Wild Oats Stocks Gain
As reported in Supermarket News, stock in Wild Oats Markets soared yesterday following news that Robert Miller was leaving the ailing natural retailer, to become chief executive officer of 665 the Albertson’s stores to be acquired by Cerberus, as part of the consortium with Supervalu and CVS. Miller’s appointment spurred stock watchers as a possible […]
Natural Products Expo West 2006: The Hall Was Alive
Dateline: Anaheim, home of Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, tons of cursing parents toting kids and of course every March, the good old Natural Products Expo. This year the show broke record attendance with more than 40,000 attendees according to New Hope’s PR person). On Friday the show floor was so packed it seemed more like Macy’s the day after Thanksgiving. […]
Wal-Mart to the World: We Want To Be The #1 Organic Retailer
Wal-Mart’s recent announcement that it plans on rapidly expanding its selection of organic items in its stores garnered plenty of attention. Yet NBN believes that while Wal-Mart is seriously considering the opportunities here, we aren’t holding our breath. Of course we know that there will be more and more organic milk, peanut butter and dry […]
People We Love: Annie’s Naturals Salad Dressings
My first trade show I saw her, looking like my friend Byron Stookey’s mom, somewhat hippie, somewhat suburban, all combined to looking pretty cool. I think it was 1986, perhaps in Las Vegas at the Nutritional Foods Association Show or maybe it was Anaheim. (Note to self: time for more ginkgo!) She was selling her […]
FDA’s Oversight Fails Remarkably–Two-Thirds of Required Drug Studies Never Done
Yet another story about regulatory failure at the FDA appeared in the March 4 New York Times. Frequently, when the FDA approves news drugs for sale it requires manufacturers to conduct follow-up studies to determine whether the drugs are working as claimed and whether any adverse side effects are reported. Hundreds of studies are still […]
AIDS Medicines and Scientific Fraud?
Harper’s Magazine Provides Yet More Details on Shoddy FDA The current issue of Harper’s Magazine contains a riveting essay detailing the politics behind AIDS treatment, the drug approval process and what is clearly the ongoing exploitation of vulnerable people, both here and abroad, seeking treatment in the face of unknown and sometimes grave effects. We […]
One Look at Why Supplement Sales Are Sagging
Judy takes supplements, visits an acupuncturist regularly, and seeks out spiritual guidance from various sources known to frequent health food stores and other wellness locales. Jake doesn’t take vitamins and only reluctantly visits complentary health care practitioners. They have three kids, buy lots of organic food, recycle, are progressive and have the income to be […]
AMA Proposes End to Doctor’s Cozy Relations with Big Pharma
Well if you’ve followed my advice and read Greg Critser’s book Generation RX the following story won’t be a surprise. If you have a mouthful of coffee while reading this, swallowed before reading any further. We don’t want you to choke. The Journal of the American Medical Association’s January 25, 2006 issue announced a wide […]
Calcium Reporting is ALL WRONG–Bad Science, Lousy Reporting
In case you were wondering how thousands and thousands of calcium studies over dozens of years could be so wrong, stop wondering, because they weren’t. Fact is, the recent calcium study by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), a U.S. government program showed a 29% reduction in bone fractures. Yet, as powerfully noted by Mike Adams, […]
NY Times Required Reading on Aspartame
As opposed to our online persona where NBN is bitchy, relentless and bit of a complainer, offline NBN is committed to change but actually pretty mellow. Honest. Well, come to think of it, online I’m not sort of a complainer, I’m actually a real big complainer, especially when it comes to the newspaper I was […]
