OSC Launches Anti-Packaging Waste Campaign
One Step Closer (OSC) has announced the 2024 "Pack Pact" campaign, an initiative to promote a circular economy in the natural products industry. The OSC Packaging Collaborative, the collective of brands and materials manufacturers working together to address single-use packaging waste within the natural products industry, is behind the campaign and pushing its goal to create awareness of the environmental impact of certain packaging choices while empowering non-member brands, packaging manufacturers, and consumers alike to minimize waste and come up with innovative sustainable packaging solutions.
Consumers looking to contribute to the cause can pledge to reduce their own packaging footprint through the support of brands who are focused on pushing forward the sustainable packaging movement. “We’re calling on bold brands to commit to tangible actions around circular packaging,” said Lara Dickinson, OCS Executive Director.
Now Available: Seed Oil Free Certification
The Seed Oil Free Alliance, a third-party certifying organization, has debuted the "Seed Oil Free Certified" Standards and Certification Program. Aimed at addressing concerns over the use of seed oils throughout the global food supply chain, the "Seed Oil Free Certified" seal will ensure products do not contain seed oils including soybean, corn, and canola oil. "The aim of the new 'Seed Oil Free Certified' Seal is to help consumers identify foods made with healthy ingredients at the grocery store and when dining out. This sends a powerful message to the entire industry that consumers demand transparency and honesty when it comes to the quality and purity of their ingredients," said Seed Oil Free Alliance CEO, Jonathan Rubin.
With demand for premium, healthy oils continuing to grow and undersupply due to drought and climate-related factors continuing to be an issue, low global production levels will continue to plague the industry and cause companies to dilute their products. Studies from the FDA and UC Davis have found that over 25% of extra virgin olive oil and nearly 70% of avocado oil in the US supply chain might be mixed or diluted with low-cost refined seed oils like soybean, corn, or canola oil. "When people see the 'Seed Oil Free Certified' Seal in the grocery aisle or at their favorite restaurant, they'll know these products have undergone rigorous laboratory testing and audits to protect them from food fraud," shared Corey Nelson, Chief Innovation Officer, Manger of educational campaigns for the Seed Oil Free Alliance.
RidgeCrest Rebrands Adrenal Fatigue Fighter
RidgeCrest's Adrenal Fatigue Fighter has been rebranded to AdrenaLove. Intended to support stimulant-free focus and energy, the supplements composition of amino acids, essential vitamins, Ashwagandha, Ginseng, Holy Basil, Vitamin B, L-theanine, and other adaptogens has remained unchanged. Available in 60 capsules/30 servings size containers, the dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, non-GMO, preservative free supplement is recommended for adults and children older than 12 looking for help with focus & mood booster and balanced cortisol levels.
Organic & Natural Health Association Welcomes New Members
Vice President of Business Development at Aker BioMarine, Todd Norton, has been elected as Board President of the Organic & Natural Health Association. Norton, whose career has been dedicated to promoting health and wellness through sustainable practices, shared his sentiments on his new position, "I really connect with the mission to bring people and businesses together to promote regenerative practices, and I am looking forward to leading our efforts in my new role as president while advancing our shared commitments."
Other newly elected board members include:
- Mark Thurston, President of AIDP
- Brian Terry, Senior Director of Sales at Nordic Naturals
- Doug Lynch, CEO of MarketWell Nutrition
- Ray Martinez, President of Florida Supplement
Karen Howard, CEO and Executive Director of O&N Health, explained the significance of joining the association's board, "Being a member of O&N Health ensures you stay ahead on important industry matters, driven solely by integrity and expertise. Our carefully selected members and board provide up-to-date guidance and solutions for the challenges the industry faces."
TamaFlex Receives HFFI Registration
NXT USA and KolmarBNH, have officially registered TamaFlex, a joint health ingredient, as a Health Functional Food Ingredient (HFFI) with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). The registration process, established by the MFDS, confirms the safety, efficacy, and quality of functional food ingredients marketed in South Korea and includes the evaluation of peer-reviewed research, review of clinical studies, and assessment of scientific evidence supporting its health claims. "We are thrilled to have TamaFlex registered as an HFFI ingredient in Korea. This approval places TamaFlex in an elite category of natural ingredients that are validated for their specific health benefits, enabling consumers to trust in its proven efficacy," expressed David Woo, NXT USA's Director of Sales.
Edward & Sons Products Lack Glyphosate
Non-profit consumer advocacy group, Moms Across America, has reported Edward & Sons Organic Brown Rice Snaps has no detectable levels of glyphosate. The report, conducted by Health Research Institute Laboratories—an accredited laboratory—tested 46 gluten free food products for glyphosate, also known as Roundup—a popular herbicide linked to various health issues, and found that 44 of the 46 products selected contained glyphosate residues. With 12% of men and 9% of women in the US reporting they follow a gluten free diet, manufacturers have found it challenging to offer gluten-free products that are completely free of contaminants due to government allowed use of harmful agrochemicals. "Moms Across America was thrilled to find that Edward & Sons' rice crackers, a staple in many of our homes, had no detectable level of glyphosate. Only two gluten free products out of the 46 samples tested achieved this status,” confirmed Zen Honeycutt, Founder and Executive Director of Moms Across America.
Edward & Sons has been offering plant-based, natural, sustainable, and organic grocery products since 1978. Its full product line includes coconut milk, bouillon cubes, crackers, and sauces. Joel Dee, Founder and Director of Edward & Sons Trading Company, Inc. spoke on the company's recognition, “At Edward & Sons, we take the challenge seriously. We are proud of the recognition received by our organic baked Brown Rice Snaps. It validates the selection and practices of our farmer-partners."
A full copy of the report can be found here.
Arla Foods Whey Protein Receives FDA Approval
The FDA has approved Arla Foods whey protein hydrolysates for use in infant formula. Intended to support allergy management and gut comfort, the FDA has confirmed four ingredients in the brands Peptigen and Lacprodan ranges meet the criteria of peptones in the US Code of Federal Regulations which allows for use in early life nutrition. In the US, it is estimated that 2-3% of infants suffer from cow's milk allergy, creating a need for hydrolyzed formulas backed by clinical proof of efficacy.
Head of Arla Foods Ingredients' Pediatric Business Unit, Anders Steen Jorgensen, expressed the company's enthusiasm after achieving the milestone, “We have over 30 years’ experience of developing and producing safe, high-quality whey protein hydrolysates for the infant formula market at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. Our strategy is to ensure these scientifically backed ingredients are available all over the world. We are delighted that US infant formula manufacturers can now use four of our hydrolysates in infant nutrition products targeting cow’s milk allergy management or reduction of gut discomfort.”
Roquette and Bonumose Enter Joint Agreement
Roquette and Bonumose have signed a Cooperation Agreement to advance the development of tagatose, a natural-origin sweetener with clinically proven health benefits. The partnership seeks to join Roquette's strong experience in starch and starch-based sweetener production with Bonumose's cutting-edge enzymatic technology. Together, the companies will look to enhance the scalability of tagatose and maintain Roquette’s commitment to innovative sugar management solutions. Anne Hirsch, Head of Sugar Management at Roquette, described the impact of the collaboration project, “We recognize the potential of Bonumose’s innovative enzyme technology, which produces high-purity tagatose. Our large-scale starch sweetener production expertise can significantly enhance processing efficiency post enzymatic conversion. This partnership aligns with our long-term vision of sustainable production and meeting the growing global demand for sweetening solutions.”
HealthTech Bioactives Launches New Product at IFT First
HealthTech Bioactives (HTBA) will launch a high-purity natural sweetness modifier for reduced-sugar soft drinks and dairy & non-dairy beverages at IFT First in Chicago. Made from citrus fruit, the natural ingredient enhances sweet tastes, improves mouthfeel, and can help manufacturers looking to overcome taste challenges from a constantly changing consumer demand. “With over 40 years’ experience in developing consumer-centric solutions from nature, our latest natural flavoring ingredient further strengthens our capabilities in this space," shared Jordi-Ferre-Nadal, General Manager, North America at HTBA. Show attendees can stop by booth 3219 to learn about HBTA's modulation solutions and their latest published scientific theory on naringenin by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Representatives from the brand will be on hand to explain how this positive scientific opinion of naringenin as a new flavoring substance will grow taste modulation innovation opportunities for the food and beverage industry.
Nuseed Offers New Omega-3 Ingredient
Developer of renewable and traceable sources of plant-based nutrition for supplement, food, and beverage brands, Nuseed, will be debuting its canola-based omega-3 ingredient at IFT First. Nutriterra is the first plant-based source of complete omega-3 nutrition, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). With consumer interest in omega-3 supplements having grown significantly, sourcing the nutrient strictly from marine sources has become unsustainable.
"Eight out of 10 people don't get enough omega-3s, and more accessible and sustainable sources are needed to meet human health demand and consumer expectations while protecting our oceans for future generations," said Justin White, Nutriterra global nutrition lead. In addition to sourcing issues, many consumers are also looking for new omega-3 alternatives that match their plant-based diets, are allergen-free, and lack a fish taste or aroma. To learn more, IFT guests can stop by booth 3720 and try out the new ingredient in a vegan DHA and vitamin D gummy, as well as attend Nuseed's "Nutriterra: Transforming Omega-3 Nutrition with Groundbreaking DHA Canola Oil" Taste of Science presentation on July 16 at 3:30pm in booth 5212.
