Virginia Dare, Brooklyn, N.Y., and We-e Flavors of China signed a joint venture agreement Dec. 31, 2012, to establish a new, full-service flavor company based in Shanghai.

BI Nutraceuticals, Long Beach, Calif., announced that its East Coast facility located in Islandia, N.Y., has received a Safe Quality Food (SQF) 2000 certificate from NSF International, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Cyvex Nutrition, Irvine, Calif., announced that its Euro Black Currant extract has achieved self-affirmed generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status.

 Although aging is part of life, Hilmar Ingredients, Hilmar, Calif., offers an ingredient that can help consumers age gracefully. 

 Wild Flavors Inc. expanded its line of taste modification ingredients with the release of its newest ingredient: Wild Sweetness Enhancer.  

 Sensient Colors LLC, a business unit of Sensient Technologies Corp., released a line of palm-free natural colors to enhance its library of sustainable and environmentally friendly natural colors. 

 Wild Flavors Inc. introduced a line of seasonal-inspired “mocktail” flavors for non-alcohol applications that capitalize on the unique characteristics of alcohol beverages.