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WASHINGTON — The Institute of Medicine on Tuesday issued a report on the dietary reference intake levels for vitamin D and calcium at the behest of both the U.S. and Canadian governments. IOM recommended a slight increase in vitamin D intake, but also suggested that the need for either vitamin D or calcium may be overstated.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The president of drug maker Merck now will fill an additional position at the company: CEO.

Merck's board of directors elected president and board member Kenneth Frazier as the company's next leader, effective Jan. 1. Frazier will succeed Richard Clark, who has served as Merck's CEO since 2005. Clark will continue as chairman of the board, the drug maker said.

MEMPHIS — Total sales and comparable-store sales both rose during the month of November for Fred's, the chain announced Tuesday.

Fred's disclosed total sales for the four-week fiscal month ended Nov. 27 increased 6% to $146.3 million from the year-ago period, while comparable-store sales for the month rose 4.7% versus a decline of 3.3% during November 2009.

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday afforded the Food and Drug Administration new powers in regulating food, according to published reports, with the passing of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act by a vote of 73-25 (with two abstentions).

The legislation would grant the FDA new powers to recall foods and increase inspections.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is making a high-impact health statement to mark World AIDS Day that will be hard to ignore.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Kraft filed an arbitration proceeding against Starbucks on Monday after the java giant attempted to end an agreement with the company.

Kraft claimed that it boosted Starbucks' retail grocery coffee business since 1998, which has garnered approximately $500 million in annual revenues. Kraft also is demanding that Starbucks compensate the company for the fair market value of the business, plus a premium of up to 35% of that value.

PARIS — The Consumer Goods Forum on Monday announced two major initiatives on climate change — to work toward ending deforestation and to phase out the use of refrigerant gases with high global warming potential — on the opening day of the sixth United Nations Climate Change Conference held here.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Danone will boost its yogurt business with its acquisition of YoCream International.

Danone offered to acquire YoCream for about $39.82 in cash for each share, or $103 million, YoCream said. The company said it expected the transaction to close before Dec. 28.

DUBUQUE, Iowa — A regional pharmacy chain has acquired a store based in Iowa.

Hartig Drug, which operates 16 stores throughout eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin, has acquired Darlington, Iowa-based Whitford Pharmacy, which has been in business since 1980.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — Perrigo on Monday launched a store-brand version of Bayer Healthcare’s Aleve Liquid Gels, 220 mg.

Aleve Liquid Gels generated annual sales of approximately $80 million, Perrigo stated, citing SymphonyIRI Group data.

"This approval is another example of Perrigo's commitment to bring new products to market,” stated Perrigo's chairman and CEO Joseph Papa. Perrigo noted that it is the first-to-market with a generic equivalent of the Aleve Liquid Gels.

WOODRIDGE, Ill. — Wilton's line of popular gingerbread-house kits is expanding with a version designed for the "upwardly mobile."

Wilton's new giant-gingerbread-house kit measures approximately 8 in. high by 9 in. wide and retails for $39.99. The more modest, starter homes begin at $12.99 for a house that measures approximately 5 in. by 5 in. Wilton also offers a gingerbread tree kit, gingerbread boy cookie kit and gingerpops cookie kit that feature ready-to-decorate, prebaked cookies — icing mix and candies included.

CULVER CITY , Calif. — A documentary that examined the controversial death and cover-up of celebrated NFL star-turned-Army-ranger Pat Tillman, who was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan, will arrive on Blu-ray and DVD.

"The Tillman Story," which was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, is slated to hit retail on Feb.1, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment announced.