HEALTH

Ten years ago the word probiotics wasn’t known, and five years ago it was a new word to most Americans. But thanks to the marketing of Activia yogurt by Dannon, which started in 2006, these microorganisms have garnered national attention. After Activia took the dairy market by storm, other foods fortified with probiotics, as well as probiotic supplements, followed suit.


BALTIMORE — St. Joseph Aspirin has returned to store shelves with a series of product, packaging and retail enhancements, Ilex Consumer Products Group announced last month.

The new packaging will target baby boomers on a low-dose aspirin regimen, as recommended by doctors, to help lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. The new packaging copy calls out the need for the consumer to engage in an “Aspirin Regimen.”

NEW YORK — Children are hurt more from falls in the home than any other kind of home accident; falls cause more than 3 million childhood injuries every year, according to the Home Safety Council. That was one driver behind the growth in first aid accessories in the summer months — for the 12 weeks ended May 15, sales of overall accessories were up 3.4% to $257.7 million across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart), according to SymphonyIRI Group. Sales of first aid kits across that period were up 15.4% to $5.4 million.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. — ProPhase Labs on Tuesday announced that it received a letter from the NASDAQ Stock Market indicating that the company no longer is in compliance with NASDAQ listing rules because the closing bid price per share of its common stock has dropped below $1 per share for 30 consecutive trading days.

ProPhase will have until Dec. 27 to push its stock price above $1 for a minimum of 10 consecutive trading days to regain compliance or risk being delisted.


The vitamin D category continues to grow. Category leader Nature Made from Pharmavite is on the cusp of launching a host of new products, including a Super D-Complex with magnesium, vitamin D chewable tablets and vitamin D with vitamin C and zinc.


ATLANTA — New graphic cigarette warning labels released last month by the Food and Drug Administration already appear to be having one desired effect: an increase in "quit smoking" queries to the national 1-800-QUIT-NOW smoking cessation line, the Associated Press reported Saturday.

The new labels aren’t even on cigarette packages yet — the labels will be implemented next year.

NEW YORK — The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus earlier this month determined that Rexall Sundown has supported claims regarding the company’s Osteo Bi-Flex glucosamine HCL and vitamin D3 dietary supplement.

IRVINGTON, N.Y. — Prestige Brands recently extended its Luden’s throat drop brand with Luden’s orange supplement drops, a vitamin-enriched product with 100% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C.