Health advocates are ramping up pressure on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to remove the keratin hair-straightening product Brazilian Blowout from the marketplace in light of a legal settlement announced in a California court against the company that makes the product.

Researchers from the Children's Environmental Health Center at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York have found an association between exposure to the chemical group known as phthalates and obesity in young children - including increased body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.

Helix BioMedix, Inc., a developer of bioactive peptides, announced that it has been granted four new U.S. and foreign patents, further strengthening the company's intellectual property assets. The patents focus on dermatological health, where the company continues to build its industry leading intellectual property portfolio.

Brenntag has announced the acquisition of Amco Internacional S.A. de C.V., a specialty chemical distributor headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. Amco has nearly 30 years of experience in the highly specialized distribution of aroma chemicals, essential oils and food ingredients.