Full Press Release Details
ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- (NYSE: ABT ) – Responding to the issue of illegal, unsafe products being marketed as dietary supplements, Abbott's EAS Sports Nutrition brand announced that it has certified all EAS nutrition products as free of banned substances. Two leading, independent sports testing laboratories, focused on sports nutrition safety, have certified EAS quality processes and facilities and will perform ongoing banned substance testing as part of the certification program.
Starting in late fall, EAS retail products will be marked with a certified "tested and true" quality assurance seal on packaging. The certified seal assures athletes, fitness professionals and active people that they can trust EAS products to be free of banned substances such as steroids and narcotics, as well as ingredients not declared on the product label.
Abbott applies its rigorous healthcare quality standards in the manufacturing of EAS sports nutrition products from raw ingredient to finished product. The company has now enhanced those standards to include independent testing of EAS products for more than 146 banned substances prohibited by organizations including the World Anti-Doping Agency and U.S. professional sports leagues.
Commentary on the EAS 100 Percent Certified program:
From Ed Wyszumiala , general manager, NSF International Dietary Supplement Certification Programs:
"Abbott was the first company to have products certified by NSF International's Certified for Sport ® program. Today, Abbott continues to demonstrate its outstanding commitment to quality by certifying its EAS products to the highest quality and safety standards."
From Caroline Russell , general manager, HFL Sport Science
"As a banned substance control lab which tests more than 5,000 supplement samples per year, we have seen firsthand the risks contaminated supplements can pose to athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Abbott has taken extraordinary steps to ensure their products are safe for athletes of all levels to use as validated by our rigorous quality control certification program."
From Tobe Cohen , divisional vice president and general manager of Global Performance Nutrition, Abbott:
"As part of a global healthcare company, we leverage Abbott's high-quality standards in our manufacturing. We rigorously qualify and audit EAS ingredients, suppliers and facilities and conduct more than 100 quality checks throughout our manufacturing process. With the EAS certified "tested and true" quality seal, athletes now have a trusted method to know they are buying a safe product."
From Keith Wheeler , PhD, FACSM, global director, Performance Nutrition Research, Development & Scientific Affairs, Abbott, R&D:
" As a scientist with more than 30 years of experience in sports nutrition, I've seen firsthand how nutrition can help athletes maximize their performance and recovery. Until now, athletes and fitness enthusiasts did not have a reliable and objective standard to determine product quality. Today, EAS is setting a new standard to raise the bar and provide athletes, fitness coaches, personal trainers and parents products they can trust to be safe and high quality. "
Where to Learn More:
For more information on the EAS ® 100 Percent Certified program, visit www.eas.com/certified .
About the EAS Brand
Abbott, the maker of EAS, helped pioneer the development of specialized nutrition products for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Abbott produces premier sports nutrition products for people whose active lifestyles benefit from specialized nutritional support, in conjunction with a well-balanced diet, to help fuel their athletic performance. Abbott is committed to using sound research and science to create high quality sports nutrition products to help athletes and fitness enthusiasts train and perform their best. For more information, visit www.eas.com .
About Abbott Nutrition
For more than 85 years, Abbott Nutrition has been developing and marketing science-based nutritional products to support the growth, health and wellness of people of all ages. Internationally recognized brands include the Similac® brand of infant formulas; the Gain® brand of growing-up milks; the PediaSure® line of nutritionals for children; and the Ensure® brand of complete and balanced nutrition for adults.
The company is a leader in nutritional products clinically shown to address the distinct dietary needs of people with serious health conditions or special nutrient requirements, such as the Glucerna® brand of nutrition shakes and bars for people with diabetes.
Abbott Nutrition also offers EAS® specialized products to meet the unique nutritional needs of athletes, as well as ZonePerfect® all-natural nutrition bars for busy, active lifestyles.
More information about Abbott Nutrition's products is available at www.AbbottNutrition.com .
Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs nearly 90,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.
Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's website at www.abbott.com .
(1) 2011 Euromonitor International "Sports Nutrition in the US" industry report
(2) U.S. Food and Drug Administration news release , December 2010