HEALTH

HORSHAM, Pa. — Symphony Health Solutions on Tuesday named Frank Lavelle CEO.  

SALT LAKE CITY — Zarbee's on Tuesday noted that more consumers have gravitated toward natural solutions over allopathic medicines, at least through the end of December, citing Nielsen scan data. 

For the 12 weeks ended Dec. 31, supplemental immune system boosters and homeopathic cough and cold medicines were up 13%, Zarbee's reported. The trend is even more pronounced across children's remedies with allopathic medicines declining 15% in the 12 week period while sales of pediatric natural solutions were up 19%, and now make up more than 20% of the category. 

PARAMUS, N.J. — Inergetics will be breathing new life into diet aid brands Bikini Ready and SlimTrim, the company noted on Monday. Those are two brands the company recently acquired from Whole Products Group that will be the focus of presentations at the ECRM Vitamin, Diet & Sports Nutrition conference being held in San Antonio this week. 

With sleep aids rising from the floor level shelf across several analgesic planograms, the category that features several dietary supplement players is becoming more prominent. Sales of melatonin, the natural ingredient most often associated with calming and sleep, were up 35.8% to $123.9 million for the 52 weeks ended Oct. 28, according to SymphonyIRI Group across its total U.S. multi-outlet data set.

Interest in vitamins, minerals and supplements as a viable consumer product with strong profit-bearing potential has got to be at an all-time high right now, judging from the number of merger and acquisition deals scrolling across the latest finance news feeds.

ATLANTA — The worst of the flu season may be over, at least for those on the East Coast. In a late morning press conference with reporters on Friday, Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, "We are seeing a decrease in some regions." 

Just don't tell that to anyone living in New York, Boston or Chicago, at least not before slipping on a facemask first.  

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — Egg allergies may no longer be a valid reason to not get a flu shot, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology announced Friday. 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — According to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center released Thursday, less than 45% of children were vaccinated against the flu during a five-year study period.