IFANCA-Certified Company News

A.M. Todd Co. is Peppermint King

A.M. Todd Co. combines more than 135 years of pioneering products from nature with a continued commitment to forward-thinking technologies and solutions. Today, A.M. Todd Co. is the world’s leading producer of high-quality peppermint and spearmint oils, with an industrial customer list that includes the most successful confection and oral care companies in the world.

In the early 1960’s, A.M. Todd Co. acquired Zink & Triest, which has specialized in vanilla bean trading since the 1930’s. In the mid-1990’s, a new division, A.M. Todd Botanical Therapeutics, was created. This division used its expertise in botanical science and extraction techniques on natural nutraceutical ingredients such as echinacea and ginseng. The company has also recently established Great Spirit Ventures, which invests in early stage business opportunities in the emerging health and wellness space.

Al Safa Halal Wins 2005 Canadian Award for Excellence in Agri-food Export

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has awarded the 2005 Canadian Agri-Food Award of Excellence for Agri-Food Export to IFANCA-certified Al Safa Halal, Inc. of Cambridge, Ontario. The announcement was made at the November 2005 Canadian Agri-Food Awards of Excellence Luncheon.

Backed by venture capital firms Otter Capital and Packaged Food Investors, Al Safa Halal Inc., is North America’s leading provider of Halal food products-products that conform to Shariah (Islamic religious law). All the company’s meat products are “Zabiha”-hand-slaughtered by a Muslim in accordance with the Shariah.

According to Steve Hahn, Al Safa Halal, Inc. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, the company’s product mix has grown as well. “When we started out, we were mainly providers of unprocessed meat products-hamburger meat, whole chickens, items like that. But we quickly came to learn that Muslim consumers want what mainstream consumers want: convenience. Today we still make those original products, but the bulk of our sales are in ‘convenience foods’ that can be prepared in an oven, toaster oven, or microwave. Items like chicken nuggets, pizzas, microwave beef pockets.” Next up on Al Safa’s development slate: popcorn chicken.

And it is towards the mainstream that the company is headed. “We’re fully convinced that Halal is the next big supermarket ‘niche,”‘ says a spokesperson. “First came kosher-twenty years ago, you could only buy kosher food at kosher specialty stores. Today there’s kosher food in every supermarket. Then came organic. Five or ten years ago, organic products were only available at health food stores. Today, Amy’s Kitchen has frozen organic convenience items in every supermarket. As far as we’re concerned, Halal is next. And when it comes to frozen convenience products, Al Safa Halal is leading the way.”

Al Safa products include: Beef Bologna (Sliced), Beef Burgers, Beef Frankfurters, Beef Pastrami (Sliced), Beef Patties, Beef Patties Rolls, Beef Salami (Sliced), Beef Sausage Pizza, Beef Strips, Beef Wieners, Boneless Turkey Roast, Breaded Chicken Cutlettes, Breaded Chicken Nuggets, Breaded Chicken Patties, Breaded Chicken Strips, Breaded Fish Filets, Breaded Fish Sticks, Cheese Pizza, Chicken Breasts, Chicken Drumsticks, Chicken Pot Pies, Chicken Wieners, Chicken Wing, Deluxe Pizza, Falafel, Pepperoni Pizza, Sausage Rolls, Smoked Chicken (sliced) , Turkey Bologna (Sliced), Turkey Breast (Sliced), Turkey Strips, and Veggie Pizza. All food service and fresh pack products are also certified by IFANCA.

USANA Leads the Way in Nutritional Supplements

IFANCA-certified USANA Health Sciences (www.usana.com) has become one of America’s leading companies in the field of health and nutrition. Company founder Myron Wentz, Ph.D., is a world-renowned pioneer in cell-culture technology. In the early 1970’s, he founded Gull Laboratories, which soon became the world’s leading producer of commercially-available diagnostic test kits for viruses including the Ebola virus.

Independent research findings linked the environment, lifestyle, and diet to health. One of the most significant research findings has been the value of antioxidants in countering the negative effect of “free radicals” in the human body. Free radicals are believed to be the cause of many degenerative diseases, and spawn from a variety of factors including pollution, high-fat diets, lack of exercise, and smoking. Drawing on these developments, and the importance of cellular nutrition, USANA was founded in 1992 to develop and produce the highest quality, scientifically-proven supplements for optimal health.

Dr. Wentz obtained his Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Utah. He holds a Master’s degree in microbiology from the University of North Dakota and a Bachelor’s degree in biology from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. He was the recipient of the 2003 Ernst & Young Utah Entrepreneur of the Year award.

USANA Halal certified products that are available in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore include:

Cosmetics

• Energizing Shower Gel
• Revitalizing Shampoo
• Nourishing Conditioner
• Daytime Protective Emulsion
• Eye Nourisher
• Night Renewal
• Firming Body Nourisher
• Gentle Daily Cleanser
• Hydrating Toner
• Intensive Hand Therapy
• Nutritious Creme Masque
• Perfecting Essence
• Rice Bran Polisher
• Serum Intensive

Supplements

• Proflavano!™ Master Formula
• Active Calcium
• Chelated Mineral
• Proflavanol™ Master Formula
• Poly C®
• Visionex™
• Procosa II™
• My Mega Antioxidant
• AO Pro

Flavored Drink Mixes

• Soyamax Mild Vanilla Flavored Soy Protein Powder
• Vanilla Nutrimeal Powdered Drink Mix
• Chocolate Nutrimeal Powdered Drink Mix
• Almond Creme Fibergy Flavored Powdered Drink Mix
• Peach Mango Fibergy Flavored Powdered Drink Mix

New IFANCA Halal-Certified Companies