Proposed Citrus Oil Limits in Perfumery opposed by The Natural Perfumers Guild and Cropwatch

IFRA proposed citrus oil limits are cultural vandalism on the art of perfumery and are based on bad science, reports NPG and Cropwatch.

MIAMI SHORES, Fla., April 24, 2008 /SOAPWIRE/ -- Cropwatch and the Natural Perfumers Guild have joined to charge The International Fragrance Association with cultural vandalism, claiming the proposed limits to citrus in perfumes will destroy perfumes.

The Natural Perfumers Guild (NPG) and Cropwatch decry the science and proposals of the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) as slanted and overly-restrictive regarding the amounts of furanocoumarins to be permitted in perfume and fragranced products. According to NPG spokesperson Anya McCoy, "We are very disappointed that IFRA have not vigorously defended the use of citrus oil ingredients against pressure from Brussels, specifically the European Union Cosmetics Commission (EUCC)."

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Launch of OASIS The FIRST U.S. ORGANIC standard for the BEAUTY AND personal care industry

Milpitas, CA., March 5, 2008 /SOAPWIRE/ — Today, OASIS, the first organic standard for the US beauty and personal care market, will bring clarity to consumer confusion around organic product claims. The only “industry consensus” standard, it has the support of 30 founding members.

According to Nutrition Business Journal, the organic beauty and personal care industry has been growing rapidly, at 15% for the past 15 years. At the end of 2007, US sales of organic personal care products approached $9 billion representing approximately 15% of the personal care market.

As more and more products claim to be ‘organic’, the potential for consumer confusion also rises. This is compounded by the existence of disparate regulatory seals in the marketplace.

Organic And Sustainable Industry Standards – OASIS - was therefore formed by a group of concerned trade professionals representing the beauty and personal care industry supply chain. It is the first US organic standard for the beauty and personal care industry.

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Blue Ridge Gypsy’s Skin Free® Products Now on cvs.com

Shipman, VA., August 22, 2007 /SOAPWIRE/ -- All products distributed by Blue Ridge Gypsy Studio® are designed and formulated by owner and practicing pharmacist, Julie Hilton, who has over 30 years experience in compounding and natural skin care. “I started the Studio in 2000 when my husband and I moved to the Blue Ridge of Virginia. Our friends were calling us “gypsies”, so the name evolved naturally.” Originally planned as a gift shop, the Studio evolved into a lab for the development of natural skincare.

“Working in a typical retail pharmacy setting, I was constantly frustrated when asked to recommend products for patients with difficult skin problems, especially those with fragrance allergies. I recognized a void in the market and knew that I could offer effective and affordable products to fill it. Atopic dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis are life-long conditions and need to be addressed for the long term. Patients with diabetes or renal disease, pregnant women, babies, the elderly, and patients treated with chemo- and radiation therapy can all benefit from quality natural products. Even people who just have dry, sensitive skin can appreciate wholesome natural skincare.”

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The Green Robin Launches New E-Commerce Web Site Featuring Healthy Organic Home Products

A new e-commerce web site, www.TheGreenRobin.com, has been launched to provide organic home and baby products to interested online consumers. TheGreenRobin.com also offers education and information about organic products, personal care and all natural, healthy living.

Ahseville, NC (SOAPWIRE via PRWEB) May 11, 2007 -- In the Organic Trade Association's (OTA) 2006 Manufacturer Survey the OTA reported that consumer sales of non-food organic products increased by 32.5% in 2005 to reach a total of $744 million. Approximately 38% of these non-food sales ($282 million) were organic personal care products. Organic household products and cleaners generated $19 million, a growth of 29%. Organic fiber for linens and clothing totaled $160 million for growth of 44%. The OTA predicts this trend will continue and as part of this trend The Green Robin, an Asheville-based online retailer of organic household products, has launched a new e-commerce web site: http://www.TheGreenRobin.com. The new web site features luxury organic products for bed, bath, body, baby and home.

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Organic Personal Care Market to Reach £12 million by 2011, Says New Report Available from ReportBuyer.com

LONDON-- May 11, 2007 (SOAPWIRE via BUSINESS WIRE) -- Report Buyer, the online destination for business intelligence for major industry sectors, has now added a new report on the growing demand in the UK for organic personal care products. “Natural Personal Care Consumers: Unlocking Future Potential,” forecasts that the market will increase from £9 million in 2007 to £12 million by 2011.

The organic personal care trend is part of a larger movement in the UK toward more natural ingredients generally in personal care products. Organic and natural personal care products lie at the intersection of health and ethical trends and have benefited greatly from changes in consumer lifestyles in both of these areas. This has led to the emergence of an ever increasing array of organic products on high street shelves.

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Saponifier Magazine Welcomes Tony Burfield to its Editorial Board

Feature & Aromatic Materials Editor

Tony Burfield has now spent 30 years in the aroma trade, mainly working hands-on with essential oils (their production, analysis and applications). After initially qualifying as a food scientist, he returned to academia mid-career to do a further degree in biochemistry, eventually becoming a Chartered Biologist. This was followed by a period of post-doctoral research in the microbiological biotransformation of essential oil components at Cranfield University. Now deeply involved in perfumery, natural perfumery, and with natural aromatic products generally, Tony is an aroma industry consultant, looking after the interests of various essential oil, cosmetic and fragrance clients, from the small to corporate (especially those with “green portfolio” credentials). Tony also writes, lectures and produces educational materials on aromatic topics.

Tony is the author of Natural Aromatic Materials – Odours and Origins (2000) the privately published second edition of which (updated and completely revised) is to be released shortly. Tony is also a co-founder of Cropwatch, the unfinanced Independent Watchdog to the Aromatic Natural Materials trade.

About Saponifier Magazine
Saponifier Magazine is the voice of the handcrafted soap, toiletry and candle industry. Every other month the industry looks to us to provide the information they need to run their businesses - from product formulating, packaging ideas, industry regulations, business marketing to establishing industry connections. www.Saponifier.com

A Wild Soap Bar Offsets Its Carbon Emissions

Manor, TX., February 28, 2007 /SOAPWIRE/ -- A Wild Soap Bar announced today that it offset 100% of its manufacturing and shipping related carbon emissions for 2007 with Carbonfund.org, the country’s leading carbon reduction and offset organization. This important step highlights A Wild Soap Bar’s commitment to be a leader in the handmade soap manufacturing community. “In addition to reducing, recycling, and re-using on a daily basis, we plan to offset all of our carbon emissions each year” says Maggie Hanus, soap bartender and owner of A Wild Soap Bar. “Small businesses like ours can make significant contributions and we’re proud to be part of the solution to global warming.”

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Boycott Called to Halt Adoption of IFRA's 40th Amendment by Cropwatch Gains Momentum

Boycott Called to Halt Adoption of International Fragrance Association’s (IFRA) 40th Amendment by UK-based Watchdog Organization Cropwatch Gains Momentum with Online Poll and Petition. Online poll by Perfumer and Flavorist newsletter P&Fnow shows a landslide for Cropwatch with 85.1% of the vote.

-USA- based Artisan Natural Perfumers Guild joins in effort to Demand Opening the Process Up for Public Input and Review of the Process before thousands of small perfumery and toiletry businesses are adversely affected by restrictive, unfair compliance standards.

MIAMI SHORES, Fla., February 15, 2007 (SOAPWIRE) -- On February 7, 2007, fragrance and flavor trade magazine Perfumer & Flavorist released the results of an online poll showing 85.1% of readers in favor of boycotting proposed fragrance industry guidelines that will heavily limit the use of natural essential oils in perfumes and cosmetics.

Compliance with these guidelines (the IFRA 40th Amendment) requires that listed essential oils and naturally occurring constituents be kept to certain minimal levels in consumer products. At the core of the Amendment are safety issues in regard to skin reactions. The ANPG and Cropwatch fully support sensible safety guidelines to protect the consumer, but do not believe IFRA has proved that many of the essential oils affected present the supposed risk, nor have they allowed input from the impacted concerns, especially small businesses.

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Kenton Athletics - A New Choice In The Underserved Men's Body Care Market

Providence, RI — January 15, 2007 /SOAPWIRE/ — Men are becoming increasingly concerned with health and appearance. This is causing the men’s body care market to grow at rates significantly faster than the female market—yet there are far fewer products available for men. Kenton Athletics is taking advantage of this fast-growing trend with its new line of natural body care products. The company is targeting active and athletic men—a consumer group that frequently purchases health-conscious and natural products.

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Dudur Algae Body Scrub Makes Its North American Debut Introducing Slimming and Anti-Cellulite Body Care

January 14, 2007 /SOAPWIRE/ -- Dudur has announced revolutionary movement in personal care that brings the highly anticipated natural body scrub to improve cellulite and body slimming conditions.

Based on Dudur's ground-breaking natural body care concept Algae Body Scrub is the first personal care product designed to disrupt today's beauty industry by introducing slimming and anti-cellulite personal care products on North American market.

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derma e® Donates To Support National Burn Awareness Week

Simi Valley, CA, (January 3, 2007) /SOAPWIRE/ -- In honor of the upcoming National Burn Awareness Week 2007—observed the first full week in February—derma e® Natural Bodycare has donated four cases of their renowned Scar Gel to local non-profit organization, the Orange County Burn Association (OCBA).

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Makeup Junky Cosmetics- Feed your mineral makeup addiction with a new makeup line specializing in custom blends and custom color design to fit your individual beauty needs

Makeup Junky, created by Mattie Horsley, is a company that knows each woman is unique and no one color, shade, or formula works for all.

Hanscom AFB, MA (Sept 25, 2006) /SOAPWIRE/ -- Mattie Horsley has created a line of products that not only make you look luminous, but feel that way too. With her all natural formulas, The Makeup Junky line helps improve your skin while making you look your best.

During her work for various high end makeup companies, Mattie realized what they lacked–personal and natural choices. She felt the consumers she served were getting lost in the endless choices and trends, which only seemed to result in confusion and frustration. Larger makeup lines also tended to put women into general categories and not see each face as an individual. “The big lines want you to buy into the latest trends and what they think you should wear, not what YOU want or look good in. Most seasonal colors and trends may look beautiful on runway models, but let’s be realistic, the average woman is not going for that look” says Horsley. Makeup Junky knows that women want real colors that bring out their natural beauty and are not discontinued on a seasonal basis.

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Introducing Botanical Facial Cleansers That Help to Improve Skin’s Appearance

Montreal, CANADA., Sept, 22, 2006 /SOAPWIRE/ -- A Natural Perspective (www.anaturalperspective.com) has expended its product offering with the introduction of Rose Milk Facial Cleanser and Chamomile Facial Cleanser - two natural botanical facial cleansers with rich active ingredients and composition that enhances cleansing skin and helps to make the skin look healthier and younger.

Cecilia Ponzi, Managing Director for A Natural Perspective states, “These facial beauty products combines rich plant carrier oils to lift the dirt and soften skin, natural antioxidants, proteins, vitamins, and essential oils to help provide vital nutrients and increase blood circulation to dull, dry skin.

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New Website Features Anti-Aging Lifestyle Products That Help Women “Do It All”

SAN ANSELMO, CALIFORNIA, June 21, 2006 /SOAPWIRE/ -- As baby boomer women, 80 million strong, enter the most vibrant times of their lives, they are concerned about their health, their time-constrained lifestyles, and how to “do it all” without losing themselves and their youth in the process.

Ageless Basics (www.agelessbasics.com), is a newly launched online anti-aging lifestyle products company born out of the challenges faced by its boomer owner, Michelle Webb Sullivan, 45. “It’s hard to look your best and be at the top of your game when you don’t feel well. I was tired all the time, and after seeing many doctors about it, I quickly came to the realization that I had to empower myself by doing my own research and finding natural, healthful solutions to these challenges I faced. I wanted my life back. Most of the doctors I saw simply recommended medication, an alternative that I didn’t consider viable. With the help of several natural products specialists and leading research scientists at the University of Florida and in Oregon, I created my own unique supplements specifically designed to help women achieve a higher quality of life and fight the aging process. In addition, I hope to introduce other natural lifestyle products soon.”

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Woman Owned Natural Cosmetic Company Uses “Mineral Makeup” and “Affordable” Within the Same Sentence

Now, women who love mineral makeup but not the price, have something to cheer about. Sheer Miracle launches premium mineral makeup at a ‘No Frills’ price.

Chandler, AZ., March 8 /SOAPWIRE/ -- Mineral makeup has become one of the hottest trends in the world of beauty, replacing chemical-heavy laden ingredients with pure crushed minerals. But many mineral cosmetic companies have yet to offer affordable products. So when Jane Pitte, owner and creator of Sheer Miracle, LLC, (www.SheerMiracle.com) began developing her own line, she knew that offering her products with a no frills price was going to be high on her list.

We all know the saying “you get what you pay for,” however most women are not aware that they’re paying a premium price for the high-end packaging of their cosmetic products.

“Women will usually pay more for a cosmetic product that is beautifully packaged. However, when their makeup is gone, the jar - along with that fancy label - goes in the garbage!” says Pitte.

‘Cosmetic & Toiletry Containers to 2009’, a recent study from The Freedonia Group, analyzed the $3 billion US cosmetic and toiletry container industry and predicts US sales of cosmetic and toiletry containers will grow 4.7 percent annually through 2009. The study further says the advances will reflect heightened demand for cosmetics and toiletries with appearance-enhancing attributes. Value gains will outpace unit growth based on the importance of packaging as a selling point.

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Just in Time for Spring Break – Kabana Skin Care Announces Completion of FDA Compliant Human SPF Testing for its Green Screen™ Precisely Natural™ SPF 15 Sunscreen

Boulder, CO. March 1. /SOAPWIRE/ -- Kabana Skin Care LLC completed SPF testing of its Green Screen™ ten-ingredient natural sunscreen product according to FDA’s Minimum Erythemal Dose (MED) regulatory monograph. Green Screen™ SPF 15 offers cruelty-free, high SPF, broad spectrum UVA & UVB protection, completely without the use of synthetic carbon-based sunscreens or any other oil-derived sunscreen chemicals that can be absorbed through the skin and do not biodegrade in the environment. Green Screen™ contains only ten easy to understand ingredients, such as shea butter, jojoba oil and natural vitamin E. Nine ingredients are directly produced by living organisms and one is a mineral; all are sourced through fair trade or sustainable practices.

For more information about ingredients, please see:
www.kabanaskincare.com/ingredients.htm

Green Screen™ SPF 15 was designed and developed in Boulder, Colorado by Erik Kreider, MS MBA, a Stanford educated, former dermatology pharmaceutical scientist, in response to the need for a high performance, broad spectrum UVA & UVB, rigorously natural product that completely eliminates carbon-based sunscreen chemicals associated with a variety of health and environmental problems. Common synthetic sunscreens such as avobenzone (Parsol 1789) have been demonstrated to act as estrogen analogs that interfere with normal hormonal function, do not degrade in the environment, and have been observed to upset ecosystems by feminizing male fish and preventing proper reproduction in oceans and fresh-watersheds.

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Florida Lawyer Debuts Blog about Nutritional Supplements and the Law

A new legal weblog devoted to litigation and regulation of dietary and nutritional supplements has launched.

Boca Raton, FL, Nov 7. /SOAPWIRE/ -- Intellectual property and technology attorney Joel B. Rothman of the law firm of Rutherford Mulhall, P.A. has launched a new informational legal weblog devoted to litigation and regulation of dietary and nutritional supplements. The Nutritional and Dietary Supplement Law Blog is at www.nutrisuplaw.com or www.dietsuplaw.com.

This new legal blog or "blawg" contains news and analysis on a wide variety of legal issues facing producers of vitamins, cosmetics, diet pills, herbal remedies, organic products and foods.

"The nutritional and dietary supplement industry is growing rapidly," says Rothman, "and the variety and complexity of legal issues facing makers of innovative wellness products are multiplying. This new weblog will help industry insiders, in-house counsel, and other interested individuals stay abreast of legal developments effecting the supplement market."

The nutritional supplement industry is highly regulated. Several federal agencies provide oversight including the FDA, FTC, and USDA. States are also beginning to regulate supplement labeling and sales. Manufacturers of supplements need to understand the advertising rules including laws restricting claims about safety and efficacy, ingredient labeling, and good manufacturing standards.

State attorneys general and federal authorities have shown a willingness to prosecute deceptive advertising claims for supplements. Consequently, lawyers for dietary supplement makers need up-to-date information on new regulations and litigation effecting the industry.

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Q: What happens when a successful designer becomes a beekeeper? A: Rossape™ honeybee products!

Contact: Marina Marchese
Tel: 203.226.4535
Email:redbeestudio@optonline.net
URL:www.rossape.com

Weston, CT., -- (SOAPWIRE) -- Marina Marchese doesn’t mind that there are sometimes close to 80,000 honeybees buzzing around her backyard. Actually the Weston, CT based designer and illustrator welcomes them, and is responsible for putting them there. It all started with a few drawings of her Red Bee® character for her own collection of greeting cards. After Marina’s Valentine card landed on the pages of Victoria Magazine, Red Bee® took, or rather, buzzed off. “I got emails from around the world to buy my honeybee cards.”

Marina’s first experience with live honeybees was when she was working as a product designer in China; there she met a family of beekeepers with 10 hives parked right in the middle of the road. The Chinese taught me many things about honeybees the holistic uses of honey and bees wax. Marina’s love of pure honey and natural products led her to beekeeping and she hasn’t turned back.

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AB 908 Hearing Held Today

Expert Testimony Highlights Why Legislation to Ban Phthalates Is Unnecessary and Misleading

SACRAMENTO, Calif., -- (SOAPWIRE via PRNewswire) -- The first hearing on Assembly Bill 908 (Chu) is being held today in the Assembly Health Committee. AB 908, introduced earlier this month, proposes to ban two phthalates -- DEHP and DBP -- from cosmetic products manufactured or sold in California.

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Is Your “Natural” Progesterone Cream Made With Fabric Softener?

“Beware of natural products that are cutting corners by using toxic, synthetic chemicals,” says Dr. Loretta Lanphier author of Balancing Your Hormones Without Drugs…You Can Feel Good Again.

According to www.projectcensored.org, in 1997 the #2 censored story was cancer caused by cosmetics and personal care products.

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Artiste Allies with Thailand’s Phurua Natural Oils

DUMONT, New Jersey - (SOAPWIRE) -- Artiste Flavor/Essence, Inc. has announced its strategic alliance with Thailand-based manufacturer Phurua Natural Oils (PNO). The partnership will concentrate on North American marketing and distribution of PNO’s exotic line of premium quality natural oils.

PNO’s products are characterized by their special preparation process, performed at ambient temperature using state-of-the-art technologies, and without the use of high-vacuum, alcohol or hexane. Their proprietary processes retain all of the most fragile and sensitive components of natural essences, many of which are typically lost through traditional refinement methods. PNO’s techniques also yield extraordinary purity, leaving behind the often-undesirable impurities such as waxes and/or resins.

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FDA Extends NDI Comment Period

Silver Spring, MD -(SOAPWIRE) -- The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and other trade associations were informed this morning that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to extend the comment period on its solicitation of information related to FDA's premarket notification program for new dietary ingredients (NDIs). A formal notice to reopen the comment period for 60 days will appear in the Federal Register within the next several days.

FDA published a notice on October 20 to solicit comments on numerous issues related to NDIs and set a 45-day comment period, ending on December 3. AHPA submitted a request in cooperation with four other trade associations to request the extension that has now been granted. Comments will now be due in early February.

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Rooibos – a Trendsetter from South Africa with Proven Antioxidant Activity

Symrise Research has conducted antioxidant efficacy tests of Neo-Extrapone Organic Rooibos and Neo-Extrapone Organic Green Tea discovering that Rooibos is as effective as Green Tea. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated by using three different in-vitro methods: two chemically based radical scavenging tests, the DPPH and ABTS assay, and one cellular test using 3T3 fibroblasts, the DHR assay. Both products showed considerable antioxidant capacity in all of the three assays.

These results establish Rooibos as becoming a new efficient ingredient for cosmetic products that satisfies the growing demands of today’s sophisticated clientele for valuable new natural and organically grown plant materials with proven efficacy. Both extracts are useful cosmetic ingredients for products with protective properties.

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AHPA’s McGuffin in today's USA Today and on local NBC stations tonight

Silver Spring, MD - Nov 19, 2004 (SOAPWIRE) -- AHPA President Michael McGuffin appears in two major media outlets today: a letter to the editor in USA Today and a segment on many NBC affiliate stations in this evening's newscast.

Both appearances were sparked by media interest in safety concerns about dietary supplements and, specifically, bitter orange (Citrus x aurantium), triggered by a recent mini-review published in the September issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine. When the review was published, AHPA challenged its conclusions that warn that bitter orange dietary supplements pose a risk to consumers. Details are in the AHPA Update found on AHPA’s website at http://www.ahpa.org/members/update_04_0902.htm.

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New Avalon Ad Campaign Hoodwinks Consumers about Organic Content; '70 Percent Organic' Claim Counts Added Water from Steam

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (SOAPWIRE via U.S. Newswire) -- On October 19 the Organic Consumers Association's Coming Clean Campaign issued a press release praising Avalon Natural Products for dropping a "70 percent Organic" claim from labels on their shampoo and other products. However, despite promising to phase out their product line with the old label over the next few months, Avalon continues to purchase full page ads in leading natural publications such as Vegetarian Times, Natural Foods Merchandiser and Lotus Light that make misleading "70 percent organic" claims. Avalon had been labeling their products as 70 percent organic by counting non-plant water from the steaming of botanical ingredients (called hydrosols) in their organic claim. Earlier in 2004, the Rutgers Institute released a study of hydrosol water extracts that found that 70 percent or more of the content is ordinary water, which makes up the vast majority of the supposed "organic" content of Avalon's current product line. In a positive response to a nationwide consumer backlash generated by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), an internal Avalon review found that former Avalon management and the supplier of the water extracts in question had been making misleading claims about the organic nature of the regular tap water in their hydrosol water extracts. In a letter sent today to Avalon, OCA said (excerpted from the full letter posted at http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare):

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Mother to Sell Personal Belongings on eBay to Raise Money to be by Her Daughter's Side After Cranial Surgery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WICHITA, KS - (SOAPWIRE)-- In a quest to try and raise money to be by her daughter's side after undergoing cranial surgery, Lisa Atkinson, mother of 4, has setup an auction on eBay to sell some of her personal belongings. "We've recently discovered that Brittany (who will turn 14 in December) is suffering from Arterio Venous Malformation (AVM)" states Lisa. "This came as shocking news to us. AVM is a rare congenital disorder that causes severe headaches, seizures, and weakened blood vessels that hemorrhage. When we discovered Brittany was suffering from AVM, we found that she had hemorrhaging on the brain. This has led us to a terrifying outlook for our little girl" explained Lisa.

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Nature's Baby Launches it's 100% All Natural Shampoo and Conditioner for Babies and Kids

Mother of two develops a 100% all natural, shampoo and conditioner for babies and kids. Nature's Baby is a luxurious product made with organic botanicals and luxurious moisturizers.

Agoura, CA (SOAPWIRE) -- Adena Surabian never figured she’d be looking up chemical compounds on the internet, but that’s exactly what she did when her one-year-old daughter broke out in a mysterious rash all over her body. After trying for days to find the cause of her daughter's blotchy and inflamed skin, Adena sat down at the computer with an armful of products—everything from shampoo and conditioner to sunscreen and baby lotion.

Though she couldn’t even pronounce some of the ingredients on the labels, Adena researched each and every item she regularly put on her daughter with increasing dismay. She discovered that many of the elements in these commonly used products came with biohazard warnings or were listed as potentially harmful in certain conditions.

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California Voters Pass Proposition 64

SILVER SPRING, MD - (SOAPWIRE) -- It may be too early to determine the effect of yesterday’s national election on the herbal products and dietary supplement industry, but, according to media reports in California, voters in that state passed an initiative called Proposition 64, a result that will provide some relief to companies that do business in California.

The official title of Proposition 64 is “Limits on Private Enforcement of Unfair Business Competition Laws,” but it came to be known by its supporters as the “Stop Shakedown Lawsuits Initiative.” Both the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle report this morning that the initiative has passed, and the Times estimated a 58% approval rate. California’s Secretary of State has not posted official results as of the time of this AHPA Update.

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AHPA Herbal Cleanliness Tele-Seminar Set for November 4

(Silver Spring, MD) -- The deadline to register for the American Herbal Products Association Tele-Seminar on herbal cleanliness is drawing near.

The first seminar, held October 21, was a huge success. A few openings remain for the second session, scheduled for November 4.

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MotherNature.com Becomes First Online Retailer to be Awarded USDA Organic Certification

Consumers Guaranteed Organic Integrity of Nutritional Supplements & Personal Care Products

NEW YORK--(SOAPWIRE via BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 14, 2004-- MotherNature.com, a leading natural health & beauty retailer, became the first internet-based retailer to receive third party Organic Certification in accordance with the USDA's National Organic Program. Online shoppers, as a result, can now easily find and confidently buy certified organic products, knowing that the integrity and purity of each organic product is guaranteed throughout its full lifecycle - from concept to consumer.

Organic Nutrition Is Much More Than Produce

Most people associate 'organic' with luscious produce, but the benefits of 'organic' may apply even more to other categories such as nutritional supplements and personal care products. The surge in popularity of organic nutrition in all its forms (including nutritional supplements, health bars, snacks, chocolate, coffees, teas, and spices made with pesticide-free ingredients) is not at all surprising. The market for 100% certified organic products has grown by 21% in the past year and that growth is expected to continue as more consumers seek out foods, supplements and personal care products they believe to be healthier than their mainstream counterparts.

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Choice Organic Teas Wins Governor’s Award

Seattle, WA October 14, 2004 – (SOAPWIRE) -- Washington State Governor, Gary Locke, honors Choice Organic Teas/Granum, Inc. as a winner of the 2004 Washington State Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices. This prestigious award acknowledges outstanding accomplishments in key areas such as, minimizing energy use, conserving resources, shifting to non-toxic, recycled and remanufactured materials, and reducing or eliminating waste. Granum, Inc., makers of Choice Organic Teas, left a lasting impression on a reviewer from Washington State’s Department of Ecology who said, “This is the most thorough, thoughtful committed business that I can remember visiting. Everything we asked about – everything – they’d already thought about and had an answer for, a solution.”

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Fruit Meets Floral as Tvål Launches New Scent

Contact:
Anna Hellqvist
Tvål
709-739-7393
anna@rustic-handmade-soap.com
www.rustic-handmade-soap.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

St. John's, Newfoundland - Oct 9, 2004 - (SOAPWIRE) - Find fruity scents too sweet? Are florals boring? Not when you mix the two! In the new scent launched by Tvål, juicy sweet apricots flirt with a light floral freesia. An attempt to hold on to summer? You bet!

This new scent is part of Tvål's original line, with matching scents in Soaps, Body Butters, Bath Crystals and Aroma Mists. This is scent number nine in that line, a line with a rustic and botanical feel to it. Says manager Anna Hellqvist, "When we introduced this scent as a limited edition soap, we couldn't keep it in stock. That gave us a hint that maybe this was a keeper".

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Technology Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. Announces Receipt of New Purchase Order from The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.

AMITYVILLE, N.Y.--(SOAPWIRE via BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 8, 2004--Technology Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. (AMEX:TFF) announced today that it had been awarded a new purchase order from The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. for TFF's new natural vanilla flavor. TFF's new natural vanilla flavor was originally developed specifically for Hain Celestial. The successful introduction of our new natural vanilla flavor could significantly expand Hain Celestial's business with TFF.

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AHPA to NOSB: Support “Organic” Labeling for Supplements

For Immediate Release

October 8, 2004 -- (SOAPWIRE) -- AHPA has appealed to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to recognize, and to communicate to the staff of USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP), that dietary supplements that contain organically produced ingredients may be labeled as “organic” in conformity with the NOP. This request was made in the form of a correspondence dated October 6 and emailed to members of NOSB’s Policy Development Committee. In addition, an AHPA representative will provide testimony to the full NOSB at a meeting in Washington, DC, next week.

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Natural Skin Care with Hawaiian Flare: Marley’s Own of Hawaii Launches New Product Line

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Honolulu, HI - September 15, 2004 - (SoapWire) -- "The epitome of Hawaii are the products that take you back to the islands," says Marley’s Own founder, Andrea Kane. "The exotic smells, the ocean breeze and the everlasting spirit of Aloha. Our new line offers scents and fragrances that you can’t buy at your corner store or even at the popular bath and body retail stores. We offer you Paradise."

Marley’s Own of Hawaii is a natural skin care-company based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The product line ranges from thick body butters, rich body creams, all-natural face care, body scrubs and soy wax candles. After a site re-design and product revision, Marley’s Own has become very popular in Hawaii and hopes to bring the spirit of Aloha to the mainland.

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Head Lice - Smothering vs Lice Treatment Shampoos

Eugene, OR - (SoapWire via PRWeb) September 13, 2004 -- News of a new head lice treatment which relies on applying a substance for eight hours and smothers head lice has been generating excitement. However, the effectiveness and desirability of smothering lice has been studied in the past with poor results.

Reports of parents using mayonnaise and olive oil to treat head lice intrigued Terri Meinking while she was a professor at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology. Meinking, who is one of the world's leading experts on head lice treatments, decided to organize a community-based investigative program to test the validity of these home remedies and compare them to drug store brands.

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Vermont Soapworks Announces New Shea Butter Ingredient Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michael LeBel, 207-563-7695
mic@planetfriendlypr.com

Handcrafted Shea Butter Program Supports Sustainable Development for Women in West Africa

Middlebury, Vermont – (SoapWire) September 9, 2004 - During a volunteer mission in West Africa, Vermont Soapworks’ founder Larry Plesent, discovered a remarkable handcrafted shea butter – the best that he had ever felt on his skin. Now, he is partnering with tribal craftswomen to import this moisturizing and healing ingredient to North American personal care manufacturers.

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New Organic Ingredient From Rice Bran Extract

St. Louis, MO - (SoapWire) September 3, 2004 -- RIBUS®, Inc announces expansion of their patented, rice-based ingredients to include Certified Organic, NOP compliant and OMRI brand list categories.

These Rice Bran Extract ingredients are marketed under the brand names Nu-Bake®, Nu-Rice® and Oryza-Mul™. The unique, specialty ingredients offer companies potential for a high quality ingredient deck while providing improved manufacturing efficiency, productivity and profitability. Additionally, product performance and consistency are measurably enhanced. Applications include leading edge uses in food: emulsifier, lecithin replacer, extrusion aide, bakery conditioner and to naturally extend shelf life. Oryza-Mul™ is used as a hypoallergenic emollient and emulsifier in personal care and cosmetic products.

RIBUS®, Inc. has marketed their patented products since 1992, in the U.S. and worldwide.

For More Information Contact:
Staci Marshall
RIBUS®, Inc
Telephone: 314-727-4287

Sales: kathy@ribus.com www.ribus.com

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AHPA Tele-Seminar to Focus upon Herbal Cleanliness

SILVER SPRING, MD (SoapWire) AUGUST 30, 2004 — Natural product manufacturers — caught between pending federal Good Manufacturing Practices and California’s Proposition 65 — need to produce clean and safe products, and keep costs in check. Even organic raw materials face issues of microbial load and heavy metal uptake from the soil.

To help the herbal products industry ensure product quality, the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), will present a Tele-Seminar about establishing processes to care for and control raw materials from the field to order fulfillment. The AHPA Tele-Seminar will draw upon the practical legal and manufacturing expertise of AHPA staff and member companies, to outline current standards and identify inspection and testing options for microbial cleanliness, heavy metal levels, pesticides, and organic products.

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USDA Sued Over Secrecy of Organic Agriculture Records

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Agency Refuses To Provide Documentation on Those It Has Allowed to Certify Organic Food

Washington, DC - In order to address the growing threat to the integrity of national organic food standards, the Center for Food Safety (CFS) today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in U.S. District Court. The lawsuit seeks release of documents detailing the qualifications and background of the organic food certifiers that it allows to participate in the national organic food program.

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Choice Organic Teas Celebrates Anniversary

Seattle, WA - (SoapWire) - August 15, 2004 – America’s first exclusively organic tea line, Choice Organic Teas, commemorates 15 years of creating exceptional tasting teas and satisfying consumer demand while strengthening sustainable agricultural practices.

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High Time to Label Fragrance Allergens

CHICAGO, Aug. 6 -- (SoapWire via PRNewswire) -- The following statement is issued by Samuel S. Epstein, M.D., professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health; Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition:

On July 20, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2003," requiring explicit labeling of eight major allergens in food products. This will make life much safer for about 11 million Americans with food allergies. But why has no such action yet been taken to protect more than twice the number of Americans who develop allergies from unlabeled allergens in fragranced products?

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Paraben-Free Products From Botanical Skin Works

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Sharon Kinnier
Botanical Skin Works, Inc.
410.675.2006
410.675.5104 (fax)
sharon@botanicalworks.com

BALTIMORE, MD - July 31, 2004 - (SoapWire) -- Botanical Skin Works (BSW) (http://www.botanicalworks.com), a natural products company offers 100% paraben free products. Each product is handcrafted in small batches using floral extracts, cold pressed oils, butters and 100% Pure Essential Oils. Botanical Skin Works' products contain no synthetic fragrances or petrochemicals and are preserved naturally. The only animal by product used in our line is beeswax, with human only testing performed.

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'Be Cruelty-Free' at the Democratic National Convention; NEAVS Promotes Compassionate Living Among Delegates

Contact: Jennifer Campbell
New England Anti-Vivisection Society
Phone: 617-523-6020 or 617-413-0611 (cell)

BOSTON, July 23 - (SoapWire via U.S. Newswire) -- The New England Anti- Vivisection Society (NEAVS) will hand out Cruelty-Free Living Kits during the Democratic National Convention (Boston, MA, July 26-29) to educate and inspire delegates about humane lifestyle choices, such as eating vegetarian foods and buying household and personal care products not tested on animals.

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Monave Mineral Cosmetics announces their Bulk Mineral Cosmetics Line is now available online

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BALTIMORE, MD. - July 23, 2004 - (SoapWire) -- Monave Mineral Cosmetics (http://www.monave.com), the only source for carmine and dye free mineral makeup on the web, is proud to announce the availability of their online Bulk Mineral Cosmetics.

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Native Newfoundland Berry Turns Up in Soap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Anna Hellqvist
Tvål
709-739-7393
anna@rustic-handmade-soap.com
www.rustic-handmade-soap.com

St. John's, Newfoundland - July 2004 – (SoapWire) -- You usually find them in jam, but now these little red Newfoundland berries also appear in soap. At Tvål, a local soap shop, you'll find 5 pound soap cakes made with wild Newfoundland Partridgeberries.

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Cinnamon Oil Kills Mosquitoes

Contact: Michael Bernstein
m_bernstein@acs.org
202-872-6042
American Chemical Society

NOTE FOR REPORTERS: The statement in our original news release (distributed 7-15) that cinnamon oil can "kill mosquito larvae more effectively than DEET" is misleading since we neglected to point out that DEET is most commonly used in insect repellants, not as a larvicide. We apologize for not making this clear. Please disregard the previous version of this news release and use the following version.

July 16, 2004 -- Cinnamon oil shows promise as a great-smelling, environmentally friendly pesticide, with the ability to kill mosquito larvae, according to a new study published in the July 14 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society.

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New Alliance Forms to Defend CA Campaigns to Ban GE-Crops

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Ryan Zinn, Organic Consumers Association, 415-271-6833
Email: ryan@organicconsumers.org
Doug Mosel, GMO-Free Mendocino, 707-485-6672 or 707-391-6368
Email: dmosel@igc.org

July 13, 2004 – (SoapWire) -- As more than a dozen California counties launch campaigns to ban the growing of genetically altered crops, a new alliance was announced today to battle the rising threat from the biotech industry.

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Decas Botanical Synergies Introduces NutriCran-ORGANIC Organic Spray-Dried Cranberry Concentrate Powder

LAS VEGAS and WAREHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 2004-- Leading Supplier of Cranberry-Based Specialty Ingredients Further Expands Product Line and Exclusive Distributorship with P.L. Thomas and Company

Decas Botanical Synergies (DBS), a division of Decas Cranberry Products, Inc., today introduced NutriCran-ORGANIC(TM), an organic spray-dried cranberry concentrate powder made from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) certified cranberry concentrate.

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Terra Firma Introduces a New Natural Deodorant Line That Responds to Consumer Demands With Value-Added Ingredients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FloralActives NATURAL DEODORANTS with Olive Extract offers long-lasting underarm protection. Plus, an array of sophisticated new scent formulas responds to consumer’s demands in wanting refreshingly different deodorant scents.

Montreal (Canada), June 21, 2004 – (SoapWire) -- Terra Firma, a company dedicated to natural skin care products has introduced its new FloralActives Natural Deodorants. FloralActives Natural Deodorants has responded to the evolving consumer preference for a personal deodorant fragrance experience without the harsh chemicals usually associated with traditional underarm cosmetics.

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Where Have All the Healers Gone?

NIAGARA FALLS, NY. - July 12, 2004 (SoapWire) -- What would cause well-educated, mainstream Americans to flock to alternative web sites, health food stores and nontraditional practitioners in numbers not seen since the 60's?

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Leading Online Newswire Service SoapWire Launches Targeted Press Release Distribution Service for the Natural Products Industry

SoapWire Expands Service with its Natural News Media Division

SILVANA, WA. – July 12, 2004 – SoapWire (http://www.soap-wire.com), a leading online newswire service, announced today that its Natural News Media division, has been launched to provide companies within the natural products industry a further reach in delivering their press release articles to the media.

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Rakesh Amin Speaks at NNFA in Las Vegas on July 16

For Immediate Release

For More Information Contact:
Sheldon Baker, Baker Dillon Group
Amin Law
Telephone: (559) 325-7191

(Chicago, IL) – Rakesh Amin, principal of Amin Law, a Chicago-based law firm providing legal counsel for FDA, USDA, Customs and related regulatory matters, will speak on the topic of What Can You Say About the Products You Sell? at the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) annual natural products convention and tradeshow in Las Vegas on Friday July 16th.

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New Cranberol(TM) Cranberry Seed Oil Extracts Offer Formulators Diverse Benefits

Eustis, Florida (June 29, 2004)—U.S. Nutra®, a leading manufacturer of high quality supercritical fluid extracts for the cosmeceutical, dietary supplement and functional food industries, is pleased to announce the availability of two new oil based proprietary ingredients manufactured from pure cranberry seeds.