bn (US$509m) to fund five new projects, including new manufacturing sites in China and Australia, and a health management centre.
The total number of Foods for Special Medical Purpose (FSMPs) approved in China has now exceed 50, helping to boost what e-commerce giant JD states in one of the fastest growing nutrition sectors in the country.
Health supplement firms have been threatened with enforcement action if they fail to adhere to permitted recommended dietary allowance (RDA) levels for vitamins and mineral products, regulator FSSAI has said.
Australian e-commerce platform BuyNatural believes there are “exceptional opportunities” in China for local dietary supplement brands, with consumers eager to purchase “newer and smaller” brands.
South Korea’s authorities have recalled 12 krill oil products after safety tests found banned substances or excessive use of solvents in the products, leading to the authorities calling for tougher inspections at customs.
Ajinomoto has launched its first non-amino acid supplement, a multi-product containing 12 vitamins and nine minerals, which has been designed for seniors in its domestic Japan market.
Yakult Japan has launched its first shelf-stable probiotic supplement – a sachet containing two of its exclusive probiotic strains, its lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota) and bifidobacteria (Bifidobacterium breve strain Yakult).
A cohort study conducted in China found that females suffering from infertility and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) experienced lower oxidative stress in their bodies and can reduce their hormone medication dosage after a brief period of vitamin E supplementation.
Chinese consumers see health benefits in probiotics, with probiotics in fermented dairy and beverages most popular, but misconceptions about the fast-rising ingredient are also rife, said a newly released consumers report.
Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) has approved 2,887 products under the food with function claim (FFC) since its introduction in 2015 – but only 1325 are currently available on the market.
Nestle Health Science aims to launch nine new products from the Garden of Life series – a US health foods brand which it previously acquired – into the China market this year. Of which, immune, beauty, and anti-stress are the key product priorities.
