Ingredia Nutritionals to distribute Nutrition 21's Chromax and Diachrome ingredients in the EU

Nutrition 21, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: NXXI), the developer and marketer of nutritional ingredients for the dietary supplement, and functional food and beverage markets announced today that chromium picolinate has been added to the approved list of ingredients allowed to be used in food supplements in the European Union (EU). In addition, the Company announced it has reached an agreement with Ingredia Nutritionals to distribute its Chromax chromium picolinate and Diachrome ingredients throughout the EU and selected markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The revised list of approved ingredients that can be used in EU food supplements, which now includes chromium picolinate, was published Tuesday in the Official Journal of the European Union. Although the sale of chromium picolinate has been previously allowed in the United Kingdom, it can now be sold in all other EU countries.

Ingredia Nutritionals is based in Arras, France. Its parent, The Ingredia Group, has three areas of focus: food ingredients, health and nutritional ingredients, and related manufacturing activities. Ingredia Nutritionals markets and distributes a select group of premium quality, innovative, and science substantiated ingredients throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

William J. Levi, Vice President, Ingredients and Special Markets, stated, "We are delighted to have signed a distribution agreement with Ingredia so that we may begin marketing Chromax and Diachrome throughout the European Union in coordination with chromium picolinate's formal EU approval. Ingredia has a highly competent and dedicated team of formulators, nutritional experts and sales professionals that are dedicated to helping their customers find innovative nutritional solutions."

Michael A. Zeher, president and chief executive officer of Nutrition 21, Inc., concluded, "Our continuing effort to develop our international business has been immensely improved with the approval of Chromax and Diachrome in the EU, and our retention of Ingredia Nutrition as our sales and marketing partner. Ingredia Nutrition's vast international sales network - with commercial presence in more than 120 countries - will significantly benefit our long term international business growth plans."