Appointment recognises impact of functional foods and the immune system

“We’re seeing many functional foods beginning to flood the Australian and New Zealand markets that in some way relate to the human microbiome or immune system,” says Dr Gasser. “Things like probiotics and prebiotics are appearing on shelves in greater numbers, so the legislative bodies need recommendations around these new foods, and whether the science behind them is sound and safe for consumption.

“I think that’s the driver behind my appointment,” says Dr Gasser. “This comes off the back of the capacity and expertise we’ve developed with the New Zealand Government’s High Value Nutrition National Science Challenge,” says Dr Gasser. “We’re looking into different food products and investigating their relationship with the microbiome and the immune system.”