Nestle Finds a Reliable Supply of Brain Cells

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You might think Nestlé’s supply-chain effort is limited to edibles like chocolate chips for its Toll House cookies, but there’s so much more going on beneath the surface at the Swiss food producer. From the WSJ:

Under the deal, Nestlé will obtain brain and liver cells from Cellular Dynamics International Inc.ICEL +1.05% and study how nutrients found in foods affect these human cells, according to Emmanuel Baetge, director of the Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, a research arm of the Swiss company. Nestlé aims to use the insights to develop nutritionally enhanced drinks, smoothies and other products that it can market as having medical benefits.

Cellular Dynamics  supplies its cells to most of the top pharmaceutical players, but the Nestlé deal is the first time it is doing business with a food company. The plan, according to Emmanuel Baetge, director of Nestlé’s research arm, is to ”to take advantage of the space between food and pharmaceuticals.”
For Nestle, being able to make food with baked-in health benefits could be a big deal in aging, health-conscious societies. And being able to back up those claims with real research will help the company avoid the wrath of regulators, who have been taking a harder line against bogus health claims. As the WSJ also reported on Tuesday:

Federal regulators cracked down on companies that said their products would help people lose weight with little effort.
The Federal Trade Commission announced settlements Tuesday totaling $34 million against three companies, the largest being a $26.5 million settlement against Sensa Products LLC. The company markets a dietary supplement called Sensa that is sprinkled on foods.
Also settling was L’Occitane Inc., known for its tony L’Occitane en Provence stores found in many malls across the U.S. The FTC said the beauty-products maker made deceptive claims about its Almond Beautiful Shape and Almond Shaping Delight skin cream that it sold on its website and retail stores.
The government’s enforcement action was timed to coincide with resolutions often made in January to lose weight.
“The chances of being successful just by sprinkling something on your food, rubbing cream on your thighs, or using a supplement are slim to none,” said Jessica Rich, the director of the FTC’s consumer protection bureau. “The science just isn’t there.”