Biothera of Eagan, MN received a Superior rating from AIB International during a good manufacturing practices audit of its distribution center.

EPAX AS of Aalesund, Norway received a Top Supplier award from Pharmacaps, Inc. during its Partners in Success awards ceremony. In other news, EPAX has received a Friend of the Sea award in honor of its sustainable fishing efforts.

A new book by Bill Gottliev, Natural Healing 2011, mentions JOINThealth from Membrell LLC of Cathage, MO, in a chapter entitled, “Eggshells Give Arthritis Sufferers a Break.” The book describes some recent research that indicates the main ingredient (NEM, Natural Eggshell Membrane) helps reduce joint pain and stiffness within 10 days.

Lonza, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and ORGANOBALANCE signed a worldwide exclusive license agreement that enables Lonza to develop, produce and commercialize products containing a probiotic developed by ORGANOBALANCE. This Lactobacillus strain is said to fight Helicobacter pylori, a common cause of peptic ulcers and gastritis.

According to research from the Journal of Natural Products, a branded curcumin-soy lecithin ingredient (Meriva from Indena of Milan, Italy) was absorbed better than other curcuminoids.  Absorption was 29-times higher with Meriva than with unformulated curcuminoid mixture, and 50-60-times better than demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin, says Indena.

Robinson Pharma Inc. of Santa Ana, CA, received a letter of approval from the USP stating that the firm’s Omega-3 30% Fish Oil Softgel meets the requirements of its Dietary Supplement Verification Program (DSVP). 

Des Moines, IA-based Kemin Industries launched a celebrity marketing campaign to teach shoppers about its FloraGLO lutein. The campaign will focus on YouTube testimonials by Olympic hurdler and Des Moines native Lolo Jones, plus-size supermodel Emme, blind triathlete Aaron Scheidies and video fitness guru Jennifer Galardi. These four celebrity videos will help explain how lutein may help inhibit age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Graminex LLC’s Deshler, OH-based manufacturing plant received an organic process certification from Quality Assurance International.

Enzymotec Ltd., with U.S. offices in Morristown, NJ, signed a contract under which Lupin Limited of Mumbai, India, will use the firm’s krill oil in its The Krill Oil+ product.

Newport Beach, CA-based BioCell Technology, LLC’s Collagen II is featured in a hot chocolate drink mix supplement called Nightly Beauty from Beauty Foods.

A meta-analysis printed in Nutrition Journal found that Phase 2 Carb Controller (from Pharmachem of Kearny, NJ) helps “induce weight loss and reduce spikes in blood sugar caused by carbohydrates,” says the company. Doses of 500 to 3,000 mg per day were found to be effective.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, June 2011