The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has found that the regulation of alternative medicines in Australia is being administered badly. An audit undertaken by the ANAO revealed that false safety and efficacy claims on alternative medicine products are being overlooked by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which is the federal regulator for such products. In a shock to consumers of vitamins, supplements and other complementary healthcare products, the ANAO has confirmed that almost 90%... ...Read more »

Australian Food News has conducted a review of international marketing trends in the fields of dietary supplements and functional foods. Some such substances may not be permissible in Australia as foods, while some may require permission from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to be listed for sale in Australia as therapeutic products. Our Australian Food News review reveals several interesting trends. In particular, the marketing claims reveal the health function promotion priority claims... ...Read more »

Blueberries are one of the best-known ‘superfoods’, with a high level of antioxidant chemicals. But are all blueberries equal? New research suggests that some of the less well known cousins of the commercial blueberry may be even better at scavenging free-radicals. The first analysis of the healthful antioxidant content of blueberries that grow wild in Mexico, Central and South America concludes that some of these fruits have even more healthful antioxidants than the blueberries —... ...Read more »

Eating blueberries can guard against high blood pressure, according to new research by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Harvard University. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the major cardiovascular diseases worldwide. It leads to stroke and heart disease and costs more than $300 billion each year. Around a quarter of the adult population is affected globally, including 10 million people in the UK, over 2 million Australians and one in three adults in the United States. Published... ...Read more »

Australian consumers could soon be buying food and drink based on whether it suits their genetic make up as interest in new technology soars, according to consumer research agency Datamonitor. Research by the independent market analyst has revealed that more than half (51%) of Australian consumers now find the idea of using information about their genes to provide nutritional and diet-related advice to be appealing. “Consumers have always wanted food and beverages which cater to their individual... ...Read more »

Uncle Tobys has added a new variety to its Plus muesli line of breakfast cereals, Plus Essentials for Women. The Plus line integrates a variety of vitamins, functional and ‘superfood’ ingredients into one of the most popular items for nutritional enhancements: breakfasts. The Nestlé-owned company has created the new 97% fat free cereal with pomegranates and berry oat clusters, and added five “essential nutrients for women’s wellbeing”: antioxidants A & E, fibre, iron,... ...Read more »

South Australian Agriculture and Food Minister Michael O’Brien said last night that moves towards vitamin D fortified mushrooms would bolster the South Australian mushroom industry, an important supplier for Australia’s second-biggest vegetable crop. The Australian Mushroom Growers Association said in May that the industry was preparing to adopt the new fortification technology, which raises vitamin D levels in mushrooms by exposing them to flashes of UV light. While wild mushrooms are... ...Read more »

Global use of functional ingredients in beverages grew by 3% in 2008, taking consumption to 26.5 billion litres with a retail value of €64 billion, according to the new Global Functional Ingredients report from leading drinks consultancy Zenith International.”Increasing health consciousness, obesity concerns and lifestyle choices along with an ageing population have been the main market drivers,” commented Zenith Market Intelligence Consultant and functionaldrinks Editor Jenny Foulds.... ...Read more »

An ongoing study by scientists at the University of Turku in Finland suggests that taking probiotics during pregnancy may reduce the risk of adiposity – the most unhealthy form of obesity – after giving birth; may lead to less diabetes during pregnancy; and reduce the risk of obesity later in a baby’s life. Probiotics are ‘good’ bacteria that help to maintain a bacterial balance in the digestive tract by reducing the growth of harmful ‘bad’ bacteria. They... ...Read more »

Once relegated primarily to the domain of yoghurt and high-fibre fare, the market for food and beverage products fortified with probiotics and prebiotics has taken off as digestive health emerged as one of the hottest topics in the food and beverage arena.According to latest report from market researcher Packaged Facts, Boosting Immunity Through Digestion: The Relation Among Probiotics, Prebiotics and Digestive Enzymes, the global retail market for probiotic/prebiotic foods and beverages was US$15... ...Read more »