Why do so many ‘functional’ foods fail? Sometimes, it’s just bad luck or bad timing, but in most cases, manufacturers only have themselves to blame, product development guru Mark Crowell tells Elaine Watson at SupplySide East.

There is huge potential in producing food ingredients from traditional and natural sources. These ingredients may deliver health benefit or offer functions in processed foods, removing the need artificial chemicals, says Dr Martin Wickham, of Leatherhead Food Research.

Naturex will expand again in 2011 with several “€5-20m” targets, 1.5 years after completing the €110m integration of Spanish supplier Natraceutical that made the French botanical extracts supplier the biggest in the world.

Biomarkers for eye health nutrient lutein deserve validation, says a leading academic in the area.

A new program allowing in-house raw material testing without any up-front capital costs, is 'an exciting opportunity for industry', says Chromadex's VP of corporate development.

Initiatives introduced by the Natural Products Association (NPA) to engage a fresh batch of Congress members are already reaping rewards, says the NPA’s executive director.

The compound methylhexanamine, or MHA, is not a constituent of geranium oil used in sports nutrition products, despite one study reporting its presence as a constituent, says the general manager of NSF International.

The claims being made by relaxation drinks, seen as a counter to the burgeoning energy drinks segment, are not supported by much science.