Irish scientists working with gut bacteria – microbiota – have found 'exciting opportunities' for value-added dairy products, according to the head of biotechnology at Ireland’s largest food research center.

This time last year, the Southeast Asian nations of Asean set out to create the single largest regulatory framework for dietary supplements in the world. We spoke to Dato' Dr Rajen M, who has been advising on Malaysia's position, to give us an update on the framework.

Confectionery is a novel way to control your weight, according to private label firm Carmit Candy which has just launched a weight management chocolate wafer bar.

The Dutch start-up Medical Brands is finding success with cranberry products that have won UTI and vaginal treatment claims via the EU medical devices directive.

Chocolate is a strong carrier for probiotics and could present an opportunity for brand manufacturers to introduce products to improve gut health, according to supplier DuPont.

Aggrieved companies and  trade groups have already mounted legal actions against the EU’s strict health claim laws – they are in process – but the regulation’s workings could face fresh challenge from governments signed up to the World Trade Organization (WTO), according to a Brussels-based legal expert.

A new interactive graphical database offering market insights for food and beverage ingredients will help manufacturers and suppliers identify new trends and grow their business, according to RTS.

German confectionery coatings firm Capol plans to venture into the supplements sector to establish a second business pillar for growth and gain technological knowledge, its CEO says.

A new technology that utilises intestinal stem cells to grown mini gut structures in the lab promises to help probiotic researchers achieve efficient and cost effective research, according to TNO.

Greater collaboration from both within the industry, and between industry and academics, will help to drive forward promising scientific developments in probiotics, according to experts at Probiotech and Microbiota 2013.