InterHealth Nutraceuticals of Benicia, CA, received approval from the National Health Surveillance Agency in Brazil for the sale of UC-II. It is said to be the only undenatured type II collagen approved as an ingredient for sale in finished products in Brazil. Meanwhile, InterHealth announced its California facility is GMP registered by NSF International. The firm also launched a new consumer website (www.buyinterhealth.com) featuring its branded ingredients UC-II, Meratrim, Super CitriMax, 7-Keto, LOWAT, ChromeMate and Zychrome.

Sunwin Stevia International, Inc. of Qufu, China, announced one of its subsidiaries (Qufu Shengren Pharmaceutical Company, Limited) earned Non-GMO Verification from the Non-GMO Project for its Sunwin Stevia line.

Algatechnologies Ltd. of Kibbutz Ketura, Israel, has agreed to supply Fujifilm Corp. in Japan with AstaPure natural astaxanthin for its Astalift line.

Aker BioMarine of Oslo, Norway, was granted two U.S. patents covering its method for producing Superba Krill Oil as well as the manufacture of other krill oils from denatured krill and/or krill meal using a polar solvent. 

Orcas Naturals of Landing, NJ, acquired Unique Encapsulation and can now offer Liquid Filled Hard Capsules (U-Caps). The company states, “The liquid capsules offer a higher stability of oxygen sensitive actives, in an airtight, leak-proof and vegan capsule. U-Caps incorporate oil soluble and oil suspension ingredients that may enhance the absorption of those ingredients in the blood plasma.”

Westchester, IL-based Ingredion Inc. acquired Kerr Concentrates, Inc. (maker of natural fruit and vegetable concentrates, purees and essences) for $100 million. 

Results from a small-animal study suggest that an ingredient (Glucevia) from Naturex, headquartered in Avignon, France, decreased insulin resistance and reduced fatty liver by 54% in diabetic mice after seven months of administration. The study was published in the Journal of Diabetes and Metabolism.

Los Angeles, CA,-based OptiPure (Kenko International, Inc.) re-launched www.optipure.com to offer users easier navigation, access to detailed technical specifications, educational brochures and more.

Frutarom, headquartered in Israel, acquired New Zealand-based Taura Natural Ingredients for $70 million.

Enzymotec, with U.S. offices in Morristown, NJ, received a letter of non-objection from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Sharp PS Green ingredient.

Kemin Industries of Des Moines, IA, held a ceremonial groundbreaking for its new Des Moines headquarters, which is slated to be more than 90,000 square feet. 

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, August 2015(online 7/16/2015).