Pharmachem of Kearny, NJ, has received a letter of no objection from FDA regarding the GRAS status of its Phase 2 white kidney bean extract.

Valensa International of Orlando, FL, received several patents for its chia production technology and proprietary chia-based products.

APJ Abdul Kalam, former president of the Republic of India, visited Sabinsa/Sami Labs Limited in Bangalore, India, where he spoke about the contribution and relevance of ancient Indian science to modern techniques.

Enzymotec, with U.S. offices in Morristown, NJ, received a Friend of the Sea certification for its krill oil. The company recently won the 2014 Ringier Technology Innovation Award in the nutraceuticals category for its K•REAL Krill oil.

Novel Ingredient Services of West Caldwell, NJ, is sponsoring an independent clinical study of its D-mannose powder (UT-Pro) that will look at its effect on urinary tract health.

EpiCor from Embria Health Sciences of Ankeny, IA, was used to help validate a digestive system model, called Host–Microbiota Interaction. Scientists used the model to establish normal human digestive microbiota and changes to it caused by various treatments. Previously, this model was used to demonstrate that EpiCor can modulate microflora in the intestines and a new dimension mimics the surface layer of the human gut. Epicor was found to influence which bacterial species adhered to the cell layer mimicking the gut wall, with a special affinity for increasing the adherence of lactobacilli. “EpiCor may have a beneficial role at the critical interface of the mucus and epithelial cell barrier where many inflammatory and auto-immune issues are thought to begin,” says Larry E. Robinson, vice president of scientific affairs at Embria. The data was printed in BMC Microbiology.

Fruit d’Or of Quebec, Canada, received non-GMO verification for its cranberry ingredients.

Bloomingdale, NJ-based Nutraceuticals International Group signed a long-term agreement with Nutrachem of Mexico to distribute their botanicals, herbs, flavors and nutritional ingredients.

Agropur of Longueuil, QC, Canada, acquired the dairy processing assets of Davisco Foods International. This doubles Agropur’s U.S. processing operations and increases its global milk intake by 50%.

Blue Diamond Growers now has a Global Ingredients Division, and launched a Web site for its ingredients at  www.BDIngredients.com.

DSM is now licensed to distribute Teavigo EGCG from Taiyo in both the supplements and foods segments.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, September 2014