Shopper’s Drug Mart’s Quebec-based branch Pharmaprix has named Quebecoise actress Sophie Pregent as the ambassador of its new Aimez Vous campaign. The project will be teaming up with Osteoporosis Canada in the coming months and focuses on helping women living in Quebec to put their health first.

According to Pregent, “I’m very enthusiastic to join the Pharmaprix Aimez Vous program as the issue of women’s health is something that I care deeply about. I know, like so many other women, how our busy lives can distract us from taking care of ourselves. That’s why I’m honoured to join forces with Pharmaprix to help make women’s health a priority – because you’re at your best when you love you.”

The Aimez Vous partnership with Osteoporosis Canada is a $1-million three-year contract that will focus on Pharmaprix extending awareness about osteoporosis among its clientele. According to Pharmaprix, educational material for this campaign will be available by early 2016.

Dr. Suzanne Morin, vice-chair of Osteoporosis Canada’s scientific advisory council says, “Pharmacists are accessible and knowledgeable health professionals who can advise women on lifestyle changes, adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D and medication adherence to reduce the risk of broken bones due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis Canada is optimistic that this new partnership with the Pharmaprix Aimez Vous program will help women keep their bones healthy and reduce the risk of fractures.”

Health Canada has issued a recall for L’il Critters Vitamin D3 gummies as well as Vitafusion Adult Gummy Vitamins after new tests concluded that the products contain a higher amount of vitamin D than listed on the label.

L’il Critters manufacturer, Church & Dwight Canada Corp., conducted its own tests and found the vitamin D levels to be four times the amount on the label, surpassing the “tolerable upper intake” for children eight years of age and younger.

Health Canada stated that, “Excessive intake of vitamin D for children under eight years of age can lead to vitamin D ‘intoxication,’ which can cause headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, lack of appetite, irritability, dehydration, fatigue and weight loss.”

The levels of Vitamin D found in Vitafusion Calcium Adult Gummy Vitamins are higher than the label indicates and more than the daily tolerable intake for adults, including pregnant women who are not to intake more than 4,000IU of the vitamin per day.

Health Canada has asked any consumers that have experience adverse reactions to these products to contact their agency and that it is “monitoring the recall and any necessary corrective and preventative actions taken by Church & Dwight Canada Corp.”

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This fall, Vitamin Angels, the not-for-profit that provides at-risk populations in need with life-changing vitamins and minerals, is teaming up with Jamieson Vitamins to aid 500,000 children affected by what is known as “hidden hunger.”

Deficiencies in iron, iodine, vitamin A and zinc all contribute to this condition, which is extremely common in communities with limited access to certain meats, fruits and vegetables.

“Hidden hunger refers to a lack of micronutrients in a diet that can lead to disease and life-threatening illnesses,” explains Howard Schiffer, president and founder of Vitamin Angels. “Diets consisting mainly of carbohydrates, such as rice and potatoes, mean that while children may be eating enough calories, they are lacking the critical nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.”

This is why, through a new program and partnership called Share the Health, Jamieson Vitamins and Vitamin Angels will provide impoverished children worldwide with the essential vitamins they need to survive.

“There is a great need in some developing countries for access to essential vitamins and minerals,” says Mark Hornick, president and CEO of Jamieson Vitamins. “We are encouraging Canadians to share their good health with those who aren’t as fortunate by supporting Vitamin Angels and our Share the Health program.”

Throughout the program, which runs from August 17 – October 31, money collected from Canadian purchases of Jamieson Vitamins products will contribute to improving the health and wellness of families in need.

“Jamieson is dedicated to improving health and wellness,” Hornick continues. “Vitamin Angels shares that dedication, and we look forward to working with them on the [this] program.”

The Hain Celestial Group, a leading international manufacturer of organic and natural products, has announced the appointment of Raymond W. Kelly to its Board of Directors.

Kelly, who previously served as the Police Commissioner of New York City for 14 years, has acted as president of Risk Management Services for Cushman and Wakefield, Inc. since March 2014. In this role, he has focused on helping clients identify potential vulnerabilities to prepare and manage risk across several areas including physical and cyber security, crisis management, due diligence and site selection as well as emergency preparedness.

Prior to this position, he held a 50-year tenure in public service as one of the world’s most well-known and highly esteemed leaders in law enforcement. In New York City, he established the first counterterrorism bureau of any municipal police department in the country, as well as a real-time crime centre, which used state-of-the-art data mining technology.

Furthermore, Kelly has also served as Undersecretary for Enforcement at the U.S. Treasury Department. There, he supervised the department’s enforcement bureaus, including the U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. Secret Service, The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

“We are honoured to have Ray join our Board of Directors,” says Irwin D. Simon, founder, president, CEO and chairman of the board of Hain Celestial. “[His] worldwide range of experience and insight into critical issues facing companies today will make Ray a valuable addition.”

Due to an increasing public demand for natural, healthful alternatives to artificial flavouring, non-GMO products and plant-based sweeteners, Future Market Insights (FMI) analysts anticipate the global stevia market to be worth upwards of more than $500 million by 2020.

Because of this frenzy, Sunwin Stevia, one of the top global suppliers of high-quality stevia extracts, saw an increase of 54% in sales revenues in the 2015 fiscal year as compared to 2014.

Additionally, this public health craze has caused major players in the snack- and breakfast food-industry to rethink the nutritional value of their own products.

General Mills, for example, recently unveiled its line-up of new, health-conscious products to align with a growing consumer interest in wellness, including their new Yoplait Plenti, Nature Valley Toasted Oats Muesli, and Annie’s organic soups.

“General Mills has been growing for more than a century, constantly innovating and investing to meet changing consumer needs,” says Ken Powell, chairman and CEO of the company. “As we enter fiscal 2016, we are keenly aware of our consumers changing food preferences. This presents a tremendous opportunity to create growth for General Mills … we remain deeply committed to following our consumers and adapting our portfolio to their tastes and interests.”

On the other hand, PepsiCo and Coca Cola have recently experienced issues with their aspartame-ridden diet products, with market shares down for both companies. This reflects a growing public disdain for any additives that are not “natural;” bearing this in mind, the two soda giants may need to consider changing their formula to include the ultra-popular stevia and other natural sweeteners.

Health food giant Kashi has released a new line of organic and Non-GMO cereal products that will transform the way people think about breakfast. With ingredients including whole grains, vegetables, sprouts, nuts and seeds, this product line encourages consumers to get their morning fix in a natural, unexpected way.

Two of Kashi’s most inventive new products include their Overnight Museli and their Organic Promise Sweet Potato Sunshine cereal.

The former product makes the hearty texture of overnight oats accessible to anyone with its easy-to-use instructions. To make it, consumers simply crack the cup, fill it with any milk or milk alternative product, and head off to bed—the Museli is made while they sleep. This delicious breakfast food also comes in three unique flavours: Sunflower & Pepita, Cacao Nib Almond & Coconut and Cherry Cinnamon & Cardamom.

As suggested in its name, the latter product—Kashi’s Organic Promise Sweet Potato Sunshine—is filled with organic sweet potatoes. Designed to shake up the breakfast table, this delicious cereal is an excellent source of Vitamin A.

“Kashi believes that eating more plants is the catalyst for a healthier life and planet,” says David Denholm, CEO of the company. “We’re on a mission to transform health through plant-based foods, and nothing gets us more excited than launching innovative foods that are nutritious and delicious.”

With other breakfast powerhouses like General Mills and Kellogg’s hopping on the natural, healthful and organic bandwagon, the time has come for longtime natural lifestyle pioneer Kashi to differentiate themselves in what is now becoming a much more crowded market.

Thrive Market—the latest in online grocery retailing—has broken new ground in the world of e-commerce. In order to do so, the Los-Angeles-based company, which sells natural and organic nonperishable foods, personal care products and household items, has merged the discount membership business model with healthful products.

Jeramiah McElwee, the company’s vice-president of purchasing and merchandising, notes that on some level, Thrive is the lovechild of Costco and Whole Foods. “Basically, [the project] came together with the mission of democratizing access to healthy, organic and non-GMO food, as well as sustainable products,” he says.

To use the service, members pay $60 a year to buy items like snack foods, household cleaners and cereals that are discounted 30 to 50 per cent off retail price. Due to membership fees and the low overhead associated with online business, Thrive is able to keep its prices lower than competitors.

Additionally, all products sold on Thrive Market are non-GMO and have a “heavy focus” on organic options, says McElwee. However, customers will not currently find a vast array of brands or products on the site.

“Right now we have around 4,000 products and that’s intentional,” notes McElwee. “We really try to provide the best in class, highest quality product options in each category [without] a lot of other noise.”

Furthermore, for every membership purchased, Thrive donates a free one to a low-income family, a teacher or a veteran: “communities and audiences that are traditionally underserved and don’t have access to healthier products or can’t afford to carve out a part of their budget to buy organic or non-GMO,” says McElwee.

In the future, the company plans to expand its business to Batesville, Indiana, and to execute an educational component to help customers eat better. Thrive also hopes to launch a line of private label products and expand into home goods, gardening and natural pet products.

LeBeau Excel Ltd., a family focused company that specializes in complete management of the Canadian market for natural food product manufacturers, natural HABA manufacturers and NHP manufacturers, has welcomed Tymon Ritco as a Sales Representative for the Prairie Provinces.

Tymon joins LeBeau Excel after spending the last couple of years in a sales role with Axel Kraft and six years as an Account Manager for Purica. Tymon is located just east of Calgary and he will be starting in his new role on August 24. He can be reached at tymon@lebeauadvance.com or 403-324-2664.

LeBeau Excel offers clients valuable management capabilities including: customer service, logistics, warehousing, market research, product licensing, media services, design services and sales coverage.