In our latest China round-up, authorities continue to crack down on Chinese supplement and health food firms, probiotics and e-commerce rule the country's supplement scene, and Nestlé pushes forth into China's A2 milk market.
Feeding infants with milk other than breastmilk (MOTBM) within the first six months of life may contribute to asthma risk when they are three years old, according to a cohort study by researchers in Australia and Qatar.
Japanese consumers are tapping into the trend for hemp products, while Chinese gainats are seeking to cash in on South East Asia’s dairy boom. Find out more in our Trend Tracker review.
The demand for new brands and products shows no signs of slowing amongst daigou traders, with one daigou specialist retailer revealing that these products can lead to a 50% margin for daigou traders.
Japanese firm House Wellness Foods is tapping into the functional food sector's growing trend of healthy convenience with a new range of products featuring its patented lactic acid bacteria strain, heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 (HK L-137).
Morinaga Nutritional Foods (APAC) has been named the Most Innovative Health Ingredient for its probiotic strain Bifidobacterium longum BB536 at the Gulfood Manufacturing Industry Excellence Awards.
Companies seeking to commercialise a probiotic product across the globe face a 'daunting task', which is why trade association the International Probitics Association (IPA) is vowing not to let up in its efforts to achieve a more consistent...
Brands must share the responsibility for shortages of infant formula in some Australian stores, instead of heaping the blame on daigou shoppers, says Australia-China Daigou Association (ACDA) president Dr Mathew McDougall.
Japanese ice cream manufacturer Meisui Ice has teamed up with researchers from Ehime University to produce a yogurt ice pop that relieves hay fever symptoms.
Online sales of dairy products on China's e-commerce platforms grew at a YoY rate of 45.2% in Q1 2018 — the lowest since Q1 2016, according to analysis carried out by China research company Syntun.
The International Probiotics Association (IPA) has urged the industry to support its efforts to bring consistency to the global regulatory landscape, so that the rules can keep pace with technology and scientific advancement.
Nestlé is launching a A2 beta-casein protein infant formula product in Australia and New Zealand within the next two months, competing directly with first-mover a2 Milk.
Kiwi infant formula firm New Zealand New Milk is keen on increasing its market share in China, with new product development and the use of trusted retail platforms supporting its goal.
Danone’s research on the gut-brain axis in infants, BASF’s latest grant awards, and new studies on TCM and fish oil feature in our latest science round-up.
There is just one week to go until the region's leading probiotics and microbiome summit, Probiota Asia, gets underway in Singapore, but there is still time to register and join a host of top brands at the event.
There is insufficient evidence as to the efficacy of probiotics on ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, and future studies should test different strains and delivery methods, according to a study led by Japan's Keio University.
Food manufacturers that have backed India's fortification drive could do more to effectively market their products and the wider benefits of the scheme, according to an official from regulator FSSAI.
There are just two weeks to go until the region’s leading probiotic and microbiome event, Probiota Asia, gets underway in Singapore, with a stellar line-up of speakers from the likes of Blackmores, Danone, Herbalife and Life-Space set to take to the stage.
AstaReal has unveiled two functional beverage prototypes — one to aid stress management and the other to boost muscle health in seniors — and picked up a Vitafoods Asia award in the process.
The world’s biggest dairy co-operative will review its stake in Chinese formula milk company Beingmate after unveiling the first ever annual loss in its 17-year history.
The Infant Nutrition Council in New Zealand has applied to the NZ Commerce Commission for an extension of the restriction on infant formula advertising, to prevent marketing to parents of children under a year old.
The FSSAI is once again urging manufacturers to fortify their staple foods, this time shifting its attention to India's dairy firms to encourage them to adopt voluntary milk fortification.
In the first of our monthly recaps on the latest APAC brand news, we take a look at the latest developments at BY-HEALTH, Life-Space, Blackmores, Bubs and Bellamy’s.
Infant nutrition firm Bellamy's Organic has announced a 37% year-on-year growth in sales revenue to US$236.1m (A$329m) for the 2018 financial year, up from US$172.3m (A$240m) in 2017.
A leading expert from Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) will reveal the emerging opportunities to modify gut microbial populations in a keynote address at the second edition of Probiota Asia in Singapore.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has revised an ordinance to permit the production and sale of liquid infant formula, leading some of the country’s biggest players to express an interest in entering the market.
Researchers have one more week to submit their work for the Scientific Frontiers poster session at the second edition of Probiota Asia, which will will be held in Singapore in October.
A new $40m-a-year scheme to grow New Zealand's food and fibre sectors sustainably has been unveiled by agriculture minister Damien O’Connor, who said the nation needed to move from 'volume to value'.
Maternal milk supplementation, combined with breastfeeding support in late pregnancy and the early postpartum period, can have a positive impact on exclusive breastfeeding, according to an Abbott study.
Infant formula firm Ausnutria Dairy has announced a 51.6% year-on-year growth in revenue to RMB2,582.4m for H1 2018, largely attributed to the continuous increase in the sales of its house-brand formula products.
Singapore’s Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) has recalled a batch of Dumex Mamil Gold Infant Milk Formula - Step 1 (850g) after detecting cronobacter sakazakii bacteria in samples.
ASX-listed retail firm AuMake International has entered into a supply agreement with New Zealand-based Pure Nutrition to develop an exclusive formula milk range made with A1 and A2 beta-casein proteins for China.
Swallowable sensors that could revolutionise how scientists and medical professionals monitor the gut and diagnose conditions will be the focus of a keynote presentation at our upcoming Probiota Asia Summit in Singapore.
Australian firm Freedom Foods is targeting China and parts of South East Asia with its reformulated and repackaged infant formula range, after first entering the Singapore market last year.
Blackmores' director of product Innovation Paul Mannion believes consumer demand for solutions to restore microbial balance has never been stronger, but will discuss at Probiota Asia how the sector could be at risk of commoditisation.
Australian firm Nuchev is banking on its signature goat milk formula, Oli6, to develop products for both young children and seniors, spurred by a new study that pointed to the formula's health benefits.
A Tasmanian dairy which is said to have launched the world's first yogurt made from milk containing naturally occurring omega-3 is seeing sales growing by 30% year-on-year — and it is now targeting exports to Asia.
New consumer research from Cargill has implications for formulators of functional foods, sports nutrition products and dairy products. Dairy ingredients are generally in decline, while plant-based alternatives are filling in the gaps.
China's probiotics market is going from strength to strength, with suppliers and industry experts reporting rapid growth. Therefore, we have made the sector the subject of the first of our in-depth three-part China in Focus features.
Probiota Asia, our three-day summit dedicated to probiotics and prebiotics, returns to Singapore in October with a raft of industry experts now confirmed as speakers.
Yashili has announced deals in China and New Zealand to strengthen supply and service agreements with two of its biggest shareholders, Mengniu and Danone, while also bolstering its relationship with Australia's Burra Foods.
China has cemented its status as one of the world’s most important global players, according to industry body the International Probiotics Association (IPA), with data revealing that nearly half of all APAC sales come from the country.
NutraIngredients-Asia is delighted to announce that the second Asia edition of the global probiotics and prebiotics summit, Probiota, will be held in Singapore in October.
Fonterra has denied allegations that its China partner Beingmate's infant formula contains additives from unlicensed suppliers, insisting that recent case was a 'technical issue' and not a food safety issue.
While sales of health food via e-commerce have been growing by leaps and bounds in China, an industry expert has said pharmacies also have the potential to become an effective sales channel.
Asia Pacific’s rapidly ageing population will drive significant opportunities for the region’s food and nutrition industry, according to keynote speakers on day one of the inaugural event in Singapore.
Bubs Australia has signed a supply agreement with New Times Asia, a China-based supply chain and service provider, which will lead to a significant increase in its distribution in the country.