Hydro One Premium Beverages, maker of natural functional beverages, announced that its line of US Patent Pending CANABIX® beverages, has been shown to reduce the glycemic indicators, increase insulin production, improve the microbiome and alleviate the symptoms of a pre-clinical model of type 2 diabetes.
CANABIX® is the first and only natural beverage containing a combined formulation of cannabidiol (CBD) and probiotics developed by Hydro One Premium Beverages in 2020. In a study done by researchers at Augusta University, drinking CANABIX instead of water was able to lower Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c, known as A1c) significantly from 9 % to 5 % in mice with diabetes type 2 (db/db mice). Further, CANABIX increased insulin production in pancreatic cells and altered microbiome towards a protective profile by reducing inflammatory indices. These novel findings were reported as preprint on June 4th 2024 (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.06.04.597375v2) and currently is under peer review for publication.
Diabetes is a complex disease involving multiple organs in the body. Therefore, its treatment is challenging because of multi-target tissues, medication complexity, patient adherence to the therapy, and cost, says Dr. Phillip Wang the lead scientist of the research team. Despite significant advances in the treatment of symptoms, the underlying causes of diabetes remain intractable. There have been several studies showing the effects of dietary food and beverage supplements on diabetes. However, to the best of our knowledge this is the first study to report a comprehensive beneficial effect on several major aspects of diabetes by a natural beverage, particularly, lowering HbA1c (from 9 % to 5 %) as well as altering microbiome says corresponding author of the study, Dr. Phillip Wang.
“The gut microbiota plays a central role in immune balance and influences the metabolic processes, crucial factors in the development as well as treatment of type 2 diabetes,” says Dr. Babak Baban, Professor of Immunology at Augusta University and co-author of the study. “Altering the profile of microbiome and the significant reduction in A1c in a few weeks only through a beverage are very significant and exciting cutting-edge achievements that warrant further research and clinical trials,” added Baban.
“We’re thrilled to learn that our CANABIX beverage could potentially have profound beneficial health effects. Since CANABIX is THC free, we have many athletes and doctors who already use it and have no issues with blood or urine tests,” says Sammy Nasrollahi, the CEO of Hydro One Beverages, “These are very promising outcomes resulting from pre-clinical studies conducted by a scientific team at Augusta University. As the central core of our mission, we are committed to continue working with the scientific community to promote a higher quality healthier lifestyle by expanding our effective and affordable solutions to those managing prediabetes and diabetes.”
CANABIX comes in three flavours: lemon cucumber, dragon fruit and peach tea. CANABIX the first and only beverage containing 30 mg of CBD and probiotics. A limited number of CANABIX samples are currently available for purchase through Hydro One Beverages by contacting Sammy Nasrollahi at snasrollahi@hydroonebeverages.com.
Disclosure: Dr. Babak Baban is affiliated with Hydro One beverages.
Sweegen, a global leader in wellness ingredient and taste modulation technologies, is addressing the pressing issue of mislabeling within the stevia industry, specifically concerning Reb M stevia sold under false claims intentionally.
Sweegen is the primary producer of the highly sought-after non-GMO Bestevia® Reb M, made with a proprietary clean bioconversion method. Through independent testing, the company has determined that certain third-party Reb M products sold to food and beverage companies under label claims of “Reb-M 95 %,” “Bioconversion Reb-M 95 %,” or “Stevia (Organic) Extract Reb-M 95 %” are not made through extraction or bioconversion.
These false claims have significant implications for stakeholders, including food and beverage companies, consumers, and the stevia technology community.
Food and beverage companies are confronted with significant challenges arising from mislabeling, particularly the erosion of consumer trust and brand reputation. The authenticity of products is paramount to maintaining consumer confidence and loyalty, and any discrepancy between product labeling and actual content can significantly undermine trust. For companies that prioritize transparency and integrity, the risk of reputational damage is particularly acute if their products become associated with false claims. This underscores the critical importance of accurate labeling practices in preserving the trustworthiness of brands.
Protecting consumer rights through transparency and honesty
Consumers rely on accurate food labeling for making informed choices, especially when it comes to health-related decisions. False claims can lead to misjudgment, and consumers may unknowingly consume products that don’t meet their dietary preferences or health needs.
Some consumers may choose products made through specific processes for environmental sustainability or naturalness. False claims undermine consumers’ ability to make choices aligned with their values.
Respecting and protecting Intellectual Property (IP)
Sweegen places a high value on IP and innovation on its high-purity Bestevia Reb M made through bioconversion within the stevia technology community. The company is committed to upholding the integrity of its IP and respecting others’ innovations. By and large, Sweegen is dedicated to IP protection, ensuring a fair and competitive landscape and encouraging continued advancements in sweetener technologies.
Reiteration of Reb-M patent for non-alcoholic applications
Sweegen emphasizes its patent rights, particularly regarding its Bestevia Reb M for non-alcoholic applications. The company upholds its patents and ensures that ist non-GMO Bestevia Reb M innovations are appropriately recognized and protected. Sweegen believes in fostering a climate that rewards genuine advancements and respects the IP rights of all industry stakeholders.
Offering authenticity testing for Reb-M samples
To further enhance transparency and provide assurance to the food and beverage industry, Sweegen is extending an offer to test all Reb-M samples for authenticity. This initiative aims to assist companies in verifying the integrity of their stevia products and reinforces Sweegen’s commitment to maintaining the highest stevia quality standards in the industry.
Mislabeling on purpose threatens market differentiation and creates confusion about investing in cutting-edge technologies. Innovators in the industry risk losing their competitive edge if competitors intentionally make false claims about similar products. Recognizing and rewarding genuine innovations becomes crucial in fostering a marketplace that values and encourages technological advancements. Ensuring accurate labeling practices is not only a matter of compliance but also fundamental to sustaining a fair and competitive market landscape.
Continued investigation into adulterated Reb-M
Sweegen is actively investigating reports of adulterated Reb M originating from China and entering the U.S. and EU markets directly or indirectly. The company is committed to thorough research and plans to collaborate with relevant authorities to report findings to U.S. and EU customs. Sweegen is determined to address any issues related to product authenticity and maintain the highest standards in the stevia industry.
In addition to consumer trust, regulatory compliance is a central concern for food and beverage companies. Regulatory bodies establish specific guidelines and standards for labeling food products, especially those incorporating novel ingredients such as stevia produced through various methods. Companies found to violate these regulations may face legal consequences. Adhering to established guidelines is a legal imperative and key to ensuring consumer safety and maintaining the industry’s integrity.
It is essential to note that bioconversion stevia holds the advantage of claiming non-GMO verification. Sweegen believes that accurately labeling products as bioconversion stevia aligns with regulatory approval and provides consumers with clear information about this innovative sweetener’s unique characteristics and benefits.
False claims undermine the scientific integrity of the industry. Accurate representation of research and development is crucial for advancing knowledge within the community.
Sweegen remains steadfast in its commitment to innovation, transparency, and consumer safety. The company will continue collaborating with industry stakeholders, regulatory bodies, and customs authorities to uphold the highest standards in producing and labeling stevia products.
Tate & Lyle, a leading global provider of food and beverage ingredients and solutions, welcomed the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology to its USD 2 million Customer Innovation and Collaboration Centre in Dubai, as part of an initiative to reduce sugar and calories in food and drink products in the UAE and the wider Middle East region.
The Ministry, in collaboration with the UAE F&B Manufacturers Business Group, has developed the Middle East’s first Sugar & Calorie Reduction Knowledge Building Programme. Tate & Lyle, utilising its extensive expertise and technical capabilities, developed the eight-week programme which focuses on supporting food and beverage manufacturers in the region to reduce the sugar and calories in their products.
The programme has been designed to increase awareness of the latest technologies available in sugar and calorie reduction, offer practical experience working on specific prototypes in Tate & Lyle’s newly opened Customer Innovation and Collaboration Centre and provide ongoing support for F&B manufacturers.
A series of sessions have taken place, hosting more than 390 delegates from the Middle East and North Africa region with representatives from the F&B manufacturing value chain. Key government attendees joined from Dubai Municipality, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, Sharjah City Municipality and Ministry of Health and Prevention, and key universities officials participated from Canadian University Dubai, Al Ain University and United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
The six-week programme concluded with a focus on reformulation in practice, with insight from Tate & Lyle’s specialist team. Other sessions addressed various topics, including how to make indulgent products healthier, the importance of taste, overcoming cost challenges, nutritional data and the regulatory challenges in sugar and calorie reduction.
