Press Room
July 18, 2007
Cognis first to seek Novel Foods Approval for CLA
Cognis Nutrition & Health is the first company to apply for Novel Foods approval for conjugated linoleic acid in functional foods, with the official submission of a comprehensive dossier on its No. 1 Tonalin® CLA brand.
CLA was introduced – as a food supplement - prior to the EU Novel Food Regulation in 1997 and, therefore, according to a Standing Committee decision it needs Novel Food approval before it can be marketed as a food ingredient in Europe. Having achieved considerable success with Tonalin® CLA in food supplements, Cognis is convinced that the market is now ripe for the development of functional food applications, offering huge opportunities for innovative food manufacturers in Europe.
Dr. Ralf Zink, Director Global R&D and Technology for Cognis Nutrition & Health explained: “Publicity about obesity rates in Europe is at an all time high and the topics of weight and body fat reduction receive acres of media coverage. A recent study from the University of California1 hit the headlines, confirming what many experts and experienced dieters already knew: traditional dieting techniques don’t work because people put back the weight they lost – and more – the so called ‘yo-yo’ effect. Meanwhile, several government-led campaigns are targeting consumers in a bid to convert them to the idea that a sensible, long term approach is the most effective way to success with weight and body fat management.”
“This presents a tremendous market opportunity for Tonalin® CLA, which works by reducing body fat, maintaining lean body mass, and preventing the ‘yo-yo’ effect of dieting by helping to prevent fat regain,” added Dr. Zink. These benefits were confirmed in a meta-analysis of 18 human studies on CLA published in May this year in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition2. The authors concluded that the beneficial effect of CLA: “… could be important if accumulated over time, especially in an environment where continuous, gradual weight gain is the norm in the adult population.” With the majority of the 18 clinical trials reviewed using Tonalin® CLA, the study provides further scientific evidence that the Cognis product is a safe and effective option for people interested in improving their body composition and preventing the yo-yo effect.
“Our Novel Food dossier presents the compelling proof of safety as well as evidence for Tonalin® CLA in successful weight management” said Dr. Ralf Zink. “With fourteen clinical studies published in peer-reviewed journals supporting the ingredient’s role in body composition, we are confident that the authorities will accept our argument that Tonalin® CLA should be available to functional food manufacturers for the benefit of consumers in Europe – and soon,” he said.
Cognis’s Novel Food application for Tonalin® CLA represents another example of the company’s leadership in the CLA market, an attribute recently acknowledged by market analysts Frost & Sullivan, who presented Cognis with their 2007 Award for Brand Development Strategy Leadership in the Global CLA Market.
1 Mann T, Tomiyama AJ, Westling E, Lew AM, Samuels B, Chatman J. Medicare's Search for Effective Obesity Treatments: Diets Are Not the Answer. Am Psychol. 2007 Apr;62(3):220-33
2 Leah D Whigham, Abigail C Watras, Dale Schoeller. Efficacy of conjugated linoleic acid for reducing fat mass: a meta-analysis in humans. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2007;85:1203-11
About Tonalin® CLA:
Tonalin® CLA is the original brand of CLA and is an exclusively licensed product of the Cognis Group. CLA is a polyunsaturated, conjugated fatty acid that is a natural part of the human diet, found primarily in meat and dairy products. Cognis produces Tonalin® CLA through a proprietary process that converts linoleic acid from safflowers into CLA, providing the highest quality of CLA available. Tonalin® CLA contains the lowest amount of non-naturally occurring isomers, a patent-protected attribute that provides food and dietary supplement manufacturers with the highest levels of ingredients known to be beneficial. Tonalin® CLA is available in several product forms—such as oil and water-dispersible powder—offering manufacturers a broad range of options for their products.
About Cognis:
Cognis is a worldwide supplier of innovative specialty chemicals and nutritional ingredients, with a particular focus on the areas of wellness and sustainability. The company employs about 8,000 people, and it operates production sites and service centers in 30 countries. Cognis has dedicated its activities to a high level of sustainability and delivers natural source raw materials and ingredients for food, nutrition and healthcare markets, and the cosmetics, detergents and cleaners industries. Another main focus is on products for a number of other industries, such as coatings and inks, lubricants, textiles, as well as agriculture and mining. The subsidiary Pulcra Chemicals offers specialized chemical products and process expertise to customers in the fiber, textile, and leather industries. Cognis also holds a 50-percent stake in the joint venture Cognis Oleochemicals, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of oleochemicals.
Cognis is owned by private equity funds advised by Permira, GS Capital Partners, and SV Life Sciences. In 2006, Cognis recorded sales of 3.37 billion euros and an Adjusted EBITDA (operating result) of 394 million euros.
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