PASCOE is inviting you to a trip to Germany, which will include a tour to PASCOE’s head office, seminars and a number of leisure activities. The trip will take place through May 21 to May 26.
Spots are very limited.
More information here.
Whole Foods Market to open 5 additional ‘365’ stores
Whole Foods Market has signed five new leases for the company’s 365 by Whole Foods Market chain, which are smaller, lower-priced stores compared to the much larger Whole Foods Market locations.
John Mackey, co-CEO and co-founder of Whole Foods Market calls the new chain “the future of where Whole Foods Market will be evolving”.
The Whole Foods CEO told investors in an earnings call that “Whole Foods Market is undergoing a very fundamental transformation. Some of it is beginning to show up, but we’ll see more of it in the next few quarters.”
Whole Foods will open its first store in Los Angeles in a little over four months. Other 365 by Whole Foods Market locations are scheduled to open in Texas, Oregon, California, among others. No locations have been scheduled to open in Canada as of yet. The company expects to have 10 stores open for business before October 2017.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Europe
It is a striking fact that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is now used by every other citizen of the European Union (EU) because more people are seeking natural and more gentle treatments, increasingly supporting integration of CAM within existing healthcare systems. This increased demand seems to create a favourable position for CAM within this area. However, because Europe as a whole—and even the EU in particular—cannot be viewed as a homogeneous structure, CAM practice and its application is different across the continent.
The main cause of this difference lies in the fact that social and health-related topics are excluded from the so-called “Maastricht Treaty,” which seeks to unite the EU legislations. Therefore, we face a huge diversity in regulation across the EU with regards to who can practise CAM, what qualifications are required and how the services are offered and financed. For instance, in Austria, France, Spain and Italy, only medical doctors can practise acupuncture while in the Netherlands, Germany and the UK, it is widely performed by non-medically qualified practitioners. This “patchy” provision means that EU citizens experience certain barriers that limit their access to CAM.
The European Union DG Research funded the CAMbrella Project (2010 – 2012), a 3-year European survey aimed at reviewing the CAM provision in Europe in order to come forward with recommendations as to its viability and place within the established healthcare system. Findings of the CAMbrella Project were published online in April 2013 under the “CAMbrella-Roadmap.” This document presents the findings of the eight work packages of this project, which include different legal situations related to the industry, applications of CAM throughout the EU as well as European citizens’ expectations regarding CAM. Below, are some main findings of the CAMbella project.
Definition of CAM
In recent years, several definitions of CAM have been suggested, which vary both geographically and contextually. The CAMbrella Project defined CAM in Europe as follows: “CAM, as utilized by European citizens, represents a variety of different medical systems and therapies based on the knowledge, skills and practices derived from theories, philosophies and experiences used to maintain and improve health as well as to prevent, diagnose, relieve or treat physical and mental illnesses. CAM therapies are mainly used outside of the conventional health care, but in many countries, some therapies are being adopted by or adapted to conventional health care .”
Number of practitioners
Approximately 145,000 doctors, dually trained in both conventional medicine and a particular CAM modality, practise CAM in the EU. Additionally, around 160,000 trained CAM practitioners (with or without a statutory regulation) practise various CAM modalities. This means that there are about 65 CAM providers (30 dually-trained doctors and 35 CAM practitioners) per 100,000 people compared to some 475,000 general practitioners (GPs) working in the EU, which accounts for about 95 GPs per 100,000 EU citizens.
CAM products in the EU
Unharmonized and onerous EU requirements and national regulations have been increasingly limiting the availability of CAM products, such as homeopathic, anthroposophic, herbal and Asian therapeutics. This is leading to both prohibitive costs for manufacturers and the effective removal of traditional medicines from the market altogether. Limited availability of these products thwarts the European citizens’ growing demand for more natural, health-enhancing and low-risk medicinal products and food supplements, driving people to purchase unregulated and inherently dangerous products over the Internet.
CAM research
European research on CAM is limited as no significant investments have been made by any EU Member State towards this cause. A low level of public investment in CAM research in Europe stands in stark contrast to that in Australia, Asia and North America. Unfortunately, an attempt to get a new CAM-related research project into Horizon 2020, the biggest EU Research and Innovation program, as well as researchers’ attempts to apply for CAM-related projects funding were unsuccessful.
Integrated healthcare
“Integrated healthcare” is a relatively new term that describes the CAM-and-biomedicine (conventional medicine) combination. It emphasizes a collaborative approach to patient care of conventional, complementary and alternative healthcare practitioners. In the U.S., this amalgamation of CAM and conventional medicine is known as integrative medicine.
CAM delivery to the EU citizens
Over the years, many different models of CAM delivery have been developed. These models include a single doctor or practitioner operating out of a private practice or multi-disciplinary CAM clinics with joint approaches to patient care with cross-referrals. Another model is CAM doctors and practitioners working collaboratively in conventional healthcare settings, such as GP and specialist practices, and university- or hospital-based in-patient and out-patient clinics. CAM has also been increasingly practised by European dentists and veterinarians.
The main CAM modalities that European practitioners utilize are acupuncture, anthroposophic medicine, ayurvedic medicine, herbal medicine/phytotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic and traditional Chinese or Tibetan medicine, aromatherapy, kinesiology, massage, reflexology, shiatsu, yoga and qigong.
CAM training and education
European CAM training is designed and delivered by non-profit associations and institutions, and by private teaching or training centres for each CAM modality. However, in some member states, CAM therapies are now taught at universities at a Bachelor’s degree level. Curriculum content, knowledge and skill levels as well as examination procedures are generally overseen by individual professional bodies of each CAM modality, which are based on defined standards of training and particular systems of accreditation, registration and on-going CPD/CME of CAM health professionals. Currently, there is no common European legal framework for CAM modalities training.
As mentioned above, CAM training and education for medical doctors is mostly provided through non-profit associations and privately run schools and courses, but also at a number of European universities as postgraduate training courses. Professorial chairs of CAM exist in at least eight EU member states and in some of them, there are also chairs in a specific CAM modality. Familiarization courses in CAM modalities are included in the medical undergraduate curricula of most EU member states—optional in most countries and obligatory in some.
EUROCAM
EUROCAM was founded a few years ago in response to the CAM situation in Europe. The organization is a network of European CAM patient organizations, medical doctors practising CAM and trained CAM practitioners.
The objective of EUROCAM is to promote and facilitate CAM’s role in maintaining the EU citizens’ health; emphasize the importance of including the health promotion and illness prevention aspects of CAM in the EU public health policy and programs; advance the accessibility, affordability and availability of CAM; and generally promote CAM at the European level.
For more information, visit www.cam-europe.eu.
EUROCAM unites European umbrella organizations of patients, doctors and practitioners with different backgrounds in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), offering them democratic membership and decision-making structures and procedures. The main aim of EUROCAM is to achieve a significant political presence within the European Union (EU) so as to influence the European Commission, European Parliament and the Member States to support and provide the means for CAM integration into European healthcare systems as well as to fund research into its benefits and cost effectiveness. This collaboration recognizes the EU institutions’ wish to deal with the CAM sector as a whole.
IHP’s exclusive interview with Dr. Peter Fisher
On Friday, February 5, IHP Magazine was honoured to have an exclusive interview with Dr. Peter Fisher.
Dr. Peter Fisher, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.F.Hom., is clinical director of research and consultant physician to the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine as well as physician to HM Queen Elizabeth II. He is a member of the World Health Organization Expert Advisory Panel on Traditional and Complementary Medicine and a Member of the Advisory and Editorial Board, Cochrane Collaboration Complementary and Alternative Medicine Field. A Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London, Dr. Fisher is accredited as a specialist in both homeopathy and rheumatology.
The interview with Dr. Fisher that took place at Renaissance Hotel Downtown in Toronto was focused on homeopathy and its integration into conventional medical systems.
“The whole point of integration is to combine the best of both worlds,” says Dr. Fisher. “The benefits are that it [homeopathy] can treat the symptoms that are difficult to treat otherwise and most importantly, that it can reduce the burden of the vastly used drugs that are being prescribed.”
Some of the other topics discussed during the interview included the therapeutic values and limits of homeopathic medicines, challenges the homeopathic medicine is facing today and how the perception of homeopathy has been changing throughout the years.
Look for the full article in the upcoming issue of IHP.
ACE Bakery receives “Non-GMO Project Verified” seal
ACE Bakery, Canada’s artisan bakery, has attained Non-GMO Project Verification for their lineup of full-size baguettes. ACE Baguettes bearing the Non-GMO Project Verified seal will appear across Canada starting in early February 2016.
The verification, awarded by The Non-GMO Project, indicates that the ACE Bakery has completed the process of confirming that the five ingredients in the ACE Baguette are not sourced from genetically modified crops.
“Pursuing Non-GMO Verification was a natural next step for us, providing an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to customers while also highlighting our leadership in the category,” says Roy Benin, president of ACE Bakery.
Natural Grocers to open 15th store in Texas
Natural Health Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc., a retailer that specializes in organic and natural foods, is opening up its 15th location in the State of Texas. The new location in Coppell is scheduled to open on Tuesday, March 8.
The organic and natural food retailer, founded in Colorado, also opened up a new store in Little Rock in January. Furthermore, the company celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2015. Natural Health Grocers operates over 100 stores in 18 states.
Better For You Foods receives USDA certification
Better For You Foods, the innovator behind the Better4U Foods brand, is now USDA certified to prepare organic products.
The Florida-based company has plans to provide a variety of different organic products, which includes private label offerings created for health-orientated natural food companies.
“Certified Organic ingredients are must-have for a growing number of natural foods consumers,” Jack Lotker, the founder of Better For You Foods, said in a release. “This was a natural next step for our company.”
Greek yogurt maker Chobani rejects PepsiCo’s bid for stake
Chobani, a yogurt manufacturer, has rejected beverage maker PepsiCo’s offer—as well as other investors—for stake in the company. PepsiCo wanted a majority stake, while Chobani was only willing to offer a minority stake, which, consequently caused the deal to fall through.
Other companies that have shown interest in Chobani include Coca-Cola and organic foods producer White Wave Foods. According to Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch, Chobani wants to retain its independence.
According to the research company, industry experts predict a decline in Greek yogurt sales in the next few years. Greek yogurt has helped revitalize the U.S. yogurt market. Currently, Greek yogurt accounts for more than half of the industry’s sales.
BASF celebrates the 10th anniversary of its argan program
BASF, a chemicals manufacturing corporation, has announced the 10th anniversary of its Argan Program, a Southern Morocco-based initiative designed to study the argan tree as well as to valorize its oil and by-products.
Since the program’s inception in 2005, BASF has commercialized three ingredients including an organic and fair-trade certified oil, a skin-tightening protein extract from oil cakes, and an anti-aging extract. Recently, BASF commercialized a new anti-aging ingredient, which improves the firmness of the skin as well as increases the volume of the cheeks and lips. Currently, 1,000 women in rural Southern Morroco are currently benefitting from the program.
Survey reveals shoppers prefer processed “natural” foods
A recent Consumer Reports survey reveals that two third of health-conscious shoppers choose to purchase processed food labelled “natural.” Unfortunately, most of these shoppers assume that these products contain no artificial ingredients, toxic pesticides, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
“Unless companies can prove that their products are natural, it’s just a marketing tool,” says Ali Ramadan, a homeopath and co-owner of GNA Naturals, a supplement distributor.
Ramadan says that bad labelling makes it difficult for retailers to tell the difference “good” products and “bad” products. Urvashi Rangan of Consumer Reports told CTV that the fine print on “natural” foods should always be checked to ensure the product does not contain any ingredients that consumers might want to avoid.
Ali Ramadan adds that retailers should focus on buying non-GMO vitamins instead of supplements labelled “natural”. Companies have to verify that their products are non-GMO. Health Canada does a safety assessment on all genetically-modified foods proposed for sale in Canada. The government agency requires that companies submit detailed scientific data for review and approval before GMO foods can be sold.
“Choosing non-GMO vitamins is another way that retailers can protect their customer’s health using true all-natural products,” Ramadan says.
