Industry watch archive
10th February 2025
A new study has shown that Chlorella Vulgaris, a freshwater microalga high in protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, and minerals could be the next ‘superfood’ - enabling scientists in dealing with global food security issues while promoting environmental sustainability.
Chlorella Vulgaris can be blended into food products to improve their nutritional value. It is a promising nutraceutical ingredient with its antioxidant attributes, detoxifying effects, and immune support.
Social networking app created to improve patient care across the globe launches in UK
10th February 2025
A social networking app called SurgeOn aimed to improve patient care worldwide was launched in the UK on 21st January 2025. The app has already been successful in the US, over 17,000 doctors have signed up and it is now available for the NHS.
It has been described as “Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube all rolled into one”. The app will enable doctors to ask questions, share skills, and learn from each other on a global level.
13th January 2025
A large UK prospective study found that having more calcium in the diet (equal to a glass of milk per day) was associated with decreasing the risk of bowel cancer.
The study investigated the diets of over half a million women over 16 years old and found bread and non-dairy milks containing calcium and dark leafy greens were associated with being protective against bowel cancer.
13th January 2025
There has been a large increase in the number of people admitted to hospital in England due to a deficiency of vitamins or minerals, according to NHS data.
In 2023-2024 there were 191,927 people admitted to hospital where a lack of iron was the main reason, which is an increase of 11% on 2022-2023 figures. The figure is almost 10 times the number of hospital admissions for a lack of iron in 1998-1999.
There were also 2630 hospital admissions in 2023-2024 where the main reason was B vitamin deficiency (other than folate).
United Kingdom Food Security Report 2024
30th December 2024
The United Kingdom Food Security Report (UKFSR) 2024 provides an analysis of statistical data in relation to food security in the UK. This fulfils the duty in the Agriculture Act 2020 to produce a food security report to Parliament once every three years.
The UKFSR investigates past, current, and future food security trends presenting the best available comprehension of food security.
The UKFSR provides independent evidence to inform users rather than be used as policy or strategy.
30th December 2024
The scoping review investigated the potential of AI to improve care management, patient symptoms and behaviours, and the efficiency of clinical decision-making. It highlights areas that need more research and also aims to help stakeholders understand better the clinical relevance and availability of AI.
2nd December 2024
New research by PrecisionBiotics®, manufacturer of scientifically proven probiotic supplements, has found that 96% of British adults believe that their gut health can have an effect on their quality of life (1).
However, 44% of British adults don’t believe that they can do anything to help their gut health.
Reference:
1) A Perspectus global omnibus survey of 1031 UK adults, conducted in August and September 2024.
View PrecisionBiotics® website here:
Birth defects prevented by fortifying flour with folic acid
18th November 2024
New legislation has been introduced which will require non-wholemeal wheat flour to be fortified with folic acid by flour producers and millers from the end of 2026.
The fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid will prevent approximately 200 cases of brain and spine defects in infants per year.
This move to include folic acid will result in a reduction of neural tube defects by 20% in the UK and also improve pregnant women's health.
18th November 2024
Henry Dimbleby, has stated that “quite a lot of the relationship between food and health is chronic.” Henry Dimbleby has also said that the NHS is basically drug and intervention based and not based on prevention. In a reactive healthcare system, when a person reaches a hospital, a hospital meal may not make a difference – unlike an operation or a prescription.
4th November 2024
Tins of tuna which were sold in the UK were found to be contaminated with mercury.
More than 100 products were found to be contaminated with mercury, which can cause lung damage and impair brain development. Mercury contamination has also been linked to some cancers.
148 tins were found to contain mercury out of 150 tins tested in France, Britain, Spain, Italy and Germany, with greater than half exceeding the 1mg/kg limit in UK and EU law. Foodwatch France was behind the investigation.
Mandatory salt targets: a key policy tool for global salt reduction efforts
4th November 2024
Salt reduction on a population-wide basis can be achieved by using targets to guide the food industry to reformulate products which have the highest contribution to population salt intake, so that they contain reduced salt.
In the early 2000s the UK introduced such a programme. There was a 19% reduction in average population salt intake between 2003 and 2014 by setting lower salt targets for 85 food categories (Song et al., 2023).
21st October 2024
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary is announcing a “national conversation” on the future of the NHS, requesting that staff and patients be involved in major reforms.
Technology will be essential to this. This includes the use of smartwatches to enable patients with high blood pressure to monitor it and patients with Type 2 diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels by receiving alerts on their mobile phones.
Smart rings enabling cancer patients to monitor vital signs as they undergo treatment may also be distributed out on a wider scale.
4th November 2024
Tins of tuna which were sold in the UK were found to be contaminated with mercury.
More than 100 products were found to be contaminated with mercury, which can cause lung damage and impair brain development. Mercury contamination has also been linked to some cancers.
148 tins were found to contain mercury out of 150 tins tested in France, Britain, Spain, Italy and Germany, with greater than half exceeding the 1mg/kg limit in UK and EU law. Foodwatch France was behind the investigation.
Mandatory salt targets: a key policy tool for global salt reduction efforts
4th November 2024
Salt reduction on a population-wide basis can be achieved by using targets to guide the food industry to reformulate products which have the highest contribution to population salt intake, so that they contain reduced salt.
In the early 2000s the UK introduced such a programme. There was a 19% reduction in average population salt intake between 2003 and 2014 by setting lower salt targets for 85 food categories (Song et al., 2023).
21st October 2024
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary is announcing a “national conversation” on the future of the NHS, requesting that staff and patients be involved in major reforms.
Technology will be essential to this. This includes the use of smartwatches to enable patients with high blood pressure to monitor it and patients with Type 2 diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels by receiving alerts on their mobile phones.
Smart rings enabling cancer patients to monitor vital signs as they undergo treatment may also be distributed out on a wider scale.
21st October 2024
The BBC’s investigation into businesses displaying inaccurate food hygiene ratings can be solved with the mandatory display of food hygiene ratings in England, according to the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).
Inspite of this being mandatory in Northern Ireland and Wales, England is missing this opportunity to ensure consumer confidence and protect public health. One of the results of the scheme being voluntary in England is that only 69% of businesses in England display a food hygiene rating sticker, in comparison to 92% of businesses in Wales and 91% in Northern Ireland.
Women's health economics: investing in the 51 per cent
7th October 2024
This report from the NHS Confederation verifies the prospective return on investment for every extra £1 that is invested in women’s health services in the NHS.
The report findings include:
- for every extra £1 of investment in gynaecology and obstetrics services per woman in England, there is an estimated return on investment of £11.
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the economic cost of absenteeism due to heavy periods and severe period pain along with fibroids, endometriosis, and ovarian cysts is approximately £11 billion per year.
7th October 2024
Cancer incidence rates in adults aged 25–49 years increased approximately by 22% between 1993 – 1995 and 2016 – 2018 in the UK (while cancer incidence rates in adults aged 75 plus years increased approximately by 9%).
So what has caused the increase in cancer rates amongst younger adults? 1) Known risk factors for cancer i.e. obesity, alcohol, diets high in processed foods, physical inactivity, tobacco.
2) Environmental influences.
If you or a colleague has ever experienced a claim against you in your professional role as a dietitian or nutritionist, you will know how stressful and worrying it can be. PI insurance protection can cover you against claims of negligence or breach of duty made by a client.
Specialist PI broker, Trafalgar Risk Management (TRM), has announced the extension of its comprehensive and competitive PI insurance protection to cover registered dietitians and nutritionists against such claims.
The cover is available with premium funding from www.trafalgarinsurance.co.uk.