Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/8035
40 LIVEMAGS.NET MARCH>>10 are 99.4% natural, with certified organic aloe and shea butter; they are infused with vitamins, but are safe for delicate skin. All of the products are paraben-, sulfate- and phthalate-free. Even the packaging labels are totally green — amazingly, they are made of river rock. "Teny was very adamant in the beginning that she wanted a baby line that was very green and very sustainable," comments Spinnato. The line is expected to launch this fall, but keep an eye out for the product on a top reality show this summer. Spinnato says his company will stay involved with Zodiac Baby. "We hold a client's hand through the whole process," he affirms. "We really don't leave their side until the product is on the shelf." Like Spinnato, Kureghian got her start with a large personal care/cosmetic company. She has since formed her own boutique consulting firm, where she helps clients predict consumer behavior, product positioning, sales development and other aspects of the industry. "My story is really simple; I'm just like any other person who wants to create something to better the environment," Kureghian says. "This is something that I've been thinking about since 2005, and I really felt like this year was the time for me to explore it. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to this great formulator, Vince Spinnato, who has become a dear friend. We came out with something that I'm really, really proud of." Zodiac Baby products include a natural shampoo and body wash, moisturizing lotion and delicate fragrance mist. Generously sized bottles are priced right, making them perfect for babies — and we suspect some mothers will be using Zodiac Baby themselves. The key ingredient in the shampoo/body wash and lotion is PhytoCare-HA, the extracted essence of the Chinese "Silver Ear" mushroom, which has been used for thousands of years in herbal, cosmetic and culinary applications. "We've gone above and beyond what's normally available for babies," says Kureghian. The products will be available this fall at high- end retailers. The company's commitment to the environment doesn't stop at its products, though. Each quarter, the company will donate a portion of its proceeds to children's health and wellness organizations nationwide. "I have this crazy mission," says Kureghian. "It's not just about what we put in our bodies; it's also what we put in the environment. We're all connected to one another. We want to live in a healthy climate. I wanted our global footprint to be really small. We need to make sure that children are growing up in a very healthy planet that's going to be strong when they're adults." Spinnato also is developing two of his own product lines: a prestige line for skincare, bath and body, and an all natural hair, skin and bath and body line designed for the mass market. "I've launched about 30 brands in 15 years," says Spinnato, "but the goal from day one was always to launch my own product lines." According to Spinnato, each line will feature dozens of products geared toward different skin types. The luxury line is based on an arctic berry that is thought to possess the highest antioxidant concentration of any berry thus far. "The berry actually tightens the skin upon contact," says Spinnato. The line is expected to visibly diminish wrinkles by a sizable percentage within six months. For more information visit: Vince Spinnato President/CEO VS Vincenzo Ltd, Inc www.vsvincenzo.com www.vincenzoskincare.com www.aegeanskincare.com www.zodiacbaby.com Empty Aisles Of all the harsh realities that the film Food Inc. exposes, one may be hardest to stomach. WRITER>>KELLY THOMAS R obert Kenner, director of the 2010 Oscar nominated documentary film Food Inc., has given viewers a startling look into just how sordid the food industry in America has become. But of all the harsh realities uncovered in this life- changing film, one stands out as the most worrying of them all: that the food we eat no longer feeds our bodies but rather feeds the deep and insatiable pockets of the food industry. (I'm not sure why this is italicized). The vast majority of foods we consume are what can be called convenience foods— these are foods that do not provide the essential nutrients our body requires to function optimally. (Is the writer a dietician, nutritionist or the like? If not, she doesn't really have the authority to make the claim in the previous sentence. The writer will serve the reader better by citing wherever she got that statistic from, i.e. a survey, study, book, organization, article, etc. Also, I replaced "I" with "can be called" in this sentence, as the writer's personal opinion is irrelevant to the story, especially if she is not a dietician/nutritionist.) These foods are heavily refined and processed and are excessively high in sugar which has little or no nutritional value. Instead these foods take away from our bodies what we should be getting from them, namely: energy and vital nutrients. These foods also contain harmful amounts of trans and saturated fats, both being lipids that contribute to the development of heart disease. Furthermore, the vast majority of these foods are being produced from only a few ingredients: commodity crops like wheat, corn and soybeans. Most supermarkets carry, on average, 47,000 products, the majority of which are being produced by only a handful of food companies. These government subsidized commodity crops are being bought at unrealistically low prices by these companies, which leads to a system where Coke is cheaper than water, and consumers are now spending less on food than ever before. At first glance, this may seem like a good thing but what Food Inc. exposes is that