Industry News Roundup

Pharmavite annexes FoodState; CSPI urges ban on caffeine powder; NCCIH debuts at NIH; Gravity in Hantain’s orbit; SDC Nutrition in Costa Rica, Cayman Islands; Mannatech in Spain; and Food Advisory Committee nominations.

Pharmavite annexes FoodState

[Pharmavite LLC]enters the “whole food” supplement category and the practitioner distribution channel for nutritional products with its acquisition of [FoodState Inc.], which markets the MegaFood and Innate Response brands. FoodState will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Northridge, Calif.-based Pharmavite, which markets the Nature Made brand in mass market retailers and is owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., and will report to the firm through a newly formed board, FoodState CEO Robert Craven said in the firms’ Dec. 17 release. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. FoodState, which manufactures more than 36 nutrients in its Derry, N.H., facility, was the first brand to make vitamins with whole food ingredients, in its MegaFood line, and markets its Innate Response line through practitioners.

CSPI urges ban on caffeine powder

The Center for Science in the Public Interest joins the list of advocates, lawmakers and consumers asking FDA to ban the retail distribution of pure, powdered or liquid caffeine as dietary supplements following recent deaths and ill health effects linked to use of the substance. The advocacy group calls on FDA to rule that pure caffeine marketed as a dietary supplement presents a “significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury under conditions of use suggested or recommended in the labeling” or in the absence of labeling “under ordinary conditions of use.” Alternatively, the group calls on FDA to declare highly concentrated caffeine an “imminent danger” and to specify limits on the form in which caffeine is sold. CSPI, noting 1 teaspoon of caffeine powder, about 3 grams, is comparable to 25 cups of coffee, points out FDA acknowledged the dangers of powdered caffeine in a consumer warning issued earlier in 2014 (Also see "Caffeine Supplements Need More Marketing Caution, Not Regulation – Trade Groups" - Pink Sheet, 28 Jul, 2014.). The group also reminds FDA that members of Congress have asked for a ban and sales to minors have been banned at the local level by Suffolk County, N.Y.

NCCIH debuts at NIH

The fiscal 2015 federal budget makes it final: the National Institutes of Health agency with responsibility for research on promising health care approaches is the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The center says large surveys show the use of alternative medicine — unproven practices used in place of conventional medicine — is rare, but integrative health care, defined as a comprehensive, often interdisciplinary approach to treatment, prevention and health promotion that brings together complementary and conventional therapies, is more common. Changing the name was proposed in March 2014 and was mandated in the omnibus budget signed Dec. 17 by President Obama, NCCIH said in a same-day statement.

Gravity in Hantain’s orbit

U.K. firm Hantian Labs Ltd. grows its nutriceautical product portfolio by acquiring Canadian business Gravity Nutritionals, which distributes its products including Blue Bull male enhancement supplements to specialty health stores and mass retailers and through online sales. London-based Hantian said Dec. 15 it is conducting a clinical review, reformulation and rebranding of Gravity products in order to meet the standards of the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Hantian, which did not disclose the terms of the deal, said all of its products are developed, tested and manufactured in the U.K.

SDC Nutrition in Costa Rica, Cayman Islands

Powdered sports nutrition product manufacturer SDC Nutrition Inc. expands its Latin American distribution with an initial order of its AboutTime line shipped to 32 GNC stores and PriceMart stores in Costa Rica and with products available in three GNC stores in the Cayman Islands. The Pittsburgh firm in 2014 reached retailers in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain and Venezuela. The firm on Dec. 16 also said the Pittsburgh Business Times named it the fastest growing company in the manufacturing category and fourth fastest growing company overall in Pittsburgh in 2014.

Mannatech in Spain

Multilevel nutritional product firm [Mannatech Inc.] increases to 24 the number of countries it has reached with its launch in Spain. The Coppell, Texas-based firm on Dec. 16 said it launched a website on Dec. 6 to allow Spanish associates and members to order and receive Mannatech products in the country. Mannatech said it is targeting additional European markets for expansion.

Food Advisory Committee nominations

FDA requests nominations for candidates to serve on the agency’s Food Advisory Committee. The 15 voting members of the committee include two identified with consumer interests; two non-voting members identified with industry interests also participate. The members, including the chair, are selected by FDA from among individuals knowledgeable in the fields of food science, microbiology, epidemiology, pediatric immunology, nutrition, food technology, biochemistry and environmental health. Members are invited to serve for overlapping terms of up to 4 years. In a Dec. 8 Federal Register notice, FDA said nominations by Jan. 30, 2015, “will be given first consideration.”