USANA Health Sciences Names Dr. Carsten Smidt As Its Vice President Of Research And Development

SALT LAKE CITY, July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE: USNA), a global nutritional company, today announced that it has hired Dr. Carsten Smidt, FACN as its new vice president of research and development. Dr. Smidt, who has more than 20 years of scientific experience in the nutritional industry, will oversee all functions of USANA's award-winning R&D department.

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Prior to USANA, Dr. Smidt worked for Mead Johnson Nutritionals where he helped develop the well-known energy drink, Boost®. He also held multiple executive R&D positions at Pharmanex (Nu Skin), where he oversaw and helped develop more than 50 percent of the company's product portfolio, over a span of ten years.

"We are excited to have Dr. Smidt join our impressive group of in-house scientific experts," said USANA's Chief Executive Officer, Dave Wentz. "As we plan USANA's next 20 years, we expect to continue developing innovative ways of spreading nutrition globally. With his experience in product development and strategy, and our shared desire to create a world free of pain and suffering, we are confident that together we will accomplish great things."    

Dr. Smidt, who earned his doctorate in Nutrition Science and Physiological Chemistry from the University of California at Davis, is an active member of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), and the German Society for Nutrition (DGE), and is a fellow of the American College of Nutrition (ACM).

He will begin his new position at USANA's corporate office effective immediately.

For more information about USANA's products and company, visit www.USANA.com.

About USANA
Founded in 1992, USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA) is a U.S.-based nutritional company that manufactures high-quality supplements, personal care, energy, and weight-management products in their FDA-registered facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. USANA's products, tested by NSF International and used by more than 600 professional athletes, are developed by the company's award-winning team of scientists and sold directly to Preferred Customers and Associates throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and through USANA's wholly-owned subsidiary in China, BabyCare, Ltd. Named one of Outside magazine's "Best Places to Work" for three consecutive years, USANA has received more than 100 state, national and international accolades, including Utah Best of State, Stevie Awards, Australian Business Awards, NutriSearch Editor's Choice and others. Learn more about USANA (www.USANA.com) and the USANA True Health Foundation (www.USANAfoundation.org/), stay current with the official USANA blog (www.whatsupUSANA.com), like us on the USANA Facebook page (www.facebook.com/USANAhealthsciences), or follow USANA on Twitter (@USANAinc).

Media Contact: Ashley Collins
Executive Director of Marketing, PR, and Social Media
USANA Health Sciences, Inc.
(801) 954-7280
media(at)us.usana(dot)com

SOURCE USANA Health Sciences, Inc.