Dairy-based ingredients

NZ childcare services fall short of guidelines for child nutrition

13-Jul-2017 By Cheryl Tay

A large number of childcare services in New Zealand that provide food to pre-schoolers aged three to four do not meet current nutrition guidelines, a recent study has found.

Eye health and vitamins: Supplement intake ‘can increase degeneration’, review reveals

10-Jul-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Scientists have cautioned that antioxidant consumption in supplement form is not as effective as a nutrient-rich diet to improve eye diseases, with some evidence suggesting they can actually worsen existing conditions.

Inflammatory bowel disease: Manipulating the gut microbiome a promising future treatment option

05-Jul-2017 By Gary Scattergood

There is considerable promise in manipulating the gut microbiome to treat the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, according to a new review.

Let them eat salmon: Fish better than formula for infants, suggests Singapore minister

04-Jul-2017 By Cheryl Tay

The Singapore minister leading a government task force reviewing infant formula prices has told parents to give their children a spoon-and-a-half of salmon because it 'provides as much DHA as 30 bottles of milk'.

Nutritional ingredients firm Barentz International expands in Vietnam amid rising APAC sales

15-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Dutch ingredients firm Barentz International recently has opened its first office in Vietnam, on the back of 15% annual Asia Pacific growth.

GALLERY: The top 10 most-read nutrition and health stories from APAC in May

09-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Here's a recap of our top 10 most read nutrition stories from May, featuring the latest on vitamin D, infant nutrition, natural health supplements and more.

Milking the law? Industry responds to stricter infant formula rules in Singapore

06-Jun-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Infant formula milk manufacturers claim stricter regulations planned by the Singapore government could lead to consumers having limited access to important nutritional information.

Prebiotic and antioxidant-packed white chocolate: 'A promising opportunity for industry'

29-May-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Adding prebiotics and an antioxidant source to white chocolate can alter its taste and texture, but a new sensory analysis reported that consumers still ranked it highly, with researchers concluding it provides new product opportunities for industry.

Is dairy a hindrance and not a help for probiotics growth?

25-May-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The vast majority of new product development for functional foods featuring probiotics “remains in the dairy space”, but this may be more of a hindrance than a help for the sector’s growth prospects.

Singapore government to clamp down on infant formula health claims amid rising prices

24-May-2017 By Cheryl Tay

The Singapore government has established a task force to counter the country’s increasing formula milk prices, with health and nutrition claims set to be severely restricted. 

Ausnutria takes over ADP and Ozfarm

23-May-2017 By Jim Cornall

Ausnutria Dairy Corporation Ltd., a dairy company with production facilities in China, the Netherlands and Australia, has taken over ADP and Ozfarm.

Ausnutria reports growing revenue amid fiercer competition and stricter laws

18-May-2017 By Cheryl Tay

Hong Kong-listed infant nutrition company Ausnutria's total revenues have grown by almost one-third to RMB751.3 million during the first quarter of 2017.

FOOD VISION ASIA 2017

Infant obesity: Act now over formula protein guidelines, regulators urged

03-May-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Regulators in Asia should not wait for new CODEX regulations for infant formula and act now to cut the amount of protein required in order to help reduce obesity, a leading expert in the region has argued.

Children have ‘non-negotiable’ right to good nutrition amid dismal Indian health survey findings

17-Apr-2017 By Millette Burgos

Ninety percent of Indian children are not getting the proper nutrients crucial for their development, a new survey has found.

Kiwi contract manufacturer completes multi-million-dollar renovation as ‘brand New Zealand’ maintains marketing popularity

11-Apr-2017 By Gary Scattergood

New Zealand contract manufacturer Alaron has undertaken a multi-million-dollar expansion and renovation project at its Nelson site, with the firm hopeful of growth for its customers in South East Asia after China sales began to go “off the boil” due to...

Better knowledge and more dairy: How Malaysia can help tackle national diabetes surge

20-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

There is vast scope to improve glycaemic control among type 2 diabetics in Malaysia by boosting nutrition knowledge and the intake of dairy, a cross-sectional study has found.

Freedom Foods seals deal for US expansion and snaps up sports nutrition firm

17-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Australian firm Freedom Foods is partnering with US management group AFT Holdings to expand into North America.

AusNutria seemingly unaffected by new China infant formula rules as revenues rocket

15-Mar-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Revenues at Hong Kong-listed infant nutrition company AusNutria soared by 30.3% to RMB2,740.3 million (US$396 million) for 2016, despite intense market competition, most notably due to new regulations in China.

Sarcopenia and poor nutrition: Significant association found in elderly Chinese population

14-Mar-2017 By Millette Burgos

Malnutrition is a prime risk factor for older Chinese adults suffering from sarcopenia, an age-related condition of declining skeletal muscle mass and function. 

'Kids throw milk at each other...it's a waste of public money'

Sri Lanka students shun nutritious food and dairy due to raft of ‘social and cultural factors’

28-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

Students in Sri Lanka are not eating healthy diets and are shunning school milk programmes due to social and cultural factors, and until these are tackled the country’s double burden of malnutrition will remain, experts say.

Revealed: The single biggest Indian health concern offering vast functional food and drink potential…

23-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

India’s tired citizens may just be the key to unlock a new market for functional food and drink formulations. 

Phytosterol fortified milk lowers cholesterol and fatty liver build-up: BASF-supported study

22-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

Milk fortified with phytosterols not only helped lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but also decreased fatty liver build-up, a study found.

NUTRITION ASIA VIDEO SERIES

VIDEO: Infant nutrition - the latest health demands, consumer trends and fortification needs in APAC

20-Feb-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The challenges in the battle to provide adequate infant nutrition across APAC are as diverse as the region itself, with severe micronutrient deficiencies, stunting and, on the other hand, soaring obesity levels being witnessed.

Daily calcium intake for Japanese women should be increased to 600mg: Review

06-Feb-2017 By Millette Burgos

Most Japanese women are not getting enough calcium and vitamin D, increasing the risks of osteoporotic fractures and other diseases, states a new review.

Mead Johnson full-year sales slip, but China and e-commerce performance 'strong'

27-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Infant nutrition company Mead Johnson saw sales in Asia – its largest region – slip 9% year-on-year, 5% on a constant dollar basis, to $1.856bn – although the company recorded ‘strong sales growth’ in its key China market.

DHA and ARA rule change crucial for Danone’s Indian expansion drive

24-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

The decision by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to approve DHA and ARA-enriched infant food was a crucial factor leading to Danone’s ambitious growth plans for the country.

Nano-sized calcium improves bioavailability and could aid osteoporosis fight

24-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Fortifying milk with calcium nanoparticles increases bioavailability and could help the rising number of women in Asia suffering with osteoporosis.

Asia growth: The main reason Nestle could be keen on Mead Johnson acquisition

20-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

The financial press is rife with chatter that Nestle is weighing up a bid for US infant formula firm Mead Johnson.

Danone’s Aptamil launched in India as part of nutrition and revenue growth plans

17-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

Aptamil, one of Danone’s infant formula brands sold in 45 countries, has been launched in India, with the company saying it plans to produce local supply at the company’s Lalru, Punjab facility.

Sell-up: Analysts predict more gloom for infant formula firm Bellamy’s as shares slump continues

13-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Replacing CEO Laura McBain hasn’t seen the end of financial turmoil at Australian infant formula manufacturer Bellamy’s with shares continuing to slide amid gloomy forecasts from analysts.

Functional food and supplement manufacturers urged to get creative with whey protein offerings

13-Jan-2017 By Millette Burgos

South East Asia functional food and supplement firms need to help educate consumers that whey protein isn’t just for body builders, and formulate new products that can help treat the rising number of sarcopenia cases among the elderly in the region.

Why cardiovascular health functional foods are primed to take-off across APAC: Euromonitor

11-Jan-2017 By Maria Mascaraque

Despite Asia Pacific being a region with high incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), sales of cardiovascular health positioned foods and beverages are not high, writes Maria Mascaraque from Euromonitor International.

Chinese domestic formula companies floundering amid stiff competition

10-Jan-2017 By RJ Whitehead

With more than 100 infant milk powder manufacturers established and thousands of product lines launched in the last 30 years, overcrowding in the segment appears to have hit Chinese businesses hard.

Australian infant formula manufacturer Bellamy’s facing boardroom battle

09-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Australian infant formula firm Bellamy’s is facing further turmoil after a major shareholder demanded the removal of four of the company’s board directors.

Aussie infant nutrition firm Bubs targets Asia growth after stock market flotation

03-Jan-2017 By Gary Scattergood

Bubs, an Australian infant formula and nutrition firm, has launched on the Australian stock exchange after raising $5.15m in a share deal.

Valio eyes China expansion outside of its infant nutrition base

15-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Finnish dairy firm Valio is seeking to expand out of its infant nutrition base in China by exporting lactose-free milk powders. 

Probiotics have a ‘positive effect’ on stress and anxiety: Meta-analysis

14-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Probiotics consumption may have advantageous effects on mental health by lessening the psychological symptoms of perceived stress, depression and anxiety, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis.

The seven top Asia Pacific food and nutrition trends of 2016

12-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

As 2016 draws to a close, we highlight the top seven most-read APAC food and nutrition trends stories, featuring exclusive market and consumer insights from Japan, South East Asia, India, Australia and China.

Infant nutrition research must focus on Asian needs: Prebiotic review

12-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

There is an urgent need for more research on infant nutrition that is centred on South East Asia, with the vast majority of published studies focusing on the western world, a new paper states.

China infant formula uncertainty claims another victim: Murray Goulburn and Mead Johnson deal scrapped

06-Dec-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Australian dairy co-operative Murray Goulburn and Mead Johnson Nutrition have scrapped an agreement signed in March to supply infant formula to Asia.

Focus on food synergies to boost bioavailability, urge researchers

05-Dec-2016 By Nathan Gray

A greater emphasis should be placed on enhancing the bioavailability of key nutrients in foods by focusing on synergies to help fight under nutrition, say researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Danone seeks to thwart China infant formula grey market with online retailer link-up

18-Nov-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Danone’s Milupa Nutricia has signed a deal with online retailer windeln.de to better distribute its Aptamil infant formula brand in China as it seeks to thwart the booming grey market.

Infant and brain health benefits of whey protein underlined by experts at Singapore event.

14-Nov-2016 By Gary Scattergood

The benefits of alpha-lacalbumin in providing effective protein in infant formula, and its role in increasing brain serotonin concentrations, were two of the academic highlights presented at the Alpha Summit in Singapore.

Infant nutrition firm Ausnutria eyes record profits on back of sales boom

08-Nov-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Hong Kong-listed infant nutrition company Ausnutria Dairy Corporation is forecasting record profits of around RMB135m (USD $19.8m).

Blackmores and Bega infant nutrition venture misses targets amid China slowdown

26-Oct-2016 By Gary Scattergood

A joint venture between Blackmores and Bega Cheese to supply infant formula across APAC - and in particular China - has missed its sales targets, hitting Bega’s financial performance.

Probiotics to help drive 44% rise in APAC functional foods market by 2026

28-Sep-2016 By Gary Scattergood

The functional food ingredients market in Asia Pacific is being tipped to rise from $2.85bn at the end of 2016 to $5.04bn in 2026 with probiotics projected to be the fastest growing segment over the forecast period 

DuPont's Asia nutrition boss: Dow merger will make us faster, flexible and more efficient

28-Sep-2016 By Gary Scattergood

In the first of a two-part interview, DuPont’s Asia president for health and nutrition Dr Li Yongjing discusses the initial turbulence created by the ongoing merger with Dow, and explains why he believes the new relationship will make the firm better...

Infant formula intake and protein guidelines queried in Southeast Asia

26-Sep-2016 By Gary Scattergood

There is concern about the considerable variance in the recommended consumption levels of infant formula and follow-on formula in Asia and questions over the amount of protein they are required to contain, an international conference has heard.

Sports nutrition and healthy ageing will fuel China's industry growth

21-Sep-2016 By Gary Scattergood

The rise of China’s functional food and dietary supplement industry is continuing to outstrip overall economic growth, and will continue to do so with sports nutrition and goods for the elderly likely to drive future increases.

'The race is on in this industry to take positions for future growth of probiotics.'

Probiotics giant buys world’s best-documented strain

16-Sep-2016 By Shane STARLING

Danish probiotics and enzymes leader Chr Hansen has paid €73m in cash to acquire the Lactobacillus rhamnosus-based LGG suite of probiotic strains from Finnish dairy group, Valio.