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ROCKVILLE, Md. — Walmart and Target are ramping up offerings of private-label products directed at multicultural and health-conscious consumers, according to a new study.

The findings were part of a study by market research firm Packaged Facts on mass merchandisers, "The Supercenter Grocery Shopper: U.S. Consumer Patterns at Walmart, Target, Meijer and Fred Meyer." The report noted that mass merchandisers in recent years have marketed private-label food and beverage products that rival those of national brands in price, value and quality.

ATLANTA — Continuing with the success of last year’s national education ad campaign, "Tips from Former Smokers," a second series of ads was launched Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold USA's Giant-Carlisle banner raised nearly $600,000 for a hunger relief program in February and March, the supermarket chain said.

Giant-Carlisle said customers at Giant Food Stores and Martin's Food Markets donated $587,545 as part of the Bag Hunger campaign between Feb. 24 and March 9. Another campaign will take place in September.

CLEVELAND — Reese Pharmaceutical on Thursday announced the development of its Old School brand, which will feature products that have been used for generations. The first offering in the new line will be Reese’s Old School Charcoal Capsules, a dietary supplement for the relief of intestinal gas and flatulence.  

The main ingredient, activated charcoal, is a highly recognized, proven remedy that adsorbs the toxins that cause flatus and gas, reducing after-meal discomfort. 

SAN DIEGO — Bumble Bee Foods has introduced a quarterly e-book on health and wellness, the company said Wednesday.

"BeeWell for Live — A Living Guide" offers wellness advice, tips and recipes created in collaboration with Bumble Bee registered dietitians Stephanie Clarke and Willow Jarosh, as well as fitness coach Jennifer Grayeb and celebrity chef Scott Leibfried.

MILWAUKIE, Ore. — The American Association of Homeopathic Pharmacists on Wednesday honored Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, with an award of appreciation for introducing and supporting legislation that safeguards Americans' right to choose complementary health care. Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Harkin has been a longtime supporter of patient access to homeopathic medicines, AAHP noted. 

PITTSBURGH — GNC on Tuesday extended its Preventive Nutrition brand to help supplement a number of conditions, including eye health, liver health and digestive health.  

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., and Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., last week introduced the Family Health Care Flexibility Act, repealing restrictions placed on health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts in the President’s healthcare law. A provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, already in effect today, prohibits HSA and FSA participants from using their account dollars to purchase over the counter medicines without a prescription.  

WASHINGTON — According to the new report “An In-Depth Look at Keeping Young Children Safe Around Medicines,” released last week by Safe Kids Worldwide, 7-of-10 emergency department visits for medicine poisonings are due to curious young children getting into their grandparent’s or mother’s medicine that was left within reach.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Bausch + Lomb on Friday announced that it has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to take the company public. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined, the company stated. 

The proposed IPO could raise as much as $1.5 billion and is expected to value Bausch & Lomb at about $9 billion to $10 billion, Reuters reported earlier in March.

ATLANTA — An early look at this season’s reports indicates that about 90% of flu-related pediatric deaths occurred in children who had not received a flu vaccination this season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. 

The number of influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported to the CDC during the current season surpassed 100 as an additional 6 deaths were reported in FluView last week. To date, this brings the total number of influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported to the CDC to 105 for the 2012-2013 season.

WASHINGTON —  SanMedica International on Friday introduced its SeroVital-HGH, a new oral human-growth hormone booster formulated with women in mind, at the Academy of Women's Health's Annual Congress here.