Difference Between EpiCor & Diamond Mills

Diamond V. Mills is a company from Cedar Rapids, Iowa that specializes in yeast supplements and new animal feed technology. In 2004, when Diamond Mills' products were solely for animals, the company began noticing interesting patterns among its employees and their sick days. Specifically, employees who worked near the yeast cultures took almost no time off due to illness. This led to research into the effects of yeast cultures on human health and eventually spawned the supplement EpiCor and the subsidiary company, Embria Health Services, based in nearby Ankeny. EpiCor is marketed as a dietary health supplement that helps support the immune system.

Corporate Relations

• When it was determined that the yeast cultures had positive effects on humans, Diamond Mills decided to spin off a subsidiary, Embria Health Sciences. EpiCor is a product marketed by Embria Health Sciences, which is owned by Diamond Mills.

Preparation Differences

• EpiCor is intended for human consumption, so it's prepared in what's called a "food-grade" facility. This means the facility has to adhere to the FDA standards for cleanliness and sanitation and be registered under Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Because of EpiCor's adherence to FDA standards, it has achieved the Generally Recognized As Safe rating. Diamond V XPC, Diamond Mills' animal feed product, has not received this rating.

Product Differences

• EpiCor was spun off from an existing animal feed product, Diamond V XPC, so the two products are similar. The main differences--other than the fact that EpiCor is for humans and Diamond V XPC is for cattle, swine, horses, poultry and pet foods--are that EpiCor retains more antioxidants and has more protein than Diamond V XPC. The concentration of yeast and protein also differs between the two products; EpiCor has about three times as much yeast and protein as Diamond V XPC.

Price

• EpiCor costs between $20 and $50 for 500 mg. A 50-pound bag of Diamond V XPC ranges in price from $1.50 to $1.75.