Brattleboro, VT—More and more acreage in the United States is being used for growing organic cotton, according to research from the Organic Trade Association (OTA). The group believes the growth is tied to consumers wanted products made with organic cotton, price premiums and other factors.

Milwaukee, WI—Probiotics are synonymous with digestive health, but new data suggest we should take a closer look at their benefits for heart health.

Denver, CO—Impressive data were published in Carcinogenesis showing grape seed extract killed cancer cells in mice and left healthy ones alone.

Geneva, Switzerland—Some feel beauty starts from within, especially when antioxidants come into play. New data suggest a powerful antioxidant ingredient may lead to significant benefits in skin health, according to a group from Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine in Germany and Horphag Research (based here).

Oakland, CA—Fair trade products certifier Fair Trade USA has made some significant changes to its policies. These changes, part of the Fair Trade USA’s Multiple Ingredients Product Policy, were made after a two-month evaluation with several stakeholders.

Edwardsville, IL—A hearing has brewed over the accusations of a man who found a mouse in a can of mainstream citrus-flavored-soda in 2009 and sent it to the company who has since offered a bizarre defense.

Rockville, MD—The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) has announced some additions to the latest version of its Food Chemicals Codex (FCC).

Lysaker, Norway—Researchers from Maastricht University in the Netherlands have released some preliminary results from a recent trial on a branded natural vitamin K2 ingredient (MenaQ7 from NattoPharma, based here).

New York, NY—The NSF/ANSI 305 standard for personal care products has a new adherent in Avalon Organics, a brand of Hain Celestial Group, whose entire line of skin, hair and bath care offerings now contains at least 70% organic ingredients.

Corvallis, OR—Many college students let healthy diets slide during the school year, but their diets might be worse than many have imagined. And, there may be some significant differences by gender.