NuFFooDS Dec 2018

4 EDITORIAL NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Plastic Food

Milind Kokje
Chief Editor

Spoiled & unhygienic foods and contaminated Our foods always touch plastics right from
& toxic foods pose a serious threat to human production in food processing to packing. If not
health. Equally serious threat is from indirect processed, but even the raw food grains also
toxicity caused by pesticides and insecticides reach our homes in plastic bags and even fruits &
sprayed on the crops. It is a common knowledge. vegetables also largely come in plastic wrappings.
In India, six out of 10 health risk factors are caused In the production of the processed and ready
by foods that are unsafe in some form. Now, one foods plastic containers are used on a large scale.
more dangerous thing can be added to this list of In home also plastic containers are used to store
items causing harm to the food or polluting it. It is the food grains, leftover foods and reheating it
plastic. in microwave ovens. Almost all food packaging
has material that can migrate into the food they
American novelist Normal Mailer describes contact. Experts acknowledge that this transfer is
plastic as a malign force loose in the universe that unavoidable.
is the social equivalent of cancer that infiltrates
everything. Several researchers have kept warning When there is a serious health alert coming
time to time in the past over how plastic is from one side there is a possibility of a relief
affecting the health, quoting scientific evidence. from that from the other side. Toronto based
But a new research has established presence of clean technology start-up Genecis is trying to
plastic in human body entered through the food. make greener plastic cheap enough to use it in
everyday throwaway items like food packaging.
In a recent study, widespread presence of It is green because it does not use chemicals,
plastics in the human food chain was seen for the but converts kitchen waste into plastic using
first time when bits of plastic have been detected bacteria. The bacteria turns the waste into
in the faeces of eight people, each one has been compostable, biocompatible plastics called PHAs
selected from a different country. Five of them ate (polyhydroxyalkanoates). The plastic-making
seafood and all of them consumed food wrapped bacteria eat waste that has been pre-processed by
in plastic or drank beverages from plastic bottles. other bacteria into molecular bite-sized pieces. If
Though each one of them is from different country, the bacteria is well fed, they put some extra weight
still all of them were found to have passed several because of the fat, which is the plastic. The plastic
types of plastics in their stools. In all nine types granules are later extracted from the bacteria and
of plastics have been found. The quantity is an turned into pellets that can be sold and moulded
average of 20 micro-particles per 10 grams of stool into plastic products.
and tiny specks of size ranging from 50 to 500
micrometers. The company hopes that the production cost
of this plastic will be reduced by 40 per cent due to
Some researchers have reservations over the using waste as a raw material. The success of this
outcome of the study as according to them the experiment will revolutionise the ready, processed
sample size of only eight people is too small. and packaged food industry. It will provide a great
They feel that it was too limited to draw any relief to consumers of not having any threat of the
firm conclusion, particularly regarding health plastic entering into their body through the food
impact. Though the reservations are right and chain.
for understanding the health impact more study
may be required. But one thing is sure from this
outcome that plastic is entering in our food chain
and subsequently in our bodies.

New Voice of the Nutraceuticals &
New - Gen Food Indystry in Asia

Volume 6  |  Issue 4  |  December 2018
www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Publisher & Managing Editor Production & Design Nutraceuticals Nutritionals
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6 INSIDE NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Cover Story 19

2018- FOCUS GROWS ON 22
NUTRITION & WELLNESS

The year 2018 started on a positive note for the food, nutrition Industry Views
and allied industries with the launch of the National Nutrition
Mission (NNM), by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 8. 2018 for
Now christened POSHAN Abhiyaan, it aims to drastically reduce nutrition,
the prevailing high incidence of malnutrition, stunted growth and ingredients,
anaemia. The multi-ministerial convergence mission has been nutraceuticals,
rolled out in three phases from 2017-18 to 2019-20 with the vision organics,
to ensure attainment of malnutrition free India by 2022. Besides suppliers and
signing MoUs with global regulatory agencies, the Food Safety and food sectors
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched a national campaign
‘The Eat Right Movement’ to improve public health and combat
lifestyle diseases. Supporting government’s call to offer nutritional

food, companies started spending on innovative nutritional
products for well being of the large population of the country.

Ingredient 26 S2B 30

Stevia gaining market share Nutri-Economics:
A Socio- Business Model

Dr R B Smarta,
MD, Interlink Marketing Consultancy
Pvt. Ltd. and Hon. Secretary HADSA
(Health Foods and Dietary
Supplements Association)

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in INSIDE 7

REGULARS

From the Chair 09

CHALLENGES OF PACKAGING 10
OF NUTRITIONALS
AND NUTRACEUTICALS Editorial 04

Dr V Prakash, FRSC,
Vice-President of Int. Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS),
London, UK Immediate Past Director,
CSIR- CFTRI, Mysore, India

Video Snippets 08

Q&A 33 Policy and Regulatory News 10

Less Omega 3 Fatty Finance News 12
Acids in diet puts us at risk
Company News 13
Dr Richard Bazinet,
President ISSFAL, Research Chai in Start-Up News 15
Nutritional Neuro Science, University of Toronto
World News 17
34
People News 42
“We plan to reach
Rs 25Cr in next 3 years” Science News 43

Harish Mohan, Academic News 45
Founder & CEO of Sipwise Baverages
Supplier News 46

Event Report 48

45

36 ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

“Growing middle class Chairman
increasingly placing importance Dr V Prakash, FRSC
on natural ingredients” Distinguished Scientist of CSIR-
India and President, ISNNaN, India
Rohit Markan,
Managing Director, Roquette India Members
Dr Ashok D B Vaidya
38 Research Director, Kasturba Health
Society-Medical Research Center
“Training customer
team is absolutely critical” Prof B Suresh
Vice-Chancellor, JSS-University;
T. Anil Kumar, Chairman, Executive Committee,
President, Waters India Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)

Food Safety 35 Dr D B A Narayana
Chairman, Herbs and Herbal
Controlling Pesticides Products Committee, Indian
Contamination Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)

Dr Samir Vyas, Dr P G Rao
Country Application Solution & Hon Vice-Chancellor, University of
Business Manager, Agilent Technologies India Science and Technology, Meghalaya

Mr Jagdish Patankar
Chairman,
MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications

8 VIDEO SNIPPETS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Prof. Dr -Ing Stefan Global Event
Palzer; Chief Technical The detailed coverage on the World Congress of Food
Officer, Nestle Science and Technology 2018 was a delight to read.
Research Center, It feels great to know that India got the opportunity to
Switzerland speaks play the host for such a global event.
about the priorities
lined up for the food - Roshan Kher, New Delhi
business globally.
Capitalising Food Processing
Scan the QR Code » India has the potential to cater to the international
markets by exporting more processed foods,
Govinda Biswas, especially with the increasing output from the
Marketing Manager, agriculture sector leading to a rise in food processing
Ajinomoto India activities. Do write more about the developments
highlights the health taking place in the food processing sector.
benefits associated
with Monosodium - Javed Ali, Mumbai
Glutamate or MSG.
Stevia View
Scan the QR Code » Stevia is being seen as a different sweetener, if not a
better sugar. It seems that it is in this positioning that
Navneet Singh, lies the entire difference for the product to become
VP, Asia Pacific, much bigger.
PureCircle talks about
the benefits of stevia - Rony Banerjee, Pune
and the opportunities
that lie ahead for Nutra-Market
stevia in India. The nutraceutical market in India is becoming
increasingly competitive with the entry of major
ingredient manufacturers and suppliers, apart from
the known players. Please feature more content in
this regard.

- Rashmi Bansal, Agra

Thanks for your feedback. We have taken note of

your suggestions and will surely try to incorporate

the content accordingly in coming issues. Please

Scan the QR Code » keep sending us your feedback and updating us on

your views about the issue and keep giving your

opinions on the content. – Editor

Please send your feedback to
[email protected]

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in FROM THE CHAIR 9

CHALLENGES OF PACKAGING
OF NUTRITIONALS

AND NUTRACEUTICALS

Dr V Prakash, PhD, FRSC

President, International Society of Nutraceuticals, Nutritionals and Naturals (ISNNAN), India ●
Vice-President of International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS), London, UK ●

Chairman, India Region of European Hygienic Engineering Design Group, Germany ●
Former Director of CFTRI & Distinguished Scientist of CSIR – India ●
Chairman, Editorial Advisory Board of NuFFooDS Spectrum ●

The regulators are always very keen for packaging material itself. It is important
the safety of a food or its contents to ensure and define best before use but
in context with the claims as well also the molecular machinery that works
as the composition. The equity comes regarding interaction between the packaging
to packaging many a times as it is one material and bioactive molecules. The
packaging “fits all”! This is more so in the preparation of some of the nutraceuticals
case of nutritionals and nutraceuticals and and nutritionals is so rigorous to keep
how regulators handle this in the presence the bio activities, bio accessibility and bio
of oxygen in the packet as compared to efficiency alive and in fact it totally depends
inert atmosphere or vacuum packaging upon how well and fresh it is preserved
and specialized packaging and the shelf life through packaging.
changes. Thus customized packaging of
nutraceuticals and nutritionals is not any The large wisdom that engulfs the
matter and requires high science based world of packaging must synergise with
regulations as long as the packaging the larger world of functional foods and
material is approved by the ambiance inside nutraceuticals. It is felt the shelf life levels of
regulatory is the most important point. pharmaceuticals must be as a matter of fact
insisted in the case of specialized bioactive
If you look at the plethora of molecules so that when one looks at the
developments and new innovative world of safety apart from the contents the
methods in the packaging in the world of container plays an equally major role.
pharmaceuticals it does so very clearly.
There is huge difference in the entire chain This needs to be customized for certain
of the production of the nutraceuticals and categories of nutraceuticals and nutritionals
nutritionals as compared to drops with where things like sunlight, moisture, inert
sophisticated cost effective solutions for atmosphere and reduced condition in the
producing a safe nutraceutical especially package itself till delivery of the safe food to
in the obesing economies like India. The the customer. It is time that the regulatory
role of parameters such as monomerer’s authorities both nationally and globally must
presence in the packaging material and address these and find implement scientific
leakage into foods when it comes in contact solutions which are there in published
with especially lipid based plant extracts. literature as well as in pharma practices.
What is a safe packaging material for One need to evolve this process very
one food need not be safe for nutritionals carefully as when goes forward in meeting
and nutraceuticals extracts and therefore the demands of the market for NuFFooDS
requires a new rationale and specific dynamically. In wishing all the readers a
packaging material for this specialized very Happy and Healthy New Year 2019!
ingredients. The method of packing has
travelled well perhaps and has become
very critical of the packaging along with

10 REGULATORY NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Gujarat gets first Mega Food Park

Union Minister for Food Processing Park include Multi Chamber MoFPI issues
Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal Cold Store of 3,500 MT (1,500
inaugurated the first Mega Food MT Frozen and 2,000 MT MA), guidelines for
Park in Gujarat. Promoted by Warehouse of 5,000 MT, IQF of 2
Gujarat Agro Infrastructure Mega TPH, Pulping Line, QC Laboratory Operation Greens
Food Park Pvt Ltd, the park is and other related food processing
located at village Shah and Vasravi, facilities. The park also has a The Ministry of Food Processing
taluka Mangrol, district Surat. A common administrative building Industries (MoFPI) under the
second Mega Food Park has been for office and other uses by the leadership of Union Minister
sanctioned by the Ministry in entrepreneurs and 4 PPCs at Harsimrat Kaur Badal has
Mehsana district of Gujarat. The Bharuch, Padra (Vadodara), Valsad approved the operationalisation
Gujarat Agro Mega Food Park and Navsari having facilities for strategy for Operation Greens.
will benefit the people of Surat primary processing and storage Operation Greens was announced
district and the people of nearby near the farms. Harsimrat Kaur in the Budget speech of 2018-19
districts of Navsari, Tapi, Narmada Badal, inaugurated the park in with an outlay of Rs 500 crore to
and Bharuch. This Mega Food Park the presence of Sadhvi Niranjan stabilize the supply of Tomato,
has been set up in 70.15 acre of Jyoti, Minister of State for Food Onion and Potato (TOP) crops and
land at a cost of Rs 117.87 crore. Processing Industries, Vijay Rupani, to ensure availability of TOP crops
The facilities being created by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and throughout the country round
developer at Central Processing Darshana Vikram Jardosh, Member the year without price volatility.
Centre (CPC) of this Mega Food of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Surat. Approving the measures, the
Minister stated that price volatility
Harsimrat Kaur inaugurates Paithan of TOP crops wreaks havoc in the
Mega Food Park in Aurangabad households of this country. This is
a revolutionary scheme which has
Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal has evolved after sustained dialogue
inaugurated the second Mega Food Park in Maharashtra. Promoted by with all stakeholders and we have
Paithan Mega Food Park Pvt Ltd, the park is located in in Wahegaon and decided the strategy to stabilize
Dhangaon village in Paithan taluka of Aurangabad district. A third Mega prices of TOP crops and to make
Food Park has been sanctioned by the sure that TOP crops reach all
Ministry in Maharashtra and is under households in the country around
implementation in Wardha district the year. Eligible Organisation
while the first park was inaugurated would include State Agriculture
on 1st of March 2018 in Satara district. and other Marketing Federations,
Farmer Producer Organizations
The Paithan Mega Food Park has (FPO), cooperatives, companies,
been set up in 102 acre of land at a Self-help groups, food processors,
cost of Rs 124.52 crore. The facilities logistic operators, service
created by the developer at Central providers, supply chain operators,
Processing Centre (CPC) of this Mega retail and wholesale chains and
Food Park include Dry Warehouse of central and state governments
10,000 MT, Cold storage of 1,000 MT, and their entities/organizations
Pre-cooling facility of 10 MT, Ripening chambers of 400 MT, IQF Facility of will be eligible to participate in the
1.5 MTPH, Freezer room of 1,000 MT, 5 MTPH Juice Line with 1.5 MTPH of programme and to avail financial
Aseptic packaging Line, Steam sterilisation and generation unit of 4 MTPH, assistance.
Food Testing lab, Reefer vans of 30 MT and Milk Tankers of 50 MT, Milk
Processing facility of 1,00,000 LPD with Bulk Milk Chilling of 20,000 Liter
and other food processing facilities.

The park also has a common administrative building for office and
other uses by the entrepreneurs and 3 PPCs at Paithan, Alephata and
Kannad having facilities for primary processing and storage near the farms.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in REGULATORY NEWS 11

FSSAI launches FSSAI releases guidance note
Eat Right for handling used cooking oil
Creativity
Challenge The Food Safety and Standards UCO. It strictly mentions to avoid
Awards Authority of India (FSSAI) has the repeated use of cooking oil for
released a guidance note for frying, while at the household level,
The Food Safety and Standards handling and disposal of used it should be filtered after using it
Authority of India (FSSAI), the cooking oil (UCO). The issued once for frying and later used for
country’s apex food regulator, has document covers subjects such curry preparation in order to make
announced the Eat Right Awards as disposal of UCO, procedures it economical. It informs that UCO
and Eat Right Creativity Challenge to be followed for handling and should be consumed in a day or two
recently, giving the Eat Right India disposal of UCO by small and big and not stored for long duration,
movement a further boost, following food business operators (FBOs), as the rate of deterioration is high.
the Swasth Bharat Yatra. household level and guidelines UCO should be discard when a blue-
Eat Right Creativity Challenge has provided under the Food Safety and grey smoke appears, or tough foam
been announced by FSSAI to unleash Standards Regulations, 2011. is formed, becomes dark or murky,
the creativity of the country's youth consistency of oil changes and oil
to spread the message of Eat Right. The guidance document develops total polar compounds
This Challenge is designed to reach highlights the key takeaway points (TPC) of over 25 per cent.
schools for sustained engagement for handling and discarding the
under FSSAI’s Safe and Nutritious
Food (SNF) at School initiative. An
Eat Right activity book has been
created for schools to allow children
to internalise the key messages of
the Eat Right India movement.
A special Eat Right award has also
been instituted for food related
start-ups to reward innovation
and promote entrepreneurship
in the area of food safety and
applied nutrition. A jury of eminent
professionals and experts in the food
sector will select the winners.

FSSAI survey reveals low quality in processed milk

According to a report on the National added sugar and maltodextrin, non- analysed contaminants including
Milk Quality Survey 2018 released compliance is mostly in processed residues of pesticides, antibiotics,
by FSSAI recently, large quantity of milk. This is the first survey that aflatoxin and ammonium sulphate in
processed milk in the country was milk. Less than 10 per cent (638 out of
found low in quality with sugar and 6,432 samples) had contaminants that
maltodextrin sometimes added make milk unsafe for consumption as
to it to raise the level of solids non per the survey. Non-compliance on
fat (SNF), in 39 per cent of the total quality parameters in processed milk
samples drawn. The survey found is quite large, even though it is lower
that non-compliance on fat and SNF than raw milk. This is a matter of
quality parameters is higher in raw concern and needs to be addressed
milk than in processed milk, but on through various measures.

12 FINANCE NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Tata Global to Swiss firm
invest Rs 100Cr in invests in Suminter
tea packaging unit India Organics

Tata Global Beverages plans to invest Rs 100 crore for Switzerland-based responsAbility Investments AG
setting up a tea packaging unit with a capacity of 36 has invested around $20 million in organic food
million kg at Odisha’s Gopalpur Industrial Park. The exporter Suminter India Organics Pvt Ltd, marking
industrial park is being developed by Tata Steel Special its second deal in the food and agriculture sector
Economic Zone Ltd. The tea packaging plant will cater in the country. Suminter sources, processes and
to Tata Global’s Indian market and is scheduled to be exports organic produce such as soya, spices and
operational by 2020. Tata Global Beverages sells Tata Tea, herbs, cocoa, virgin coconut oil, vanilla, sugar,
Tetley, Himalayan natural mineral water, Tata Water Plus cereals and pulses, and cotton. The sourcing
and Tata Gluco+, Good Earth tea, Grand Coffee and Eight and processing operations are spread across
O’clock coffee. At full capacity, the plant will generate Asia and Africa and it has customers across 20
employment for about 650 persons. The Gopalpur countries, including the US. It works with about
Industrial Park is located on NH-16 near Berhampur. 50,000 farmers. Suminter reported revenue of Rs
With plug-and-play infrastructure, multi-modal logistics 528 crore for 2016-17, up from Rs 334 crore the
connectivity, ready environmental clearance and clear previous year.
land title, the Gopalpur Industrial park is emerging as
the preferred investment destination.

Kraft Heinz sells India biz portfolio to Zydus

Kraft Heinz Co. has agreed Ltd were also among suitors for the instant energy drink,
to sell a portfolio of Indian Kraft Heinz businesses. In addition Nycil talcum powder and
businesses, including to the Complan product, the brands Sampriti clarified butter.
children’s milk drink being sold include the Glucon D
Complan, to Zydus Wellness The acquisition
Ltd. Zydus Wellness, jointly enhances the consumer,
with Cadila Healthcare (72 health nutrition portfolio
per cent shareholder of for Zydus Wellness
Zydus Wellness), will acquire (80 per cent of the
Heinz India at a valuation combined entity) and
of Rs 4,595 crore. The Cadila Healthcare (12 per
transaction is expected to cent from 6 per cent).
close in Q4 FY19. Heinz India brings with
it network of 800 distributors and
Tata Group, India’s biggest 20,000 wholesalers and hence
conglomerate, and consumer- doubles the Zydus reach (currently
goods manufacturer Dabur India more than 1000 distributors).

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COMPANY NEWS 13

Mondelēz International brings
new technical centre in India

Protinex joins Mondelēz International world, supporting a growth-
has recently inaugurated oriented innovation agenda.
hands with its newest global Technical Spread across an area of
Centre in India located in 12,000 square meters, the
InBody to promote Thane, Maharashtra. The Thane Technical Centre will
India Technical Centre be equipped with multiple
muscle health has been set up with an technical capabilities,
investment of $15 million such as a pilot plant, a
Danone with its mission ‘to bring health and will support new packaging creative studio
through food to as many people as products and technologies and a range of laboratories
possible’, has joined hands with InBody for the company’s global for technical research and
– a global leader in body composition brands in Chocolate and development. The team
analysis, to establish the relevance of Beverages.The Technical of around 150 scientists,
right protein intake in maintaining good Centre will also focus on developers, engineers,
muscle health. Its flagship brand Protinex improving consumer science, analytical chemists and
which is a leader in the protein category packaging and productivity. other specialists will closely
has been driving protein awareness This is part of the company’s collaborate on innovations
among Indians with its new campaign strategy to invest $65 million across the globe. The site
on muscle health. As a kick start to this in developing a global is also water neutral and a
association, Protinex in collaboration network of state-of-the-art zero-discharge facility with
with InBody academia organised the 1st technical hubs strategically a large part of the energy
InBody Academia on Body Composition positioned around the coming from solar panels.
analysis in Clinical Nutrition and Medical
science on 2nd and 3rd of November Jamieson Wellness partners
in Mumbai. The event focused on with Indian pharmacy chain
sharing medical pedagogy of the Body
Composition and Utilization that includes Jamieson Wellness Inc., Canada’s number one manufacturer
the benefits of Body Composition and marketer of branded vitamins, minerals and supplements,
Analysers in Nutrition for people from has signed a five-year partnership agreement with MedPlus to
all walks of life, all age groups. A recent distribute its Jamieson branded products in India. MedPlus is the
InBody study reveals that 71 per cent second-largest pharmacy
Indians have Poor Muscle Health, 68 per chain in the country,
cent have low Protein levels. A leading with 1,500 locations and
cause for this could be inadequate intake plans to increase its retail
of protein. The regional data presents an footprint to 5,000 locations
even more alarming picture. Statistics by 2023. The chain
indicate that Lucknow has the highest currently receives 350,000
percentage of males and females having customer visits per day to
poor muscle mass, with 82 per cent of its e-commerce website
males and 80 per cent of females. On the and retail locations.
other hand, Delhi has a lower percentage Jamieson is the only
of people with poor muscle mass, with international nutritional
64 per cent of both males and females. supplement brand in the
pharmacy’s portfolio. The first shipment of product was released
in September and became available at retail in mid-November.
Including this new agreement, Jamieson branded products are
available in over 40 countries worldwide.

14 COMPANY NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Cargill DSM opens animal
introduces nutrition plant in Telangana
healthy
cooking oil The Netherlands-based multi-national firm Royal DSM has opened
its second animal nutrition and health premix plant at Jadcherla in
NatureFresh, the home-grown Mahbubnagar, Telangana. The
brand of Cargill’s food business 1,20,000 sq ft facility will provide
in India has extended its offering vitamin-based feed supplements
into premium health oil space for poultry, dairy and aquaculture,
with the launch of NatureFresh catering to the company’s
Acti Heart, in New Delhi, recently. customers in the south eastern
regions of India. The company
Positioned as India's 1st oil had entered the Indian market
which fulfills all with its first premix plant at
requirement of Ambernath in Maharashtra. DSM
being healthy oil, has opened its second facility
NatureFresh Acti in India and 47th across the globe to meet the rising feed consumption
Heart intends to demand and to be in pace with the feed market growing at a rate of nearly
provide consumers three per cent. In addition, the company plans to expand its portfolio with
with a complete the feed enzyme and eubiotics segment.
health oil for their
active and modern RUJ Group to enter dairy business
lifestyle. Based
on the premise of Industrial conglomerate, RUJ per day (LPD), expandable to 1
‘Goodness for the Group is planning to bring lakh LPD.
Good Hearted’, European yogurt and milk
NatureFresh Acti products to the Indian market The company started its
Heart adheres to by setting up a fully-automated operations about a year ago
the guideline of dairy processing unit in Jaipur. and currently procures cow and
Indian Council of buffalo milk from about 200
Medical Research The groups arm, Rajendra farmers through seven bulk
on dietary fat. & Ursula Joshi Food Industries milk chilling collection centres,
Packed with the Pvt Ltd (Rufil) has invested Rs mostly around Jaipur. The current
goodness of Omega 40 crore towards setting up the procurement is about 11,000
3 that fights milk processing plant, with an LPD, which it aims to increase to
inflammation and installed capacity of 50,000 litres 50,000 in one year.

provides a healthy lipid
profile, it also has the ideal Omega
6/ Omega 3 ratio, as stipulated
by National Institute of Nutrition
(the ideal ratio should be between
5 and 10). Along with this, it
has high MUFA which ensures
low oil absorption in food and
Gamma Oryzanol that reduces
bad cholesterol and increases
good cholesterol, making it a
healthier option for the discerning
consumer. It is also fortified with
Vitamin A, D, and E.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in START-UP NEWS 15

HealthifyMe to launch AgriTech startup
food marketplace
CropIn raises $8M
Bengaluru based online fitness quarters. HealthifyMe has
provider HealthifyMe has mapped 900 Southeast Asian Bengaluru headquartered CropIn
raised $6 million from Innoven local foods and hired local Technology Solutions Pvt Ltd, an
Capital and existing investors. nutritionist and fitness coaches agriculture technology startup, has
This was an extension of the for expansion into the region. raised $8 million in a Series B financing
$12 million it raised in February The startup has launched an from Chiratae Ventures (formerly
this year from Sistema Asia online marketplace for health IDG Ventures India) and the Bill &
Fund and other new and foods ‘Eat Better’ and upgraded Melinda Gates Foundation Strategic
existing investors. The startup its virtual assistant/nutritionist. Investment Fund (London and
has previously raised $6 million EatBetter is an online Seattle). With this investment, CropIn
in May 2016, an undisclosed marketplace for health foods has raised a total funding of $12
amount in June 2015, and whose products include health million till date. The fresh funding will
an undisclosed amount from bars, breakfast cereals, cookies, scale CropIn’s ‘SmartFarm’ technology
Micromax in May 2015. The roasted snacks, beverages, platform in India and globally to
startup plans to expand to natural protein supplements, expand its reach from 3 million acres
Singapore, Indonesia, and the super seeds, dry fruits and trail across 2 million farmers to more than
Middle East in the next two mixes. 10 million actively monitored acres
across 7 million farmers. With this
capital infusion and its increasingly
rich data-set, the startup will further
develop its machine-learning-based
‘SmartRisk’ platform to achieve
unprecedented levels of plot-level
crop detection and yield prediction.
The company’s initial product,
SmartFarm, is a highly customizable
mobile app and web interface for
farm management deployed across
agribusinesses’ own field agents
allowing for business-to-business-to-
farmer plot-level farm management.

Chai Point launches payment integrated dispenser

Chaipoint has introduced India’s Point to sell freshly brewed beverages
first authentic chai and filter from every office pantry while
coffee dispensing machine with enabling a bigger market footprint
an integrated payment solution in for ChaiPoint’s boxC business.
collaboration with Paytm and the Chai Point had recently launched
service will soon be extended to ‘boxC’, its cloud based beverage
Chai Point wallet and other major services platform which includes
third-party payment solutions. Via fully automatic and IoT enabled
its SHARK technology platform, dispensers. The company now has a
Chai Point has launched the first unique payment method as the office
integrated contractual and on- can define free number of beverages
demand payment solution for and post that consumers can pay,
beverage dispensers (boxC) in the boxC is the only vending machine
country. This move will allow Chai with such a solution.

16 START-UP NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Ecozen wins Foodpanda acquires
Rabobank foodtech firm Holachef
Food Loss
Challenge Asia Foodpanda has acquired Mumbai- to over 150 million customers. The
based foodtech startup Holachef acquisition however is believed to
Indian start-up Ecozen Hospitality Pvt Ltd, which had shut bring no returns to the investors of
Solutions has won the down operations in July-August this Holachef, which include InnoVen
inaugural Rabobank Food year, for an undisclosed amount. Capital, Kalaari Capital, India
Loss Challenge Asia, which With this acquisition, Foodpanda will Quotient, SIDBI Venture Capital and
was launched to highlight foray into cloud kitchens and also Ratan Tata. Foodpanda will take over
agri-tech solutions to the plans to launch its own food brand Holachef’s employees and kitchen
growing global problem across categories. The company equipment. Founders of Holachef
of food loss and wastage claims to have a network of over 1 will join the leadership team at
from farm-to-market. lakh delivery partners and access Foodpanda.
The company, which is
enabling the farm-to-fork Hoi Food Concepts raises
movement of perishables $500k in pre-Series A round
by providing solar-
based cold rooms at the Hoi Food Concepts Pvt. Ltd, a startup that provides food to budget hotels in the
national capital region, has raised $500,000 (Rs 3.6 crore) in a pre-Series A round
farm level, was chosen led by crowdfunding platform 1Crowd and its investor community. The round
from five finalists at the also saw participation
event finale held earlier from early-stage
this week in Singapore. investment firms
Ecozen Solutions has Gemba Capital and
implemented its solutions Prime Holdings. Hoi
in the ASEAN region Food, which also has
including Indonesia and business-to-consumer
Vietnam and is looking operations on food
to expand further into ordering platforms
other developing markets Zomato and Swiggy
including Africa and at some locations in
Southeast Asia. Ecozen’s Delhi-NCR, plans to
business model revolves use the funds for geographical expansion and building a more integrated food
around the leasing of cold solution in the backend. Currently, the startup claims to serve more than 150
rooms to farmers and hotels in Delhi-NCR.
connecting them via the
platform to organized
buyers who are looking to
source perishables from
them.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in WORLD NEWS 17

Arla partners with Hayleya,
Bangladesh dairy co-op MilkVita MBG to
serve global
Arla has partnered with Bangladesh-based dairy co-operative MilkVita, as it aims high quality
to sustainably develop Bangladesh’s dairy industry and better understand the tea extracts
needs of consumers in the country. The agreement will see both companies demand
share knowledge and best practice, and methods from the Danish dairy sector
Iconic Sri Lankan
will be shared with MilkVita in multinational Hayleys
order to help improve quality PLC and Germany's
standards to the level of botanicals giant
those applied in Europe. The Martin Bauer Group
agreement will also allow Arla (MBG) announce a
to gain a better understanding historic joint venture
of the Bangladeshi dairy market, partnership in Hayleys
enabling it to develop targeted Global Beverages (Pvt)
products for a market which Ltd (HGBL). Established
holds great potential. Arla has in 20I6, HGBL stands
been operating in Bangladesh among Sri Lanka's
since 1961, and distributes milk most sophisticated
powder products through its Dano brand. According to Arla, demand for dairy manufacturers of
products in the country is growing, but local dairy production in Bangladesh authentic Pure
only meets 40 per cent of this demand, thus development of the industry is Ceylon Tea extracts -
necessary to meet the needs of consumers. primarily in the form of
powders, concentrates
Nepal signs food security aromas and flavors.
agreements worth $22.7M MBG is considered a
worldwide leader in
Nepal Government and World Bank have high-quality botanical
signed a major agreement for food security products to supply the
worth $22.7 million. Finance Secretary global tea, food and
Rajan Khanal and World Bank Director for phytopharmaceutical
Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal Qimiao Fan industries with teas,
signed the agreements in the presence of extracts, powders and
Nepal Finance Minister andWorldBankVice- botanical ingredients.
President for South Asia Schafer among The demand for tea and
others senior government officials. The herbal ingredients is
$22.7 million Global Agriculture and Food forecasted to grow due
Security Programme (GAFSP) will support to the rising consumer
the Food and Nutrition Enhancement consciousness towards
Project aiming at improving 65,000 direct personal health. The
beneficiaries, out of which 65 per cent are partners specifically see
for women. The projects aims to improve tea extracts holding the
nutritional behavior and connecting it with potential to capture a
agriculture-related and income-enhancing significant proportion
activity by working with smallholders and of market share in the
marginal farmers. As part of the program, production of functional
farmers from adjacent communities will foods.
also indirectly benefit through knowledge
sharing and engagement with project-
supported farmers.

18 WORLD NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Cargill, DSM develop Roquette appoints Azelis as
JV to produce sweeteners
distributor for Europe market
As food and beverage producers look to significantly
reduce calories in their offerings to consumers, they Roquette, a global leader in plant-based ingredients,
are in need of non-artificial, zero-calorie, great-tasting and Azelis, a leading global distributor of speciality
sweetener options. Recently, Cargill and Royal DSM, chemicals and food ingredients, have signed an
a global science-based company in Nutrition, Health agreement for the distribution in Food and Nutrition
and Sustainable Living, have announced a new markets. Effective 1 November, this new partnership
joint venture (JV), Avansya, to rise to this challenge. covers Germany, Austria and Nordics / Baltics. The
Together, the companies will produce highly sought- partnership will also include south Italy, Russia,
after, sweet-tasting molecules, such as steviol Ukraine, and other Commonwealth of Independent
glycosides Reb M and Reb D through fermentation, States (CIS) as of 1 January 2019. Roquette has
giving food and beverage manufacturers an even more chosen Azelis as one of its key distributors thanks to
scalable, sustainable and low cost-in-use solution than its strong market presence, formulation development
if these same molecules were extracted from the stevia and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts.
leaf. The new venture will combine both companies’ This distribution agreement enables the Group to
technologies for producing steviol glycoside products optimize its distribution network. Both companies
made through fermentation and will market its share a focus on innovation and technical service to
products under one brand name, EverSweet. The joint customers based on expert knowledge in business
venture will be a 50-50 partnership between the two support. The two companies also share a philosophy
companies. The establishment of the joint venture is of sustainable development, transparency and
subject to regulatory approvals and other customary constructive collaboration. Roquette’s sustainable
closing conditions but expected to be finalized in the development approach consists of innovating,
first calendar quarter of 2019. sourcing, acting and bio-refining sustainably. Azelis
was recently awarded Gold rating by EcoVadis,
putting the company in the top 1 per cent of all
surveyed distributors.

DuPont launches new milk fermentation ingredient

DuPont Nutrition & Health has strains. According to DuPont, the during a product’s shelf life, while
introduced a new milk fermentation ingredient helps to optimise the reducing the risk of contamination.
ingredient in South America, production process by speeding The ingredient is also produced
which is a combination of several up fermentation while providing in a freeze-dried format, meaning
different strains. DuPont Danisco a good balance of flavour and it does not require refrigeration
Lactobacillus Plus features a acidity. One of the main benefits during transportation, reducing the
combination of L. paracasei, of the ingredient is that it can cost of logistics and providing an
helveticus and acidophilus help maintain a balanced taste environmentally-friendly solution.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COVER STORY 19

&2N01U8: FTOCRWUSIGETROLIWOLS NNONESS
The year 2018 started on a positive note for the calorie-micronutrient enriched supplementary food at
food, nutrition and allied industries with the launch anganwadis or through creating behaviour change in
of the National Nutrition Mission (NNM), by Prime the household by educating caregivers about timely
Minister Narendra Modi on 8 March. Now christened and adequate complementary food for infants. Clearly,
POSHAN Abhiyaan, it aims to drastically reduce the on both counts, these interventions have failed to tackle
prevailing high incidence of malnutrition, stunted India’s problem of malnutrition, resulting in children’s
growth and anaemia. The multi-ministerial convergence loss of potential cognitive and physical growth, a burden
mission has been rolled out in three phases from 2017- carried for life. It is unlikely that the current deficiencies
18 to 2019-20 with the vision to ensure attainment of in infants’ diets will be solved by target setting and
malnutrition free India by 2022. providing tablet computers to anganwadis. This can only
be improved by ensuring infants receive adequate and
Talking about the nutrition mission, Veena S. Rao, timely complementary feeding.”
Advisor, Karnataka Comprehensive Nutrition Mission,
points out, “Ensuring that infants have an adequate The year also saw the government giving a boost
diet is the mandate of the government’s Integrated to the food processing sector. At the 13th edition
Child Development Services, which currently works of Annapoorna World of Food India 2018 organized
towards this either through distributing protein- by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce

20 COVER STORY NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

and Industry (FICCI) in association with Koelnmesse ALTHOUGH THE FOOD PROCESSING
GmBH in September, Rajiv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, INDUSTRY IS MAKING PROGRESS,
Department of Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry POOR SUPPLY CHAIN LINKAGES
of Commerce & Industry highlighted that the food AND HIGH WASTAGES ARE SOME OF
processing sector is one of the emerging sectors in India THE CHALLENGES THE INDUSTRY IS
and the government will relax foreign direct investment CURRENTLY DEALING WITH. INDIA
(FDI) regulations to take this sector ahead. In a bid to LACKS HIGH STANDARDS IN QUALITY
give a fillip to industry and an impetus to trade and CERTIFICATION AND FOOD GRADING AS
industry, the government is expected to announce a EXISTING IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
new industrial policy soon. The proposed policy will
encompass the use of new technologies such as Artificial of Understanding (MoU) on food safety with the Food
Intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) which will open Safety Commission of Japan, the Consumer Affairs
new avenues for investments in India. Agency of Japan, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
of Japan and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
India produces 600 million tonnes of agriculture Fisheries of Japan. The regulatory body also caught the
and horticulture products. Considering the growth of attention of the public in October with the launch of a
food production and also the wastage of the same, the national campaign ‘The Eat Right Movement’ to improve
government of India is working on to support the sectors public health and combat lifestyle diseases. Alongside,
with industry friendly and farmers’ friendly policies, FSSAI also launched Eat Right tool kit and Safe and
export and import policies, and food parks. “Platforms Nutritious Food at Workplace campaign.
such as Annapoorna World of Food India 2018 give
an opportunity to connect with all the stakeholders Explaining about the movement Pawan Agarwal,
and explore various possibilities of growth", shares CEO, FSSAI says, “We expect about 30-40 companies
Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Commerce and Industry, from various sectors to voluntary commit to the action
Government of India.

The government is also working on creating an Agro
Processing Financial Institution to ensure a credit facility
to food processing projects. As a major development, the
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) approved
the operationalisation strategy for Operation Greens this
year.

Elaborating on the achievements of the MOFPI in the
last 10 months Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Cabinet
Minister, Food Processing, Government of India, says
“Food processing is the key to doubling of farmers’
income. 13 mega food parks have been operationalised
in states such as Karnataka (Tumkur), Punjab (Fazilka),
West Bengal (Murshidabad) among others in the last
four years. These mega food parks have generated 3.85
lakh jobs in four years and benefited 20,725 farmers.
Additional 15 mega food parks will be operational very
soon, creating jobs for around 4 lakh people.”

Although the food processing industry is making
progress, poor supply chain linkages and high wastages
are some of the major challenges the industry is
currently dealing with. “There is food wastage worth Rs
92000 crore every year due to lack of proper food storage
and processing facilities. India lacks high standards in
quality certification and food grading as existing in
foreign countries”, points out Benhur Mahesh Dutt Ekka,
Telangana Tribal Welfare Department Secretary.

In order to raise higher standards, the Food Safety
and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) this year took
few international initiatives by signing Memorandums

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in COVER STORY 21

15 COMPANIES FROM THE PACKAGED
FOOD INDUSTRY, NESTLE, MAPRO,
MTR, BRITANNIA, BIKANERVALA,
PATANJALI, BAGRRY’S, HINDUSTAN
UNILEVER, WEIKFIELD, KRAFT HEINZ,
DEL MONTE, HALDIRAM’S, KELLOGS,
ITC AND MARICO, SIGNED UP WITH
VOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS TO BEGIN
REDUCING SALT AND SUGAR IN THEIR
PRODUCTS BY 2020.

plan of the Eat Right Movement. This is a multi-sectoral 2020,”adds Suresh Narayanan, CMD, Nestle India.
effort aimed to bring a transformation across the entire On the other hand, two of the biggest producers of
food chain. Packaged food companies such as Nestle,
Patanjali, Kellogg’s and Heinz, among others, will be the food industry, GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Kraft Heinz
making voluntary commitments to reformulate their Co. have put their consumer nutrition businesses up for
products to reduce unhealthy ingredients and invest in sale. This year, GSK initiated a strategic review of milk
healthier foods. This will include edible oil companies drinks brand Horlicks and its other consumer healthcare
and industry bodies that will make commitments nutrition products businesses in order to support its $13
towards making India trans-fat free by 2022.” billion deal to buy Novartis’ 36.5 per cent stake in their
consumer healthcare joint venture. At present, Nestlé
Following this announcement, 15 companies and Unilever are in advanced negotiations to acquire
from the packaged food industry, Nestle, Mapro, MTR, GSK’s consumer nutrition business in India.
Britannia, Bikanervala, Patanjali, Bagrry’s, Hindustan
Unilever, Weikfield, Kraft Heinz, Del Monte, Haldiram’s, Recently, Kraft Heinz agreed to sell a portfolio of
Kellogs, ITC and Marico, signed up with voluntary products that includes its malt drink Complan for almost
commitments to begin reducing salt and sugar in their 40 per cent less than it was originally said to be seeking
products by 2020. Currently, FSSAI is in the process of to Zydus Cadila. “This development offers immense
finalising the new labelling regulations that propose opportunity to broaden our portfolio and invest in brands
front of the pack labels and red colour coding for and products that we believe are most relevant to health-
products high in salt, sugar and fat. conscious consumers. It leverages our group heritage,
innovation track record, combined brand offerings and
“Nestle has already been working for many years on capabilities to meet and exceed our consumers’ evolving
reducing sodium, sugars and saturated fats and adding health and wellness needs. This acquisition will be an ideal
healthy ingredients such as whole grains, vegetables addition to Zydus Wellness, supporting our aspirations
and micro nutrients in its products. Over and above the to grow in the consumer wellness space by providing
reduction achieved in the past years, we are committed multiple choices to consumers”, mentions Sharvil Patel,
to an average 6 per cent reduction in added sugar, an Chairman, Zydus Wellness.
average 10 per cent reduction in salt and about 2.5 per cent
reduction in total fat in our relevant product categories by Besides during the year many companies have
launched innovative nutritional products for the benefit
of consumers and many more are in pipeline to be
launched. The industry, in support from the government,
is setting out on an aggressive path to renovate its
product portfolio and maintain core focus on the
nutrition and wellness needs of the consumers.

In the coming pages we will be covering the views
of the heads of the companies from different sectors as
how they had performed during the year.

Dr Manbeena Chawla
[email protected]

22 INDUSTRY VIEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

2018 FOR NUTRITION, INGREDIENTS,
NUTRACEUTICALS, ORGANICS,
SUPPLIERS AND FOOD SECTORS

successful. 2018 has been a very challenging (FSPCA) as Preventive Control Qualified Individuals
year as markets are undergoing a (PCQI). There has been a trained PCQI officer in the
sea change and we try to keep pace Utah, USA plant to comply with the Food Safety
with our growth plans. As someone Modernization Act (FSMA) since July 2017. Our USA
said, change is the only thing which division appointed the first ever woman CEO, Asha
is constant; we adapt to changing Ramesh, she’s been with the company for 24 years. The
market needs and pursue our goal Group’s founder, Dr Muhammed Majeed and Sabinsa’s
of making our customers parent company Sami Labs were honoured recently
with several awards by the Associated Chambers of
- T. Anil Kumar Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). Dr Majeed
President, Waters India received a Shield of Honour from India’s Minister for
Health & Family Welfare and Sami Labs was honoured
2018 was a year of publications for with two Certificate of Excellence Awards: Best
the Sami-Sabinsa Group. Several Nutraceutical Company and Best Herbal Research
new scientific publications have Company. We just achieved our 200th patent as well,
come out from clinical studies however we know that defending and protecting these
conducted previously. Just on our patents is equally, if not, critically important to both us
curcumin brand alone, Curcumin and the customers we serve. Associated Chambers of
C3 Complex, we have surpassed Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) also
100 publications that cite directly honoured Sami Labs and Johara Cosmetics with Best
this branded ingredient. Additionally, thirteen Sami– Raw Material/Ingredient Supplier and Best Cosmetics
Sabinsa Group staff members involved in implementing Company.
the 21 CFR part 117 regulations at all of the company’s
manufacturing facilities in India have been trained and - Dr Muhammed Majeed
certified by the Food Safety Preventive Control Alliance Founder & Chairman, Sami-Sabinsa Group

PureCircle has begun test-farming
several locations in India with its
Starleaf stevia variety, which
contains over 20x of the best-
tasting stevia sweeteners, like Reb
M, than other stevia plant variants.
India has the land, climatic
condition, farming expertise and
entrepreneurial spirit to contribute significantly to
global demand of naturally-sourced, non-GMO stevia
sweeteners. The Company has announced plans to
increase plantings of its Starleaf stevia variety to supply
significantly more Reb M to global beverage and food
companies. PureCircle sells a broad line of great-
tasting, plant-based, zero-calorie stevia sweeteners and
other stevia ingredients.
Recently PureCircle also hosted a joint scientific
session at IUFoST 2018 to present stevia sustainability

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in INDUSTRY VIEWS 23

and recent agricultural development in India; advances
in stevia science, technology and safety; and recent
stevia innovations for the formulation of great
tasting reduced/zero sugar foods and beverages. The
overwhelming response from Industry and stakeholders
at IUFoST 2018 has further strengthened our vision to
create a robust ecosystem for stevia in India.

- Navneet Singh
Head, South-East Asia Region, PureCircle

This year Mérieux NutriSciences herbal products such as curcumin. Natural Product
launched in India the second Radiocarbon (14C) and Stable Isotope Ratio (δ13C
edition of its Blue Paper entitled and δD)" analysis is the only method to check the
‘European Food Safety Trends, Key adulteration in Curcumin. When natural curcumin is
Issues and Perspectives’. The Blue tested using high-performance liquid chromatography
Paper aims to help customers (HPLC), the three curcuminoids register as specific
better understand food related peaks (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and
health issues and have an bisdemethoxycurcumin). However, the problem is that
enhanced vision of future food safety challenges. The adulterers are now able to create synthetic curcumin
food regulations in the Indian market are now that will also register these same three peaks. Not many
changing. With our services in Mumbai, Bangalore and companies in USA are aware of this fact. The synthetic
Delhi, we are supporting the industry with the best of version of curcumin being traded at a very lower price
the international knowledge and the methods which has always been a major concern for us.
are utilized and adopted in the developed countries. We
are committed to the Indian market, and towards - Dr Benny Antony
expanding our portfolio to the Indian market with our Joint Managing Director, Arjuna Naturals
main labs and in future with our satellite labs as well.
The Indian food industry will be supported and helped In the last one year, our brand has
by the tech industry knowledge in the future. grown significantly and is standing
in the elite list of top 5 brands in
- Dr Pankaj Jaiminy India. At the recently held 4th
MD, Merieux NutriSciences India National Symposium on
Nutraceuticals organized by the
From over 2 years of research Associated Chambers of Commerce
driven effort, Arjuna Natural Ltd and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM),
came up with SHODEN – a branded Tirupati Group’s Nutraceutical division received the Best
Ashawagandha extract with its Nutraceuticals Manufacturing Company award. The
efficacy proven to the highest level. Nutraceuticals industry is a very fast-growing industry,
The efficacy was achieved through under the umbrella of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards
development of a proprietary Authority of India). Although, there are some challenges
process which initially involved in front of industry pertaining to the regulations, these
detoxification process & further development of
protection system to deliver the ingredient safely in the
gut. The product was successfully launched at the
supply side trade show during the month of November
2018 & our research was well accepted during the show.
The product got very good feedback from our business
partners on the initial launch & showed great potential
in dealing with mood, anxiety, stress or sleep problems
that people faced.
One of the major hurdles Arjuna has faced during
past several years is adulteration in some of the

24 INDUSTRY VIEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

are being taken up through the industrial forum
(ASSOCHAM, CII & FICCI) time to time and we are
providing support to the authority in terms of
supporting details, technical data, and scientific
evidences.

- Ashok Goyal
Director, Tirupati Group

Interestingly, 2018 was a great year set our product apart from unhealthy, sugar filled candy
for the company. As far as bars hyped as energy bars. It was quite a task but with
achievements are concerned, we our excessive campaigning and efforts as a team we
ended up creating sustainable were able to distinguish EAT anytime energy bars as
weight loss for over 3000 clients reliably healthy product. With acceptance by
and have managed to establish consumers, our market saw an optimistic and
Food Darzee as a brand which is encouraging expansion. We reached out to 5 different
known for results and taste. We cities namely, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi
grew from a 4 membered organization to a 120 and Ahmadabad. We believe in healthy snacking to be
membered organization in 2018.WIth respect to the more precise mindful snacking and with the similar
number of meals, we have started doing over 2000 vision we successfully launched Protein cookies and
meals a day delivered all over Mumbai, Navi Mumbai trail mixes. So yes! 2018 has been an incredible year, full
and Thane and 2000 meals a day is a very large number of challenges and positive outcomes.
compared to a lot of brands in similar spaces.
- Rishit Sanghvi
- Dr Siddhant Bhargava Founder, Wholesome Habits
Co-Founder, Fitness and Nutritional Scientist, Food
The main achievement for the year
Darzee 2018 is that, Hapima -Fried rice mix
has become the No-1 brand in
Pristine's range of products have Tamil Nadu market for Fried rice
been welcomed in major chains of mix seasoning category. Hapima
modern trade outlets like Big -Crispy Fry mix has become the 3rd
Bazaar, D Mart and Metro to name a highest selling Fry mix seasoning in
few. Increase in organic foods Tamil Nadu market. Also we have
awareness among consumers has entered into the Karnataka Market to sell our product
subsequently increased the range through distributor channel. We are currently
demand for Organic foods in the successfully selling our product across 64,000 shops in
modern trade segment which was an advantage to our Tamil Nadu, which has grown subsequently by 18 per
business. cent compare to last financial year. We are intensely
working on to clarify the misconception about MSG
- K C Raghu among the key opinion leaders and the end consumer
Founder & MD, Pristine Organics through various –Awareness seminar, Cooking

‘Health and being healthy’ was
paramount concern in 2018 but we
also saw a positive evolution in
consumers who were well-informed
and armed with knowledge when it
comes to what healthy means to
them. Consumers have gained
insight and understanding on
effectively reading food labels and nutritional
information to choose an authentic healthy product.
Even then the biggest hurdle we faced in 2018 was to

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in INDUSTRY VIEWS 25

products in the market namely, Organic Vermicelli
Range of products, A2 Cow Ghee etc. which added to
strengthen our product portfolio and helped us getting
entry in new stores.

- Varun Gupta
Founder & CEO, Pro Nature Organic Foods

competition, Social media viral videos in order to 2018 has been an impeccable year
communicate the fact that: - AJI-NO-MOTO is made for Equinox with exceptional
from natural sources through fermentation process and performances by our employees.
it is absolutely safe for human consumption, which is The company has been able to
certified by all major global regulatory bodies like- achieve a marvelous feat. An
FSSAI, USFDA, JECFA. But unfortunately time to time equivalent amount of growth can
different false rumor about MSG have surfaced in be seen in different departments of
different communication platform without any scientific the organization. Last year we saw
proof which spreads unnecessary misconception & fear the entry of several elite brands for whom we
among the consumer & food lovers. Countering those developed customised service packages. An increased
false allegations with scientific proof and amount of samples had been collected by our team for
communicating the true fact about the MSG among the testing various food products. We are the official FoSTaC
society is the key challenge faced by us. (Food Safety Training & Certification Portal) training
partners for FSSAI and have been conducting FoSTaC
- Govinda Biswas training for all the food handlers across various cities of
Marketing Manager, Ajinomoto India India. Recently a new initiative of providing such food
hygiene training for street vendors has been executed
The year 2018 so far, has been a by the team in Mumbai. Also, a huge number of audits
very good year for us and we have have been successfully conducted in different parts of
seen a good growth in sales India. There are various plans where Equinox intends to
primarily in the Online & Modern retain its presence and make its root stronger in all the
Trade Channels. Though the metro cities.
customers are becoming more
aware about the Organic Category - Ashwin Bhadri
and they want to try Organic CEO, Equinox Labs
products. But the major challenge lies in building the
trust on Organic. People still don’t have faith in organic Over the last few years, there have
foods being genuinely organic which slows down the been significant changes in the
growth of the category. This year we focused on national regulatory frameworks
generating trials through different activities: Price offs, governing food standards & food
promotions, samplings through our promoters and free safety. Regulations brought on ‘food
sampling with our products. Also, this year we could recall’, ‘organic food’, ‘food import’,
launch some of the unique and very high quality ‘product approval’, ‘nutraceuticals’,
‘auditing’ et cetera were need of the
hour and their implementation is an acknowledgment of
the food safety concern. There are still certain aspects of
food safety and standardization which need upgradation
like labelling, display, packaging, claims et cetera. Draft
regulations have been circulated for public comments to
upgrade these aspects of the food safety laws and very
soon we can expect it to be upgraded as per the needs of
the public and industry.

- Kunal Kishore
Partner, Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan

26 INGREDIENT NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

STEVIA
GAINING
MARKET
SHARE

With sweeteners from stevia becoming the osteoporosis etc., sugar is becoming an enemy to almost
preferred zero-calorie sweetening option among each and every one. Even the government is planning to
consumers, India has the opportunity to utilize introduce sugar tax to curb the onset of such diseases.
its land, climatic condition, farming expertise
and entrepreneurial spirit to contribute to the In such a scenario, sugar intake is decreasing as
global demand of the natural stevia sweetener. consumers are becoming aware of the need to prevent
However, to develop the sustainable supply the onset of diseases and manage weight. This has
chain of stevia sweeteners in India, both resulted in an increase in demand of natural sweeteners
the farming of stevia plants and use of the such as stevia. “The Global Stevia Market is expected
sweeteners in Indian food and beverages need to reach $ 994.19 billion by 2025, from $ 488.10 billion
support. Stevia farming in India will enable in 2017, growing at a CAGR of 9.3 per cent during the
significant increases of farmer incomes in many forecast period of 2018 to 2025,” says a report by Data
regions of the country, according to an analysis Bridge Market Research.
from PureCircle.
Although purified stevia leaf extract is recognized
In past several years, there have been several epidemics as a safe sweetener by many regulatory agencies, stevia
in India. Diabetes is one such disease which has got approval by the Indian regulatory agency - Food
augmented the country. According to the International Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2015.
Diabetes Federation whose vision is to live in a diabetes In response to both consumers and health and wellness
free world, there were over 72 million cases of diabetes advocates, food and beverage companies are working
in India in 2017. A report entitled ‘Current Scenario responsibly to reduce sugar and calorie in their products.
of diabetes in India’ further states “The prevalence of
prediabetes is also high. Recent studies have shown Stevia is a small, leafy plant that was first discovered
a rapid conversion of impaired glucose tolerance to more than 200 years ago by the native people in South
diabetes in the southern states of India, where the America. The leaves of the stevia plant are uniquely,
prevalence of diabetes among adults has reached naturally sweet and the indigenous people used to chew
approximately 20 per cent in urban populations and them for the sweet taste and to sweeten beverages.
approximately 10 per cent in rural populations.” Given Today, the sweetness of stevia is extracted and purified
this scenario, the public perception lays the blame on
increased sugar intake.

As more and more scientific evidences are found that
link increased sugar consumption to various diseases
such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart diseases, anemia,

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in INGREDIENT 27

into high purity stevia leaf extract and used in foods and SAFETY & FOOD POLICY FOR STEVIA
beverages around the world. More than 200 studies have
attested to the safety of high purity stevia extract for all When it comes to approved use, it is only
members of the family, including pregnant woman and the high purity stevia leaf extract form that
people with diabetes. Multiple major global regulatory meets global safety standards. In other words,
organizations have determined stevia is safe. It is the crude extract form is not approved for use
approved as a sweetener in major markets worldwide, in foods and beverages, though may be sold
including more than 65 countries across the globe. in some countries as a dietary supplement.
The safety of high purity stevia leaf extract has
Stevia has no impact on blood sugar or insulin levels been rigorously established. More than 200
and does not contribute to glyceamic load. It is suitable studies have researched stevia’s relationship
for all ages and special populations including children, to a variety of health issues including diabetes,
diabetics, nursing and pregnant women. Stevia is found allergies and cancer.
to reduce sugar and calories in the Indian diet, including
traditional Indian food and desserts. Like sugar, stevia Multiple, major global regulatory
sweeteners are from plants. But unlike sugar, they enable organizations, including the Food and
low-calorie and zero-calorie formulations of beverages Agriculture Organization/World Health
and foods. Organization’s Joint Expert Committee on
Food Additive (JECFA), the European Food
PureCircle, a leader in research, development and Safety Authority (EFSA), the Food and Drug
innovation that produces a growing supply of multiple Administration (FDA), and Food Standards
varieties of stevia sweeteners with sugar-like taste, using Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), have
all necessary and appropriate methods of production determined high purity stevia leaf extract to be
and whose aim is to be a resource and innovation safe for consumption by children, adults and
partner for food and beverage companies, hosted a joint special populations.
scientific session with Coca-Cola India on October 26 at
IUFoST 2018. Multiple major regulatory agencies around
the world have concluded that high purity
stevia leaf extract is safe for use as a sweetener
for human consumption, including special
populations.

In 2008 and 2009, the Food and Agriculture
Organization/ JECFA, a global panel of food
ingredient safety experts, and the FDA stated
the use of high purity steviol glycosides
(≥95%) is safe for human consumption, with
an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) expressed in
steviol equivalents of up to 4 milligrams per
kilogram of body weight per day. In 2011, the
European Commission authorized the use of
high purity steviol glycosides (≥95%) in foods
and beverages across the European Union.

Leading organizations support the safety
and benefits of naturally sourced, zero calorie
stevia and other low calorie sweeteners.
● Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
● American Diabetes Association
● American Heart Association
● Calorie Control Council
● European Food Information Council
● International Food Information Council

(IFIC)
● Institute of Food Science And Technology

Source: www.purecirclesteviainstitute.com

28 INGREDIENT NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

WHAT IS STEVIA? “As the result of ongoing
innovation, research and
● Given the growing global concerns about obesity development work with
and diabetes, beverage and food companies are stevia, to date PureCircle
working responsibly to reduce sugar and calories has been granted more
in their products, responding to both consumers than 100 stevia-related
and health and wellness advocates. Sweeteners patents. These patents – plus more than
from the stevia plant offer sugar-like taste and 250 patents pending and other strong
are becoming an increasingly important tool for intellectual property — are directed to a
these companies. wide range of stevia-related products and
processes.”
● Like sugar, stevia sweeteners are from plants. But
unlike sugar, they enable low-calorie and zero- - Dr Siddhartha Purkayastha,
calorie formulations of beverages and foods. Group Vice President of Global Scientific

● Stevia leaf extract is a natural, zero calorie, and Regulatory Affairs, PureCircle
high-intensity sweetener, used by global food
and beverage companies as a great-tasting On company’s plans he says “PureCircle is exploring
zero-calorie alternative to sugar and artificial new farming partnerships in multiple locations across
sweeteners. India in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to double
farmers’ income. Establishing a local Indian stevia
● Stevia is a naturally sweet plant native to South agronomy programme exemplifies the company’s
America; today, it is grown around the world, commitment to traceability, and helping food and
notably in Kenya, China and the US. beverage companies launch new low to zero sugar
added products with plant-based from farm to finished
● The sweet-tasting parts of the stevia leaf are up product.”
to 400 times sweeter than sugar: stevia’s high-
intensity sweetness means it requires far less Elaborating about the scale up plans, he further
water and land than sugar. says “In several ways, over the next three years, we are
looking to supply all of our ingredients from Starleaf,
● Research has shown that the molecules of which yields 20x more rebaudioside (Reb) M and other
the stevia leaf are present and unchanged in sugar-like sweeteners versus conventional stevia. We’ve
the dried stevia leaf, through the commercial recently announced plans to plant nearly 16,000 tons in
extraction and purification process, and in the 2019, an increase of about 200 per cent over the prior
final stevia leaf extract product. Many major year.
global regulatory organisations, across 65
countries, have approved the use of high-purity PureCircle is further ramping up Reb M availability by
stevia leaf extracts in food and beverages. taking the plentiful Reb A found in Starleaf, and just as
the leaf goes through its maturation process converting
Source: purecircle.com Reb A -> D -> M, we replicate that through the help of an
enzyme. Enzymes play a similar role in various products
The presentations covered stevia sustainability and including baby food, cheese, other dairy products and
recent agricultural development in India; advances in chocolate. We also plan to build extraction plants outside
stevia science, technology and safety; and recent stevia China and add a second production line in our new
innovations for the formulation of great tasting reduced/ plant in Malaysia. All of this will enable us to double our
zero sugar foods and beverages. output.”

Commenting on stevia’s sustainability and Talking about innovation, Dr Siddhartha Purkayastha,
PureCircle’s vision for India, PureCircle Head of the Group Vice President of Global Scientific and Regulatory
South East Asia Region Navneet Singh says, “Stevia is Affairs, PureCircle says “As the result of ongoing
a sustainable crop, which is in high demand by the innovation, research and development work with
global food and beverage industry. PureCircle is test- stevia, to date PureCircle has been granted more than
farming several locations in India with its Starleaf stevia 100 stevia-related patents. These patents – plus more
variety, which contains more of the best-tasting stevia than 250 patents pending and other strong intellectual
sweeteners than other stevia plant variants. India has
the land, climatic condition, farming expertise and
entrepreneurial spirit to contribute significantly to
global demand of naturally-sourced, non-GMO stevia
sweeteners.”

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in INGREDIENT 29

TOP STEVIA PLAYERS ● Tate & Lyle Plc. Co.,Ltd. Source: Data Bridge Market Research
● Archer Daniels Midland ● Jhanil Healthcare Pvt. Ltd.
● Cargill ● Stevia First Corporation
● Nestlé S.A. Company ● Pure Via
● The Coca-Cola Company ● Sunwin Stevia International, ● Evolva
● PepsiCo Inc. ● Merisant US, Inc.
● Evolva Holding S.A. Inc. ● SweetLeaf
● PureCircle Ltd. ● S&W Seed Co. ● Stevia biotech Pvt. Ltd.
● Stevia Corp. ● MORITA KAGAKU KOGYO CO., ● Stevi0cal
● Ingredion
● GLG Life Tech Corp. LTD.
● Zhucheng HaoTian Pharm

property — are directed to a wide range of stevia-related sweeten 1 billion cases of zero-calorie carbonated soft
products and processes.” drinks or the equivalent in beverages and foods using
Reb M as the sweetener.”
Speaking about how much Reb M the company can
offer? Navneet Singh says “Using beverage sweetening Apart from PureCircle, companies like Cargill, GLG
as an equivalized example, PureCircle can today supply Life Tech, Tate & Lyle, Ingredion Incorporated, Archer
enough Reb M to sweeten about 500 million cases Daniels Midland, Sunwin Stevia International are some of
of zero-calorie carbonated soft drinks. As PureCircle the major manufacturers of stevia.
continues to build production capacity, we estimate
three years from now, we could supply enough Reb M to Stevia, a subtropical plant requires warm
temperatures, adequate rainfall and lots of sunshine
“PureCircle is test-farming and is grown by natural, conventional plant breeding
several locations in India methods such as cross-pollination and other non-
with its Starleaf stevia genetically modified processes. The plant is grown in
variety, which contains North and South America, Africa and Asia, with China
more of the best-tasting currently growing more than 80 per cent of Stevia leaf
stevia sweeteners than supply.
other stevia plant variants. India has
the land, climatic condition, farming With sweeteners from stevia becoming the preferred
expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to zero-calorie sweetening option among consumers,
contribute significantly to global demand India has the opportunity to utilize its land, climatic
of naturally-sourced, non-GMO stevia condition, farming expertise and entrepreneurial spirit
sweeteners. PureCircle is exploring to contribute to the global demand of the natural stevia
new farming partnerships in multiple sweetener. However, to develop the sustainable supply
locations across India in line with the chain of stevia sweeteners in India, both the farming of
Prime Minister’s vision to double farmers’ stevia plants and use of the sweeteners in Indian food
income. Establishing a local Indian stevia and beverages need support. PureCircle’s analysis has
agronomy programme exemplifies the shown that stevia farming in India will enable significant
company’s commitment to traceability, increases of farmer incomes in many regions of the
and helping food and beverage country.
companies launch new low to zero sugar
added products with plant-based from India can benefit tremendously through adoption of
farm to finished product.” commercially viable variety of stevia plants. This is the
- Navneet Singh, Head of the optimal time for India to take advantage of a growing
South East Asia Region, PureCircle market which is ripe to provide economic, sustainability
and health benefits for its farming community, food
industry and consumers. Indian food and beverage
companies will benefit from stevia as it is not an artificial
sweetener and can provide a zero-calorie, natural
sweetening option to address rising concerns around
diabetes and sugar consumption while maintaining the
taste performance of sugar.

Prapti Shah
[email protected]

30 S2B NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Dr R B Smarta, Nutri-Economics:
A Socio-
MD, Interlink Marketing Business Model
Consultancy Pvt. Ltd.
and Hon. Secretary HADSA Nutrition gap is the real challenge for India to benchmark and
(Health Foods and Dietary accelerate progress on all Sustainable Developments Goals
Supplements Association) target indicators and simultaneously the economy of India.
Improved nutrition status of population drives economic
growth, but more importantly, improved economic growth
contributes to better nutrition profile of citizens.

The important role of nutrition in public health continuous process of creating value at each stage and Interlink Knowledge Cell
is being increasingly recognized as crucial for transferring it to the next stage to gain a cumulative value
its potential impact on health-related quality of which impacts economy. While Pharmacoeconomics is
life and economics, both at the societal and individual creation of comparative utilities in economic terms of
levels. Here the Nutritional Economics (Nutri-economics) pharmaceutical products or processes.
plays an important role. Nutri-economics is a discipline
dedicated to researching and characterizing health Nutrition and Economy
and economic outcomes in nutrition for the benefit
of society. To fully appreciate the context of nutri- As a part of human rights and ethics, it is necessary to
economics, unlike Pharmacoeconomics (which was take action to improve the nutritional status of India but
initially developed to allow health authorities to decide there are also strong economic arguments which require
on an efficient allocation of available resources between investment in this field. Malnutrition perpetuates the
alternative strategies or treatments of pharmaceuticals cycle of poverty and affects economy growth and leads
and as an aid for decisions in health care priority setting) to loss which can be direct or indirect. Direct loss is from
it is necessary to be aware of the specific characteristics Poor Cognitive Development and Indirect loss through
of food. decrease in Productivity and increase in healthcare cost.

Angus Deaton (Nobel Memorial Prize Laureate for Fig.1 Nutri-economy (Socio- economic) Cycle
Economics for his work on consumption, poverty, and
welfare, 2015) has made key contributions to the study
of health and nutrition in India. He proposed Nutri
Puzzles in India. This nutri-puzzle reflects high degree
of malnutrition in Indian population. With as many
as 194.6 million people (almost 15 per cent of total
population) are starving, the country has been ranked
as the most undernourished in the world by the Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This has increased
the risk of having a population with impaired growth,
defective immune system and reduced work capacity.
This reduced work capacity at macro-level indirectly
affects GDP. Preventing one child from being born with
a low birthweight is equivalent to increasing the GDP by
almost 3 per cent.

Pharmacoeconomic model would be an ideal in
comparison with Nutri-economics, however the difference
between these two is so vast that Nutri-economics is a

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in S2B 31

Nutrition is a building block of human capital THERE IS A TWO WAY RELATION BETWEEN Interlink Knowledge Cell
which contributes to economic development. In turn, ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT AND NUTRITION.
sustainable and equitable growth in nutrition will IMPROVED NUTRITION STATUS OF
convert this country to “developed” state. It is clear POPULATION DRIVES ECONOMIC GROWTH,
that there is a two way relation between economy BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IMPROVED
development and nutrition. Improved nutrition status ECONOMIC GROWTH CONTRIBUTES TO
of population drives economic growth, but more BETTER NUTRITION PROFILE OF CITIZENS.
importantly, improved economic growth contributes to THUS, NUTRITION GAP IS THE REAL
better nutrition profile of citizens. CHALLENGE FOR INDIA TO BENCHMARK
AND ACCELERATE PROGRESS ON ALL
Thus, nutrition gap is the real challenge for SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTS GOALS
India to benchmark and accelerate progress on all TARGET INDICATORS AND SIMULTANEOUSLY
Sustainable Developments Goals target indicators and THE ECONOMY OF OUR NATION.
simultaneously the economy of our nation.
of mind” and not just “share of shelf”. And for that
Three Major Drivers to Build Nutri- appropriate actions are needed.
economics: Food- Fortified Food-
Nutraceuticals Fig.2 Customer Transaction Model
As seen in figure above, transactional marketing
Food is the source of macro and micro nutrients for focuses on single, "point of sale" transactions. It
humans. The complexity of food and its interactions focuses on product which meets consumer needs
with multiple interdependent genetic, physiological, and appropriate pricing. Similarly right stimulation
metabolic and psychological processes that have an through right promotion means are needed to create a
impact on human physical functioning and psycho- visible profile for the product that makes it appealing
social well-being requires a holistic approach. Hence it to customers. And lastly facilitation of the product
has to be treated differently than the pharmaceutical is needed through efficient distribution chain. Once
field which is typically targeted to specific functions. the product is purchased, it must create value so
that customer gets attached to that perceived and
Increasing epidemiological and scientific evidence
demonstrates clear links between food and health
maintenance/disease development where Nutraceuticals
in reducing disease burden is an important aspect.

In a continuously updating regulatory framework
concern of common man for his health has been a center
focus. Considering consumer in center regulatory bodies
revolve their regulations in such a way that his safety is
ensured.

Besides above mentioned scientific parameters it is
important for any business to clarify what it means to
consumer! In this process labels, label claims, nutritional
values and regulatory framework of how to display the
whole product to consumer to understand when he
needs to take this nutritional supplement, regulatory
bodies are in progression of doing this.

In order to create demand a framework of transaction
model needs to be exercised.

Customer Transaction Model

Customer transaction is an important tool for those
nutraceutical stakeholders who are seeking to create
long-term sustainable business relationships and
enhancing future consumption.

This consumer transaction cycle starts with
identifying the potential consumer. The consumer of
today has become wiser and more demanding. So
nutraceutical brands need to win the battle for “share

32 S2B NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

FORTUNATELY THE FOCUS HAS SHIFTED important to distinguish the pull and push method
FROM NUTRITION TO NUTRIENTS of demand creation by creating value through
AND AT THIS MOMENT ALTHOUGH innovation. It is also equally important that to foster
WE DO NOT HAVE MEASUREMENT the innovation, regulation must channelize and provide
OF ALL MICRONUTRIENTS WHICH an environment for the benefit of industry as well as
BECOME DEFICIENT IN HUMAN BODY, consumer.
ADVANCEMENT IN TECHNOLOGY AND
DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS WILL FULFIL THIS In order to create a willing customer at the
REQUIREMENT VERY QUICKLY. THIS WILL nascent stage of nutraceutical lot of investment and
MAKE WAY OF CREATING AWARENESS efforts have to be put in awareness and education of
ABOUT NUTRIENTS AND DEFICIENCY OF these customers who do not perceive value of this
NUTRIENTS WHICH WILL MUCH FASTER products. At this moment anything which looks like
SURGE THE DEMAND OF NUTRACEUTICALS. pharmaceuticals in a form like tablets and capsules,
perceptually for a non-prepared consumer “practicing
real value. It can be ensured with the promise and doctor” becomes a reference point. This happens as
performance of the product. This repeats the cycle of there is trust and credibility in him. Dichotomy is even
purchase. the practicing doctors are not aware and educated
enough to opine and give the judgments to consumers.
As there is an intense competition from Ayurveda,
Herbal medicines, Organic food, etc. it is very This created value by innovation creates
differentiation and is useful for process of transaction.

As a result essential aspects of demand generation
are awareness, education at three different levels like
doctors, consumers and pharmacists. At this moment
the infrastructure which is required to facilitate demand
in encashment is weak and with regulatory permission
all pharmacies can make nutraceutical products
available. This fills up the supply gap even after creating
a demand for the betterment of patient.

As the environment is changing along with
demographics, a certain section of consumer is getting
aware of nutrition and trying to apply their minds to
take care of myths of managing health. Recent burst
of deficiency in Vitamin D3 has created uproar as the
lifestyle is changing.

Fortunately the focus has shifted from nutrition
to nutrients and at this moment although we do not
have measurement of all micronutrients which become
deficient in human body, advancement in technology
and diagnostic tools will fulfill this requirement very
quickly.

This will make way of creating awareness about
nutrients and deficiency of nutrients which will much
faster surge the demand of nutraceuticals.

There is a three-point continuum on which this
business can be based: efficacy, effectiveness and
efficiency. Efficacy refers to the question ‘does it
work? in human intervention study setting whereas,
effectiveness is concerned with answering ‘does it work
under real daily life circumstances?’ and efficiency
specifies cost considerations by asking ‘is it worth?’

Along this continuum, as awareness education and
knowledge of deficiencies of micronutrients grow, a
better way would be carved out for nutritional equality
and thereby nutria-economics.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in Q&A 33

Less Omega 3 Dr Richard Bazinet,
Fatty Acids in diet
President ISSFAL, Research
puts us at risk Chai in Nutritional Neuro
Science, University of Toronto

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), What are the concerns associated with high fat diet?
every day, approximately 830 women die from Our bodies are able to convert both essential fatty acids
preventable causes related to pregnancy and such as LA and ALA to their active metabolites but the
childbirth. 99 per cent of all maternal deaths occur in demand is extremely high in the growing infant and thus
developing countries. Researchers have found out that it is widely recommended to consume adequate EPA and
the key reason behind this observation is the lack of DHA rich food sources. However, most Indians do convert
meeting the nutritional demands during pregnancy and these essential fatty acids better than other ethnic groups.
lactation period. Studies have also revealed that fatty This in combination with a high LA consumption will drive
acids levels in the red blood cell membranes of pregnant their omega 6 fatty acids status up and yet at the same
women play a very critical role. This observation was time will reduce the Omega 3 DHA and EPA status, putting
recently pointed out by Dr Richard Bazinet, President Indians at risk for a number of chronic diseases. Typically, a
ISSFAL, Research Chai in Nutritional Neuro Science, healthy ratio is defined as between 4-5/1 whereas for most
University of Toronto, who visited India to be a part of Indians this ratio is between 20-50/1. Evidence has shown
the International Scientific Symposium celebrating the that this Skew in omega 6/3 fatty acid status in pregnant
centenary year of the National Institute of Nutrition women may lead to deviations in brain structure in new
(NIN), Hyderabad. Dr Manbeena Chawla from NuFFooDS born babies (Makrides et al 1994), higher risk for early
Spectrum interacted with Dr Bazinet to find out more preterm birth and perinatal depression. Evidence shows
about this critical issue. Edited excerpts; that low intake of Omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy
correlates with higher levels of depressive symptoms
What are the nutritional challenges hindering during pregnancy. Hence, there is a need for lowering
optimal growth and development during pregnancy the omega 6 fatty acids rich oils and thus intakes and
in India today? increasing DHA intake.
The dietary intake of fat is high in the Indian diet. About
50 per cent of these fats are vegetable fats such as How can this challenge be addressed?
sunflower and safflower oils, typically used for cooking. More education and awareness are required for women
These vegetable fats are high in essential Omega 6 to be aware of their special nutritional needs plus
fatty acids such as Linoleic acid (LA). On the other side, health-related threats and seek timely care that is not
the Indian diet is low in essential omega 3 fatty acids limited to their pre-natal and post-natal requirements.
such as alfa linolenic acid (ALA). ALA is a precursor for The significance of a healthy lifestyle, rich and diversified
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic diets and enrichment via nutritional supplements cannot
acid (EPA) both leading to anti-inflammatory and be reiterated enough. In addition, regular data collection
inflammation resolving mediators. Pregnant women is necessary to monitor maternal nutrition status in India
following a vegetarian or vegan diet, whose intake of and to assess the average pre-pregnancy body mass,
omega 3 will be extremely low if not absent, are a reason the fraction of women who are underweight at the
for concern. An adequate balance of omega 6 or omega beginning of pregnancy, and the average weight gained
3 fatty acids is a prerequisite for optimal health and during pregnancy. A holistic approach to women’s health
development of the mother and baby. requires a life-course approach that extends beyond
reproductive aspects.

34 Q&A NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Harish Mohan, “We plan to
reach Rs 25Cr
Founder & CEO of in next 3 years”
Sipwise Baverages

After witnessing a gap in the Indian market for Coolers are available in Blueberry+Apple+Lime and
beverages that could offer value beyond cola and Rose+Apple+Lime flavours. Our energy drink 1947 has
fruit pulp based drinks, Sipwise Beverages took the right amount of caffeine which is 50 mg and the
the initiative to bring access of age-old herbs and natural caffeine is extracted from tea which is sourced from Nilgiri
ingredients to the Indian consumers at an affordable mountains. It also has the natural sweetener Inulin which
price. Within the first year of its operations, the startup has is a taste enhancer, a good probiotic and an instant source
achieved a sales figure of Rs 1 crore. Sipwise Beverages of energy. It’s available in the flavour of green apple.
is currently funded through Scientific Remedies which
is one of the leading pet healthcare brands in India. What challenges are you facing in the functional
NuFFooDS Spectrum spoke to Harish Mohan, Founder beverages segment and how do you plan to address
& CEO of Sipwise Baverages to find out more about the those?
functional beverages market. Edited excerpts; The current challenge is to get people acquainted with
the benefits of functional beverage as people are used to
What is the current hold of the functional beverages having cola and pulpy drinks for leisure drinking. Globally,
segment in India? How do you intend to make a the beverage industry is seeing disruption with new and
difference? differentiated offerings as consumers grow more health
Currently, the functional beverage segment is pegged at conscious. The cola and the carbonated segment is
around Rs 1000 crore and it is growing rapidly with more showing a degrowth, while beverages that are fortified
and more brands coming in. If you leave aside the big with ingredients for specific functionalities are showing
players like Raw Pressery and PaperBoat, then also the higher acceptance and growth. We will always be using
size of the functional beverage industry is at Rs 300-350 natural ingredients and our motto is to ‘nurture through
crore. Sipwise Beverages is a smart beverage company nature’. Any product from Sipwise will always be a smarter
and we aim to provide unique and differentiated offering choice compared to existing alternatives in the market.
which brings refreshment, taste and health benefits to
our consumers. We reached a sales figure of Rs 1 crore in What are the company’s future plans? Any new
the first year of operation. We plan to reach around Rs 25 products in the pipeline?
crore in the next 3 years in the domestic market. Currently, we are in 4 cities-Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, and
Goa. Our target is to be in all metros and the top 10 Tier 1
What are the key ingredients of your products? cities in the next three years. We are investing in state of
What if Green Tea Coolers has all the benefits of green the R&D either through our in-house lab at Trivandrum or
tea plus fruit flavours in a cool format. It also has acerola by liaising with top quality R & D departments to produce
extracted from acerola berries which is a rich source of beverages in the field of cognition, mental health,
Vitamin C. It is available in two flavours- Peach, and Green diabetics, hangover cure, sexual health. The foreseeable
Mango. What !f Herb Coolers contains herbs like Brahmi, future involves us being a market leader and creating
ashwagandha, gotukola, lemon balm, chamomile, a niche with our existing categories and creating and
rose hips. Also, it has an ingredient called Inulin which developing a market for our future products.
is a natural sweetener and is a good probiotic. Herb
Dr Manbeena Chawla
[email protected]

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in FOOD SAFETY 35

Controlling Pesticides Dr Samir Vyas,
Contamination
Country Application Solution
With the growing awareness on the ill-effects of & Business Manager, Agilent
pesticides, regulatory bodies are setting up very low Technologies India
limits for residual toxic pesticides in food commodities.
Such low-level analysis requires sophisticated analysis
techniques backed by sensitive instrumentation such as
Gas chromatography and Liquid chromatography systems

coupled to mass spectrometers.

With the world’s population clock ticking at them. Similarly, meat products, milk and egg containing
around 7.6 billion, with an annual growth 3-10 per cent fat are also susceptible to accumulation
rate of 1.1 per cent, ensuring food for all is of lipophilic pesticides such as DDT, HCH, and Aldrin.
becoming even more challenging. Eventually, there is These pesticides are non-biodegradable and hence they
increased focus on sustainable growth of crop yield per remain in the environment for year’s altogether.
hectare. Additionally, losses in crop yield due to pests,
weeds and diseases are estimated to vary from 25-50 Environmental agencies like the Environmental
per cent depending upon the crop type and region. Protection Agency (EPA) that approve these pesticides
One important measure followed to achieve the growth for use in crops carries out detailed studies. One major
is through crop protection using pesticides meant to consideration for approving pesticides is whether they
control pest attack, weeds and plant diseases. Despite pose an unreasonable risk to humans. EPA assesses the
the huge benefits in crop protection, the effects of risks associated with individual pesticides, as well as
pesticides are not localized. with groups of pesticides that can have a common toxic
effect, known as cumulative risk assessment. In India, the
More than 95 per cent of sprayed insecticides and Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee
herbicides migrate to the environment because they are (CIBRC) approves the introduction of new pesticides,
sprayed across the entire agricultural field. They migrate while the Food Safety and Standards Authority of
in the air, soil, and groundwater and contaminate the India (FSSAI) regulates the food safety standards. The
environment. The ultimate sink for these agro-chemicals Pesticides Management Bill, 2017 has been implemented
is the soil through direct deposition, drip-off, leaching to regulate the import, manufacture, export, storage,
or the groundwater through leaching or percolation. sale, transport, distribution, quality and use of pesticides
The resulting crop is also contaminated due to surface with the objective of controlling pests, whilst ensuring
deposition or migration. There is strong evidence that the availability of quality pesticides and allowing their
some of these pesticides have serious implications use only after assessing its efficacy and safety.
human health and other life-forms.
Close collaboration among regulators, industries,
Consequently, nearly all forms of food have at least researchers and farmers will ensure adequate
some trace of pesticide residue in them. These are not awareness as well as strongly workflow driven testing
only limited to crop products but other forms of food, methodology ensure effective use of pesticides for
such as seafood like fish and oysters, meat products, and delivering appropriate supply of safe food. With the
other animal products such as milk also often contain growing awareness on the ill-effects of pesticides,
traces of pesticide residues. Hydrophobic pesticides are regulatory bodies are setting up very low limits for
expected to be stored in tissues and since they are fat residual toxic pesticides in food commodities which
soluble they would be bioconcentrated. Several studies can be as low as 0.005 mg/kg. Such low-level analysis
have shown the presence of Hexachlorocyclohexane requires sophisticated analysis techniques backed by
(HCH) and Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) sensitive instrumentation such as Gas chromatography
residues in fish. This is not only harmful for the aquatic and Liquid chromatography systems coupled to mass
life on the whole, leading to mass deaths of marine life spectrometers. However, certain best practices can help
forms, but also harmful for the population that feeds on the consumer reduce their exposure to pesticides.

36 Q&A NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Rohit Markan, “Growing middle class
increasingly placing
Managing Director, importance on
Roquette India natural ingredients”

Recently, Roquette, a global leader in plant-based global innovations and customized local solutions is
ingredients and a pioneer of new vegetal proteins a key and something that Roquette is working hard
appointed Rohit Markan as Managing Director for to achieve. This decision was in line with our growth
India. Roquette is a company that has a constant drive plan. Moving to Mumbai is advantageous as it is well-
for innovation and has a long term vision of improving connected to other cities. It provides easy access to all
the wellbeing of millions of people all over the world. sites and offers a vast talent pool which can help in the
Markan joined Roquette in 2016 and has an extensive growth of the company.
business experience. Markan holds a bachelor’s Degree
in Engineering with a major in Production and an What are the ongoing projects in the innovation lab
MBA in Marketing. He has also completed executive based out of Mumbai?
programs at the University of Michigan’s Stephen We strongly believe in customized innovation and
M. Ross School of Business and the Northwestern collaborating with business partners and stakeholders.
University – Kellog School of Management. NuFFooDS We also recognize the uniqueness of India as a market
Spectrum talked to Rohit Markan about the company as we serve both international and local players to bring
Roquette and its future plans. Edited excerpts; innovations to the market. Many projects are ongoing
which have a focus on health and nutrition. We are
Can you throw some light on Roquette? working on the development of sugar-free products like
Roquette is a family-owned business which was founded sugar-free chikki and other Indian sweets. We are also
in France and today has a presence all over the world. working on the development of products that are fiber-
We are a global leader in plant-based ingredients for rich like fiber-rich biscuits and other such products which
Food, Nutrition and Health markets and a pioneer of new can provide the daily need of fiber in take. Roquette
vegetal proteins. Roquette has had a presence in India is committed to addressing the growing consumer
since 2006. We have three manufacturing sites in the demand for tailored nutrition solutions thanks to close
North, West and South. In North India, we have a plant in collaboration with our customers.
Uttarakhand, in Western India, we have a plant in Gujarat
and in the South our plant is based in Karnataka. We Every foreign company faces challenges while
have sales offices in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. We operating in India, has Roquette faced any
also have an innovation center in Chandivali, Mumbai challenges?
dedicated to the food business which we’ve had for We actually see a lot of opportunity in India, especially
many years as innovation is very important to support to innovate products specifically for this market. One
our customers’ growth. product which we have developed is NITANT, an acidifier
which improvises the texture of cottage cheese. It
Is the recent move of the Indian headquarters also helps in cost-optimization and increases shelf life.
to Mumbai a strategic decision for serving the Globally, it is used for feta cheese and tofu. In India,
customers better? How has it been beneficial? there is a huge market for cottage cheese. Also, given
India is a market where both international and local the market for cottage cheese is fragmented, with
players are very active, so having the agility to bring independent traders producing small, regular batches,
we started marketing the product in equally small

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in Q&A 37

packages in order to adapt to the hyper-local market market. In India, there is a huge amount of diversity in
for cottage cheese production. So, instead of a 25-50 food and a great deal of innovation is possible.
kg pack, we offer a 2kg pack, which suits our customer
base far better. The key here is to bring more value to Are there any investment plans in India?
cottage cheese producers, not only by customizing Recently, we signed a MoU with the Government of
the packaging but also from the product itself. NITANT Uttarakhand to further invest in our Pantnagar site.
dissolves in water, has high pH control, consistent quality We already have a large manufacturing presence in
in texture, mouthfeel, appearance and an increase in Uttarakhand, which we’ve continued to invest in over the
shelf life as well as yield. past few years. India is a land of opportunities and there
is an ease of doing business here. There is a tremendous
What competitive advantage do you have compared support from all stakeholders in India.
to other companies?
We are a global company and have a turnover of 3.3 What consumer trends are seen in India?
billion Euros. We have 20 manufacturing sites around the We’re witnessing a significant increase in awareness
world. What differentiates Roquette from its competitors about health and nutrition; people are becoming
is that we bring a huge amount of global and local more aware about labels and nutritional value. Indian
experience, with innovation at the core of our business. consumers, especially among the growing middle
We also ensure that we maintain a close geographic class, are increasingly placing importance on natural
presence to our customers through local manufacturing ingredients in their food products, which is very much
sites and we are continuously investing in R&D and in line with our thinking; in fact, our company’s slogan
bespoke products for the markets in which we operate, is ‘Offering the best of nature.’ Consumer habits are
in particular in Food, Nutrition and Health. dominated by India’s growing middle class. People need
both convenience and assurance that the products can
How much investment has Roquette made in R&D? help them stay healthy.
It is a continuous journey for us. We are continuously
investing in R&D. We are open to new ideas and are What are the future plans of the company for India?
always working on developing new products. Our R&D The future is very exciting. As the middle-class
lab in India has been operating for many years and we population grows here, there is tremendous scope and
are continuously investing in more equipment and ideas, we are fully geared up to serve our Indian customers.
based on the changing needs of our customers. Roquette’s areas of focus in India will include health,
nutrition, and development of proteins and, of course,
Roquette recently acquired Sethness. What local innovation to ensure we’re creating products that
opportunities has it opened up for Roquette? match the needs of India. India is a key market for the
Just like Roquette, Sethness is also a family-owned Roquette Group and an important contributor to our
business and has been in the business of caramel expansion in Asia.
colors for many years. We have worked with Sethness
previously and have had joint ventures with them. This Prapti Shah
acquisition will reinforce Roquette’s position as a leading [email protected]
player in Food and Beverage markets and further drive
value for our customers. Caramel color is a key ingredient
which is used for food products.

What are Roquette’s plans for Asia and India?
Asia is a very important market for us. Today, the highest
growth in the segment in which we are participating –
food and nutrition ingredients – is taking place in Asia.
Very recently, we announced the opening of the Asian
headquarters and an innovation center in Singapore.
Countries like Japan, Korea, China are very different from
each other. Needs of customers in different countries
are different. Our strategy is to be very local, close to the
consumers. We want to work closely with our customers
and want to impart our global knowledge to the local

38 Q&A NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

T. Anil Kumar, “Training
customer team is
President, Waters India absolutely critical”

Founded by Jim Waters in 1958, Waters Corporation with a mid-single digit attrition. Creating an environment
serves life, materials and food sciences through of transparency, trust and fairness go a long way
a connected portfolio of chromatography, mass in fostering intrapreneurial culture. Harnessing
spectrometry, and thermal analysis innovations. intrapreneurial spirit to create value for the organisation
Waters Corporation is the world’s leading specialty requires concerted efforts by both employees and
measurement company focused on improving human managers. One of the strategic priorities of the
health and well being through the application of company is ‘people focussed’. Developing leaders for the
advanced analytical science technologies. challenges of the organisation is the top priority. With a
CAGR of 17 per cent for last four years, we are one of the
Established in 1985, Waters India Pvt Ltd has made fastest growing analytical companies in India with 320+
a name for itself in the list of top service providers of employees and 2/3rds of them on customer support
Scientific Instruments, in India. Waters India has a huge function.
reputation for quality products. It is highly focused
organisation in terms of top line and bottom line. What is the position of the company in supplier
Respected among peer companies for setting high business /market in India?
standards in terms of business operations. Recently We are positioned as specialty Measurement Company
T. Anil Kumar took charge as the President, from K V delivering benefit through innovation and people
Venugopalan, who retired as President and Managing that enable customer success in life, material and food
Director of Waters India after working for the past 21 sciences. For over 60 years, Waters has developed
years. Venugopalan was responsible for the success and innovative analytical science solutions to support
growth of the company as well as its growing number of customers in operations, performance and regulatory
employees. BioSpectrum spoke to Anil Kumar about his compliance. Waters’ chromatography and mass
reaction after being named president of the company spectrometry instruments, software and consumables
and his plans for the company. Edited excerpts; have revolutionized laboratory dependent organisations
by delivering practical and sustainable operations. In a
What was your first reaction after being named being global, interconnected world full of questions, Waters
named as President, Waters India? product delivers ‘confidence’.
Responsibility….it’s a huge responsibility of running a very
successful organisation. When you step into shoes of an What are your views on the current status of the life
industry stalwart as tall as K.V.Venugopalan, ex-President, sciences (pharma/ biotech / medical tech/ diagnostics)
you realise shoes are too big to fill! On that day, Chris industry in India?
O’Connell, CEO, Waters Corporation told me to ‘stand up Indian pharma industry has grown leaps and bounds
and deliver’. As it was more than a year long search for in the last three decades. India is largest producer
new President with internal and external candidates; it of generic drugs globally. Also, India supplies 50 per
constantly reminds you the responsibility entrusted. cent of global demand for various vaccines. In 2017,
Indian pharmaceutical industry is valued at $33 billion
What is the current status of the company in terms of and is expected to reach $55 billion by 2020. Indian
staff, sales revenue, etc.? pharmaceutical exports stood at $17.3 billion. This
Waters is privileged to have highest employee loyalty translates to 40 per cent generic demand in US and 25

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in Q&A 39

per cent of all medicines in UK. Indian pharma will get results. Measure systems variability is very high in the
boost as branded drugs worth $55 billion will go off- industry but from Waters end, we make it constant at
patent during 2017-19. one end so that trouble shooting becomes easier. It is
very apt to say, the more we change, the more we remain
How do you see the life sciences (pharma/ biotech the same. Our people, whether it is support engineer
/ medical tech/ diagnostics) industry in India in the or application specialist will undergo constant training
coming years? for at least 30-45 days a year to ensure what I call a True
Medicine spending in India is expected to increase at Knowledge Partner to bench chemist. Our customers
9-12 per cent CAGR between 2018 and 22 to $26-30 throw challenges at our application teams and they
billion, driven by increasing consumer spending, rapid come out successful almost every time.
urbanisation, and raising healthcare insurance among
others. Rich history of focus, innovation and growth. Waters’
history goes back to 1958 when Jim Waters set out to
Going forward, better growth in domestic sales develop made-to-order specialty instruments. His first
would also depend on the ability of companies to align breakthroughs were made working alongside chemical
their product portfolio towards chronic therapies for giants like Dow, DuPont and Goodrich. The word
diseases such as such as cardiovascular, anti-diabetes, innovation is synonymous with Waters. Our track record
anti-depressants and anti-cancers that are on the is really a series of innovation firsts that created new
rise. India’s biotechnology industry comprising bio- standards of measurement in making the world a better,
pharmaceuticals, bio-services, bio-agriculture, bio- safer, and cleaner place.
industry and bioinformatics is expected grow at an
average growth rate of around 30 per cent a year and What are your plans to take the company to next level?
reach $100 billion by 2025. As far as India is concerned, our investment is in our
people. It may surprise you that only 40 per cent of our
What are the challenges before the company in these business is thru’ instrument sale and rest is, applied
industries? technologies of informatics, chemistries and expert
Challenges are different in each industry segment. One service. Our plan is to enhance this customer experience
common challenge is training. Whether it is hardware or so that our customers take full advantage of the
software, training customer team is absolutely critical to innovative products we bring into market.
put the instruments to best use. With Empower software
which is industry standard for almost two decades, it Narayan Kulkarni
is easier to train people as some amount of familiarity [email protected]
already exists in the industries. There must be at least
50,000 chemists who are currently using Empower in the
industry which is very unique in the industry.

How do you see competition in the market? How are
you planning to distinguish your company’s products
/ brand with others’ brand for your customers?
We are known by longevity of the instruments life
span. Our instruments deliver results day after day,
year after year. It is not an exaggeration, decade after
decade our customer gets reproducible results with the
same instrument which is absolutely essential for the
industry we are operating in. Though, we constantly
focus on product development and improve quality
of our instrument time to time but generally we don’t
discontinue the products that easily. This shows true
manufacturing and QC capability of Waters. For eg,
Waters µBondapak columns are produced even today
whereas it was launched more than 25 years ago. Our
Empower software is more than two decades. Our
Alliance HPLC is the gold standard and our customers
vouch on Alliance for decades now, for first time right

40 EAT RIGHT NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

FSSAI Yatra is to connect a country of 130 crore citizens physically
FLAGS OFF and in thought, bringing alive Mahatma Gandhi’s dream
PAN INDIA of a healthier India to commemorate his 150th birth
CYCLOTHON anniversary. This yatra aims to build awareness around
food safety, combating food adulteration and healthy
On October 16, 2018, on occasion of the World diets to make this a household habit and culture. FSSAI
Food Day, the Swasth Bharat Yatra was launched has dispatched specially fabricated ‘Eat Right Mobile
simultaneously at Leh (in Jammu & Kashmir), Units’ to all the six locations and ‘Food Safety on Wheels’, a
Panaji (in Goa), Thiruvananthapuram (in Kerala), mobile food testing unit as a part of the convoy.
Puducherry, Ranchi (in Jharkhand) and Agarthala (in
Tripura). The kick-off event was a ‘prabhat pheri’ at all In keeping with the philosophy and spirit of the
these locations with people from a wide cross section of Swasth Bharat Yatra as a people’s movement, it was
society including children, NCC cadets, NSS volunteers led by school students, NCC and NSS cadets and other
etc. participating. After day-long activities in these cities, partners. Students and volunteers made a strong pitch for
150 volunteer-cyclists (at least 25 from each location) promoting right eating habits, pointing to the alarming
along with a convoy of vehicles for education, awareness increase in food related lifestyle diseases. They urged
and safety would be flagged from these remote locations. everyone to join the movement by inculcating right
eating habits and invited volunteers to register as cyclists
After cycling for over 100 days and covering about at www.fssai.gov.in/swasthbharatyatra.
2000 locations, the Eat Right Convoys along with cyclists
will reach New Delhi in the last week of January, where The young‘Eat Right Champions’accepted the fact that
a massive outreach programme in planned in Delhi NCR they often eat driven by convenience and impulse rather
region. Altogether, about 7500 cyclists are expected to than nourishment and good health. They recognized
participate and they together will cover a distance of over the fact that due to unsafe food and poor diets, people
18,000 km. They will cycle about 50 km or more moving around the world today face numerous health challenges.
from one city to another in a relay format. Thousands of They showed serious concern about the fact that six of
other cyclists are likely to join for shorter distances and the top-10 risk factors for burden of disease in India are
lakhs of people will directly participate in various activities food related. Pointing out that while on one hand, the
including ‘prabhat pheris’ across the country. This would problem of chronic hunger continues unabated and diets
not only mobilize the masses but also create a large pool of most people lack essential vitamins and minerals, on
of local community champions to sustain the movement. the other hand, overweight and obesity are on the rise.
Along with this, ‘Eat Right’ melas, ‘Eat Right’ conventions Unsafe food and poor diets result in foodborne illnesses,
and a national poster competition are planned with a wasting and stunting, growing incidence of diabetes
view to amplify and deepen engagement with various and cardiovascular diseases. This calls for urgent action,
stakeholders, particularly with our young people. particularly by young people so that everyone is mindful
of ‘what to eat’, ‘how to eat’ and ‘when to eat’.
Continuing its unstinted efforts to ensure safe and
wholesome food for every citizen of the country, the Food They appreciated the fact that the Government of
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the India is committed to the cause of malnutrition through
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Centre and measures such as the Targeted Public Distribution System
the Food Safety Commissioners in the State, is leading
a massive mobilization drive through the largest ever
Pan India Cycle Rally - the Swasth Bharat Yatra. Driven by
passion and a clear vision, the mission of Swasth Bharat

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in EAT RIGHT 41

Students taking pledge on the occasion of World Food Day - fat content and eliminate trans-fats altogether and make
A step towards a healthier tomorrow - A pledge to Eat Right, India ‘Trans-fat Free’ by 2022-India@75.
today!
Understanding that repeatedly heating and using
(TPDS) convering approximately 80 crore people, POSHAN cooking oil can lead to the formation of trans-fats and
Abhiyaan, Integrated Child Development Services other harmful elements that are hazardous to health, they
(ICDS) covering approximately 9.83 crore mothers and appreciated the efforts of the all the stakeholders involved
children and Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM) covering in reusing used cooking oil to make biodiesel instead not
approximately 10.03 crore children to improve nutrition only as a healthy but an environmentally safe practice.
outcomes in the country. The collective financial outlay of
TPDS, ICDS and MDM together is about Rs 2 lakh crore for They also thanked food businesses that have begun to
the financial year 2018-19. fortify edible oil and milk voluntarily in the open market,
which amounts to almost 47 per cent of packaged oil
However, they were concerned that despite and 21 per cent of packaged milk. Fortification is being
numerous programmes and policies being operational promoted by notification of standards for 5 staples-wheat
in the country, still 19.6 crore people are chronically flour, rice, oil, milk and salt, +F logo for easy identification
undernourished, 38.4 per cent of children below 5 years by consumers and technical support to States for ICDS
are stunted, 21 per cent are wasted and 35.7 per cent and MDM programmes to adopt fortified food products.
are underweight. More than 50 per cent of women of
reproductive age group (15-49 years) are anaemic and In keeping with Gandhiji’s strong belief in involving
prevalence of anaemia among men is 22.7 per cent. the local community in social movements, one of the key
outcomes of the mass outreach through the Swasth Bharat
Realizing that good nutrition is critical to good health Yatra would be the creation of local champions for Eat
as well as the growth and development of the nation the Right India. These local champions would be empowered
students understood the importance of the ‘Eat Right to drive change through simple, powerful messages on
India’ movement. They also remarked how the ‘Eat Right safe and healthy eating, creating a grassroots movement
India’ movement is focused on preventive healthcare as with a deep foundation in the heart of the community.
per the National Health Policy 2017 and is at the heart
of the Government’s flagship programmes like the The true strength of the Eat Right India Movement
Ayushman Bharat Yojana, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Anaemia and the Swasth Bharat Yatra lies in its networks and
Mukt Bharat and Swacch Bharat Mission. They thanked partnerships, The Movement, by its very design, is based
the government for their continued efforts towards on active participation of all stakeholders-consumers;
addressing issues of under nutrition and malnutrition in producers; central and state governments; professional
the country, particularly among the vulnerable sections associations like Indian Medical Association, Association
of the society, adding that more efforts are required to of Food Scientists and Technologists etc; civil society
engage, excite and enable people to eat right. organisations; leaders and peers in the local community;
frontline health workers etc, all of whom have a role in the
They thanked the food businesses, who have shown Yatra and the Movement. The awareness that food safety
courage and conviction to reformulate their food and unhealthy diets are a compelling and real public
products and provide healthier options to them so that health problem today is expected to lead to action by all
they can gradually reduce their intake of salt, sugar and these stakeholders on a long term basis, thereby creating
a sustainable ecosystem for safe and wholesome food.

‘Eat Right’ movement is a truly collaborative
movement with participation of various Central and
State Government departments, members of the local
community, professional associations, civil society,
industry associations and all businesses, small and
big. The ‘Eat Right’ movement is completely aligned
with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision that all
programmes associated with the 150th birth anniversary
of Mahatma Gandhi should be designed around the
theme of ‘Karyanjali” – “Gandhi in action”. The ‘Eat Right’
movement and the ‘Swasth Bharat Yatra’ are planned to
reach the masses, which are the real engines of change.
This is expected to trigger a mass, one-of-a-kind public
health movement in India that would fundamentally
transform the way India eats.

42 PEOPLE NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Dr Vignesh M wins Cold chain expert
2018 Maize-Asia Kohli joins University
Youth Innovators Award of Birmingham

Dr Vignesh Muthusamy, a senior scientist at the The University of Birmingham has appointed leading
Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Indian sustainable cold chain expert Pawanexh Kohli, who
Research Institute, New Delhi, was recently serves as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the country’s
named one among the winners of the 2018 National Centre for Cold-Chain Development (NCCD), as
Maize-Asia Youth Innovators Awards. Dr an honorary professor of post-harvest logistics. He has
Muthusamy has a focus on development played a key role in shaping policy and projects aimed at
solving post-harvest food loss, particularly in developing
of biofortified refrigeration networks
provitamin-A linking the farmers to
rich QPM maize the market. Under his
hybrids. His research leadership, NCCD has
demonstrates the produced over 30 reports
use of modern and policy pieces which
biotechnological have set the agenda for
tools in crop the Government of India
improvement. He in this area. They have
was associated with also helped deliver one
the development of the first cold chains
of India’s first from the north to south
provitamin A of India. In 2012, Kohli helped to establish the NCCD,
enriched maize which works between the Government of India, farmers
hybrid ‘Pusa Vivek QPM 9 Improved’ and with and industry. He acts as chief advisor to the Department
the development of three quality protein maize of Agriculture and Farmers’Welfare on post-harvest
hybrids that possess high lysine and tryptophan management, cold-chain and supply chain. He is also an
in protein. Dr Muthusamy has received many expert member on the Empowered Steering Committee
prestigious awards from different societies and for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol in
scientific organizations, including the Jawaharlal India. Kohli has a long relationship with Birmingham
Nehru Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis University. In 2015, the Birmingham Policy Commission
Research in Agricultural and Allied Sciences from on Cold Chain, chaired by Lord Teverson, recognised his
Indian Council of Agricultural Research. contributions as an expert witness.

Dr KSMS Raghava Rao is new Director of CFTRI

Dr KSMS Raghava Rao has been the application of principles of
appointed as the new Director Chemical Engineering for process
of Central Food Technological and product development in the
Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru. area of Food Process Engineering
Dr Rao’s appointment has come as a as well as Food and Biotechnology.
relief after many retired employees He has won many awards during his
have been demanding the higher research career, the latest being the
authorities to investigate all VASVIK Industrial Research Award
corruption charges made against in the area of Biological Sciences
the former Director Prof. Ram and Technology in 2015. He has
Rajasekharan. Dr Rao had been numerous publications to his credit.
serving as the Chief Scientist at the His research work has yielded 24
Department of Food Engineering Indian patents, 19 PCT patents and
in CFTRI. His research work involves 6 US patents.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SCIENCE NEWS 43

Scientists develop nursery protocol for wild blood fruit

Scientists from Central Island harvested from natural forests. This seed germination studies. They
Agricultural Research Institute, has affected natural regeneration found that seeds had dormancy
Port Blair; ICAR Research Complex and it is now considered a issues and had to be treated for
for North Eastern Hill Region, critically endangered species. The obtaining healthy seedlings in
Barapani and College of Agriculture new research will help in blood large numbers. Now the team is
in Tripura have developed a fruit to be grown in agricultural focusing on food safety test and
standard nursery protocol for the fields or home gardens, so that field trials, subject to regulatory
propagation of wild blood fruit. The it is conserved even while being approvals. In addition, researchers
fruit is not only tasty but also rich continued to be used as a source are also looking for gaps in arsenic
in anti-oxidants. The plant grows of nutrition. Due to its limited metabolism in rice which will
wild in forests and over the years, distribution, researchers collected ultimately lead to understand
due to growing demand for its fruits from the Middle Andaman arsenic uptake and metabolism in
fruit, it has been indiscriminately Islands and Tripura to conduct rice.

Researchers study Experts develop
silver nanoparticles in
food contact materials rice variety to fight

Silver nanoparticles measuring between one and 100 high salinity, drought
nanometers (billionth of a meter) in size, are being
incorporated outside the United States into a variety A team of researchers from Jawaharlal Nehru
of kitchen products known as food contact materials University (JNU), International Centre for Genetic
(FCMs) such as spatulas, baby mugs, storage containers Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and
and cutting boards. However, the use of these items University of Illinois has developed transgenic rice
raises concerns that the nanoparticles in them will that promises to generate high yields even under
conditions of high salinity, high temperature and
migrate into foods and the drought. The scientists observed that Pokkali,
environment, and in turn, a wild rice variety that grows in coastal regions
whether this poses risks to of Kerala is able to survive and thrive in highly
human health. To address saline environment. It emerged that it had very
these issues, government high level of a gene, OsIF. The OsIF gene encodes
bodies around the world a protein in rice for cell components called
have published guidance intermediate filaments (IFs). These filaments
documents, set policies protect cells from external forces, besides
and considered regulations. participating in cell adhesion and tissue integrity.
These have been largely Besides OsIF, the researchers have identified
based on research that and functionally validated over one dozen stress
examined nanosilver release responsive genes from the plant. The study has
from new, unused consumer shown unique involvement of intermediate
products or laboratory filaments in cellular protection against abiotic
surrogates, but not actual stress in rice.
FCMs during and after use. In a recent study, scientists
from the U S Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) describe how they simulated knife motion,
washing and scratching on nanosilver-containing
cutting boards to see if consumer use practices affect
nanoparticle release.

44 SCIENCE NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Bacteria NBRI develops transgenic rice
with reduced arsenic accumulation
from rotten
Arsenic accumulation in rice grains is The newly developed transgenic
pomegranate one of the serious agricultural issues rice along with normal rice was then
in India. To address this, researchers treated with arsenic. Comparison
can be used at Lucknow- based CSIR-National of transgenic and non-transgenic
Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) rice showed that transgenic plants
for producing have developed transgenic rice accumulated less arsenic in root as
by inserting a novel fungal gene, well as shoot as compared to non-
cellulose which results in reduced arsenic transgenic lines.
accumulation in rice grain.
Scientists at the Pune-based
National Chemical Laboratory In their latest study,
(NCL) have isolated a researchers have cloned Arsenic
bacterial strain from rotten methyltransferase (WaarsM) gene
pomegranate which promises from a soil fungus, Westerdykell
to help produce bacterial aaurantiaca, and inserted the same
cellulose on a large scale. into the rice genome with the help
Bacterial cellulose have better of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a soil
physicochemical properties bacterium which has natural ability
such as crystallinity, tensile to alter the plant’s genetic makeup.
strength, moldability and
larger surface area, since IIT team uses protein from
they are devoid of lignin tamarind seed to treat chikungunya
and hemicelluloses material.
These characteristics A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee has
make them suitable for found that a protein of tamarind seeds reduces the infectivity of chikungunya
biotechnological and virus by 64 per cent and the virus RNA levels inside infected cells by nearly 45
biomedical applications like per cent. The team observed that the tamarind protein (tamarind chitinase-like
bone and tissue scaffold lectin or TCLL) binds to the sugar moiety (N-acetylglucosamine or NAG) present
material, wound dressing on the surface of chikungunya virus. When TCLL protein binds to the NAG sugar
material and even as a drug moiety it nearly coats the virus particles thus preventing the virus from binding
delivery agent. The team of with the receptors on the host cells. Since binding to the host cell receptors,
scientists from NCL screened which is the first step in the infection process, is nearly prevented, the ability
different rotten fruits such of the virus to infect the host cells is compromised. Based on the promising
as dragon fruit, mango, results obtained through in vitro studies, the researchers are planning to test
orange, lime, banana and the protein on animals to prevent or treat chikungunya infection.
fig for alternative cellulose
producing bacteria and
cultured them under
laboratory conditions.
They isolated a bacterium
called K. rhaeticusPG2 from
rotten pomegranate which
showed promising results.
The laboratory has also
signed a memorandum
of understanding with
Singhghad Dental College,
Pune for its medical
application, especially in
endodontics.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in ACADEMIC NEWS 45

PAU inks pact for CSIR transfers
commercialising onion,
bell pepper varieties water purifying

The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has entered into tech to Bluebird
an agreement with Generation Seeds Private Limited, Patiala for
commercialization of PSM 1 (Bell pepper) and PRO 7 (Onion) varieties. The Lucknow-based Council for
The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed by Dr Pushpinder Scientific and Industrial Research-
Pal Singh Pannu, Additional Director of Research in the presence of Dr Indian Institute of Toxicology
Navtej Singh Bains, Director Research, PAU and Dr G K Sangha, Dean, Research (CSIR-IITR) has transferred
CoBS&H (College of Basic Science and Humanity) on behalf of PAU its innovative technology, to disinfect
while the same was done by representatives of Generation Seeds, water and make it potable, to a private
Paramjit Singh Chandi and Gurwinder Singh. Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, firm. The technology named Oneer
has been transferred to Bluebird
Head, Department of Water Purifiers. According to CSIR,
Vegetable Science, the innovative technology eliminates
PAU informed that disease-causing pathogens such as
PRO 7 is an early virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and
maturing variety that cyst in water and makes it potable
has large red coloured as per the prescribed national and
bulbs. Its average international standards for the
yield is 160 quintals purpose. The smaller plants with this
per acre and can be technology are particularly suitable
stored for longer for homes, street food vendors and
period. Dr Salesh small establishments. Oneer will be
Jindal, Assistant providing safe and clean drinking
Vegetable Breeder, water at a cost of just 2 paise per litre.
Department of Vegetable Science added that the plants of PSM-1 are
vigorous, tall and prolific bearers. The fruits are uniform, non-pungent,
dark green and weigh 82 g each. The variety is able to produce seed
in plains of Punjab. The variety is tolerant to high temperature and
suitable for cultivation under both polynet house and low tunnel. Its
average yield is 242 and 82 q per acre under polynet house and low
tunnel, respectively.

NIFTEM seeks industry support for pilot project

The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and
Management (NIFTEM), Sonipat, Haryana, is seeking the help of
entrepreneurs, industry persons, food processors, farmers, self-help groups
(SHGs), farmer producer organisations (FPOs) for its pilot plant project
related to food processing. According to NIFTEM, in order to cater to the
needs of large-scale, medium, small and micro-scale enterprises in the food
industry, the institute is in the process of setting up four pilot plants within
its campus, for fruit and vegetable processing, meat and poultry processing,
milk and dairy products and ready-to-eat (RTE) and traditional food.
NIFTEM has invited expressions of interest from entrepreneurs, industry
persons, food processors, farmers for leasing or renting out the facilities for
food processing existing in the campus of NIFTEM- RTE products, Indian
traditional food products, milk processing lines and dairy products, fruit
and vegetable processing products and meat and poultry processing.

46 SUPPLIER NEWS NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

Alland & Robert to develop JV with Sayaji

French firm Alland & Robert has ingredients market to operate now signed a Memorandum of
announced that it will form a joint- effectively. Both companies have Understanding (MoU), and the two
venture (JV) with Indian ingredients companies will sign a definitive
company Sayaji Industries. The agreement at the beginning of
joint venture will manufacture and 2019. Sayaji Industries operates
distribute spray dried acacia gum
to the growing Indian market, one of India’s largest corn
and will leverage Alland & wet milling businesses,
Robert’s acacia gum expertise
and Sayaji’s position in the Indian and Alland & Robert has
described the company as a
natural partner.

Krones Thermo Fisher introduces NGS
strengthens its Workflow to combat food fraud
PET capabilities
Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the introduction of a new,
Krones, a leading manufacturer of complete next generation sequencing (NGS) workflow for multi-species
filling and packaging solutions, has screening and identification for food authenticity. This comes after
acquired MHT Holding AG (MHT). Oxoid Ltd (a part of Thermo Fisher Scientific) and SGS MOLECULAR,
MHT, based in Hochheim, Germany, S.A. signed a global co-marketing and distribution agreement that
together with its subsidiaries is enables Thermo Fisher Scientific to exclusively sell SGS All Species ID
providing injecting molding tools DNA Analyser Kits and SGS All Species ID Software as part of the end-
and services to the PET industry. The to-end workflow to the food and beverage market on Thermo Fisher
company generates approximately Scientific NGS platforms. The Thermo Scientific Food Authenticity
€25 million revenues with 125 NGS Workflow enables an untargeted screening approach comprised
employees. The acquisition of of five steps to suit the varying needs of food and beverage analysis.
MHT closes a gap in the Krones The workflow is designed to work seamlessly with the Ion Chef Food
PET value chain and represents Protection Instrument for automated template preparation and the
an upstream extension of the Ion GeneStudio S5 Food Protection Sequencing System for fast run
Krones portfolio into tooling for times and minimal handling steps. Two chip formats and universal SGS
PET preform manufacturing. Analyser kits also enable multiple library pools across meat, plant, and
Customers increasingly demand fish species to be sequenced in a single run, which helps to reduce the
such integrated solutions. Together time and cost of sequencing experiments. Automated data analysis
with MHT, Krones can now offer a with the SGS All Species ID Software and curated database results are
broader portfolio for PET solutions. displayed as a list of any specific meat, plant and fish species present in
MHT’s headquarter will remain the sample in less than 24 hours.
at Hochheim with the current
management to continue to run the
business.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in SUPPLIER NEWS 47

Tetra Pak, Veolia to improve recyclability of cartons

Tetra Pak has joined forces with and 5 per cent aluminium foil. But facilities and converted into
global resource management while the fibres recovered during raw materials for applications
company Veolia in a game- recycling have a healthy market within the plastic industry. In this
changing partnership that will when converted into high-quality way, the overall value of used
enable all components of used paper pulp for use in both industrial beverage cartons is expected to
beverage cartons collected within and consumer products, the same is double, making the value chain
the European Union to be recycled not true for the recovered polymer for collection and recycling more
by 2025. and aluminium (PolyAl) mix. efficient and viable. The Tetra Pak
The average beverage carton Within the scope of the new and Veolia partnership will start in
comprises around 75 per cent partnership, the extracted PolyAl the EU and expand to more markets
paperboard, 20 per cent plastic will be processed at dedicated around the world.

Bio-Rad Wins USDA Food Canpack opens a
new facility in Haryana
Safety Testing Contract
The beverage can specialist Canpack India, a subsidiary
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a global leader of of Krakow-based Canpack Group, has inaugurated a
life science research and clinical diagnostic new plant located in Nuh, Haryana. This is Canpack’s
products, has announced that the company has second beverage cans manufacturing plant in India.
been awarded a contract for iQ-Check real- The Nuh plant will employ approximately 160 workers,
time PCR pathogen detection test kits and the bringing Canpack India’s total employment base to over
iQ-Check Prep Automation System from the 750 direct employees. The 36 acres of acquired land in
United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Nuh will manufacture 180 ml, 250 ml and 500 ml cans
Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS). The with a capacity of 950 million cans per year. The capacity
contract includes real-time PCR-based tests for of this plant is expandable to 2.4 billion cans per year.
pathogens that include Salmonella spp., Listeria Even though North India will be the major market space,
monocytogenes, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli cans produced at the Nuh facility will also be exported
O157:H7, and Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) to neighbouring countries. The Nuh plant received
that may be found in raw meat and poultry, ready first stage industrial clearance by the Chief Minister of
to eat meat and poultry, processed egg products, Haryana through HEPC (Haryana Enterprise Promotion
and other food products and environmental Council) for setting up its second Indian aluminum can
samples. Bio-Rad’s iQ-Check real-time PCR test manufacturing facility in Nuh Haryana, NCR region in
kits were selected based on their proven real- February 2017. Canpack is the first company to receive
time PCR technology that uses highly specific this clearance through HEPC.
patented DNA probes to detect pathogenic
bacteria in a sample. USDA FSIS will also
incorporate Bio-Rad’s iQ-Check Prep automation
system for high throughput sample processing
and elevated traceability.

48 EVENT REPORT NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

BioSpectrum honoured with
ASIA PACIFIC PUBLISHING AWARD
BioSpectrum India recently won
international recognition at the Saradha Mani,
Asia Pacific Publishing Awards Operations
(APPA) 2018. The award ceremony Manager at
was held at One Farrer Hotel Grand MM Activ
Singapore Pte
ltd, Singapore
receiving the

Ballroom, in Singapore on November award from Alex
8, 2018. Cano, Honorary
Treasurer, Media

BioSpectrum India won the Publishers
Silver Award under the ‘Special Association
Edition of the Year’ category for Singapore
its coverage on 'BioSuppliers’ (MPAS) and
ecosystem for life sciences industry'. owner and
publisher
of Russian

The story ‘India needs proper Singapore
BioSuppliers’ ecosystem’ published magazine.

in the September 2017 issue covered

varied aspects of biosuppliers sector. HealthcareBioPharma,BioInformatics, the creative field, public relations and

It discussed and explored how BioIndustrial, BioSuppliers and media publishing. They are James

this market will drive the growth BioServices and show cases the Lim, Creative Director of Hakuhodo,

of pharma and allied industry in emerging Indian entrepreneurships Dean Carroll, Publisher of Mumbrella

the coming years with increase in in life sciences industry. BioSpectrum Asia, James Hewes, President and

healthcare awareness and spends, is the most preferred platform to CEO of FIPP and David Tay, former

demand for quality healthcare, rising engage the life sciences industry in President of Photographic Society.

burden of diseases, automation, India and Asia Pacific. Lynda Williams, Managing Director of

hospital laboratory management, MM Activ Sci-Tech Vim & Vigour, was one of the only 2

expansion of pathology diagnostic Communications also publishes judges retained from last year’s panel,

market to towns and rural areas. NuFFooDS Spectrum, India's together with Marina Mathews.

Saradha Mani, Operations first magazine catering to the Now in its 12th year, the Media

Manager, MM Activ Singapore Pte Nutraceuticals, Nutritionals, Fuctional Publishers Association Singapore

ltd, Singapore received the award Foods and Dietary Suplements sector. (MPAS) Awards lauds local

from Alex Cano, Honorary Treasurer, The magazine provides an open publications and individuals for their

Media Publishers Association forum for free and healthy interaction remarkable contribution in pushing

Singapore (MPAS) and owner and amongst the industry, scientific for relevant content and campaigns,

publisher of Russian Singapore fraternity and policy makers to and embracing innovation in the

magazine. BioSpectrum is a leading know, analyse, debate and exchange media industry. The APPA awards is

B2B media publication in life sciences ideas and to grow into an influential organised for the first time for Asia

and healthcare space in India and voice for the sector and facilitate the Pacific region’s media brands.

published by MM Activ Sci-Tech NuFFooDS sector in India to reach John Thet, newly elected

Communications, Pune. It has two a position of global leadership. The President of the media association

editions, BioSpectrum India for India magazine covers the latest news, said, “The MPAS and APPA Awards

and BioSpectrum Asia for APAC area captures emerging trends and represent the best of industry practice

published from Singapore. provides in-depth study and analysis, in published media – whether it is in

BioSpectrum India was launched thereby giving thought leadership. print, online, or across a variety of

in March 2003 and is India's first and It offers a neutral platform with platforms.”

comprehensive life sciences business unbiased reporting and balanced The awards ceremony was

monthly magazine. It provides coverage of the most pressing issues attended by over 35 publishing

comprehensive coverage of the of the sector. companies and 180 stakeholders in

exciting happenings in life sciences, The awards were judged by a the industry. PressReader was the

which include Pharmaceutical, panel of six, consisting of veterans in official sponsor of the ceremony.

NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in EVENT DIARY 49

50TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF NSI 2018

“Healthy diet can prevent 80% of NCDs”
Malnutrition in the form of under-nutrition or
deficiencies of essential vitamins and minerals L-R: Dr SubbaRao M Gavaravarapu, Treasurer, NSI; Dr
continues to cause severe illness or morbidity B. Dinesh Kumar, Organising Secretary, NSI; Dr Kamala
among millions of people. According to the recent National Krishnaswamy, Past- President, NSI, Former Director, NIN ; Dr.
Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4, it is estimated that more R. Hemalatha, Director, NIN; Dr. B. Sesikeran, President, NSI;
than 53 per cent of women and about 60 percent of children Dr. Anura V Kurpad, Past- President NSI releasing a report.
(<5years) are affected by iron deficiency and anaemia.
These were some of the issues deliberated upon at the AWARDS GIVEN AT NIS 2018 CONFERENCE
recent annual conference of the Nutrition Society of India
(NSI). This year NSI celebrated its golden jubilee and aptly ● Dr C. Gopalan Oration Award- Prof John H
developed the theme of the annual conference as ‘India's Cummings
Transition from Food Security to Nutrition Security’. The
conference was conducted at the ICMR-National Institute ● One Time Gopalan Centenary Award- Dr Kamala
of Nutrition (NIN) Campus, Hyderabad from November 15 Krishnaswamy
to 17. The 50th year completion of NSI very well coincided
with the ongoing centenary year celebrations of NIN. ● BK Anand Memorial Award- Dr William
Selvamurthy
The inaugural ceremony was graced by the presence
of Dr B. Sesikeran, President, NSI; Dr R. Hemalatha, Director, as it is a natural protector against heart diseases and cancer.
NIN; Dr Kamala Krishnaswamy, former Director, NIN and The intake of dietary fibre ensures that there is enough
former President, NSI, and DrWilliam Selvamurthy, President water and allows the passage of food in the digestive track
of Amity Science, Technology and Innovation Foundation. smoothly”, shared Prof Cummings.

During her address, Dr R. Hemalatha pointed out, The conference was spread across two days where
“As a community of nutritionists, it is our responsibility to fruitful discussions on the inclusion of millets, walnuts,
guide people towards adopting a healthy diet. The Indian carbohydrates, fibers in the diet took place. “Asians are
Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommends 400 at higher risk than Europeans when it comes to obesity
grams of vegetables and fruits on a daily basis. Eighty per and related cardio-metabolic disorders in older age, and
cent of the non- communicable diseases (NCDs) such as functional ingredients may be vital to helping them combat
diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disorders can be these issues. One of the main dietary factors contributing to
prevented through a healthy diet”. obesity and its related issues in Asia is the high consumption
of refined grains and high glycaemic index (GI) foods such
“Our policy makers have often equated lack of adequate as white rice. An effective solution would be to increase
food to lack of nutritious food. Only lately it has been the production of functional foods and encourage people
realized that excessive food stocks in the country, if properly to replace their regular staples with more nutritious
distributed, can only tackle the problem of hunger, while, alternatives. Mixing legumes such as kidney beans, black
prevention and control of undernutrition is all together a beans with white rice, as opposed to just eating white rice
different task. Also, adequacy of nutrition for large sections leads to a reduction in postprandial glucose”, elaborated Dr
of people, who are largely illiterate, does not necessarily Sumanto Haldar Senior Research Fellow, Clinical Nutrition
follow overall national economic development. On the Research Centre, A*STAR, Singapore.
contrary, improved nutritional status of the people could
indeed become an important instrument for national Alongside the conference, few pre-conference
development through improved productivity. Nutrition is workshops were also conducted on Enteral and Paranteral
not just a welfare operation and merits more than tokenism Nutrition, and Sports Nutrition.
and lip service”, mentioned Dr B. Sesikeran.

The highlight of the inaugural day was an oration by
Prof John H Cummings, Emeritus Professor of Experimental
Gastroenterology, University of Dundee, United Kingdom
on the importance of dietary fibres. “In 1966, dietary fibre
was a part of traditional foods. With processed foods
taking over, the intake of fibre has reduced drastically. The
importance of dietary fibre is now being felt in the society

50 EVENT DIARY NUFFOODSSPECTRUM | December 2018 | www.nuffoodsspectrum.in

8th International December 2ND AYURVEDA CONCLAVE: VISION 2022
12-15,
Industry demands
Food Convention: IFCON2018 2018 inclusion of Ayurveda
in Ayushman Bharat
With support from MOFPI & FSSAI,
More than 75 per cent of the Ayurveda business
Association of Food Scientists & Technologists today is with the private sector, and therefore
engagement with private sector has become
(India) (AFSTi) in association with CFTRI is critical – towards this CII organized the “2nd Ayurveda
Conclave: Vision 2022: Roadmap to Achieve Three Times
organizing "HASH TAG-Holistic Approached for Growth in Market Size” on November 2, 2018, New
Delhi. The government has undertaken big initiatives to
Start-ups, Human Resource Training for Agriculture popularize Ayurveda in India as well as overseas.

and Food Industry Gemmation". Speaking at the event, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha,
 CFTRI Campus, Mysuru, Karnataka Secretary MoAYUSH mentioned that Ministry of
 https://www.afsti.org/icfost-event-detail/20 Defence and Ministry of Labour have agreed to
start AYUSH related services. In addition entry level
India Food Forum 2019 February accreditation by the National Accreditation Board for
5-6, Hospitals has been initiated for AYUSH healthcare
facilities that would help them procuring soft loans, a
India Food Forum is an all-access 2019 subsector skill council for AYUSH has been established
for skilling of AYUSH professionals and MoUs with
platform to connect with every 15 countries have been signed with 13 more in the
pipeline.”
component that a food business needs -- from
Dr Naresh Trehan Chairman CII Healthcare Council
rich market knowledge to consumer research to and Chairman and MD Medanta-The Medicity,
contextualized Ayurveda with respect to modern
upcoming product innovation and retail technology medicine. He emphasized, that demystification of this
ancient medicine system will pave the path for it to
trends to smart business networking. It is the one move ahead. “India can become an example to the
world if it can fuse the power of modern and traditional
source for every insight you need to boost not medicine which is possible through, rigorous research,
documentation and evidence.”
just food business growth, but also profitability.
Advocates of AYUSH have been keen on becoming
The show covers 35 conference sessions & a part of Ayushman Bharat post its announcement.
Towards this, Dr Vinod Paul, Member, NITI Aayog re-
masterclasses on every aspect of food innovation, iterated Dr Trehan’s point on demystification. “This will
help build standard treatment guidelines that will ensure
marketing and retailing. It is a platform to connect uniformity in treatment protocol across the states and
its easy governance”. He added that the government is
with 500 of India's most influential food retail open to proposals but expects them to comply to current
standards and regulations.
leaders.
According to industry leader, Rajiv Vasudevan,
 Renaissance Hotel and Convention Centre - Chairman, CII Core Group of Ayurveda and CEO,
AyurVAID Hospital the different stakeholders of Ayurveda
Powai, Mumbai, talk about different aspects which makes this sector
highly segmented. “We need to unify them in order to
 http://www.indiafoodforum.com/ perceive the hugeness of the sector. Unless Ayurveda
is implemented in government initiatives such as
Gulfood 2019 February Ayushman Bharat and National Nutrition Mission its true
17-21, potential cannot be tapped,” he emphasized.

Gulfood provides opportunity to 2019

network with thousands of industry

peers and people passionate about driving the

market forward in different sectors such as food &

drink, foodservice & hospitality equipment, as well

as the restaurant & cafe industry.

The event in its 24th edition is carrying a new

show experience. 'The World of Food. The World of

Good.' is all about consumer trends, innovation, the

unveiling of opportunities and a real battle of flavors.

The trade show is expected to witness 98,000

visitors and 5,000 exhibitors.

 Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE

 http://www.gulfood.com/