Future innovations and new product development (NPD) will be hindered because of the increased costs of research and development for funding clinical trials to satisfy new regulatory requirements, according to a new report from Rabobank. (foodmanufacture.co.uk)
One of the biggest challenges faced by manufacturers, said Rabobank, will be the marketing of extracts added to foods, which claim to have a particular function, such as calcium for bones, omega-3 fatty acids to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, as well as insoluble fibre for healthy immune and digestive systems. For example, in October Nestlé launched a collagen coffee in Singapore, targeted at women. But in Europe anti-ageing claims will be hard to prove under the EU legislation, according to the report, EU health and nutrition ingredients sector ahead of the new health claims regulation.
“As a result, the industry needs to increase the investments in research and development to accommodate the legislation’s requirements,” it said. Over 66% of claims evaluated so far have been rejected, with only very few claims approved, which include calcium and vitamin D for healthy bones, plant sterols and stanols for cholestrol reduction, DHA (an omega-3) for children’s eye health, and tomato extract for blood circulation.
