08 2010
Unilever Embraces Algae with Solazyme Investment
As food and consumer-goods companies face problems obtaining the key ingredient palm oil without damaging the environment, Unilever is betting on a promising low-life alternative: algae.
London-based Unilever, which relies on palm oil to make Dove soap, Vaseline lotion and Magnum ice cream, is set to announce Wednesday that it has made a multimillion-dollar investment in Solazyme Inc., a South San Francisco, Calif., company that harvests algal oil, a liquid that can replace palm oil in foods, soaps and lotions and serve as biodiesel fuel to power airplanes.
Unilever’s investment comes as big food companies are under pressure from environmentalists to curb the use of palm oil, the harvesting of which has contributed to deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, damaging orangutan habitats.
17 2010
International Seafood & Health Conference & Exhibition – Australia, November 6 – 10, 2010
It is important to understand that this is not a fisheries conference, it is a health conference, but one where the participants all share a common interest and will communicate information about the very latest medical research into all health aspects of the benefits of seafood. New discoveries and a deeper understanding of the health benefits of seafood are occurring at a rapid rate and this conference will highlight the very latest information available.
It is anticipated to attract up to 1,000 participants made up of the world’s leading health researchers, environmental researchers, medical practitioners, nutrition educators and policy-makers, probably some 50 or more countries will be represented, from the Americas and Europe to Asia and the South Pacific.
The conference will be supported by a Trade display of industry, scientific and health/environment exhibitors to ensure the attendees leave with the very latest knowledge in all these important areas. The conference program will embrace the public health and wellbeing by seeking presenters to deliver the latest development of these types of subjects: Obesity, Child Nutrition, Brain Nutrition, Health Benefits of Fish Consumption, Nutrition and Public Health, The role of fish and seafood in human cognitive development, Diabetes, Heart Health, education issues in nutrition and public health, and importantly Sustainability of Fisheries Resources and the future of aquaculture.
17 2010
BioCentric Energy Holdings announced multi-million dollar contract with Biocen Natural Products Development
A multi-million dollar contract was signed between Daniel Kennedy, CEO and President of Biocen Natural Development Group (Pink Sheets:BNPD), a Nevada health drink company, and BEHL President, Monique Berry. The Nevada company, BNPD, is a public company consisting of a board of directors, a sales and marketing team and distribution outlets.
BNPD, formerly Bionic Products, Inc., is currently undergoing a formal name change to Biocen Natural Products Development, Inc. All corporate information is currently being updated and the official name change will be announced when approval has been received from the regulatory authorities.
The details of the contract between BNPD and BEHL are as followed, states Ms. Berry, “The first part of the contract is a $600,000 licensing and royalty agreement for representation of BEHL and BEHL clients for specific algaes produced. BNPD has agreed to pay BioCentric Energy in 8 equal installments commencing on September 14, 2010. As the market demand fluctuates for the end products, the licensing fee may be amended annually.”
In addition to the licensing agreement, both companies have agreed upon and executed a sole and exclusive sales and marketing contract in which BNPD will purchase from BioCentric Energy and its clients 3 specific algae strains to be used in BNPD’s health and nutracuetical products.
The first algae strain, Haemaotoccocus, has a current market value of $341 per kilogram. Conservatively, BEHL will produce 15,600 pounds of Haemaotoccocus over the next 12 months for BNPD. The next strain grown by BEHL and/or clients sold to BNPD will be the very popular, robust and fast growing Chlorella.
The current market value for Chlorella is $44 per kilogram. BioCentric Energy will deliver to BNPD, 12,000 pounds of Chlorella over the next 12 months. Finally, the highly popular algae known for its antioxidant and anticancer properties, Spirulina, will also be produced and delivered to BNPD. The current market value for Spirulina is $20 per kilogram. BioCentric Energy plans to produce and deliver approximately 22,500 pounds of Spirulina over the next 12 months.
16 2010
Portland, Maine’s Ocean Approved Seaweed Products begins further expansion
Like so many entrepreneurial ventures with food products, Ocean Approved frozen seaweed started with a pot simmering on a kitchen stove. Now, with a $95,000 NOAA Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I Grant and an experimental lease to raise seaweed near Little Chebeague Island, the first lease of its kind in the U.S., the company, which has grown steadily since its inception, is poised to move towards large-scale commercial production of seaweed.
In the first year of business, Tolleff Olson, the company’s founder, did all the work, gathering, processing and marketing. Two years ago, he was joined by business partner Paul Dobbins, who runs the office. According to Dobbins, Olsen is “the visionary” and does everything else. They now have 10 part-time employees.
During the past year, sales have more than doubled. At first, Olsen sold the seaweed products to four Portland stores; that has increased to 17 Whole Foods Markets and 72 specialty and natural foods stores, including two venues in Los Angeles. In June, as a result of contacts made while serving their seaweed at the NOAA Fish Fry for NOAA employees and guests in Washington, D.C., Ocean Approved gained orders from a chain of natural food stores in the D.C. area.
06 2010
The Body of Research for Astaxanthin’s Health Benefits Continues to Grow
Our colleagues at Cyanotech have provided the following research updates on astaxanthin:
- In a human study, Astaxanthin showed benefits for immune enhancement, oxidative stress & inflammation reduction and also decreased damage to DNA (Park, et al, 2010)
- In another promising human study, Astaxanthin reduced triglycerides and increased good cholesterol (HDL) in patients with mild hyperlipidemia (Yoshida, et al, 2010)
- A study on Astaxanthin’s abilities as a sunscreen reinforced earlier studies demonstrating positive benefits for skin health and its capacity to prevent damage from UV light (Suganuma, et al, 2010)
- Eye health benefits for Astaxanthin were further validated in a rat study which found a protective effect for Astaxanthin in ocular hypertension (Cort, et al, 2010)
- Astaxanthin was found to protect against damage from ischemia (blockage of arteries) through its intense antioxidant activity (Curek, et al, 2010)
- Astaxanthin was found to be a potent agent against neurodegenerative disorders (Chan, et al, 2010)
- Astaxanthin displayed an ability to improve the profileration of neural stem cells (Kim, et al, 2010)
For a copy of these studies (or for information on Cyanotech’s BioAstin Natural Astaxanthin), please contact Cyanotech
06 2010
Marine Ingredients Poised For Accelerated Development
Inside Cosmeceuticals posted an editorial feature we recently wrote on the future for Marine Ingredients. Read more below:
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Many believe the ocean is where life first started. Then it is no surprise, perhaps, that the biggest potential source for new, bioactive ingredients for the health and beauty market may originate from the same place. With so many new species of marine life still to be discovered, the potential for new marine-derived compounds and extracts is immense, and the industry is poised for accelerated development in the near future.
Later this year, the final results of the Census of Marine Life will be revealed. This 10-year ambitious initiative, driven by a global network of researchers in about 80 nations, is intended to assess and explain the diversity, distribution and abundance of marine life in the world’s oceans. This massive study will tell us about newly identified marine organisms and marine life not previously known. This news is exciting, as new promising bacteria, organisms and compounds will be likely discovered, providing a potential treasure trove of new marine ingredient products.
11 2009
Marine Research Is Key To ‘Super Foods’ Market
Ireland is already well on the way to becoming a player in this worldwide multi-billion euro industry, according to research results of the NutraMara project presented by leading scientists recently.
NutraMara is a marine functional foods joint research initiative, led by Teagasc Ashtown Food Research Centre and funded by the Marine Institute and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Launched in April 2008, the initiative is led by DeclanTroy of Teagasc, Ashtown, and involves collaboration of up to 30 scientists across Ireland working in Teagasc Moorepark Food Research Centre, University College Cork, University College Dublin, NUI Galway, University of Limerick, and the University of Ulster.
11 2009
Another Tasty Way for Kids to Increase Their Omega-3 Intake
Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited (ONC), supplier of MEG-3® brand Omega-3 EPA/DHA food and dietary supplement ingredients, is pleased to announce that Bernard Matthews Ltd. has included the MEG-3® healthy food ingredient in their children’s range of Packed Munch Sliced Deli Meats. Designed to offer parents a nutritious and versatile sandwich component for lunch boxes, the Packed Munch range of Sliced Deli Meats includes Turkey Ham Slices and Turkey Breast Slices that contain 190-200 mg of MEG-3® brand Omega-3 EPA/DHA, from fish oil per 100 gram serving. EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaneonic Acid) are the essential fatty acids important for good health, normal growth and development of the brain, eyes, and nerves. Ian Lucas, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, at Ocean Nutrition Canada said, “Now, with Packed Munch Sliced Deli Meats, children can get the goodness of fish, without the taste of fish, in this convenient great tasting deli meat from Bernard Matthews. It’s a great way to sneak a little Omega-3 into children’s diets!”
11 2009
Recent Advances Pave Way for Fish Gelatin For Food
Fish gelatin reportedly possesses similar characteristics to porcine gelatine and can be an alternative to mammalian gelatine for use in food products. Recent food safety fears, such as BSE in cattle and avian ‘flu in poultry, prompted consumers and marketers to look for products containing no animal derivatives. Certain companies and institutions claim to have conclusively proven that there is no link between gelatine and BSE. There is strong evidence that gelatine has health-promoting properties. For example, the natural protein gelatine contains amino acids glycine and proline in a concentration that is around 10 to 20 times higher than in other proteins. Although fish gelatine will not completely replace mammalian gelatine, it is hopeful that one day, it might become a niche product offering unique and competitive properties to other biopolymers, as well as meeting the demand of the global halal/kosher market. Recent reports indicate the annual world output of gelatin is nearly 326,000 tons. Although gelatine has such a wide range of useful applications, pessimism and strong concerns persist among consumers with regard to its usage. This is mainly due to religious sentiments.
11 2009
Anti-Cancer Fucoidans Extracted from Brown Marine Algae; May be Used in Functional Beverages
A team of researchers has developed a method for extracting three different varieties of polysaccharides from the algae: alginates, fucoidans, and laminaran. The researchers found that the extracted alginates appeared to demonstrate anti-bacterial properties and appeared to be effective against E. coli and staphylococcus. Studies have suggested that both laminarans and fucoidans have immune-boosting, cancer-fighting, and anti-viral properties. As part of the next step in developing commercial products from the extracts, the researchers are testing them for toxicity on rats. Obstacles to overcome before commercialization include quality control standardization and a way to extract the polysaccharides on an industrial scale. The researchers have contracted with an Ireland-based beverage company to develop products for the Japanese market. They are currently testing the extracts in beverages including ice tea, orange juice and water. The global market in so-called functional foods and drinks is anticipated to grow by 14 percent per year until 2010.
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