Natural Products Expo West In Brief

Centrum Cardio: Wyeth's Centrum Cardiowith Cargill's CoroWise branded plant sterols (800 mg) is expected to launch in late fall or early spring, according to Cargill. The product currently is being test-marketed, the firm stated during the Expo West trade show in Anaheim, Calif. March 24-26. Centrum Cardio carries the claim "lowers cholesterol" and the tagline, "Good for your heart. Good for the rest of you," on the product's 1website. CoroWise is used in Nature Valley's Heart Healthy Chewy Granola Bars (General Mills), Rice Dream Heartwise (Hain Celestial Group) and GNC's Heart Advance dietary supplement. The sterol has been used in Coca-Cola's Minute Maid Heart Wise juice since 2003, the year FDA issued a final rule authorizing the use of a phytosterol/CHD health claim (2"The Tan Sheet" Feb. 24, 2003, p. 4). Separately, Cargill announced the European Commission's decision to approve the firm's acquisition of Degussa's food ingredients operations. The acquisition "will significantly strengthen Cargill's portfolio of texturant ingredients and systems, emulsifiers, flavoring and health promoting ingredients," the firm stated in a March 29 release...