Tag: Nutrition, Health & Wellness

New study casts doubt on reliability of glycemic index as an indicator of blood sugar response

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USA — The glycemic Index, a value that aims to quantify how fast blood sugar rises after eating it, may not be a reliable indicator blood sugar response, according to a new study by scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging.  The scientists conducted controlled, repeated tests involving 63 healthy adults and found out that blood sugar responses after consuming a fixed amount of white bread could range across all three glycemic index categories (low, medium, or high).  The team found that the average glycemic index value of white…

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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledges US$922M to bridge global nutrition gap

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US – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged to commit US$922 million over the next five years to address global nutrition.  The pledge, delivered at the first-ever United Nations Food Systems Summit, is the foundation’s largest nutrition commitment to date, a statement from the foundation said.   Through the new commitment, the foundation aims to advance its mission of ensuring women and children have the nutrition they need to live healthy and productive lives.   Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation noted that investment in nutrition is critical to…

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Public, private food sector players welcome Technoserve’s Micronutrient Fortification Index

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NIGERIA – Globally, more than 2 billion individuals or one in three people, are afflicted by micronutrient malnutrition, according to statistics by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with the World Health Organization further highlighting that 45% of child deaths globally are attributed to under-nutrition. One of the ways that has been formulated to address the menace is Food Fortification- a cost effective and complementary strategy that has helped to virtually eliminate many nutrition disorders in the world. TechchnoServe, an international non-profit organization has introduced a new…

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Indian QSR operator Jubilant Foodworks acquires minority stake in nutrition company Wellversed

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INDIA – Jubilant Foodworks Ltd (JFL), a leading Indian quick service restaurants operator has acquired 25 per cent stake in Gurugram-based nutrition company Wellversed Health.  Wellversed Health offers a variety of food products that are customised for specific nutrition and dietary needs including gluten-free, keto, vegan, high-protein, diabetic conditions, and regular immunity.  According to a regulatory filing by JFL to the stock exchanges, the net revenue of Wellversed in fiscal 2019-20 was Rs 4.89 crore (US$663542).    Following the acquisition, Jubilant FoodWorks will have the right to nominate one non-retiring director to the board of Wellversed, and an observer…

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UK introduces mandatory folic acid fortification for wheat flour to help prevent birth defects

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UK – UK government has announced that Folic acid (Vitamin B9) is to be added to UK wheat flour to help prevent spinal birth defects in babies.   Folate helps the body make healthy red blood cells and is naturally occurring in certain foods, such as leafy green vegetables.    Research shows that not getting enough folate (Vitamin B9) within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy can lead to neural tube defects and result in spinal conditions such as spina bifida or anencephaly.  Spina bifida (abnormal development of the spine) and anencephaly, a…

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ADM opens new Chinese flavour facility in quest to expand global nutritional capabilities

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CHINA – ADM has opened a new state-of-the-art, fully automated flavor production facility situated in Pinghu, Zhejiang Province, China in line with goal to expand its global nutritional capabilities.  The Pinghu facility will serve as ADM’s flavor supply hub in Asia Pacific (APAC), allowing it to leverage its expertise and leading-edge technologies.   The 27,000 sq m facility will also build out the ADM pantry to meet customer needs further and advance its growth strategy.  Additionally, the facility is strategically located within an hour of Shanghai, bringing geographic advantages for…

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DSM to double down on sustainable food production, commits to close global micronutrient gap

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NETHERLANDS –  Dutch multinational supplier of nutritional and health ingredients DSM has announced that it will fully focus its resources and capabilities to address the urgent societal and environmental challenges linked to the way the world produces and consumes food.  The Dutch company said its commitments cover three areas where it believes it can make the greatest positive impact together with its business partners: Health for People, Health for Planet and Healthy Livelihoods.  Under the ‘people’ umbrella, DSM said its new strategic food system commitments by 2030 are to work toward closing the micronutrient…

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Reducing sugar in packaged foods, beverages could prevent 500,000 deaths, new US study finds

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US – Reducing sugar in packaged foods and beverages could help US citizens avoid lifestyles diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular-related complications, a recent study published in Circulation has revealed.  According to the study, cutting 20% of sugar from packaged foods and 40% from beverages could prevent 2.48 million cardiovascular disease events such as strokes, heart attacks and cardiac arrests.  Additionally, the study revealed that 490,000 cardiovascular deaths and 750 diabetes cases could be avoided in the United States over the lifetime of the current adult population if the above cuts were…

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Catalent eyes share of nutritional suppliments market with planned acquisition of Bettera Holdings for US$1bn

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USA – US drug manufacturing company Catalent is seeking to have a share of the thriving nutritional supplements market with the planned acquisition of Bettera Holdings, from Highlander Partners for US$1 billion.  Bettera Holdings is the holding company for Bettera Brands, a Texas-based nutritional supplements company that manufactures gummy vitamins, soft chews and lozenges.  Highlander formed Bettera – which has four manufacturing facilities across the US – through a series of four acquisitions beginning in 2017.  Catalent expects the acquisition of Bettera to help it accelerate the growth of its softgel and…

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PepsiCo doubles down on healthy snacking with plans to build new US$256m facility in Poland

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POLAND – American snack and beverage giant PepsiCo is doubling down on its healthy snacking agenda with plans to invest in a new US$256 million food manufacturing plant in Poland.   The new plant- its largest and most sustainable in Europe- will manufacture a range of PepsiCo’s snacks, including Lay’s fried and oven-baked and Doritos.  The plant will export to over 20 European countries including Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary and is slated for completion in 2025.  Building a new plant is timely as PepsiCo aims to increase sales…

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