Frozen foods can be a healthy choice. Here’s why.

Cold comfort: Frozen foods put health on the menu

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Univar Solutions Canada Ltd. (Richmond, BC, Canada), a subsidiary of Univar Solutions Inc., has 

 that it is now the exclusive distributor for Chemi Nutra LLC’s (Milan, Italy) specialty, functional, and nutraceutical ingredients in Canada. These ingredients include SerinAid Phosphatidylserine (PS), Mediator Phosphatidic Acid (PA), and AlphaSize Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline (A-GPC), to name a few.

"We are thrilled to strengthen our collaboration and expand our partnership with Chemi Nutra in Canada, as they are recognized as a world leader and pioneer in the nutraceuticals industry," said Nick Powell, president of global ingredients and specialties, EMEA and APAC, for Univar Solutions, in a press release. "At Univar Solutions, we have been bringing nutraceutical ingredients to customers across the globe for more than 50 years. With this deep history and a team dedicated to wellness, we truly stand apart in the life sciences industry and can provide the essential ingredients and technical expertise that manufacturers today need."

"We are elated to further our collaboration with Univar Solutions, a partner we know and trust, to bring more beneficial nutrient solutions to the Canadian market," added Mike Petteruti, president for Chemi Nutra. "Chemi Nutra is a true innovator of health and performance-related specialty ingredients, and we are confident that growing our relationship with Univar Solutions will help us better deliver business results and technical success for our customers.”

Chemi Nutra manufactures its ingredients in FDA-inspected, cGMP certified facilities in Italy and Brazil. They cover a range of benefits, including cognitive health, sports nutrition, women’s health, and active aging,

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These ingredients include SerinAid Phosphatidylserine (PS), Mediator Phosphatidic Acid (PA), and AlphaSize Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline (A-GPC), to name a few.

Univar Solutions to exclusively distribute Chemi Nutra’s ingredients in Canada

Nexira (Rouen, France) has announced the launch of the third phase of its Acacia Program, which aims to promote sustainability and positive social impact in Africa. In the first two phases of the Acacia Program that took place between 2009 and 2020, Nexira worked in Chad in collaboration with SOS Sahel and its partners to protect acacia resources, enhance lives of locals, and promote sustainability. Among the program’s key achievements in the first two phases were the increase in acacia gum production, reforestation efforts, biodiversity efforts through assisted natural regeneration, and improved cooking stoves.

In phase three, the Acacia Program will focus on strengthening the gum acacia sector by involving more producers, empowering women, and increasing the surface area of forest management. The programs key objectives include:

Involvement of 200 villages and 50,000 producers

Work on 300,000 hectares of sustainably managed forest

Increase in quality and productivity of gum acacia from 2,600 tons to 5,000 tons

Implementation of regenerative natural agriculture methods

Development of the gum acacia value chain

Expanding access to financial services for producers

Phase three of the Acacia Program also has the potential to sequester over 60,000 tCO2e of emissions annually, says the company. To highlight the program, Nexira has also undertaken an innovative artistic initiative in which photographer Nicolas Henry made a series of photographs called “Trees of Life.” The photos were presented for the first time at the Photoclimat biennial in Paris in September of 2023 with the aim of increasing the visibility of the program, and officially launching its third phase.

Additionally, with its brand of organic and sustainable ingredients, inavea, Nexira has made significant progress in carbon reduction. According to the company’s press release, Nexira’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through investment in less emitting technologies and working with suppliers on using less emissive transport solutions has resulting in a 9% reduction in the company’s carbon footprint per ton of finished product between 2019 and 2022. This amounts to 5,500 tons of CO2, which is equivalent to 625 world tours by car, says the company.

Nexira is launching the third phase of its Acacia Program to promote sustainability and positive social impact in Africa. 

Nexira launches third phase of Acacia Program and achieves significant reduction in carbon footprint

Jennifer Grebow is the editor-in-chief of 

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Women's sex health has become a bigger topic of discussion—and product makers are listening. As more women shop for sex-support products, the availability of women-focused sex-health supplements is slowly growing.

It wasn’t always this way. And there’s still lots of room for improvement. “Women are still not a major target for supplement companies when it comes to sexual health, and a healthy and satisfying sex life is a cornerstone of overall wellness,” notes Maggie McNamara, marketing director at ingredients supplier Gencor (Austin, TX).

Sex health for her: OLLY’s empowering marketing featuring products from its Women’s Wellness line. Photo from OLLY.

Women need sex support, too, for multiple reasons. As Annie Eng, CEO of supplier HP Ingredients (Bradenton, FL), points out, “Women who are postmenopausal experience a dramatic drop in sexual arousal as well as in vaginal lubrication response. And while the latter is expressed physically, it impacts self-esteem, which can lead to low mood and anxiety.”

The number of studies on men’s sex health ingredients still outnumbers the number of studies on women’s sex health ingredients. Men seeking sex health ingredients have many clinically studied options available to them today. (Companies offering these ingredients say many are also suited for women's sex health and have gone on to develop ingredients specifically for that market.)

One of Gencor’s (Austin, TX) branded sex health ingredients, Tesnor, has numerous clinical studies showing benefits in men. The ingredient, a proprietary blend of cocoa bean and pomegranate peel, “increases in-cell testosterone production and inhibits aromatase activity, as shown in 

 testing,” says Maggie McNamara, Gencor’s marketing director. She notes, “It has also demonstrated its ability to aid in muscle strength and growth in young males

, while in another study significantly improved age-related male symptoms

. Daily doses of Tesnor have been clinically shown to improve testosterone and reduce Aging Males’ Symptoms scores.”

Another well-known sex health ingredient from Gencor is Testofen, a patented fenugreek extract shown to boost testosterone levels in men. “Testofen is standardized to a proprietary matrix of saponin glycosides that Gencor has named Fenuside,” McNamara explains. “These constituents have been clinically proven to boost testosterone levels

HP Ingredients (Bradenton, FL), meanwhile, points to the rich research backing its LJ100 tongkat ali 

 extract for men’s sexual well-being. Studies have shown that LJ100 improves men’s sex health on several fronts, including improving erectile function, sexual libido, and “naturally restoring normal testosterone levels by increasing the rate of testosterone release from its binding hormone, SHBG,” explains HP Ingredients CEO Annie Eng.

She points to more recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled six-month study

 that showed that men whose erectile dysfunction was caused by androgen deficiency in aging males (ADAM) saw a significant increase in total testosterone levels (+48%) and sexual desire (+235%), and improvements in scores for erectile function (+15%) and sexual satisfaction (+35%), after supplementing with LJ100 daily combined with exercise. Meanwhile, men who took LJ100 without exercising also saw significant improvements, including in total testosterone level (+44%) and in scores for sexual satisfaction (+29%) and orgasmic function (+22%). Another study

 on LJ100, a 12-week trial, in men aged 50-70 years showed that the ingredient raised levels of serum total testosterone and free testosterone as well as levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

“These are only a few such studies, but together they amount to concrete support of LJ100 supplementation to help men improve sexual function,” Eng says. She also notes that HP Ingredients’ Bergamonte bergamot extract, which is most often associated with cardiometabolic support, also shows promise for addressing erectile dysfunction because it helps to stimulate reactive vasodilation.

This is just a sampling of some of the most-studied ingredients for men’s sex health supplements. Other ingredients that have built credibility in this space include horny goat weed, ginseng, L-arginine, L-citrulline, maca, ashwagandha, 

 and zinc, McNamara says, adding that vitamin D can also help balance hormone levels implicit in sexual desire and performance. And Eng says that ingredients that boost production of nitric oxide, such as L-citrulline, have a role to play, as does DHEA, which “seems to be the top non-herbal sexual-support ingredient for men,” she says.

Eng also urges men to look at holistic health to support sexual health. She says “men who may be experiencing issues with sexual function and arousal may also want to look at other supplements such as for weight loss and healthy cardiovascular function. Here, brands can create not just one product for men but a line of supplements that address sexual health directly and indirectly, as a plan or a kit.”

Meanwhile, McNamara says, “it’s been reported that loss of sexual desire affects one in every three women and can affect adult women of all ages.”

Failing to cater to this market means supplement companies are leaving money on the table, McNamara adds, calling it a “vast market-opportunity loss.” After all, she points out, “Not only do women account for half of the population, but they are also typically doing the household shopping.”

taking the opportunity to talk about women's sex health. One supplement company’s advertising is stripping away the taboo around women’s sex health. In 2022, OLLY ran a marketing campaign called “Big Vagina Energy.” In September 2023, the brand kicked off a new campaign called “Redefine Sexual Health.”

Elise Crevier, OLLY’s vice president of creative, explains how the company’s culture led to these campaigns. “Women’s health is a topic near and dear to OLLY’s heart. The company has been a leader in formulating products specific to women’s needs for over a decade. We’re also a company of mostly women, many of whom are our leaders, so we are passionate about making products for women by women.”

Last year’s “Big Vagina Energy” campaign urged women not to be ashamed of their sexuality. “You’re invited to embrace your Big Vagina Energy: a movement of unapologetic confidence,” the company’s website states. “A cool, collected vibe that comes with knowing that totally normal things—like low libidos and bloated bellies—shouldn’t involve a shred of shame.” The campaign tied in OLLY's Women’s Wellness line, whose products include Combat Cravings, Miss Mellow, Lovin’ Libido, Happy Hoo-Ha, and Beat the Bloat.

This year’s “Redefine Sexual Health” campaign, which was created in partnership with ad agency &Walsh, “is an evolution of the brand’s 2022 ‘Big Vagina Energy’ campaign, with even more disruptive messaging and visuals aimed at taking the shame out of vaginas,” a company press release states. The word 

 plays prominently in marketing visuals, which also display a diversity of women and body shapes.

Boldness was the goal, Crevier says. The company sought to tear down the “clear double standard” in how advertisements typically discuss male and female anatomy, she says. “Many major media platforms treat the word 

 as inappropriate or pornographic, silencing important conversations about women’s health and sexuality. At OLLY, we are reshaping this narrative by putting the word 

 front and center of our campaign, asserting that 

“We want to reduce feelings of shame that women experience around normal, everyday health concerns,” she continues. “Above all else, empowerment is a key value at OLLY, and this campaign helps us further this mission by encouraging women to have open and honest conversations about vaginal health and sexuality. As OLLY has grown and evolved over the last year, we wanted to get even more disruptive with the messaging and visuals, given that women seem to be craving that type of messaging right now.”

OLLY is now driving its advertising where its messaging is welcome. Large advertisers like TikTok and Amazon, which OLLY says still place restrictions around advertising words like 

“did not get OLLY’s media buy this year.” As the company states, “It was important to the team to stick with the messaging rather than water it down to appease platforms.”

Attracting women to the sex health shelf is important. So is ensuring the quality of products they’ll find when they get there.

To this end, leading suppliers are offering clinically studied ingredients for women's sex health. HP Ingredients’ newest offering in this category is Nu Femme, a proprietary branded ingredient that combines herbal extracts from 

 and one of the company’s flagship ingredients, LJ100 tongkat ali

A study on Nu Femme supplementation in menopausal women was published in 2020 showing that it led to improvements in sexual function.

 “In the study,” Eng says, “women who were experiencing menopausal symptoms, including in the sexual domain of the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, reported significant improvements in these symptoms.”

Gencor’s ingredients for women’s sex health include Libifem, a standardized fenugreek extract that supports “the female hormone estradiol, which boosts sexual desire and vitality

 and helps alleviate normal symptoms of menopause,”

It behooves ingredient suppliers to focus on studying sex health ingredients in women. Currently, “there are few supplement options” to this end, McNamara says, adding that “providing more products catered to women and conducting more clinical research with female-only populations will only benefit a finished-product manufacturer and the end consumer.”

Broadening women's options for sex health supplements is a work in progress. As more-direct advertising and products come online, the market could expand further. As McNamara says, “There is a growing demand for natural sexual health supplements, as they are perceived to reduce the risk of side effects. This trend toward natural supplements has become a significant driving force in the market.”

Building credibility with clinically studied ingredients will continue to be important in strengthening the market as well. “With consumers turning to natural products to aid in this area, manufacturers must create trustworthy supplements for men and women,” she says.

There’s still lots of white space in women's sex supplements—and so many aspects of sex health to consider. For example, Eng says, “A significant cause of libido loss in women and vaginal dryness is reduced estrogen. However, most of the natural products to deal with vaginal dryness due to menopause are topicals or suppositories. There are not really many reliable dietary supplements for women’s libido and vaginal response, and therefore this is a huge opportunity for product development.”

OLLY’s Crevier says that “These conversations are essential and ongoing, and we intend to continue pushing the boundaries and challenging taboos to serve women’s health needs better.”

From the marketer’s perspective, she believes, “It’s less about how many products are on the market and more about how they are marketed. Men’s health products are often positioned as strong and powerful, while women’s wellness products are hidden in the back of the aisle, with demure pink messaging. This inequality is due to both social stigma and market trends. That being said, the need for more boldly women-focused supplements is clear. Every individual, regardless of gender, should have access to products that cater to their unique health needs and make them feel confident in what their body is going through. OLLY is determined to bridge this gap and ensure that women have the same level of support and choices when it comes to their sexual health.”

What happens when not one but both sexual partners takes supplements? Can it improve sex health? One supplement company thinks so.

In honor of Valentine’s Day this year, U.S. vitamin and supplement company Ancestral Supplements, which specializes in beef organ supplements, introduced a product trio called Love Stack that it says increases male and female vitality. This nutrient-dense supplement stack includes 1) the brand’s Female Enhancement Mixture (FEM) supplement, 2) the brand’s Male Optimization Formula (MOFO) supplement, and 3) the company’s Grass Fed Beef Tallow supplement. These nutrient-dense supplements are said to “boost libido, energy, and performance,” the firm’s website states, calling the products “the natural way to tip the hormone balance in your favor.”

The site further explains: “The female enhancement ingredients are based on the ancestral principle that ‘like supports like’ and includes a special blend of ovary, uterus, fallopian tube, and New Zealand grass-fed beef liver and bone marrow to support a woman’s hormonal production, fertility, and libido. The male optimization formula is a one-of-a-kind blend of beef testicles, prostate, heart, liver, bone, and marrow and supports ultimate male vitality.” And of the tallow supplement, the firm says, “Tallow supports eyesight and healthy skin and bones—and increases absorption of female and male supplements.”

Corey Thompson, PhD, chief education and culture officer for Ancestral Supplements, explains that “There is also a concept in ancestral health called ‘like supports like.’ In other words, in ancient cultures it was known that if you wanted to support sexual or reproductive health, consuming the testicles of a healthy animal, or the ovaries of healthy animals, would provide direct support.”

Thompson states the brand’s belief that its supplemental nutrients support overall health, including sexual health. “In truth, the body has all the resources that it needs for an individual to have vital health, which includes vibrant libido and good sexual health,” he says. “It just needs the right basic nutrients to create the hormone balance and optimal nutrition to allow the body to do what it does best. The natural state of human health is to have great energy and great libido. The Love Stack provides all of those basic nutrients in abundance.”

Chinnappan, S.M.; George, A.; Evans, M.; Anthony, J. Efficacy of 

 standardised extracts on hot flushes, quality of life, hormone and lipid profile of peri-menopausal and menopausal women: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. 

. Published online September 3, 2020. DOI: 

Rao, A.; Steels, E.; Beccaria, G.; Inder, W.J.; Vitetta, L. Influence of a specialized 

 seed extract (Libifem), on testosterone, estradiol and sexual function in healthy menstruating women, a randomised placebo controlled study. 

Steels, E.; Steele, M.L.; Harold, M.; Coulson, S. Efficacy of a proprietary 

 L. de-husked seed extract in reducing menopausal symptoms in otherwise healthy women: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. 

Sreeramaneni, P.G.A.; Yalamanchi, A.; Konda, M.R.; Cherukuri, S.H.V.; Maroon, J.C. A proprietary herbal blend containing extracts of 

 seeds increases serum testosterone level in healthy young males: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. 

Pandit, S.L.; Yaligar, D.; Halemane, M.; Bhat, A. A proprietary blend of standardized 

 seed extracts mitigates aging males’ symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. 

Wankhede, S.; Mohan, V.; Thakurdesai, P. Beneficial effects of fenugreek glycoside supplementation in male subjects during resistance training: a randomized controlled pilot study. 

Steels, E.; Rao, A.; Vitetta, L. Physiological aspects of male libido enhanced by standardized 

Rao, A.; Mallard, A.R.; Grant, R. Testofen® (fenugreek extract) increases strength and muscle mass compared to placebo in response to calisthenics. A randomized control trial. 

Leitão, A.E.; de Souza Vieria, M.C.; Pelegrini, A.; da Silva, E.L.; de Azevedo Guimarães, A.C. A 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial to evaluate the effect of 

(tongkat ali) and concurrent training on erectile dysfunction and testosterone levels in androgen deficiency of aging males (ADAM). 

Chinnappan, S.M. George, A.; Pandey, P.; Narke, G., Choudhary, Y.K. Effect of 

standardized aqueous root extract–Physta on testosterone levels and quality of life in ageing male subjects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre study. 

As more women seek products to support their sex needs, the availability of women-focused sex-health supplements is growing.

Sex-positive: Supplements for women's libido are on the rise

A recent study investigated the effects of non-melatonin sleep support products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids and other herbs. In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 620 adults who were seeking better sleep were given either placebo, or two different sleep formulas containing the same amount of CBD, CBN, and L-theanine, but differing in their THC, hops oil, and valerian oil content. Formula A contained lower amounts of THC (0.35 mg) and higher amounts of GABA (150 mg), hops oil (75 mg), and valerian oil (75 mg) relative to the formula B which had 0.85 mg THC, 125 mg GABA, 20 mg hops oil, and 20 mg valerian oil. The total length of the study was five weeks, including four weeks of supplementation. The supplements were provided by MDBio, and the research was conducted by Radicle Science.

The primary outcome of the study was the change in the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance 8A scale, while secondary outcomes were changes in the PROMIS Anxiety 4a, PROMIS Stress 4a, PEG (pain, enjoyment, general activity), and the World Health Organization (WHO)-5 Well-being index. Results showed that subjects taking formula A experienced the greatest reduction in sleep disturbance, compared to placebo. Similarly, subjects taking formula A also experienced a significant reduction in anxiety compared to placebo, as well as stress, and a significant improvement in overall well-being. Formula B, on the other hand, had no significant impact on the study’s outcomes.

According to the researchers, the product’s benefits may be attributed to the lower amount of THC as well as the higher levels of GABA-modulating herbs, but those aspects were not directly investigated in the study. It does, however, warrant further investigation.

The product from MDBio contains CBD, CBN, L-theanine, hops oil, valerian oil, and low levels of THC. 

Botanical supplement containing hemp-derived cannabinoids supports sleep and stress in recent study

Ninety percent of global production of yams takes place in the sub-Saharan African countries of Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Source: Yam. Crop Trust. Accessed November 21, 2023. 

https://www.croptrust.org/pgrfa-hub/crops-countries-and-genebanks/crops/yam/

Fun fact! Ninety percent of global production of yams takes place in the sub-Saharan African countries of Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.

The Yam Belt

Pictured: A rendering of the Divaks plant which Bühler will develop. Photo from Divaks and Bühler.

Insect producer Divaks (Vilnius, Lithuania) has selected technology group Bühler to build its first industrial-scale plant for commercially producing yellow mealworm 

. Slated to be operational in 2025, the facility will produce up to 15,000 tons of insect-derived products annually, the firms say.

Divaks has asked Bühler to plan and build the plant and to help organize the supply chain. The 10,000-sq-ft site will be located in Lithuania’s Marijampole Free Economic Zone.

Mealworms are a nutritious protein source that can serve as an alternative to meat and ingredients in product categories like sports nutrition, snacks, confectionery, and pet food. Mealworm protein is also environmentally friendly, and Divaks is furthering its eco-friendliness by using the residue from mealworm production as organic fertilizer.

“Bühler will be responsible for all process technology, which will include feedstock preparation to provide safe, palatable, and nourishing feed to the larvae and a fully automated larvae growth system with sophisticated climate control,” the firms’ press release states. “Furthermore, Bühler will provide the processing line to transform the harvested larvae into textured insect proteins (TIP), insect protein concentrates (IPC), and other specialized food ingredients.”

The new facility is expected to be operational in 2025.

Bühler to develop commercial mealworm production plant for food-tech firm Divaks

Nammex recently announced the results of a survey the company commissioned of 10,000 people in the U.S. investigating their understanding of mushroom terminology. Respondents were asked if they knew what a “fruiting body” was, of which 71.5% said they did not. Similarly, when shown photographs of a variety of mushrooms and asked what they are, 90.1% identified them as mushrooms, while 12.43% identified them as fungi, and only 2.8% identified them as fruiting bodies. When respondents were shown a photograph of mycelium growing on a grain substrate in a plastic bag, 79.3% did not identify it as a mushroom.

“We commissioned this survey as a logical extension of our campaign for clarity and accuracy in mushroom product labeling,” said Skye Chilton, CEO of Nammex, in a press release. “While the industry debates whether or not it’s acceptable to state or imply that mycelium-containing products are mushrooms, we thought knowing what consumers actually think was important information for the industry to have.”

 a citizen petition asking the Food and Drug Administration to “to address the mislabeling of dietary supplements and functional foods as ‘mushroom’ or containing ‘mushrooms’ when they contain other fungal parts, and do not contain ‘mushrooms’ as claimed, or fail to disclose added grain ingredients.”

Nammex argues that while FDA’s current labeling guide acknowledges the distinction between mushrooms and mycelium, it is not sufficiently clear or transparent to consumers what is in the product when companies use the term “mushroom mycelium.” Instead, the company advocates for manufacturers identifying the specific fungi the mycelium comes from, such as “shiitake mycelium” or “reishi mycelium.” 

 argue that "mushroom" described the entire organism, fruiting body and mycelium, and therefore it’s not inaccurate to describe something as “mushroom mycelium.” Nammex makes the argument that in practice, consumers do not understand the distinction between mycelium, fruiting bodies, or the component breakdown of a mushroom. To consumers, the fruiting body, as experts understand them, are simply mushrooms, full stop.

“This data confirms that the vast majority of consumers have a fairly specific idea of what constitutes a mushroom, and it’s not myceliated grain,” said Chilton. “As we have said all along, to the industry and to FDA with our Citizen Petition asking for labeling clarity, it’s essential to be fair to consumers and not imply they are getting something they are not when they buy a product. It’s not only ethical, it protects the industry from losing their trust.”

Nammex is critical of brands that sell mycelium products but use images of fruiting bodies on their marketing. This is because consumers more readily recognize fruiting bodies than mycelium. For Nammex, this is false advertising, and brands should make efforts to be more transparent and accurate in how they market fungi ingredients.

Consumer survey commissioned by Nammex shows what consumers perceive as mushrooms, mostly failing to identify fungi by their component parts.

Consumer survey commissioned by Nammex shows what consumers perceive as mushrooms

Pharmactive Biotech Products SLU (Madrid, Spain) is now a B Corporation, reaffirming the company’s dedication to upholding high standards in social and environmental performance, transparency, and business excellence. B Corp measures management performance on five key impact areas: governance, employees, community, environment, and customers. Companies must pass a rigorous assessment process and provide evidence of good practices in these key areas.

“We always consider the social and environmental impact of our activities and have adopted a legal entity that requires all stakeholders to be considered in the decision-making process,” said Jean-Marie Raymond, CEO of Pharmactive Biotech Products, in a press release. “We believe this is an important aspect to ensure the success, continuity, and profitability of our business. Our mission is to bring to market innovative products of natural origin that promote well-being, while having a positive social and environmental influence.”

Pharmactive’s proprietary extraction process is eco-friendly, without using alcohol-based elements or synthetic additives, has low energy consumption, and produces minimum waste. The company also operates on 100% renewable electricity, recycles the water it uses during extraction, and ships its products in 100% recycled cardboard containers. When it comes to social and economic factors, 60% of Pharmactive’s workforce is women, and half the management staff is female. The company also actively contributes to the development of the communities in which is operates, and works with local farmers.

“We are delighted to welcome Pharmactive to the B Corp community, a movement that includes more than 7,000 companies from around the world that are leading a new way we conduct business and who believe they can truly be a force for the global good,” said Pablo Sanchez, CEO of B Lab Spain, in a press release. “Pharmactive is a prime example of how these results can be achieved. The company’s commitment to doing business differently will inspire others and really help spread the idea that we can redefine success in business to be as much about people and the planet as it is about profit.”

B Corp measures management performance on five key impact areas: governance, employees, community, environment, and customers. 

Pharmactive announces B Corp certification

Ayurvedic supplements brand Himalaya Wellness has introduced a new supplement it says helps support alcohol metabolism. Called PartySmart, the supplement comes in gummy form and contains “a unique blend of plant-based ingredients, including amla, date palm, turmeric, fenugreek, grape, and ginger.”

The company’s press release states: “With just two gummies during alcohol consumption, PartySmart supports alcohol metabolism in the liver, reducing the fatigue and unpleasant feelings that often come after a night or day out.” The gummies are vegan, gluten-free, gelatin-free, soy-free, caffeine-free, and made without artificial colors.

The supplements are now available for purchase on Amazon, the brand’s website, Sprouts, and Meijer.

The product contains “a unique blend of plant-based ingredients, including amla, date palm, turmeric, fenugreek, grape, and ginger,” the firm says.

Himalaya Wellness touts new PartySmart Gummies for alcohol metabolism support

Ingredion (Westchester, IL), which in 2020 acquired a 75% stake in stevia supplier PureCircle (Chicago), announced an expansion of the PureCircle by Ingredion stevia production facility in Malaysia. The company says this expansion strengthens its position “as the largest-scale operator for stevia ingredients from bioconversion.”

Specifically, the firm’s press release states, “This expansion grows PureCircle’s bioconversion technology capacity, supporting four times the current capacity for these ingredients.”

The company says expansion of the PureCircle Malaysia facility will also support Ingredion’s new PureCircle Clean Taste Solutions, a range of application-specific sweetening solutions for such categories as beverages, dairy, tea, coffee, sports nutrition, bakery, confectionery, savory, sauces, and dressings.

The expansion will increase the plant’s production by four times.

Featured Content

Cold comfort: Frozen foods put health on the menu

Sinlessly sweet