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Garuda International’s B-CAN™ Oat Bran Concentrate/Oat ß-Glucan now GRAS
November 6, 2012

To be shown at SupplySide West Global Expo and Conference (Booth/Stand:21029), November 7-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada)

Garuda International Inc., a U.S.A. based company specializing in the development, manufacturing and distribution of naturally derived ingredients today announced that its B-CAN™ Oat Bran Concentrate/Oat ß-Glucan is GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe).

B-CAN™ Oat Bran Concentrate/Oat ß-Glucan is safe for use as a food additive and approved for use in various food categories, as defined by 21 CFR 170.30. Potential food applications include breads, breakfast cereals, soups, salad dressings and beverages.

In accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, products must be GRAS to be used by the food industry. B-CAN™ Oat Bran Concentrate/Oat ß-Glucan is also currently certified Kosher and Halal.

The Expert Panel convened by GRAS Associates on behalf of Garuda International, Inc. concluded that the composite safety information for B-CAN™ Oat Bran Concentrate/Oat ß-Glucan successfully meets FDA’s safety standards, that there is reasonable certainty of no harm under the intended conditions of use -- and overall GRAS criteria.

The GRAS dossier and Garuda’s intended food use conditions include addition of the B-CAN™ Oat Bran Concentrate/Oat ß-Glucan at levels that yield 0.75 to 3.0g of ß-Glucan per serving in the following food categories:
Bars, breakfast/nutrient
Beverages
Breads, whole grain and specialty
Breakfast cereals
Cookies (lite)
Crackers (reduced fat)
Gravies and sauces (lite)
Instant rice
Macaroni products
Muffins (reduced fat)
Salad Dressings (lite)
Snack Chips (reduced fat)
Soups
Tomato-Based sauces
Tortillas and taco shells
Vegetarian Patties/crumbles
Yogurt, reduced fat
In addition to these named food categories, B-CAN™ Oat Bran Concentrate/Oat ß-Glucan is intended for use under the supervision of a physician in medical foods at levels not to exceed 3.0g ß-Glucan/person/day.

Mr. Roger Matkin, President and CEO comments “We are very pleased with this GRAS status and feel that this move will enable food and beverage manufacturers in the U.S.A. and internationally, to offer healthier consumer products formulated with B-CAN™"

On a related subject, Garuda International noted that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Article 14 (Commission Regulation (EU) No 1160/2011 of November 14 2011) expressed that its positive health claim opinion about Oat Beta Glucan for cholesterol reduction complies with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 and suggested a beneficial effect at 3g daily and with the claim being allowed in foods which provide at least 1g per quantified portion.

On that subject, Mr. Bassam Faress, Director of Sales & Marketing at Garuda International commented: “This EFSA positive development now paves the way for even more familiarity with the benefits of Oat Beta Glucan. European food manufacturers can legally make the much deserved health claims at the applicable minimal doses identified by the EFSA for food and beverages including cereals, soups, dairy, bakery and beverage application.“

Garuda currently supplies B-CAN™ Oat Bran Concentrate/Oat ß-Glucan at a high concentration of 70% beta-glucan as conventional and EC Organically Certified.

This innovative, healthy ingredient will be shown by Garuda International at booth #21029 at the upcoming SupplySide West Global Expo and Conference to be held at the Las Vegas Venetian and Sands Expo, November 7 & 8, 2012.

About Garuda International, Inc.
Garuda International, Inc. founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Exeter, California, U.S.A. The company develops, manufactures and distributes innovative and healthy natural food ingredients for the food/beverage, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries utilizing a network of global distribution partners. Some of its specialized branded ingredients include COWCIUM® Natural Milk Calcium, B-CAN™ Oat Bran Concentrate/Oat ß-Glucan, PleSance™ Stevia, Agave Syrup & Agave Inulin powder, Heli-FOS™ Jerusalem Artichoke Flour (FOS), FOAMEX™ Quillaja & Yucca Extracts, CitriVera™ Citrus Peel Powders/bits and LesstanoL® Sugarcane Wax derived Policosanol. Garuda International, Inc. has received Organic, Kosher and Halal certification for many of its ingredients.

For more information on the company’s products, visit http://www.garudaint.com or contact:
Mr. Bassam Faress
Director - Sales & Marketing
Garuda International, Inc.
garudainfo (at) garudaint (dot) com
+1-559-594-4380
###
B-CAN™, PuntiaVera®, COWCIUM®, CitriVera™, Heli-FOS™, LesstanoL® and PleSance™ are trademarks of Garuda International, Inc. Exeter, CA, U.S.A.

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EFSA Issues Positive Opinion on Oat Beta Glucan
December 8, 2010

Garuda International pleased with EFSAs Article 14 Positive Opinion on Oat Beta Glucan

Garuda International, Inc. A Manufacturer of a High concentration Oat beta glucan, expressed appreciation for the announcement of the EU EFSAs recent Positive opinion on Oat Beta Glucan for cholesterol reduction.

Although Garuda International has previously introduced their brand B-CAN into the European markets that presently command a healthy market share in the EU, this new positive development now paves the way for even more familiarity with the benefits of Oat Beta Glucan as European food manufacturers are officially allowed to make the much deserved health claims at the applicable minimal doses identified by the EFSA for food including cereals, soups, dairy, bakery and beverage application.

Garuda currently offers several grades of Oat Beta Glucan including the high concentration 70% and 55% Oat Beta Glucan ingredients and in addition to the conventional offered ingredients, have now also recently launched an organically certified high concentration 70% Oat Beta Glucan.

Garuda International, Inc. headquartered in Exeter, California, U.S.A. manufactures and distributes several innovative and healthy natural food ingredients for the food/beverage, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries utilizing a network of global distribution partners.

Some of its specialized branded ingredients include COWCIUM Natural Milk Calcium, B-CAN Oat Beta Glucan, PleSance Agave Syrup & Agave Inulin powder, Heli-FOS Jerusalem Artichoke Flour (FOS), CitriVera Citrus Peel Powders/bits and LesstanoL Policosanol. Garuda International, Inc. also has received Kosher and Halal certification for many of its ingredients.

B-CAN, PuntiaVera, COWCIUM, CitriVera, Heli-FOS, LesstanoL and PleSance are trademarks of Garuda International, Inc. Exeter, CA, U.S.A.

For more information please contact:
Mr. Bassam Faress
Director - Sales & Marketing
Garuda International, Inc.
garudainfo@garudaint.com
+1-559-594-4380

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Garuda International, Inc. Receives Organic Certification
January 28, 2009

Exeter, CA -- Garuda International, Inc., announced that it has received organic certification from Oregon Tilth (OTCO) for several of its ingredients including PuntiaVera® Nopal (Opuntia Ficus indica) powder, a variety of medicinal mushroom powders, CitriVera Citrus peel powders, Heli-FOS™ Jerusalem Artichoke Flour, and other ingredients including Amaranth and Quinoa to name a few. Garuda International has also achieved Certified Organic status under the U.S. Department of Agricultural (USDA) National Organic Program for its corporate facilities in California, USA.

President and CEO of Garuda International, Inc., Roger Matkin, comments, "For almost 30 years, Garuda International, Inc. has been recognized for its demanding quality and safety standards. We have always been a customer services driven company and therefore continue to respond to the safety concerns of our customers.

As part or Garuda International's strategic growth plan and our commitment to sustainable agriculture and business practices, we are gratified to receive Organic Certification from the respected certifier, Oregon Tilth. Organic Certification is yet another significant milestone in our mission of strong environmental responsibility as was our recent completion of our "green" corporate facilities located in Exeter, California."

Garuda International, Inc. manufactures and distributes several innovative and healthy natural food ingredients for the food/beverage, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries utilizing a network of global distribution partners. Some of its specialized branded ingredients include COWCIUM® Natural Milk Calcium, B-CAN™ Oat Beta Glucan and LesstanoL® Policosanol. Garuda International, Inc. also has received Kosher and Halal certification for many of its ingredients.

PuntiaVera®, COWCIUM®, CitriVera™, Heli-FOS™, B-CAN™ and LesstanoL® are trademarks of Garuda International, Inc. Exeter, CA, U.S.A.

For more information please contact:
Mr. Bassam Faress
Director - Sales & Marketing
Garuda International, Inc.
garudainfo@garudaint.com
+1-559-594-4380

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Garuda is Honored with Beautification Award
February 25, 2008

Garuda International recently completed the first phase of construction of its new corporate "green" headquarters in Exeter, California. As a result of its efforts, Garuda was honored by U.S. Senator Devon Nunez, The California State Senate, and the Exeter City Administration and Chamber of Commerce for its beautification of the City.

Garuda was honored by U.S. Senator Devon Nunez, The California State Senate, and the Exeter City Administration and Chamber of Commerce at an annual awards banquet in February for its contribution to the beautification of the San Joaquin Valley town of Exeter where its new headquarters are located.

The building was constructed to meet gold LEED certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a voluntary building certification adopted by the U.S. Green Building Council. http://www.usgbc.org

The LEED program is a rigorous system that requires the building to be highly energy efficient. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. Garuda's new facility is powered by renewable energy sources and is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partner.

Highly efficient computer controlled energy monitoring of the HVAC and lighting systems ensures minimal energy consumption with an emphasis on high quality air and natural light. Garuda's building is noted to be the only building of its type in California's San Joaquin Valley.

To compliment Garudas green commitment, the landscaping is designed to require very minimal water resources and the entire vegetation used is edible and exclusively made up of a variety of fruit trees, culinary and neutraceutical herbs/plants and a showcase area dedicated to display plants used in their product offering.

Mr. Bassam Faress, director of sales and marketing, comments, even our parking lot is sustainable, its made of pervious concrete which has 24% void structure allowing for rain water to go right through it back to the ground where it belongs. We have been described as being green from the ground up!"

newbuilding.

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Thinking green in Exeter.
January 23, 2007

Environmental friendliness built into plans to supplement company's new site.
An Exeter business that makes nutritional supplements plans to spend millions remaking the abandoned Waterman foundry site into what officials say will be one of the most environmentally friendly offices in the central San Joaquin Valley.

Garuda International plans to spend $2 million buying, connecting and renovating two 5,000-square-foot buildings on the property two blocks from downtown Exeter into offices and a warehouse. A third building could be expanded into a manufacturing plant next year.

That phase would add $3 million to $4 million to the cost, said company president Roger Matkin.

If it opens a manufacturing site next year, the company's number of employees could expand, he said.

City officials are thrilled to have the buildings get new life.

"In looking at the design of the building, it will enhance the whole area and coincide with the revitalization effort of downtown," said city administrator John Kunkel.

When completed, the former foundry property, idle since 2002, will be a showcase of "green" technology, Matkin said.

"We're going for gold LEED certification," he said. "We have to be highly energy efficient and very user friendly."

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and was adopted by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Thom Black of Visalia, the architect, is excited about the new building and said it's a first for the area. Along with being environmentally friendly, the project will have architectural elements that will give it a turn-of-the-century, cannery-row look, he said.

Weathered-looking, galvanized-steel awnings will wrap around the metal building, and an open-frame signboard, also made out of steel, will hang above the front door.

Black also is recycling a water tank found in a vacant field, and a horizontal truss will tie the buildings together.

An atrium tower, 18 feet in diameter, will be constructed in the main office, where every occupant will have a window to the outside. The interior will have a water feature and plants.

"These are all things that are functional but are also physically beneficial," Black said.

Black said the LEED certification adds to the project's unique nature. As part of earning the highest level of certification, the building must contain, among other elements, materials made of recycled products, water-efficient landscaping and alternative energy sources.

"These sort of buildings are really taking hold in America and in our profession as well," Black said. "And it is only adding less than 10% to the cost of the building."

Matkin said he wants to show that business can be environmentally friendly and profitable at the same time. "It's a personal and corporate philosophy," he said.

Garuda creates nutritional supplements and food from agriculture byproducts. Started in Santa Cruz, the business moved to Exeter six years ago to be closer to farming. Garuda distributes 90 products to customers in 30 countries.

"For us, this is a gold mine," Matkin said. "It sometimes takes several years of research to end up with a product."

One of its main products is calcium, a byproduct of cheese production. Garuda purifies it and sells it to food manufacturers. It also refines wax on the outside of sugar cane into a powder and sells it as a dietary supplement to reduce cholesterol.

Garuda hires out the manufacturing but might convert the third building into a plant that would make, among other items, the calcium supplement. That product is currently made in Wisconsin.

Exeter, known for murals on its buildings 23 at last count wants to stand out from other communities in the central San Joaquin Valley.

"Exeter is trying to be unique, and this will add to it," Kunkel said.
The reporters can be reached at snax@fresnobee.com , brodriguez@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6329.

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Exeter business LEED-ing the way
January 16, 2007

Buildings abandoned because of increasing environmental restrictions will soon be remade as one of the most environmentally friendly offices in the nation.

Garuda International held a groundbreaking ceremony Jan. 16 for the construction of its new headquarters at the former Waterman Foundry at the corner of G and Chestnut streets in Exeter. The three steel buildings on the north end of the property will be converted into the company's future office, packaging warehouse and manufacturing plant.

CEO Roger Matkin said the buildings would be a gold LEED certified building once they are completed. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a voluntary building certification adopted by the U.S. Green Building Council. The USBGC is the nation's foremost coalition of business leaders across the nation working toward more environmentally responsible yet profitable buildings. There are only 20 gold certified LEED buildings in the state.

We really have two bottom lines as a company, Matkin said. The first is to be environmentally friendly and the second is second is to financially responsible. It all fits together with our business, but we would still do , even if it hurt our bottom line. Luckily, it doesn't.

Garuda plans to spend $2 million on the first phase of construction to renovate two 5,000-square-foot buildings into offices and a warehouse. The next phase, which would cost an estimated $3 million, would convert a expand a third building into a manufacturing plant sometime next year. Once the manufacturing plant is open, Garuda will increase its number of employees.

Mountain Vista Construction's owner Stuart Rigney said about 75% of the original building will be kept in the renovation. He said 10-20% of the building would be constructed with recycled materials.

Rigney said both buildings in the first phase would be completely powered by photovoltaic, or solar panel, systems. Landscaping will use native, drought-resistant plants that, along with automatic faucets and flushers, will reduce water use by 50%. Even the parking lot will be green with a pervious material that will allow water runoff to soak into the ground and not into the city's storm drain system. Overall, the cost of construction is only about 10% higher than traditional buildings. The buildings will also use 50% less energy by using more natural light, efficient fixtures and automatic heating and air conditioning systems that shut off at optimum temperatures.

In five to six years our electricity will be free, Matkin said. We would be crazy not to do this.

LEED certification also involves creating a healthy work environment for employees. Rigney said every employee will be able to see outside from their workstation and that the ventilation system will monitor carbon dioxide levels and draw in fresh air when it gets stuffy. Showers will be installed in the offices so that employees can ride bicycles to work and vanpool parking will be available to reduce carbon monoxide emissions to and from work.

The happier the employees are, the more productive your company will be, Rigney said. This building will set the standard for everyone to follow.

The city of Exeter is happy too. Mayor Ted Macaulay said the project is a positive reflection on the entire city.

Anyone would be thrilled to have this in their town and they chose Exeter, Macaulay said. We pride ourselves on being different than other cities, and I think this is another feather in our cap.

The buildings are part of the former foundry where irrigation manufacturer Waterman Industries made its moldings and castings for water control gates and valves. The plant was shut down in 2002, partially because of increasing environmental restrictions in California, and more than 50 employees were laid off. Macaulay said the project will not only invigorate an abandoned building, but bring good paying, technical jobs which will help the local economy.

I think the word is getting out that this project is in Exeter and hopefully will bring a few more industries like this one into town, he said.

Matkin started Garuda 23 years ago in the back bedroom of his Santa Cruz, Calif. home. Armed only with a typewriter, Matkin worked to make contacts within the ag industry and customers overseas. Originally the company exported vitamins overseas. It has since grown and now produces its own products. Garuda takes agricultural waste, such as whey, or the water part of milk separated during the process of making cheese. The whey is then purified and used to produce all natural food, beverage and dietary supplements, such as its Garuda's COWCIUM, which provides lactose-intolerant people with milk that has high calcium and phosphorus content, no fat and is low in lactose. Other products include VEGE-COAT, an all-natural, edible coating used to preserve flavor and extend the shelf life of nut meats, prevent stickiness of licorice pieces, and coat nutritional supplements and pharmaceutical tablets.

Six years ago, he moved the company to Exeter to be closer to the agriculture industry and is currently operating out of an office on Industrial Drive. Garuda now produces more than 90 products sold to multinational food, cosmetic, dietary supplement and pharmaceutical companies in more than 30 countries. According to http://www.garudaint.com, the company maintains memberships with the respected National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA), Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and the American Botanical Council.

I think the growth potential for this industry is huge, Matkin said. I think we will see a lot of expansion in the next five to 10 years.

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