A compound with multiple health benefits that has been on the U.S. dietary supplement market for 30 years is now available for food products. Natural Health Science (NHS-Hillside, N.J.) has officially launched Pycnogenol® into the functional foods market. Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, was reviewed by a panel of independent toxicology experts and determined to be GRAS, based on scientific procedures in the self-affirmation process, in accordance with the FDA.
While the benefits of green tea have been well researched and are well accepted, the newest ingredient from the tea family—white tea—is less well known, but has the potential to become a blockbuster ingredient.
An August 2002 U.S. patent issued to Innovative Foods Inc. provides a method of infusing nutrients such as vitamins, phytochemicals, herbal extracts and medicinals into fruits, vegetables and other underutilized food products.
On March 7th, 2003, the FDA proposed labeling and manufacturing standards for all dietary supplements. Under the cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) proposal, manufacturers would be required to evaluate the identity, purity, quality, strength and composition of their dietary ingredients and dietary supplements.
Some attribute the phenomenon of the "French Paradox" to consumption of red wine at least to a certain degree. Although the French consume a diet high in saturated fatty acids, have high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and smoking rates similar to other countries, their incidence of death due to coronary heart disease is relatively low.