Astaris' Carondelet facility in St. Louis, Mo., recently received the Gold Award Certificate for wastewater pretreatment from The Missouri Water Environment Association (MWEA). To be eligible for the award, plants must have a pretreatment or pollution prevention system in place and a history of good relations with their city's sewer district. Eligibility also is contingent on a positive safety report for the most recent pretreatment inspection and 100-percent compliance during the previous calendar year.

A new study conducted by Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, and published in Gene Expressions shows that Super CitriMax increases the activity of genes involved with carbohydrate and fat metabolism. The new study corroborates earlier studies in animals, and more recently, in humans showing that Super CitriMax increases serotonin levels, reduces appetite and decreases body weight. The human studies, published earlier this year, also showed that Super CitriMax helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.

DSM has opened the world's largest vitamin E plant in Sisseln, Switzerland. The vitamin E manufacturing facility has the capacity to produce approximately 25,000 tons of vitamin E per year. It offers fully integrated process control and an onsite analytical laboratory, which will monitor quality aspects, provide analytical services and meet growing customer needs.

Danisco, Copenhagen, recently scored second place in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the Food Industry. The only food company from Scandinavia to be represented, Danisco received high marks for social dimensions of the survey compared withprevious years.

David Michael & Co., Philadelphia, held its Innovation Roadshow earlier this month, offering three programs that gave attendees insight into flavor fundamentals, innovative technologies and ingredients, and a look at children’s perspectives on healthy eating.

Ed Schack has been appointed to the position of manufacturer’s representative for Draco Natural Products Inc., San Jose, Calif. Schack will be responsible for representing Draco’s new Vital Treasures line to cosmetics and skin care products manufacturers in the eastern United States.

Sharon Wicker was named president and Tony Willard joins A. M. Todd Co., Kalamazoo, Mich., as vice president of sales, marketing and business development in its Ingredients & Flavors unit. Additionally, John W. Finley has joined A.M. Todd as chief technical officer.