Richard Levy has recently been promoted to General Manager of MusclePharm Canada. Levy’s most recent position with MusclePharm was senior account manager. Levy also worked at GNC Canada for 12 years as its Director of Retail Sales and Operations.
Whole Foods Market release predictions on food trends
According to 2016 predictions from Whole Foods Market’s experts and industry leaders, who source items and lead trends across the retailer’s cheese, grocery, meat, seafood, prepared foods, produce and personal care departments, and spot trends for the grocer’s more than 430 stores, there are 10 top food trends to watch in 2016.
1. Uncommon meat and seafood
Once-overlooked sirloin top, pork T-bone chop and Denver steaks will become a choice for at-home cooks. On the seafood side, species like Responsibly Farmed Paiche and wild-caught blue catfish are also making a dinnertime debut, easing pressure on popular picks like salmon, tuna and shrimp.
2. Wine in a can
The aluminium can, an option that provides both accessibility and convenience without trading quality, is a portable, easy-to-chill option that’s well suited for single servings and active, outdoor lifestyles.
3. Plant-based everything
2016 plant-forward trend will be all about harnessing the power of plants – from quinoa protein in hair care products to vitamin-rich veggies in frozen dessert pops.
4. Fermented foods and probiotics
Fermented foods and probiotics are growing in popularity. Fiery picks like kimchi and gochujang will continue to gain steam, while innovative options like chiogga beet kraut and non-dairy tonics will add variety.
5. Non-GMO-fed verified products
The non-GMO movement will continue to gain momentum with growth and innovation in the animal protein category (due to the recent development and approval of non-GMO verification methods for animal feed).
6. Grass-fed products
Grass-fed products, which range from milk, eggs, yogurt, butter and cheese options to packaged meat snacks and even protein powders are no longer a niche category, but instead are moving into the mainstream.
7. Dried and dehydrated foods
2016’s dehydrated trend takes dried and dehydrated foods to new heights – from dehydrated broccoli, Brussels sprout and parsnip chips to sophisticated salmon, bison and chicken jerkies with grown-up flavour combinations.
8. Heirloom ingredients
Look for these edibles in all kinds of packaged goods. Tiny But Mighty Heirloom Popcorn, Madécasse Chocolate made with heirloom cocoa and Seely’s Mint Patties made with heirloom black mitcham peppermint are just a few examples of trending products.
9. Alternative and wheat-free flours
Gluten-free flours made from legumes, ancient grains, teff, amaranth and nuts will be popular in 2016. Chickpea flour is a quick riser, while other legume-based flours are showing up in bean-based pastas and other packaged goods.
10. ‘Old World’ flavour adventures
“Old World” flavours continue to see significant gains, especially Far East flavours from Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia, as well as Middle Eastern ingredients.
Health Canada pulls unauthorized drugs from store shelves
Health Canada is warning consumers and retailers about five unauthorized drugs that might pose health risks to consumers. The release stated that the drugs in question were seized in Ontario and British Columbia: “they were labelled to contain prescription drugs, narcotic or found to contain a prescription drug that was not listed on the label.”
Health Canada warned retailers in the release that selling unauthorized drugs in Canada is illegal. Furthermore, Health Canada takes the necessary actions to prevent further distribution and to inform consumers.
Hain Celestial Group acquires Orchard House
Recently, the Hain Celestial Group, Inc., a leading organic and natural products company, acquired U.K.-based Orchard House Foods Limited.
Orchard House specializes in supplying food to U.K.-based food retailers, on-the-go outlets, service providers and manufacturers.
“We are excited about the acquisition of Orchard House, which expands our presence in the on-trend fresh category with prepared fruit, drinks and desserts,” said Irwin D. Simon, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hain Celestial.
Hain Celestial has operations in North America, Europe and India.
New Ovarian Cancer Screening Test Reduces Mortality, a Study Suggests
On December 17, results from The UK Collaborative Trial for Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS), a large prospective randomized controlled study of more than 200,000 initially cancer-free, postmenopausal women, ages 50-85 were published in The Lancet. Findings from the study demonstrate that screening may reduce ovarian cancer mortality by an estimated 20 per cent after a follow up period of up to 14 years. Study authors are now planning to conduct three more years of follow up to establish the full impact of ovarian cancer screening.
This collaborative research initiative, coordinated by University College London (UCL), involved 202,638 women, hundreds of healthcare professionals, 13 centers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, the National Health Service and four major U.K. funding agencies: Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, the National Institute of Health Research and The Eve Appeal.
“The evidence from UKCTOCS suggests that carefully conducted screening using a multimodal strategy detects ovarian cancer sufficiently early to alter the natural history of the disease and reduce mortality,” says co-principal investigator professor Ian Jacobs, president and vice-chancellor of University of New South Wales, Australia and honorary professor at UCL, who co-invented the Risk of Ovarian Cancer algorithm (ROCA) in 1996.
Study participants were randomly assigned to a control group (n=101,299) who received no screening and a screening group (n=101,247). The screening group was divided into two arms: a multimodal screening (MMS) group (n=50,624) and an ultrasound screening (USS) group (n=50,623). Women in the multimodal group had a blood test to assess levels of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125), the outcome of which was evaluated by ROCA to assign a woman’s level of risk for ovarian cancer. If the risk was classified as intermediate or elevated, repeat blood tests and/or a transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) scan of the ovaries were used. Women with an intermediate classification were referred for a repeat CA-125 test in 12 weeks and administered a TVUS scan if they received three intermediate ROCA scores. Women assessed with advanced risk received a TVUS scan within six to eight weeks without receiving additional blood testing.
Ovarian cancers were diagnosed in 630 (no screening), 338 (MMS) and 314 (USS) women. A Cox statistical analysis indicated a mortality reduction over years 0-14 of 15 percent with MMS, and 11 percent with USS, which were not significant. This mortality reduction was made up of an 8 percent and 23 percent relative reduction during years 0-7 and 7-14 respectively in the MMS versus no screening analysis, the reduction in the years 7-14 being statistically significant; and of 2 percent and 21 percent respectively in the USS group. The median follow-up was 11.1 years.
Trial results suggested that approximately 15 ovarian cancer deaths could be prevented for every 10,000 women who attend a screening program that involves annual blood tests for between seven to 11 years.
Is Diabetes on the Rise?
According to Decision Resources Group, the prevalent type 2 diabetes (T2D) population in the G7 (United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, and Japan) is increasing. The number of people affected by the disease rose from 71.8 million to 88.6 million adults from 2014 to 2024.
Rising levels of T2D is a major economic concern, given the high rates of morbidity and mortality, and the cost of its associated comorbidities, such as renal disease. An estimated 47 percent of the T2D population has impaired renal function (defined as eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m2), and although the percentage of patients with impaired renal function is expected to stay relatively constant over the next several years, the prevalence will increase in line with the overall T2D population. T2D patients with renal disease, called diabetic nephropathy (DN), are currently prescribed angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). However, these treatments cannot reverse DN progression. According to primary research, DN is considered the renal disease with the greatest unmet need for new therapeutic options (TreatmentTrends®: Diabetic Nephropathy (US) 2015).
Adult-Sized Adolescents Need Adult Dosing To Overcome Vitamin D Deficiency
According to a new study from The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), published in The Journal of Pediatrics, adult-sized teens with vitamin D deficiency benefit from adult treatment dosages of vitamin D3.
This eight-week randomized clinical trial of treatment of vitamin D deficiency with cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) in predominantly Hispanic and black adolescents, of which 33 percent were obese, showed that adult-sized adolescents benefited from doses of vitamin D3 based on adult treatment recommendations as compared to current recommendations for children and adolescents.
The trial compared two high-dose treatment regimens and one low-dose regimen. Response to both high-dose regimens were effective in raising levels of 25(OH)D out of the deficient range (≥20ng/mL), whereas a low-dose regimen of 1,000IU daily was much less effective. After eight weeks of treatment, none of the adolescent participants had toxic levels of 25(OH) D and many, even in the high-dose arms, still had not achieved vitamin D sufficiency (≥30 ng/mL). A critical additional finding was that obese participants had little more than half the mean change in their vitamin D level after treatment as compared to normal-weight participants and therefore require even higher dosing or longer duration of treatment.
Researchers believe that this study may have potential implications for addressing health disparities prevalent among Hispanic and black adolescents.
“Based on our results, we would encourage clinicians caring for older children with a vitamin D deficiency to treat with higher total doses of vitamin D3, especially if the youth is obese. This is especially relevant for treating our patient population here in the Bronx, NY as well as for many other communities throughout the U.S.,”says Hina J. Talib, M.D., attending physician, CHAM and assistant professor of pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
The Endocrine Society’s current recommendation for children ages one to 18 years with vitamin D deficiency is six weeks of treatment with either ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) or D3 at doses of 50,000IU/week or 2,000IU/day. For adults (18+) with a vitamin D deficiency, the recommendation is eight weeks of 50,000IU/week or 6,000IU/day. In their guidelines, the Endocrine Society acknowledges that clinical trials are needed to better inform recommendations across age and weight groups.
Organic food lawsuits now possible in California
California has passed a new law that opens the door for lawsuits to be filed against farmers who make false claims that their products are “organic”.
Morrison & Foerster LLP, a global law firm, commented in a client alert: “In reaching this decision, the California Supreme Court may have opened the floodgates for ‘organic’ claims, permitting anyone to stand in the shoes of a regulator to police (and demand payouts) for technical violations of this complex and developing area of law.”
Walmart names Tony Rogers as CMO
Wal-Mart Stores has promoted Tony Rogers to be the new U.S. chief marketing officer (CMO). He will spearhead the large retailer’s marketing efforts in the United States.
The newly-appointed CMO has worked at Wal-Mart for a decade, who had, most recently, worked as the marketing chief for Wal-Mart’s operations in China. Rogers succeeds Stephen Quinn who has been the Chief Marketing Officer since 2007.
Manitoba Harvest purchases Hemp Oil Canada
Manitoba Harvest, the Winnipeg-based manufacturer of seeds and hemp snacks, has purchased Hemp Oil Canada, a bulk wholesale producer who processes hemp foods and ingredients, for $42 million.
In a press release, Mike Fata, CEO of Manitoba Harvest, stated that the company now has a “greater capacity to educate people on hemp foods, intensify innovation and expand accessibility to hemp food products”.
Hemp Oil provides ingredients in bulk to roughly 400 customers in 13 countries. In 1998, Hemp Oil and Manitoba Harvest opened their doors within the same year that Health Canada legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp.
