This week’s big news across the global nutrition and supplements industries includes the merger between Nutrikéo and ProtéinesXTC in France, CJ Bioscience launching a new microbiome test in Korea, and Amazon U.S. adding to its list of categories covered by its TIC program.
U.S.A.: Amazon adds joint health to dietary supplement testing category list
Tech giant Amazon expanded the list of categories covered by its dietary supplement Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) requirements to include joint health dietary supplement products.
Joint health supplements join weight management, sexual enhancement and sports nutrition/bodybuilding on the list of products that are required to demonstrate third-party verification via NSF International, Eurofins, or UL. Testing data and certificates of analyses are sent directly from the lab to Amazon.
Joint health is reportedly defined as: 1) Any products that make claims regarding joint health, flexibility or mobility. 2) Any products that contain any amount of glucosamine, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and/or chondroitin as an ingredient.
Korea: CJ Bioscience launches gut microbiome test
South Korean functional health foods firm CJ Bioscience has launched a gut microbiome test kit called SMILE GUT to increase the public access to gut microbiome testing.
The company currently provides its GUT INSIDE microbiome test to hospitals, with about 80 hospitals and clinics currently using the service.
In addition to making gut microbiome testing more accessible to the public, CJ Bioscience is looking to tap into the gut microbiome data collected to develop personalized health functional foods.
“We’ve launched the service to help consumers objectively understand their health status and practice systematic health management,” a company spokesperson said.
“We will continue to strengthen our customized health management solutions based on our technological competitiveness in the healthcare market to support consumers’ healthy lifestyles.”
France: Consulting agencies Nutrikéo and ProtéinesXTC merge
French consulting agencies Nutrikéo and ProtéinesXTC announced their merger, with plans to become the leading independent European consulting group in food and nutrition strategy.
Their shared history in the nutrition consulting market and similar corporate cultures made the decision an obvious one, according to Grégory Dubourg, founder and CEO of Nutrikéo.
Nutrikéo has specialized in nutrition and life sciences since its launch in 2009, offering services in market studies, innovation, marketing strategies and communication within the food, nutraceuticals, health and cosmetics sectors.
ProtéinesXTC also offers expertise in scientific consulting, communication and crisis prevention and is known for its analysis of global food trends and innovations.
The new group will combine six key areas of expertise: studies and trends, innovation, scientific consulting, marketing and creative strategies, 360° communication and crisis management.
Dubourg will head the group, while he and Antoine Mercier, executive director of ProtéinesXTC, will continue to manage operations.
