Researchers at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines have started work towards breeding a new variety of rice with anti-cancer properties.
Diets with novel plant-based products tend to fall below the daily requirements for calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and vitamin B12, while often exceeding saturated fat, sodium and sugar levels, according to a new study.
The Philippines will tap on cutting edge technologies including nutrigenomics and metabolomics to develop nutritional strategies to address the persistent issues of stunting and malnutrition in the country.
A high protein-low GI diet prevented hunger better than a moderate protein-moderate GI diet among overweight and obese people, according to data derived from the 3-year PREVIEW randomised intervention study.
The redefinition of postbiotics, Taiwan animal test ban on anti-fatigue health claims, and new fish oil standards in Thailand are some of the topics covered in this regulatory round-up.
Japanese food giant Ajinomoto has developed a mobile application dishing out personalised health and diet advice, including suggestions based on user’s amino acid blood test screening results.
Intake of soy milk has been found to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol levels and inflammation markers in adults, according to a study conducted by researchers in Iran.
India’s food and snacks company Timios has introduced front-of-pack and customised QR codes on each of its toddler porridge products to tell the story of food traceability – an area of high concern in the country.
A pilot study of 18 participants suffering from gastrointestinal conditions and undergoing faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has found that fibre intake is crucial in helping to alleviate symptoms.
In this round-up, we look at how companies have expanded their immune health product range with the use of botanical ingredients, lactoferrin, and vitamins. We also shine the spotlight on research in probiotics for alleviating acne and eczema.
Fortification programmes in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan have ample supply of fortified foods and a steady distribution network to reach its target populations amid the COVID-19 crisis, but the lack of quality assurance and control is concerning.
Pre-packaged foods for infants, toddlers, and special medical purposes will now need to follow nutrition labelling standards applicable for all pre-packaged foods in Taiwan, the country’s regulator has ruled.
Japanese F&B giant Ajinomoto has revealed its nutritional strategy for Asia focused on salt reduction with umami flavour at the heart of its reformulation drive
Nutrition giant H&H has said it will continue to develop more plant-based products for its dietary supplements and infant formula categories across different brands, with the firm believing consumers are increasingly looking for more sustainable solutions.
Clinical trial findings are becoming ever more important in today’s world as consumers are looking beyond label claims and are actively reading up on the health benefits and evidence of ingredients used in immunity products, according to an expert panel.
In this round-up of new regulatory developments, we look at hemp, CBD, and fish oil related regulatory changes in Thailand, as well as how South Korean and Chinese authorities are coping with non-compliant products.
A light-to-moderate consumption of raw garlic, one to three times per week, appears to provide heart health benefits among Chinese adults, according to a new population study.
2020 was a year of changing business practices, challenged global supply chains, and skyrocketing sales of dietary supplements and functional foods as consumers took more control of their own health and wellness.
India’s dietary supplement and health foods retailer Fitday has detailed how it plans to offer new in-store services, including hair scalp and skin condition screening, as it embarks on ambitious plans to open 50 new stores nationwide.
South Korea has finally laid out the governance rules for ‘elderly-friendly foods’ based on main ingredient ratios, with experts believing that this will have a significant impacts on a number of categories.
People suffering from diabetes or have a family history of chronic diseases were more willing to adopt novel staple foods, compromising on taste and cost, compared to their healthier peers, according to a study conducted in Singapore.
People living in India’s rural villages were found to have a richer fibre diet and healthier gut microbiome composition compared to those living in urban slums.
A number of Thai companies, including CP Foods and DOD Biotech, have stated their intentions in developing new food, supplement and beverages containing hemp, as new regulatory developments unfold in the country.
Australian health and nutrition company ATP Science is branching into the FMCG space with the launch of a range of high protein, low calorie, low sugar ice-cream, plus venturing into practitioner-only supplements for gut health.
Singapore start-up AMiLi (short for Asian Microbiome Library) has launched Bio+ME, its flagship gut microbiome test that comes with personalised nutrition recommendations – claiming it is a first such test in South East Asia (SEA).
South Korea’s import of health functional foods was up 23.4 per cent last year, higher than the three-year annual average of 21.4 per cent, with the US taking the top spot in product volumes.
South Korea will start the third phase of its mandatory traceability programme for special purpose foods, while international brands selling co-enzyme Q10, fish oil and melatonin into China for the first time will still need to enter the market via the...
Researchers have consolidated the glycaemic index (GI) of 940 common Asian and Middle Eastern food items such as nasi lemak, chapati, dim sum, dates and habba hamra in a review article published in the Nutrition and Diabetes journal.
India’s nutraceutical industry’s hopes of a reduced GST rate on supplements was squashed again when there was no mentioned of special grant for the sector during the recent budget announcement.
Malaysia olive supplement company Nutriva International is set to launch new product for diabetic patients, as well as entering new markets such as Thailand this year.
Singapore firm Silverconnect will focus on expanding its snacks and breakfast options for dysphagia patients for this year, including a pureed pineapple tart in time for the Chinese New Year.
Meluka Australia has expanded into the offline channel in the US with Whole Foods Market, a subsidiary of Amazon, on the back of growing demand for its organic honey.
South Korea has announced that general foods can make functional claims so long as there is sufficient scientific evidence backing the claims, but experts have said they do not believe that it will be to the detriment of the nation’s functional foods...
In this round-up, we shine the spotlight on nutra trends analysis and forecast from major brands GNC, Nestle, as well as new product development from BY-HEALTH, FANCL, and more.
South Korean direct-selling company Atomy, which sells health supplements, personal care and household items, is on an expansion spree and is set to enter New Zealand in March, and later in Turkey and the UK.
Omega-3 supplementation has shown to increase muscle mass and even increase walking speed among seniors age 60 and above, according to a meta-analysis conducted by Taiwanese researchers.
Developing functional foods that deliver health benefits to support the population’s immune and nutrition status is important in the battle against COVID-19, says an ex-policy expert from the Philippines.
Regulatory authorities across APAC are primed to announce new directions or updates to monitor the dietary supplements industry in 2021…Here’s what you need to know.
Vietnam, India and the regional halal market are on the radar for supplement companies when it comes to their expansion plans, according to a raft of top companies.
See our top 10 most read trends stories of 2020, including the bestselling nutraceuticals amid COVID-19, new immune health product launches, and consumption behaviour in China.
E-commerce giant JD has seen a boom in organic product sales in China after working with brand partners to establish the country’s first-ever organic alliance, with the firm saying demand has been boosted by consumers seeking 'safer and healthier'...
See November's 10 most read stories, including the testing of vitamin C levels and supplementation in COVID-19 patients, brands which topped double 11 sales in China and more.
Atlas Biomed has launched its home-based gut microbiome test in Japan as part of its personalised nutrition service – the first APAC venture for the company.
The combined supplementation of the botanical berberine and probiotics has been found to help reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic patients, more so than taking each product alone, says a 12-week RCT conducted in China.
The ever-changing China health foods industry is seeing new waves of trends, with a sudden interest in nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), the prevalence of livestreaming in product marketing, and the potential for further e-commerce growth.
A new Australian study has revealed that different types of whole grains have particular benefits for lowering different areas of heart disease risk – but refined grains are also still recommended as part of a balanced diet.
