GLG Launches Subsidiary To Exploit International Stevia Market Opportunities

Stevia developer GLG Life Tech Corporation has created a subsidiary to provide naturally sweetened zero and reduced calorie food and beverage formulations to customers outside mainland China. AN0C Stevia Solutions Company’s product lines will include natural sweeteners, natural flavors and natural colors in zero or low calorie beverage and food products. AN0C Stevia Solutions will focus on customer opportunities internationally; AN0C Anhui will focus on opportunities in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. AN0C Stevia Solutions is also developing customer opportunities in the Middle East and India.

"GLG Launches Subsidiary To Exploit International Stevia Market Opportunities", Press release, GLG Life Tech Corp, July 26, 2011

Nestlé Acquires Controlling Stake In Singapore-Listed, China-Based Hsu Fu Chi

"Nestlé to enter partnership with Chinese confectionery company Hsu Fu Chi", Nestlé, July 18, 2011

Organic Food Market Booms In China, Reaches 5% Of Global Total

"Organic food a growing biz for the health-aware", China Daily, June 27, 2011

Average Prices Of Luxury Products In China Rose 7.7 Percent

"Luxuries cost nearly 8% more", China.org.cn, July 26, 2011

Nestlé To Acquire Majority Stake In Chinese Confectionery Company

Nestlé announced it is acquiring a 60 percent stake in Chinese candy and snack maker Hsu Fu Chi. Under the agreement, the founding family of Hsu Fu Chi will retain a 40 percent interest in the company and Hsu Chen will remain CEO. Nestlé said it is paying approximately CHF 1.4 billion ($1.7 billion) to acquire the stake in Hsu Fu Chi. Hsu Fu Chi’s product lines include sugar confectionery, cereal-based snacks, packaged cakes and the traditional Chinese snack sachima. In 2010, Hsu Fu Chi reported sales of CHF 669 million and an EBIT margin of 17.3percent. The completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approval in China.

"Nestlé to enter partnership with Chinese confectionery company Hsu Fu Chi", Press release, Nestlé, July 11, 2011

Adolescent Obesity In China Is Associated With “Healthy” Western Lifestyle

In findings that run counter to patterns in Western society, teenaged boys from affluent Chinese families who are physically active and whose diet is rich in vegetables but not candy or junk food are more likely to be overweight. U.S. researchers looked at lifestyle questionnaire data from more than 9,000 Chinese middle and high school boys. Like Western teenagers, Chinese youth who slept and exercised less tended to be more overweight. But similarities ended there. Contrary to Western patterns, Chinese adolescents were more likely to be overweight: if they were boys; if they frequently participated in vigorous physical activity; and if they were younger rather than older. The findings suggest that “weight-related correlates might play different roles in Chinese culture than they do in Western cultures," researchers said.

"Correlates of Overweight Status in Chinese Youth: An East-West Paradox", American Journal of Health Behavior, July 11, 2011

Analysis Of Clinical Trials Finds That Green Tea Lowers “Bad” Cholesterol Somewhat

A meta-analysis of 14 clinical trials in which participants either drank green tea or consumed green tea extracts from three weeks to three months found that green tea was associated with a lowering of HDL or “bad” cholesterol, but not with a rise in HDL cholesterol. Green reduced total cholesterol an average of 7.2 mg/dL compared to the placebo. Meanwhile, LDL dropped by a a mean of 2.2 mg/dL, about two percent. The researchers suggested the possibility that these reductions could be due to the presence of catechins in green tea, which lower absorption of cholesterol in the intestines.

"Green tea intake lowers fasting serum total and LDL cholesterol in adults: a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials", American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, June 29, 2011