Oatein secures £50k investment after Dragon Den
Two former boxers have emerged from Dragon’s Den (British TV show that allows entrepreneurs to pitch ideas to millionaires) with a £50,000 investment from Peter Jones. The pair founded Oatein in their mission to step into the healthy snack market with a range of protein-rich snacks. Oatein started out with producing its flagship flapjack which combines healthy, slow energy release protein and oats – but has since has gone on to produce a wide range of products including brownies, protein bars, cookies and peanut butters which provide the health benefits. With more than 2.5 million snacks sold worldwide, Peter Jones has secured a £50,000 investment for a 25% stake in the business.
Read more at Chronicle Live
DuPont and Lonza join forces
DuPont and Lonza have announced an agreement under which they will jointly manufacture and supply CARE4U™ 2’-FL – a human milk oligosaccharide (HMOs). This manufacturing collaboration reinforces market confidence in the supply and premium quality of this specialty ingredient. “By engaging strategically with Lonza, DuPont will be able to accelerate commercialisation and offer high-quality HMOs to customers and prospects. The collaboration with Lonza will play a key role in DuPont’s business growth strategy by focusing on providing high-quality consumer health and wellness products,” said John Rea, Global Business Unit Leader, HMO & Fibres, DuPont Nutrition & Health.
Read more at DuPont Nutrition & Health
Fonterra takes a stake in Motif
Fonterra has taken a stake in Motif Ingredients, a US-based food ingredients company that develops and commercialises bio-engineered animal and food ingredients. Judith Swales, head of Fonterra’s Global Consumer and Foodservice business, says the move is part of the Co-operative’s commitment to its farmer-owners to stay at the forefront of innovation and to understand and meet consumer demands. Terms are not disclosed, but Fonterra’s investment represents a minority stake in the business. “Our stake in Motif will help us be part of this emerging next-generation fermentation-produced nutrition sector,” says Swales.
Read more at Fonterra.
More legal woes for Enhanced Athlete
UK-based Enhanced Athlete (sports supplements company) has been found guilty of placing an unsafe food product on the market. A Crown Court jury found the company distributed and sold a fat-burner supplement containing DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol), an illegal toxic chemical unsafe for human consumption. On 7 February, the company was handed various fines, and its former director was sentenced to a suspended prison sentence, community service and corporate restriction.
Read more at Natural Products INSIDER.
Microbiome research expected to accelerate the blue biotechnology industry
The blue biotechnology industry uses marine organisms to find compounds of interest for human use. Marine organisms produce countless lipids, proteins, and enzymes that help them thrive and survive in the ocean. These compounds can protect the organisms from disease, and can also be utilised to advance medicine for people. Other applications from bioactive compounds include developing resources used for food and feed stocks, cosmetics, healthcare, and diagnostic tools. New cancer treatments, antibiotics and antifungals may lie in the genes of marine microorganisms.
Read more at Forbes.
