Last spring, I attended the Investors’ Circle conference in San Francisco. It was an inspiring event, to say the least…and one that I felt the nutrition industry was under represented at.

Investors’ Circle is network of angel investors, venture capitalists, philanthropic investors and entrepreneurs who are using private capital to promote the transition of business to a sustainable future. Since 1992, the Investors’ Circle network has invested more than $120 million in 190 companies and small funds.

If your company is socially responsible, looking for investment and interested in presenting at the IC 2008 Spring Conference & Venture Fair in San Francisco, you must apply by February 1st via www.investorscircle.net .

Full details can be found on the IC website.

Like protein, flax is an ingredient with few faults. Suprisingly nutritious and inexpensive for manufacturers, flax is becoming a hot ingredient in many mass-market foods including spreads, tortillas, breads, cereals and many more. InsideBayArea.com reports on the growth of flaxseed with a well written article.

The article “lead” is especially catchy:

“It looks like dried bugs, smells like paint, tastes kind of bitter and turns slimy when you mix it with water. Home cooks are befuddled by it, chefs have no interest in it. But make no mistake, if you’re not already eating flax, you will be soon.”

For more on plant and fish oil omega-3 ingredients, read NBJ’s recent Nutritional Raw Materials & Ingredient Supply Issue.

On December 29th, a professional soccer player died on the field of heart failure, as reported by ESPNsoccernet.

This may bring added attention to the high levels of stimulants in energy drinks and some dietary supplements in the United States as the Beijing Olympics grow near.

This should be concerning to U.S. nutritional ingredient manufacturers and suppliers keeping an eye on developing trends in the energy market. NBJ subscribers will recall NBJ’s September Sports Nutrition & Weight Loss issue contained commentary and analysis on the energy market.

Specifically, NBJ research indicates that energy drink and caffeine consumption…or rather over-consumption…may become a consumer health issue in 2008. A few publicized events like this may push the energy & caffeine consumption issue over the threshold in the consumer press.

The growth of Starbuck’s and certain energy drinks, including Red Bull and Hansen’s Energy, has been incredible, but reminiscent of other fast growing products that flew high, and fell hard.

Something to think about in the new year.

-Patrick