Probiotics are introduced to the body for its beneficial qualities and contain live bacteria or yeast said to have a variety of health benefits. This could be either in a food or drink products, or nutritional supplements. Made up of microorganisms intended to enhance health, found in yogurt and other fermented foods, dietary supplements and beauty products. 80% of global consumers cited they take products as part of an everyday balanced diet. The probiotic market has witnessed considerable growth over the last couple of decades. Consumers motivations for buying probiotics are primarily health based, specifically gut health. 73% disclosed their motivation for using probiotic products was to support digestive health, followed by 71% who answered it was to help...

With the legalization of hemp cultivation, products containing cannabidiol (CBD) have become popular. Many of these oils and creams claim to alleviate pain and other conditions, and now, new research reported in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces suggests that CBD could have another function: as a bioplastic. The research team created a CBD-based bioplastic material that could one day be used in medical implants, food wrappers and more. Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is well known for the euphoric “high” it gives...

When you’re standing in the frozen food aisle, it’s nearly impossible to know whether that Salisbury steak has thawed and refrozen — a process with potentially harmful consequences. So, researchers reporting in ACS Sensors have designed a food-grade device from edible materials, including table salt, red cabbage and beeswax, that lets you know. The proof-of-concept sensor provides a color...

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on iron milk proteinate as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 and to address the bioavailability of iron from this source in the context of Directive 2002/46/EC. The NF is a complex of iron, casein and phosphate, which is produced from iron salts (i.e. ferric chloride or ferric...

From the wide variety of sodas, candies and baked goods that are sold worldwide, it’s clear that people love their sweet treats. But consuming too much white table sugar or artificial sweetener can lead to health issues. In the search for a better sweetener, researchers in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry now report a low-calorie mixture that is as sweet as table sugar and, in lab experiments, feeds “good” gut microbes. Artificial sweeteners have exploded in popularity because they let people consume sweets without the calories. However, while they’re considered safe for human consumption, studies in animals and humans...

Nitrates and nitrites give processed meats their characteristic pink color and robust flavor. Although many consumers want to limit consumption of these preservatives because the substances can form potentially cancer-causing compounds, knowing how much is in a food has been difficult to determine. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed a color-changing film that consumers can stick onto foods and easily analyze nitrite levels by snapping a picture with a...

The Industry Transparency Center announced a new survey of 3,500 dietary supplement consumers. The “ITC Insights – 2022 Supplement Consumer Survey” was conducted by Dynata from March 1-26, 2022, and was written and analyzed by the Industry Transparency Center. The breakdown of supplement consumers included 1,000 from the US, 1,000 from China, 500 from the UK...

Many people have now embraced the plant-based meat movement. Plants high in protein, such as soybeans, are common ingredients, but it’s been unclear how much of the nutrient makes it into human cells. In ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers report that proteins in a model plant-based substitute were not as accessible to cells as those from meat. The team says this knowledge could eventually be used to develop more healthful products. Consumers can now buy almost any type of alternative meat, from ground beef to fish sticks. To mimic the look and texture of the real thing, plants are dehydrated into a powder and mixed with seasonings. Then, the mixtures are typically heated...

In the period of life prior to and after menopause, women tend to accumulate more fat in their bodies; the distribution of fat in the different regions of the body changes as well. Before menopause, women typically have more fat in their thigh and gluteal areas compared to men, but in midlife many women notice the increase of fat especially in their waist area. In addition to the total amount, the location of this adipose tissue also is meaningful to one’s overall health, especially because mid-region fat has been shown to increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. “Aging increases total body adipose tissue accumulation in both...

Omega-3s are fatty acids that play an essential role in diet and nutrition. They are popular with consumers for their purported health benefits, ranging from heart and cardiovascular health to improving symptoms relating to depression, eye health and infant development. There are three main types of omega-3s: Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are commonly found in fish and other types of seafood. However, as consumers increasingly focus on their health and the environment, formulators are tapping into plant and microalgae ingredients to meet consumer demands for nutritional value from vegan alternatives. “We can say with relative certainty that interest in plant-based and...