Leading Expert in Health Claims to Speak at Hi Online Conference

AMSTERDAM, February 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

One of the world's leading experts on health claims, Patrick Coppens from Europe Advisory Services (EAS), will be speaking at the Hi online event and conference. He will be joining a panel discussion, at 1pm, CET, to give his perspective on whether EFSA is a positive force for change in the food industry. Ewa Hudson of Euromonitor International and Dr. Theodor Graser of DSM will also be on the panel. With the possible adoption of copies of the EU claims regulation laws outside Europe, this is a rare opportunity to look at the longer-term implications of EFSA's work.

The Hi online event and conference, which takes place this Friday, will focus on key trends in health ingredients. In front of a global audience the future of functional foods, healthier weight management solutions, and the challenges of ensuring product quality and safety in a global market place will be discussed.

The day will begin with a keynote address by Julian Mellentin, owner and director of the consultancy New Nutrition Business. He will focus on the key ingredients trends that are the most reliable growth opportunities for businesses as well as some of the more long-term micro-trends. "My focus is not just on 'what's the trend' but what you have to do to succeed with that trend, using real-life product case studies from around the world," he says.

This will be followed by a webinar from Dohler on Stevia and a discussion on the rise of the functional foods market, from the market research company Business Insights.

In the afternoon, Tate & Lyle is talking about weight management solutions with sugar and fibre, Carnipure's role in exercise recovery, heart health and male fertility will also be under the spotlight, and David Jago from the market research firm Mintel will be discussing the lessons to be learnt from recent product launches.

The closing webinar on adulteration and global sourcing will bring a panel of American experts together to discuss the benefits and hazards of sourcing ingredients internationally. "In the United States, the U.S. FDA - as recently as January - expressed a renewed commitment to fighting adulteration and the presence of illegal substances in nutritional products," says Jennifer Kwok, editor of the Nutritional Outlook, and chair of this panel. "However, as we all know, adulteration is a worldwide problem and one that's only emphasised by today's global supply chain. Our panel will put this issue into perspective, based on their own experience with global as well as U.S. markets."

About UBM Live

UBM Live is a division of United Business Media, which is headquartered in London, UK. The office in the Netherlands is the organiser of the world-leading Health ingredients, Food ingredients, CPhI, ICSE and Informex series of food and pharmaceutical ingredients trade shows. The Dutch office also publishes International Food Ingredients Magazine and organises related conference activities. For more information, visit http://www.ingredientsnetwork.com