Fish oil could save €13bn a year in EU healthcare costs

1.5 million cases of heart disease preventable over 5 years through more widespread use of Omega 3 supplements, a new study says

Vitafoods Europe 2016, Geneva– More widespread regular consumption of Omega 3 supplements could save healthcare systems and providers in the EU a total of €12.9 billion a year, according to an independent study commissioned by Food Supplements Europe.

Using existing published literature and official data, researchers at Frost & Sullivan explored the financial benefits of the consumption of Omega 3 EPA+DHA food supplements among people aged 55 and over. This demographic group, representing 157.6 million people or 31% of the total EU population, is considered to be at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Overall it is forecast that in the EU, 24% of people aged 55 and over (i.e. 38.4 million people) are in danger of experiencing a CVD-attributed hospital event between 2016 and 2020. This is expected to cost as much as €1.328 trillion over this five-year period – equivalent to €34,637 per event.

However, an analysis indicates that more widespread daily consumption of 1,000mg of Omega 3 EPA+DHA fish oil among individuals aged 55-plus would result in more than 1.5 million fewer CVD-attributed hospital events across the EU between now and 2020, generating total cost savings of €64.5bn – or €12.9bn per annum.

The results of the study are detailed in a new report: The Healthcare Cost Savings of Omega 3 Food Supplements in the European Union.

Food Supplements Europe Chair Ingrid Atteryd said: “This healthcare cost savings study shows very clearly that billions of euros could be saved by encouraging people aged 55-plus to use Omega 3 food supplements regularly to reduce their risk of developing CVD. Communicating this message through official advice at both EU and national level, as well as via healthcare professionals and the media, could have a major positive impact on people’s wellbeing, while also significantly cutting the cost burden on healthcare systems and providers.”

The study found that the annual financial savings achievable through more widespread regular use of Omega 3 supplements varied between EU member states. The biggest economic benefits would be seen in Germany, which could avoid costs of €3.86bn a year, according to the research findings.

The Omega 3 healthcare cost savings study was commissioned and funded by Food Supplements Europe but conducted independently by Frost & Sullivan, which autonomously developed the methodology to calculate the cost savings.

Ms Atteryd added: “This was an objective study, based on official data, conducted professionally by an independent research team using rigorous methodology and analysis techniques. It carries a powerful and compelling message which shows that Omega 3 food supplements have the potential to be a real force for good.”

She concluded: “Our chief aim is to create a more favourable regulatory and commercial environment for food supplements in the EU, through demonstrating the highly positive role they can play in promoting good health and reducing healthcare costs. This new report is a further step on that journey – and a very important one.”

  ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Richard Clarke, Ingredient Communications

Tel: +44 1293 886291 / +44 7766 256176

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Twitter: @ingredientcomms

About Food Supplements Europe
Based in Brussels, Food Supplements Europe is a not-for-profit trade organisation representing the interests of the European food supplements sector. Its membership includes national associations and companies who are committed to ensuring that future EU legislation and policy reflect the important role that the supplements sector plays in improving the health of consumers. You can find more information about Food Supplements Europeat www.foodsupplementseurope.org

Record-breaking, third Agritech Expo in Chisamba hailed as “tremendously successful” by ZNFU “Very well attended event, well organised and we generated some great leads”

With a record-breaking attendance of 17 605 visitors, the third edition of Agritech Expo Zambia has firmly established itself as the leading outdoor agri event in the region. This year’s attendance is a 50% increase in visitors compared to last year’s figure of 11 740.

Thousands of small-scale, emerging and commercial farmers arrived at the GART Research Centre in  Chisamba from 14-16 April to be part of Agritech Expo Zambia and to view the latest farming products and services that were showcased by160 exhibitors over 70 000 sqm of space. The three-day expo also featured two international pavilions, from Germany and Zimbabwe, welcomed two agriculture ministers, from Zambia and the Czech Republic, and the Zambian President H.E Edgar Lungu officially opened the show.

"Agritech Expo 2016 was tremendously successful” says Mr Ndambo Ndambo, Executive Directorof the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU), the owners of the event. He adds: “by every measure, the Agritech Expo 2016 lived up to its promise: it was bigger, better and more diversified, so much that it has continued being the leading outdoor agricultural and B2B event in Zambia.”

The event also offered free workshops, live machinery and product demonstrations and crop trial demonstrations. Agritech Expo has also become known as an annual event where millions of dollars of business is done on the spot, as Wayne Wiid, Executive Country Manager of AFGRI, returning platinum sponsors, attests: “the amount of leads we received during the show was extremely positive and some deals have already been concluded”.

TheZambian President H.E Mr Edgar Lungu, officially opened the event on the second day, Friday 15 March, saying “events such as this Expo provide a good platform upon which we together can share progressive ideas to develop agriculture into the minister of our economy. This expo therefore appropriately brings together farmers, agro companies, researchers, agri solution providers and holistic stakeholders who are all here to share experiences and information, as well as to lay good agriculture practices to improve productivity.”

More compliments about Agritech Expo Zambia 2016:

“AFGRI would like to compliment all the personnel from Spintelligent for organising (yet again) an excellent Agritech Expo 2016. We, as AFGRI, are pleased with how the show was organised and managed during the three day period. The amount of leads we received during the show was extremely positive and some deals have already been concluded. We will most definitely be back as a platinum sponsor and also continue as one of the site preparation partners”.   
- Wayne Wiid, Executive Country Manager, AFGRI, returning platinum sponsors

“Very well attended event, well organised and we generated some great leads for future business. We will definitely be back next year as the show gave us the opportunity to showcase our presence in Zambia and our clients were very happy to see us at the event.”
- Nalini Naidoo, Key Accounts Manager, Hydraform, South Africa – exhibitor

“Most exciting and created more opportunity to market and expose our products to small-scale and emerging farmers”

- Hanif Badat, General Manager, Osho Chemicals

“The experience was absolutely enriching, especially in my preferred area of farming: livestock. This year there was more than one breed of cattle as compared to last year when we had just Boran. This year we had two farms exhibiting Boran, one exhibiting Santa Gertrudis and yet another was exhibiting Tuli. This was the jewel in my crown. Now I know I have a choice within Zambia. Overall I was very glad that I attended this show. I was educated, motivated and inspired”.
- Grace Musonda, Zambian teacher, farmer and Agritech Expo visitor

“Over the past 3 years DLG has been an exhibitor at Agritech Expo Zambia and also brought German and other international companies to the open air expo. It continues to be a high-quality event across the country that attracts qualified commercial and small scale farmers, mostly from Zambia, and also from outside its borders, helping us to connect with a continuous stream of new clients and maintain existing client relationships. The management team has done an amazing job in organizing this agricultural event in Zambia.”
- Martin Botzian, Head of Communication, DLG International GmbH

Agritech Expois organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK. The event is owned by the Zambia National Farmers Union.

Agritech Expo Zambia  2017:
Dates: 27-29 April 2017
Location: Gart Research Centre, Chisamba, Zambia
Website: www.agritech-expo.com
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AgriBusinessEA
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/agritechexpozambia/  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7477169  

Media contact:
Communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Mobile: +27 82 562 7844
Office: +27 21 700 3558
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World Pork Expo’s MusicFest 2016 Lineup Set

DES MOINES, Iowa, May 9, 2016 — World Pork Expo will present MusicFest on Thursday, June 9, featuring high-energy country music, as well as some of the best summertime rock ‘n roll ever recorded. From 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Expo attendees can enjoy these free musical performances on Grand Avenue at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Brought to you by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), this year’s entertainment will start with a performance by Casey Muessigmann, a contestant on season three of The Voice TV show. Headlining the event will be the Surf City Allstars, the premier Beach Boys tribute band.

“MusicFest offers World Pork Expo attendees a chance to have some fun and interact with fellow pork producers,” says Sheila Warrick, World Pork Expo’s general manager. “After spending the day exploring the trade show aisles or sitting in on a seminar, producers can venture outside to enjoy the hospitality tents, sample some roasted pork and just relax on a nice summer evening.” Highlighting country and rock ‘n’ roll Originally from Spencer, Iowa, Casey Muessigmann brings an upbeat Midwest attitude to every show. Selected to Blake Shelton’s team in season three of The Voice, Muessigmann has refined his song-writing and his stage performance to reflect his passion for life and talent for having a good time. At the age of 25, Muessigmann has already shared the stage with some of country music’s biggest stars such as Merle Haggard, Scotty McCreery, Blake Shelton and Florida Georgia Line. He has most recently focused on writing and co-producing his newest album, “Between the Rows”. “I love singing, and I love my band; there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing,” Muessigmann says. Headlining the MusicFest stage will be The Surf City Allstars; the five members make up the only band in the world to have played and sang with both the Beach Boys and the Jan & Dean bands. With their vocals refined by original Beach Boys Mike Love and Brian Wilson, the Surf City Allstars are the most authentic and committed Beach Boy tribute band. As an added dimension, the Allstars also feature songs from melodic duo, Jan & Dean. Expo attendees can expect to hear Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Good Vibrations, Surfer Girl, Wipe Out and much more. "The Surf City Allstars sound as good as the original Beach Boys ever did," says original Beach Boy member, Al Jardine. Expo has something for everyone “World Pork Expo offers something for everyone. From educational seminars to market outlook sessions to pig shows and sales, there’s a lot to take in during Expo,” says John Webber, NPPC president and pork producer from Dysart, Iowa. “Of course, walking the trade show is always time well spent as it’s the one place to see the latest products, services and technology for pork production.” The trade show encompasses more than 310,000 square feet of exhibit space and features hundreds of exhibitorsfrom throughout the world. Trade show hours run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, and Thursday, June 9, as well as from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 10. Attendees can participate in their choice of free business seminars and PORK Academy held throughout the days on June 8 and 9. There’s no shortage of mouthwatering pork at Expo, including free pork lunches available at The Big Grill, Wednesday through Friday. The World Pork Expo Junior National hog show begins on Tuesday, June 7. An open show takes place on Friday, June 10, with breeding stock sales rounding out the week on Saturday, June 11, from 8 a.m. until they're completed (at approximately noon). Visit the website for updates on event schedules and room availability at official World Pork Expo hotels. The website also offers convenient online registration for the discounted rate of $10 per adult (ages 12 and up), which covers all three days of Expo. Registration on site will cost $20 per adult, with a special rate of $10 for people arriving on Friday. To get the most up-to-date information, connect with World Pork Expo on Facebook, and follow Expo on Twitter(@NPPCWPX, #WPX16). World Pork Expo, the world's largest pork-specific trade show, is brought to you by NPPC. On behalf of its members, NPPC develops and defends export markets, fights for reasonable legislation and regulation, and informs and educates legislators. For more information, visitnppc.org.     Click on the photo above to download a high-resolution file suitable for printing. Iowa native Casey Muessigmann will bring his high-energy performance and passion for country music to the World Pork Expo stage to open MusicFest at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.   Click on the photo above to download a high-resolution file suitable for printing. World Pork Expo attendees will enjoy a free concert featuring the classic melodies and memorable songs of the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean when The Surf City Allstars perform at MusicFest, which is brought to you by the National Pork Producers Council.   Click on the photo above to download a high-resolution file suitable for printing. On Thursday, June 9, after spending a day at educational seminars and the world’s largest pork-specific trade show, World Pork Expo attendees can relax and enjoy live performances at MusicFest, featuring country music and classic rock ‘n roll as part of their Expo admission. B-roll video and additional photos from World Pork Expo are available.       Click here to go to the World Pork Expo Media Center. National Pork Producers Council   |   10664 Justin Drive   |   Urbandale, IA 50322   |   Phone: 515-278-8012   |   www.nppc.org The World Pork Expo is brought to you by the National Pork Producers Council — The Global Voice of the U.S. Pork Industry

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Is PS the next big thing in nutraceuticals?

Phosphatidylserine – more commonly known as PS – is set to break out from the cognitive health category and make a big impact in several new benefit areas, according to Enzymotec, the supplier of EnzyPS^™.

Until now, PS has been widely used to maintain and improve brain function in a range of applications. But now its benefits are beginning to gain recognition in other areas, too, including skin health, sports nutrition, stress reduction and mood enhancement.

Dr Ariel Katz, President & CEO of Enzymotec, said: “PS is a health ingredient with a really big future. It’s got so much to offer: it’s natural, it’s clinically proven and if you source the right grade or format you can use it in pretty much any food, drink or supplement product. It will continue to be strongly associated with cognitive health, but wider awareness of its benefits will mean that at last PS can reach its full potential. With EnzyPS^™, we offer a high quality and effective PS brand that can help supplements companies win customers in new categories.”

Clinical studies have demonstrated that supplementation with PS strengthens the brain cell structure and significantly improves memory, decision-making and mental flexibility. Its effects are long-term and without any side-effects. However, studies have also demonstrated health benefits in a number of other categories, as follows:

Skin health– Studies have shown that ingestion of PS promotes the development of collagen, which naturally contributes to strengthening and protecting the skin. Supplementation with PS has also been shown to restore the skin’s moisture balance, promote a smooth skin texture and improve overall complexion.

Sportsnutrition – In studies involving cycling, running, weightlifting and soccer, PS has been shown to increase time to exhaustion by up to 30% and to reduce muscle soreness by as much as 50%, enabling faster recovery. PS has been shown to reduce the levels of cortisol (a harmful hormone) produced by the body and increase levels of testosterone (a beneficial hormone), thereby promoting muscle recovery.

Stress reduction– Cortisol is known as the ‘stress hormone’ and it spikes following mental and physical stress. For 25 years it has been known that PS reduces cortisol levels in both blood and saliva. In clinical studies, PS has been shown to reduce the increase in cortisol levels that is caused by typical stressful experiences, such as a job interview or a maths exam.

Mood enhancement– Cortisol levels also increase when a person is depressed. In a clinical study of elderly people, the control group reported a nearly 30% increase in their depression symptoms after 12 weeks, compared with a group using PS supplementation over the same period.

EnzyPS^™is supplied in a range of patented formats to suit any application. As well as formulations for dietary supplement tablets, available options include a fine powder that is highly soluble in beverages and mixes well with protein and other powders. Also available is a granulated version with no taste or smell that is perfect for food applications, including chocolate and snacks. Enzymotec also supplies a unique PS ingredient derived from sunflowers – most PS ingredients are extracted from soy – which is ideal for softgel capsules.

Dr Katz added: “We believe PS could be the next big thing in the global nutraceutical market. It offers a perfect combination of versatility and efficacy and is truly the perfect nutritional ingredient for today’s sophisticated and health-conscious consumers.”

Enzymotec will showcase its range of EnzyPS^™solutions at Vitafoods Europe 2016 in Geneva, 10-12 May 2016. Visit Stand H71 to find out more.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Kine Bjoralt, Ingredient Communications

Tel: +44 141 280 4141

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

@ingredientcomms

About Enzymotec

Enzymotec is a leading global supplier of specialty lipid-based products and solutions. Based in Israel, the company develops, manufactures and markets innovative bio-functional lipid ingredients, as well as final products, based on sophisticated proprietary processes and technologies. For more information, visit www.enzymotec.com.