The Malaysian palm oil sector believes there is little prospect of seeing market growth in the coming year due to labour, economic and climate challenges.
Data ‘clearly indicates’ that probiotics may fulfil an important role in the regulation of a number of factors in the prediabetic population, a new meta-analysis and systematic review has confirmed.
Qatari dairy giant Baladna is looking at more markets in South East Asia to bring its sustainable dairy self-sufficiency model to, after successfully securing and setting up its joint venture in Malaysia.
Shock statistics showing that one in five adults in Indonesia is obese is a wake-up call that needs to be urgently addressed through public education via social media, argues the president of the Indonesian Nutrition Association (INA).
Localisation strategies are crucial in order to achieve the ‘holy grail’ of food innovation in the Asia Pacific region, by combining health, taste and convenience, according to Olam outfit ofi.
Supplement brands in Vietnam are increasingly demanding value-added concepts and ease the pressure of relying on commodity-based products at low prices.
The Thai government has announced new regulatory edicts specifying tighter regulatory control over the use of hemp and CBD in food and seasonings, just three months after announcing the decriminalisation of cannabis in the country.
A Japanese firm is introducing its hair growth supplement – a category which it deems as a less competitive category – in overseas markets including South East Asia.
Chinese dairy giant Yili has highlighted the vital, science-backed role that dairy is playing in improving consumer nutrition and public health in the country, by combining both Eastern and Western technologies.
Japanese firm Kirin is expanding its presence in South East Asia with its flagship postbiotic ingredient, with collaborations with major dairy companies underway.
Different regulatory capabilities, diverse economic background, and protection of national interest are some of the key factors slowing down the ASEAN harmonisation of traditional medicines and health supplements technical standards.
Thailand is “the supplement market” when it comes to introducing new functional ingredienst into the South East Asia region and beyond, says major Japanese dairy and functional ingredients manufacturer Morinaga Milk.
Indonesian food and beverage firms have been urged to accelerate their new product innovation and digital adaptation to keep up with consumer demands, especially with multiple post-COVID-19 challenges still dampening the local economy.
Economic growth and rising health awareness are being tipped to propel nut-based products to be come household staples in Vietnam over the next decade.
Thailand’s Chiangmai Bioveggie is focusing on exports for its single-ingredients frozen lime juice product, banking on the culinary heritage of limes in many Asian and Middle East markets, coupled with shelf-life benefits, for success.
A group of Thai researchers has developed product that reduces the risk of urinary stone formation in animal models, and is currently in the progress of conducting phase I and II clinical trials to validate its benefits in humans.
Like several Asian countries, Thailand is experiencing a greying population. While interest in healthy ageing is high, the level of innovation for this category of products remains relatively low.
The supplementation of fish oil has been shown to improve the ability to process information in children, according to a 12-week RCT conducted in Thailand.
The intake of defatted rice has been shown to improve blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in overweight and obese adults, according to a 12-week RCT conducted in Thailand.
Thai researchers have urged the local government to implement better enforcement and consumer awareness initiatives to prevent its trans-fats elimination policy from fizzing out in failure, despite its promising start.
Sports nutrition research coming out of Malaysia could explore local foods sources, such as palm oil, goat’s milk, and black pepper, said the vice-president of Nutrition Society of Malaysia, who has previously studied biopeptides extracted from locally...
MD Pharmaceuticals, a Singapore-based healthcare distributor and marketer, has developed a new vitamin D supplement with DSM, which is said to be faster acting for immune health.
Singapore anti-hangover remedy brand Bounceback aims to attain 700% growth and entry to the West by 2023 after hitting a “sizeable seven-digit annual revenue”, said its Co-Founder and CEO Roy Ang.
Human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) is one of the hottest and most commonly seen ingredients in Vietnam’s infant formula products these days, according to Vietnam homegrown firm Vinamilk and Hong Kong-headquarted Health & Happiness Group (H&H Group),...
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....
Edible oils giant Sime Darby believes that the future of the oils and fats industry lies in product innovation for the plant-based and wellness sectors, and has upgraded its research and development to provide both industry and consumers with more of...
Food and beverage multinational CP Foods has big plans for its new plant-based Meat Zero line and other alternative protein innovations, citing strong category growth and rising consumer health consciousness as its main motivations for leaping into the...
The Thai authorities have stressed that stringent control measures will be enforced as more food and beverage firm seeks to use cannabis-derived ingredients, amid claims that 30% of products contain higher than permitted tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels.
This round-up on developments in Southeast Asia include Blackmore's largest ever single product donation for supporting a COVID-19 clinical research in Singapore, Tipco's assessment of the healthier beverages market, and Malaysian authority's...
Thai juice giant Tipco believes that consumers are turning to beverages as a tasty yet convenient means of ‘drinking’ in additional nutrients, leading to a rise in popularity of items such as vegetable juices and herb-infused drinks.
Malaysia’s regulator is conducting a public consultation on how manufacturers of traditional medicines and health supplements could validate the amount of active ingredients claimed on the product label.
Global seafood giant Thai Union says it is placing a significant focus on microalgae omega-3, besides its usual marine sources, as it seeks to diversify its ingredients business.
The bioavailability of cauliflower-encapsulated omega-3 is on-par with omega-3 encapsulated in bovine gelatine capsules, a study conducted in Australia and Singapore has shown.
Women in seven South and South East Asian countries urgently need nutritional intervention and monitoring to battle the double burden of malnutrition (DBM).
A Singapore firm that counts a leading longevity academic among its ranks has outlined ambitious growth plans for its Rejuvant LifeTabs, a calcium-based Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AKG) formulation that claims to slow down the ageing process.
Thai firm Lifestar has launched what is said to be the first cannabidiol (CBD) supplement approved for sale in the country, which also contains krill oil, vitamins and minerals, to improve knee pain.
State intervention in East Malaysia to combat iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) among children has been hailed a success after new research found there had been “significant improvements”.
Thai-based firm Smile Organics aims to conquer the US and the Middle East markets with its sports nutrition gel POWCO made of Thai-bred young coconut water.
Fonterra has launched its first brand of cultured milk drinks in Singapore, where it hopes the low sugar, novel flavours and evidence-backed probiotic strains will resonate with the consumers.
Meiji is expanding its infant formulas offerings in Cambodia as part of the company’s strategy in growing its overseas business – where South East Asia is identified as a region for new opportunities.
A two-pronged strategy of re-branding and product innovation will boost Singapore fish scale collagen firm Dahmeh’s expansion across APAC and into EMEA.
A gut parasite commonly found in human gut, Blastocystis subtype ST4, has been found to suppress inflammation and could improve gut health, according researchers from Singapore.
The Thai government has set its sights on emerging as the South East Asian regional leader in the areas of both organic food production and cannabis technology development, amid hopes that these sectors will help deliver a boost to the local economy.
The supplementation of a lactic acid bacteria drink has shown to reduce absenteeism in school kids linked to cold and flu within four weeks, said the findings of a Kirin-funded RCT.
