V for vitality

FIHN finds out what's on offer at Vitafoods: the biggest health ingredients show in Europe

Vitafoods is celebrating its 10th birthday in style with more than 320 exhibitors plugging their wares at Geneva's Palexpo exhibition centre on May 8-10. Vitafoods has now become the key networking event for companies in the health and wellness market, with last year's event attracting a record 4,800 visitors from more than 76 countries, 82% of whom were at director or chief executive level. Over a third of exhibitors also chose Vitafoods to launch a new product in 2006.

Packed with a host of new features from the new products zone to a new section dedicated to beauty, this year's show is also host to a two-day conference and the Finished Products Expo, which brings together manufacturers of dietary supplements and functional foods.

Vitafoods International Conference: may 8-10

The world's leading experts in nutriceuticals will take the podium at this year's conference. Organised by Leatherhead Food International, the conference runs alongside the main exhibition on the first two days

(May 8-9) and culminates in a discussion forum on day three (May 10).

Topics include the role of probiotics in the prevention of colon cancer; B vitamins, homocysteine and cognition in the elderly; lipids and Alzheimer's disease; the search for new leads in the war against obesity; trends in cosmeceuticals; tomato extracts as blood thinners and selenium and cognitive function.

Vitafoods International: key facts

Location: Hall one, Geneva Palexpo, Switzerland.

http://www.genevapalexpo.ch

Opening hours: May 8: 10am-5.30pm

May 9: 10am-5.30pm

May 10: 10am-4pm

Transport: Geneva Palexpo has a direct rail link to the station at Geneva airport and is just seven minutes by train from Geneva's main Cornavin station, which connects to Paris, London and Milan

Contact: IIR Exhibitions +44 (0) 207 017 7026

http://www.vitafoods.eu.com