Latest news with #GenerallyRecognizedas
Axios
11-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
A gut-check on SLC's "healthy" soda craze
Prebiotic soft drinks are popping off in Utah, but they're not "gut-friendly" for everyone. Why it matters: Gut experts warn about risks of consuming inulin, the fiber typically found in prebiotic sodas. Threat level: It can cause bloating and be "incredibly difficult to tolerate," especially for those with conditions like IBS, says Tamara Duker Freuman, a dietitian and author. And consuming inulin regularly "may increase risk of cancer, potentially by dampening anti-tumor immunity," according to Andrew Gewirtz — a biomedical science professor at Georgia State University who's conducted early animal studies and a case report about inulin. Zoom in: Folks in the Salt Lake metro are more likely to buy a prebiotic beverage, compared to the average national consumer, according to NielsenIQ. By the numbers: Prebiotic drinks made up nearly 3% of last year's soft drink sales in Salt Lake, above the national average of 2.4% The share of soft drink sales from February 2024 through January 2025 almost doubled the share from the year before. How it works: Eating prebiotics — food for gut bacteria — can be anti-inflammatory and "increase the good guys in your gut," Freuman says. Yes, but: "You should be aiming to get your fiber from foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes," says Hannah Holscher, registered dietitian and associate professor of nutrition at University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Although inulin can feed good gut bacteria, the byproducts of it — short chain fatty acids — might also help pathogens grow, said Gewirtz. "Further studies are needed to help identify who might benefit from it and who should avoid it," he says. What they're saying: "Like any fiber, inulin may cause temporary digestive discomfort as the body adjusts to increased fiber intake," Olipop told Axios in a statement. "That's why both nutrition experts and OLIPOP recommend starting with one can and gradually increasing over time." The statement emphasized that Olipop offers more fiber than other prebiotic sodas, and that inulin is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. As for Poppi, it denied the claim made in a class-action lawsuit that its marketing overstated the amount of prebiotic fiber and gut health benefits the drink offers.
Axios
29-03-2025
- Health
- Axios
That "healthy" soda? Your gut might disagree
Prebiotic soft drinks are popping off, but their "gut-friendly" health claims deserve a closer look. Why it matters: Most prebiotic sodas contain the fiber inulin, which experts say can be hard to digest and — according to early animal studies and a case study — potentially carcinogenic. What we're hearing: "I've had patients who came to me complaining of severe bloating, to the point they couldn't put on a seat belt in the car," says Tamara Duker Freuman, a New York-based dietitian and author. The apparent culprit: prebiotic sodas. Freuman had the patients stop drinking them "and the bloating went away." By the numbers: U.S. sales of prebiotic soft drinks jumped from $33 million in January 2022, to $777 million in January 2025 — according to data NielsenIQ shared with Axios. Olipop, one of the category leaders, was valued at $1.85 billion in its latest funding round, per CNBC. And PepsiCo just acquired major prebiotic soda brand Poppi for $1.95 billion. How it works: Eating prebiotics — food for gut bacteria — can be anti-inflammatory and "increase the good guys in your gut," Freuman says. Yes, but: "You should be aiming to get your fiber from foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes," says Hannah Holscher, registered dietitian and associate professor of nutrition at University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Even a few grams of inulin (also called chicory root) — the fiber typically in prebiotic sodas — can be "incredibly difficult to tolerate," especially for those with conditions like IBS, Freuman says. Bigger concerns: There's emerging, but limited, research on inulin and cancer. "Consuming grams of inulin regularly in supplements, beverages and inulin enriched foods may increase risk of cancer, potentially by dampening anti-tumor immunity," says Andrew Gewirtz, a biomedical science professor at Georgia State University who's studied inulin in animals. Gewirtz also co-authored a case report on a man who developed colon cancer after taking 4g of inulin daily. Although inulin can feed good gut bacteria, Gewirtz says that the byproducts of it (short chain fatty acids) might also help pathogens grow. "Further studies are needed to help identify who might benefit from it and who should avoid it," he says. The other side: "Like any fiber, inulin may cause temporary digestive discomfort as the body adjusts to increased fiber intake," Olipop told Axios in a statement. "That's why both nutrition experts and OLIPOP recommend starting with one can and gradually increasing over time." The statement emphasized that Olipop offers more fiber than other prebiotic sodas, and that inulin is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. As for Poppi, it denied the claim made in a class-action lawsuit that its marketing overstated the amount of prebiotic fiber and gut health benefits the drink offers. But this month the company agreed to a settlement that includes an $8.9 million fund for payments to consumers, ahead of a hearing set for May 8, the Associated Press reported. Poppi didn't immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment. Reality check: Less than 10% of American adults get the daily recommended amount of fiber, and many Americans regularly drink sugary soda — which has links to a host of health risks. Substituting a prebiotic soda in place of a higher-sugar one "could be a good, helpful swap" and "help bridge the fiber gap," Holscher says. The bottom line: Aim for a diverse diet that includes naturally fibrous foods — but if you crave soda, don't go overboard with the prebiotic drinks. "The occasional can is unlikely to cause major harm," Gewirtz says. "It's regular consumption that I'm not convinced is safe."
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mote scientists, partners unveil arsenal of tools aimed at fighting red tide
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) – Mote Marine Laboratory received millions of dollars from the state for a red tide mitigation initiative a few years back. Now, alongside their partners, scientists unveiled some of the tools they've developed to tackle the harmful algal blooms. 'The state of Florida is leading in the U.S. and indeed leading in the world in developing new technologies to fight, not only red tide but other harmful algal blooms in freshwater and marine ecosystems all around the United States and all around the world,' said Mote CEO Dr. Michael Crosby. QVC US and HSN operations close campus in St. Petersburg Scientists looked at more than 300 different approaches and narrowed it down to about two dozen. Three of those have already received state and federal approvals to be deployed. 'Our mantra is with all of these technologies.. none of them will do any greater harm to the environment than the red tide is already doing,' said Dr. Crosby. Mote broke down three initiatives ready for deployment in a news release this week. Principal Investigator: Dr. Dana WetzelCLEAR is a novel, naturally derived biocide developed by Mote's Environmental Laboratory for Forensics. Harnessing the properties of natural plant-based compounds, CLEAR targets K. brevis with no environmental impact. CLEAR's active ingredients are classified as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA, and studies show no measurable accumulation in the environment. The all-natural biocide degrades fully within half a day, ensuring its safety for marine ecosystems. Regulatory approvals from the EPA, FDACS, and DEP allow for rapid deployment of CLEAR in the event of a bloom. Mote has developed multiple formulations of CLEAR to ensure versatility. Engineered particle treatments can be deployed on surface waters via vessel-mounted blowers, drones, or backpack sprayers. For underwater applications, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) deliver the liquid form directly into blooms. This liquid application may also be deployed sub-surface with a specially equipped boat. CLEAR-embedded dissolvable beads provide sustained protection for 30-60 days, ideal for canals, marinas, and other vulnerable areas. This multi-faceted approach ensures targeted and effective mitigation. Principal Investigator: Dr. Rich PierceXtreme is a natural, non-toxic water treatment product developed by Heartland Energy Group. Previously used for blue-green algae (a freshwater HAB), Xtreme has demonstrated significant effectiveness against K. brevis. Lab testing and mesocosm experiments at Mote confirmed Xtreme's ability to reduce red tide cells and brevetoxins while posing no harm to marine life, including commercially important clams. Xtreme offers a natural solution that could help control blooms. This product is deployed by a large handheld sprayer. Principal Investigator: Dr. Rich PierceOZONIX® is a patented, chemical-free water treatment technology that combines several processes to eliminate K. brevis cells and their toxins. It uses hydrodynamic cavitation (a process that creates bubbles in the water to break apart harmful substances), ozone injection (adding ozone gas to the water, which helps break down toxins), ultrasonic acoustic cavitation (using sound waves to create bubbles that break down harmful materials), and electrochemical oxidation (a process where electricity helps remove contaminants). These techniques work by running large hoses into the water that are connected to a trailer outfitted with a complex water system. Together, these techniques effectively address the red tide algae and its toxins. When and where to deploy these technologies will be up to state and federal leaders. 'This is huge for the state of Florida, it is huge for the United States, it is huge for the world to be able to fight these very toxic negative impacts to our environment, to our economy and to our quality of life,' said Dr. Crosby. 'We are working very patiently, but very deliberately through the permitting process for the other dozen and a half technologies. We need them all to be approved, but we do have to work through those processes. We are ready to deploy now. What we need to do is a scale this up so that we can have large-scale deployment of all of these technologies,' he continued. Partners of Mote include Senior Global Product Manager, Heartland Energy Group, Prescott Clean Water, AquaTech Eco Consultants, Hull's Environmental Services, and A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
