Hartford, CT—With a 35–1 vote, the Connecticut Senate reportedly passed a bill that would require foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to be labeled. It became the first state Senate to do so, but the bill’s prospects in the Connecticut House of Representatives remained unclear. The bill states that the labeling requirement would not take effect in Connecticut until July 1, 2016, unless three other nearby states passed similar legislation. In that case, it would take effect July 1, 2015.
Moore, OK—Some 16 southern Oklahoma counties are still reeling from the catastrophic tornados that ravaged the area on Monday of this week. Many homes and businesses were destroyed, leaving thousands of Oklahomans with nothing.
Hoboken, NJ—A six-month study of those with metabolic syndrome indicates a branded French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol, distributed by Horphag Research USA, based here) may help reduce symptoms.
New York, NY—Citicoline may be what it takes to slow the progression of glaucoma in some individuals, according to Italian researchers who published their data in Ophthalmologica.
London, UK—New data published in Diabetologia by Imperial College London, UK researchers revealed that drinking one 12-oz sugary soda—which is the equivalent of one can—every day increases the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
Kanagawa, Japan—Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an extreme form of fatty liver disease, can be severe and lead to cirrhosis. Researchers from Kanagawa Institute of Technology in Japan believe a mixture of vitamin E analogs (tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherol) may help, based on data from a new small animal study.
Washington, D.C.—In the case of Bowman v. Monsanto, the Supreme Court has ruled that farmers cannot legally save patented genetically modified seeds for replanting. Monsanto had sued Indiana farmer Vernon Bowman for replanting pesticide-resistant Roundup Ready soybeans, and he now owes $84,456 in damages.
Bethesda, MD—The Journal of the American Medical Association recently published the results of the five-year Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS 2) conducted by the National Institutes of Health. With data collected from 2006–2011, National Eye Institute director Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., stated, “This study clarifies the role of supplements in helping prevent advanced AMD, an incurable, common, and devastating disease that robs older people of their sight and independence.”
Washington, D.C.—It has been 27 years since the Natural Products Association (NPA) revised its membership guidelines, and the association now feels it is time to make some changes.
