NattoPharma,a researcher and developer of vitamin K2 products based in Metuchen, NJ, has been awarded a grant by the Norwegian Research Council. The grant will be used to fund a 4-year project documenting how the absence or presence of vitamin K2, MK7 effects the metabolism of calcium in the body. The research portion of the study will take place in the Netherlands at the Maastricht University in the Department of Biochemistry. Dr. Leon Schurgar, senior scientist and associate professor of biochemistry at Maastricht and the Cardiovascular Research Institute of Maastricht (CARIM) will lead the project, which will use NattoPharma’s MenaQ7 Vitamin K2 and MK-7.

Ashland Global Holdings Inc., Covington, KY, announced in a press release that its subsidiary has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately owned Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc., based in Kearny, NJ. As part of the terms of the stock purchase agreement, Ashland will pay a $660 million all-cash transaction expected prior to the end of the June quarter. Pharmachem has 14 facilities in the United States and Mexico, bringin in an annual revenue of approximately $300 million. Nutrition and health make up 43% of their sales, fragrance and flavors make up 33%, food, beverage and personal care account for 15%, and custom manufacturing 9%.

NSF International, Ann Arbor, MI, an independent global organization committed to protecting and improving public health for over 70 years, announced the NSF Non-GMO True North certification of the Ener-C line of dietary supplements. NSF Non-GMO True North certification utilizes elements of U.S., EU and global genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling requirements, including compliance to segregation, traceability, supplier approval, monitoring and testing. NSF Non-GMO True North program also adds risk assessment, chain of custody sampling and independent testing.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine June 2017