Setria Glutathione from Kyowa Hakko of New York, NY, received approval from Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration for its use “as a therapeutically active ingredient in adults.”

Through a recent social media campaign, Embria Health Sciences (producer of EpiCor, based in Ankeny, IA) raised awareness about childhood undernutrition and made a donation to help Vitamin Angels provide life-changing vitamins to 25,000 needy children. The company says it “is a believer in the impact that dietary supplements can have on the quality of life of people.” Embria used its social media platforms to “help raise awareness about global childhood undernutrition and vitamin supplementation as a key solution.” For every “like” or “share” of the program on Facebook, the company made a donation to Vitamin Angels to pay for a one-year supply of vitamin A. Several EpiCor customers—including Healthy Directions, Renew Life, NOW Foods and Natrol—also promoted the program on social media. The campaign generated 14,211 total “likes” or “shares” and 306,285 total impressions.

The Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL published an article suggesting the most effective testing protocols for ensuring the purity of chondroitin. The authors were from Flora Research Laboratories, Synutra Pure, U.S. Pharmacopeia, the National Institutes of Health and Tampa Bay Analytical Research Laboratories. They assert that known adulterants give false results with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) titration (a common chondroitin assay method). The authors believe CPC should be used only after cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis first determines purity.

Wellmune from Biothera of Eagan, MN, is now registered with Informed-Sport and Informed-Choice, indicating it was tested for banned substances and quality assured for athletes.

NattoPharma, headquartered in Oslo, Norway, received approval for an extension of its current patent (no. 8,354,129: “Vitamin K2 Containing Food product”). In addition, the patent was bolstered by the approval of patent no. 8,728,553 (“ex-Unilever”) called “Vitamin Containing Product,” which lets the company say that supplements and food containing 5–5,000 mcg (micrograms) of vitamin K2 per 100 grams of product have positive health effects.

Lonza Guangzhou Nansha Ltd. opened a new niacinamide plant in Nansha, China.

Maypro of Purchase, NY, made a partnership agreement with Wilke Resources that allows Maypro to distribute Wilke’s nutritional ingredients.

Sami Labs Ltd. (sister company to Sabinsa of East Windsor, NJ) acquired KCP Biotech of Hyderabad, India.

A new 12-week study on Orisett from NutraGenesis, LLC, Brattleboro, VT, suggested that the glucose management ingredient reduced long-term blood glucose and post-meal blood glucose levels. The randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial involved 51 healthy subjects who took 500 mg of the chitosan oligosaccharide ingredient or a placebo. The data were published in Food and Function.

Agropur Inc. is conducting a $55-million expansion of its Weyauwega, WI, facility to increase its Feta cheese production capacity. It is expected to be completed in 2016 and create about 22 new jobs.

KSM-66 Ashwagandha from Ixoreal Biomed Private Limited of Los Angeles, CA, is now Non-GMO Verified by the Non-GMO Project.

Several texturizers and nutrition solutions from Ingredion Inc. of Westchester, IL, also achieved Non-GMO Project Verified status.

Kennesaw, GA-based Deerland Enzymes announced its manufacturing facility received Halal certification from the Islamic Services of America. Separately, it also attained Feed Additives and Premixtures Quality System (FAMI-QS) certification.

Zembrin Sceletium tortuosum from Morristown, NJ-based PLT Health Solutions, Inc. received a license from the Natural Health Products Directorate of Health Canada to be marketed for cognitive support in healthy adults.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, January 2015