Nestlé and PepsiCo are capitalising on local beliefs in the effectiveness of traditional folk medicine in a bid to capitalise on growing health concerns among Asian consumers.

Five of Nestlé's most promising lines are already being tested in China.In total, Nestlé is to invest $500 million (€370m; £314m) globally over the coming decade on health foods.

One of the company's ongoing clinical trials involves a mulberry yogurt for diabetics that supposedly aids the digestion of glucose. Other...
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Many popular dietary supplements contain ingredients that may cause cancer, heart problems, liver or kidney damage, but U.S. stores sell them anyway and Americans spend millions on them, according to Consumer Reports.The consumer magazine published a report highlighting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's lack of power to regulate such supplements, and said the agency rarely uses what little power it does have.The report from the influential group urged Congress to speed up small moves to...
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Nestle SA subsidiary in US has agreed to drop advertising claims that its children's drink BOOST Kid Essentials prevents colds and flu, the Federal Trade Commission said on Wednesday. The FTC, which pursues deceptive advertising, took issue with claims that BOOST prevented colds and flu by strengthening the immune system, focusing on advertisements for a drink embedded with probiotic bacteria.

"Nestle's claims that its probiotic product would prevent kids from getting sick or missing school ...

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Two good examples of "health consciousness" trend in food business..both Frito-Lay and Campell Soup recently announced reductions in sodium content in their products:

Frito-Lay North America business unit has launched two Lightly Salted varieties of crisps for the US market.Fritos Lightly Salted corn chips and Ruffles Lightly Salted potato chips join Lay's Lightly Salted potato chips, containing around 50% less sodium per one ounce serving than their original counterparts, the firm said. "Ligh...
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Frito-Lay North America, Inc. is committing to give 60 percent of its snacks healthier profiles by mid-2011.

Cutting out MSG, artificial flavors and colors, the company will also produce its Lay’s Classic potato chips with 25 percent less sodium.Addressing growing consumer demand for healthy snack options, CEO Indra Nooyi says: “The transformation of our portfolio to better-for-you and good-for-you products is critical for us to sustain top-line growth.”

Frito-Lay is additionally targ...

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US First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled a Task Force action plan calling on food manufacturers to curb the marketing of unhealthy foods to children.Ms.Obama joined Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes and members of the Childhood Obesity Task Force to unveil the plan, which aims to tackle the problem of childhood obesity.

Obama said: “For the first time, the nation will have goals, benchmarks, and measureable outcomes that will help us tackle the childhood obesity epidemic one chi...

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