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LA JOLLA, Calif. — Kashi, the premier natural food and lifestyle company, today announced the expansion of its popular pita crisp line with the introduction of Kashi Garlic Pesto Pita Crisps, a tasty option for people looking for a savory snack that's both wholesome and delicious.

CHICAGO — Lifes2good Natural Healthcare recently announced the introduction of a pair of new hair growth supplements: Viviscal Extra Strength and Viviscal Man. 

The new extra-strength formulation contains 50% more of the active ingredient AminoMar, a proprietary blend of ingredients and proteins said to promote existing hair growth. It also contains new ingredients biotin, iron and zinc.  

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. 

NEW YORK — The state supreme court in Alabama ruled that brand-name drug companies could be sued if patients suffer complications from generic versions of their medicines, according to published reports.

According to The New York Times, an Alabama man named Danny Weeks claimed he developed tardive dyskinesia after taking generic versions of Pfizer's acid reflux drug Reglan (metoclopramide). Pfizer acquired rights to the drug when it bought Wyeth in 2009, and generic drug makers Teva and Actavis, now owned by Watson, make generic versions.

NEW YORK — CVS/pharmacy has decided to stock Tylenol pain reliever in only half of its stores, according to a Reuters report published Monday. 

According to the report, CVS will stock Tylenol in each market, but not in each store as CVS seeks to plug any out-of-stock holes left behind by the initial recall of Tylenol three years ago and the brand's slow trek back to shelf. 

ATLANTA — SoloHealth on Monday announced its new pay-per-performance ad format called SoloTrigger. A permission-based advertising format, SoloTrigger delivers targeted and relevant sponsor content that allows consumers to actively request additional information regarding products or services that will help them live a healthier lifestyle, the company stated. 

NEW YORK — While replacing a single combination pill for HIV with generics would save the healthcare system money, it could also diminish the effectiveness of treatment, a new study suggests.

The study, led by investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College, and published in the Jan. 15 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, found $1 billion in potential savings, but the more complicated treatment regimen might result in more patients missing doses and a loss of drug effectiveness.

LINCOLN, Calif. — A drug-security product has won a drug-abuse prevention award.

The Locking Cap was named as one of the "Top 5 Technologies to Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse" by the Center for Lawful Access and Abuse Deterrence.

The cap is a four-digit combination-locking lid for prescription medication bottles. The maker of the cap, Cap-n-Lock, launched an updated version of the cap at the beginning of the year to attract the attention of shoppers.

NEW YORK — It’s official. Actress Drew Barrymore — through a collaboration with Maesa, a creator and manufacturer of beauty products — is launching her new Flower cosmetics line in Walmart.

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.  

WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services is proposing a new rule that it said would promote consistent policies and processes for eligibility notices in Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program and the health insurance exchanges mandated under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

ITASCA, Ill. — Jewel-Osco is shipping "thousands" of extra doses of flu vaccine amid a flu season that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has labeled an epidemic, the retail chain said.

The company plans to ship 7,000 doses to its pharmacies starting Tuesday and continuing into Wednesday, with about 170 pharmacies set to receive some of the doses.