Olivia Haslam

The UK’s new subscription trap rules will take effect in January 2027, requiring supplement and health brands to provide clearer subscription terms, renewal reminders and easier cancellation. The changes could affect the growing supplement subscription market, as brands assess how new consumer protection rules may influence customer retention and recurring revenue.

Sports nutrition brand Maurten has revealed the personalized fueling strategy that helped Demi Vollering win the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, averaging 110g of carbohydrates per hour across nine stages. The high-carbohydrate endurance nutrition plan highlights the growing importance of customised sports nutrition, gut training and race-day fueling in elite cycling performance.

The EU Novel Food Catalogue has updated the regulatory status of Echinacea, adding Echinacea angustifolia and clarifying the non-novel food status of Echinacea herbs, roots and non-concentrated aqueous infusions used in supplements and traditional teas. However, questions remain over Echinacea flowers, whole-plant use, Echinacea pallida and cell-culture extracts, with implications for the EU food supplement and botanical ingredients industry.

A new study suggests that a combination of purified pollen cytoplasm, vitamin D and vitamin K2 may help reduce hot flashes and improve menopause symptoms, including physical, psychosocial and vasomotor symptoms. The findings also point to potential benefits for bone health, with the pollen extract combination linked to lower bone turnover and reduced bone resorption.

GymBeam reported 24% revenue growth, a 35% increase in EBITDA and a 277% rise in own-production sales in 2025 as it expanded warehouse automation, AutoStore robotics and artificial intelligence. The European sports nutrition retailer is also investing in in-house manufacturing, logistics automation, B2B operations and Western European expansion to improve margins and support growth.

The B12 Alliance is heading to Westminster for a House of Commons event focused on vitamin B12 deficiency, diagnosis and treatment gaps in the UK, with Heights’ Dr Harry Jarrett highlighting the need for greater awareness and collaboration across industry, clinicians and patient groups. Jarrett says the supplements industry can support B12 awareness, consumer education and prevention through evidence-based communication, responsible supplementation and clearer guidance.

Zespri’s landmark EU health claim approval for green kiwifruit marks the first authorized health claim for a fresh fruit, following more than 15 years of research and a positive EFSA scientific opinion on its ability to contribute to normal bowel function by increasing stool frequency. Bregt Raus of Altius and Luca Bucchini of Hylobates Consulting highlighted the challenges of securing whole-food health claims in Europe, including lengthy regulatory reviews, EU comitology delays, strict scientific evidence requirements and the difficulty of translating food and nutrition research into consumer-facing health claims.

Researchers say that nutrition professionals and dietitians have a strategic role in advancing One Health by connecting human health, sustainable food systems, environmental sustainability and public health. They argue that embedding One Health principles into nutrition education, professional practice and health-system structures could help address chronic disease, health inequalities, food insecurity and environmental challenges.

The World Diet Initiative (WDI) launched to document disappearing heritage diets to better understand their impact on nutrition, gut health, the microbiome, immunity and metabolic health. By studying traditional foods, dietary patterns, food preparation and fermentation practices, researchers hope to uncover valuable nutrition insights and identify new approaches to improving public health.

New research suggests that soil health, organic farming and regenerative agriculture can directly influence beetroot nutrients, with organically and regeneratively grown beetroots showing higher levels of polyphenols, nitrates and other bioactive compounds. The findings highlight a potential One Health connection between healthy soils, sustainable farming, nutrient-rich foods and human health, while showing how farming practices can shape the nutritional quality of crops.