A DuPont Nutrition & Health consumer survey has identified the top health concerns of European seniors and found that active ingredients are a primary driver of senior nutrition purchases. For food manufacturers, the findings reveal a realm of opportunities to develop targeted nutritional products for active adults as they age.

In January 2017 guidelines were released urging parents to begin early introduction of peanut-containing foods to reduce the risk of peanut allergy. A new study shows those who are aware of the guidelines are still hesitant to put them into place and not everyone has heard of them.

A team from Madrid University (Spain) has just published a multi-centre randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study regarding the safety and tolerance of three of LHS probiotic strains in healthy infants. The strains tested individually are Lactobacillus helveticus Rosell®-52, Bifidobacterium infantis Rosell®-33, Bifidobacterium bifidum Rosell®-71, all part of the ProbioKid® formula, previously shown to help prevent the reoccurrence of winter infections in children. The eight weeks intervention study involved a large population sample as 221 healthy infants (3-12 months of age) were recruited in total, divided between four groups (placebo and each of the three probiotic strains). No serious adverse events were reported and the Spanish authors concluded that the use of the three probiotic strains in infancy is safe, and well tolerated.
Bérengère Feuz, Marketing Group Manager, commented about the study: “We already have a track record of safe use of our Probio’Kid formula as it has been marketed for around 15 years around the world (e.g. China where it is a best-selling probiotic formula for children since 2003). This study reinforces the assurance we have in our product. Moreover, I must say that we are very impressed by the quality and impact of this very-well designed study as it involves a large population of healthy infants and assesses independently each of the individual strains of Probio’Stick.” She added: “The protocol allowed to go beyond the safety and tolerance assessment since many parameters were also included: this will be analysed in a second step and shall give us new information about each strain modes of action in healthy individuals such as interactions with the microbiota and immune system”.
Such safety study contributed to the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status recently obtained in the US for both ProbioKid® formula and its individual strains for infants and children, and the approval by Health Canada of the formula for children from 3 months old.

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Social media activity around avocado, almonds and quinoa far outstrips that of activated charcoal, collagen or pea protein – suggesting that consumers are more interested in foods that are easy to understand and naturally healthy, a social media analysis by New Nutrition Business reveals.

McDonald’s has announced it will partner with franchisees and suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to McDonald’s restaurants and offices by 36% by 2030 from a 2015 base year in a new strategy to address global climate change. Additionally, McDonald’s commits to a 31% reduction in emissions intensity (per metric ton of food and packaging) across its supply chain by 2030 from 2015 levels. This combined target has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).