Six National Football League (NFL) players were suspended for the final four games of the regular season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The players—Pat Williams and Kevin Williams of the Minnesota Vikings; Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the New Orleans Saints; and Bryan Pittman of the Houston Texans—tested positive for diuretics, which can serve as masking agents for steroids.

The players will be eligible to return to action if their teams make the playoffs. A seventh player, Grady Jackson of Atlanta, was not suspended even though he initially tested positive for a diuretic. The league is gathering more information about Jackson.

At least some of the players took an over-the-counter weight-loss supplement, marketed under the name StarCaps, that contained the banned diuretic bumetanide, which did not appear on the product’s label.

But the lawyer for the three Saints players, David Cornwell, contended that the NFL did not disclose specific information about StarCaps, and that the three players would seek further action. The most likely option is for the players to seek an injunction that would allow them to continue to play. But if the suspensions are delayed and the NFL’s decision is upheld, the players would have to serve their bans during postseason games, if their teams qualify.

Designer Whey® (Carlsbad, CA) is joining forces with NBC’s weight loss program The Biggest Loser to create a co-branded protein product, The Biggest Loser Protein, which is currently available in stores and online. The Biggest Loser Protein has been developed through a licensing agreement with NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group.

Contestants of The Biggest Loser season seven will use the cross-branded Designer Whey and The Biggest Loser Protein in their quest for better health on the show, and after. The Biggest Loser Protein is available in four flavors: Blue Blueberry, Red Raspberry, Chocolate Deluxe and Vanilla Bean and is also available in single serving packets.

For more information, call (760) 431-8152 or visit www.designerwhey.com.

This past month, the FDA and FTC brought charges against five natural product companies, alleging that these companies have made improper claims about their natural dietary supplements not just on their labels, but in website testimonials. 
 
These two testimonial cases involve Rhode Island-based Daniel Chapter One and New Mexico-based Native Essence Herb Company. The FDA and FTC are seeking hefty fines and other sanctions in part because these companies posted letters from satisfied customers on their websites. None of the customers claim outright to have been cured by the products, although the customers did share their personal experience of medical conditions that objectively disappeared after use of the products. 
 
Citizens For Health Chairman of the Board Jim Turner, who represents Daniel Chapter One, maintains that the FDA and FTC motion against his client "fails to distinguish between cynical con men who intentionally cheat vulnerable people, and persons of conviction who work diligently to comply with the law in their effort to help people." 

“We counter that those consumers have free speech and a right to share their stories, and that we have the right to share information,” said Tricia Feijo, owner of Daniel Chapter One. “We are fighting to protect all Americans' rights in this issue, which include access to information and choice. We are planning a rally in Washington DC the week of April 23, 2009 to promote the Health Freedom Protection Act (H.R. 2117), the necessity of which is underscored by our case and others like it.”

National Enzyme Company (Forsyth, MO) recently observed a milestone, marking one year without a recordable illness or injury.

To celebrate this landmark, employees were treated to a day off, complete with breakfast at Golden Corral and tickets to Silver Dollar City, a local amusement park.

NEC has been a VPP Star site since 2001 and recently experienced a 70 percent reduction in days away from work, restriction from job duties or transfer to another duty because of injury on the job.

“Every employee recognizes that safety is an integral part of the company; and clearly it is that recognition and acceptance of responsibility that has shown NEC to be a leader in safety both locally and nationally,” said Carol Schwartzkopf, safety manager.

For more information, call (800) 825-8545 or visit www.nationalenzyme.com.

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) urged President-elect Barack Obama to consider its recommendations for the most qualified and committed candidates for Secretary and Undersecretaries of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). These recommendations were contained in a letter sent to the President-elect December 3, 2008. According to CFS, the Bush Administration has a history of undermining food safety agencies and promoting big agriculture at the expense of mid-sized and small family farmers, and as a result, CFS contends that substantial changes are needed to turn around the USDA and that such change must begin at the top levels of the agency.
 
CFS recommends the following candidates for the post of USDA Secretary and Undersecretaries:
 
Tom Buis, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), who has ushered in policies very much in line with the President-elect’s platform on rural issues; Dr. John Boyd, founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, who is a fourth-generation farmer and a civil rights leader; Kathleen Merrigan, PhD, director of the agriculture, food and environment program at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and a former representative on the National Organic Standards Board; Mark Ritchie, Minnesota Secretary of State; Tim LaSalle, CEO of Rodale Institute; Jim Riddle, coordinator for organic outreach at the University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center.

CFS opposes the appointment of Former Texas congressman and “Big Ag” lobbyist Charles Stenholm, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff and Representative Collin Peterson, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

Traditional Medicinals® (Sebastopol, CA) has completed construction of its solar powered tea factory—the largest yet, according to the company.

Partnering with Akeena Solar and with funding from Comerica Bank, Traditional Medicinals has installed 1,450 solar panels to power its 70,000 square foot tea factory and headquarters. According to the company, Traditional Medicinals has offset 100 percent of its electricity usage with wind credits in the past, and this new solar installation will improve upon its environmental objectives, generating 430,000-kilowatt hours per year of clean, renewable energy.

Additionally, the company’s 8.5-acre facility is nearly self-sustained with its own water source and purification system, a wastewater disposal system, a large stocked fishpond for fire suppression and dense, native, drought-resistant landscaping.

For more information, call (800) 543-4372 or visit www.traditionalmedicinals.com.