Design Studio17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDTNPA Natural News Update (NPA 1)http://multibriefs.com/briefs/NPA/NPA.xmlenThe Natural Products Association (NPA) is experiencing major growth in natural products retail membership. More than 75 retailers have joined NPA in just the past two months. NPA serves as the leading trade association for retailers in the natural products industry, ranging from small independent retailers to some of the largest chains in the country. Retailers can make business-to-business connections and learn how Congressional and regulatory activity affects their business at <a href="http://www.npainfo.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=Retailer%20Landing%20Page">www.NPAinfo.org/retailers</a>.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb2c1946cbd41In just four short weeks, retailers will connect with manufacturers; experts will connect their knowledge with novices; brokers and distributors will connect their clients with customers; and nearly 5,000 industry members will connect with a celebration of the values and initiatives that the NPA has helped to define and defend over more than 75 years. There is still time to <a href="http://npamarketplace.com/nm12/Public/Content.aspx?ID=1020175&sortMenu=102000">register</a>, please join us! NPA MarketPlace 2012 will be held June 14-16 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center/The Venetian Resort Hotel. To learn more about attending and badge registration, visit <a href="http://www.npamarketplace.com/nm12/Public/enter.aspx">www.NPAMarketPlace.com</a> (use code ENPA to register). Qualified retail buyers receive complimentary badge registration and NPA members receive special member pricing on exhibit space.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb2d26c60db92The 112th Congress has shown an increased interest in the regulation of the cosmetic industry. Currently, three cosmetics bills have been introduced: <ul> <li> Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 (HR 2359) — Introduced on June 24, 2011 </li><li> Cosmetics Safety Enhancement Act of 2012 (HR 4262) — Introduced on March 26, 2012 </li><li> Cosmetic Safety Amendments Act of 2012 (HR 4395) — Introduced on April 18, 2012 </li></ul> Both the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011 and the Cosmetics Safety Enhancement Act of 2012 include provisions that would impose registration fees on cosmetics facilities. Initially, there were discussions that fees related to cosmetics would be included in the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) that is set to be approved later this year, but the NPA has been informed that this will not be the case. Instead, each of the bills will be considered separately. NPA will remain engaged on this issue and will continue to work with the committees of jurisdiction and their staff. Get updates on this and other legislative issues by joining NPA at <a href="http://www.npainfo.org/Join">www.NPAinfo.org/Join</a>.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb3ae08955d43The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced a series of prevention-based food safety policy measures, including a final rule designed to make FSIS aware of adulterated or misbranded food in the supply chain that is similar to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Reportable Food Registry; a proposed rule for earlier, more expansive traceback for E. coli; and a draft guidance on validating HACCP systems.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb2dfd5686924Colorado Rep. Jared Polis wants Congress to crack down on the greasy, cheesy "vegetable" that he says has become an unhealthy staple of too many school lunches — pizza. Polis unleashed a new piece of legislation he is calling the SLICE Act, which would enact tougher nutritional standards to the pizza served in lunch rooms across the country and declassify unhealthy versions of the popular lunch that he says are currently listed as vegetables. 17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb3a78f6615e5In the aftermath of staggering casualties suffered during the bloody Union victory at Shiloh, federal armies were advancing cautiously on the critical Confederate rail center of Corinth, Miss., on May 15, 1862. On the same day in Washington, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation creating a Department of Agriculture. The USDA's birth 150 years ago in the midst of the Civil War was part of an enormous expansion of the federal government during the conflict, one that reflected both a response to the great national crisis and a determination by Lincoln to forge ahead with the business of the nation despite the war.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb3ace587a586Vitamin K2 may help treat Parkinson's disease, researchers in Belgium said. Neuroscientist Patrik Verstreken of the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, in collaboration with colleagues from Northern Illinois University, reported success in using vitamin K2 to undo the effect of one of the genetic defects that leads to Parkinson's. 17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb2d44d066137Soybeans soaking in warm water could become a new "green" source for production of a cancer-fighting substance now manufactured in a complicated and time-consuming industrial process, scientists are reporting in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb2d563ec6e98Daily supplements of vitamin E may protect cells from the detrimental effects of oxidative stress in healthy middle-aged to elderly people, says a new study from China.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb2d7480732b9Quercetin, a compound found in fruit and vegetables, may protect against the detrimental effects of a high fat diet, including the build-up of abdominal fat, suggests a new study with rats.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb2d6868762d10More educated people who make more money have lower rates of several chronic diseases, including obesity, compared to people with lower education and income levels, according to Health, United States, 2011, a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fa1951ad8ee511With natural personal care sales expected to top 9 billion in 2012, retailers have an opportunity to ride the wave of this growing category. NPA MarketPlace speakers share cutting-edge science and ingredient trends for natural retailers.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb2d2d84810912Remember the old days (three years ago), when you could pay for a Yellow Page ad and call it done? People who were referred to your business or looking for what you were selling or offering could find you in the Yellow Pages. It's very different online.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb3a4e036c1713A U.S. group is working with restaurants to help consumers wade through the trans fats and giant portion sizes in search of healthy alternatives. The United States Healthful Food Council is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization being developed by technology executive Lawrence Williams to help people make informed choices about where to spend their dining dollars.17 May 2012 10:32:01 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb3a607a3e0114