Style and Focus News Bites

** Beauty: Leading Cosmetic Firms Fined for Exchanging Information. The German units of nine international cosmetics and fragrance firms have been fined a total of almost €10 million for exchanging information about sales, planned product launches and price rises which violates anti-trust laws. According to the German Federal Cartel Office, the following companies were implicated: Chanel, Clarins, Cosmopolitan Cosmetics (now P&G prestige products), Coty Prestige Lancaster, Estée Lauder, L'Oréal, LVMH Parfums and Cosmetics, Shiseido and YSL Beauté. In addition thirteen former managers of these companies are to be fined by the office.

The Cartel Office said the companies have been meeting four times a year to discuss figures, recent advertising costs and planned price increases since 1995. The companies are being fined between €250,000 and €2.1m, however they can appeal at the higher regional court in Dusseldorf. (Cosmetic Design) - Beauty

** Entertainment: Courteney Cox to Join 'Scrubs'. According to Entertainment Weekly, Cox will become the new Chief of Medicine and her character will "ruffle feathers". Cox signed up to appear in three episodes. - Entertainment

** Business/Health: Salmonella Scare Hurts Calif. Tomato Growers. The Food and Drug Administration announced that the salmonella outbreak has sickened more than 1,000 people — making it the worst food outbreak in years. Even thought the FDA never suspected California tomatoes, the salmonella scare has clearly hurt California growers, who are just starting to harvest their tomatoes.

Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers, a cooperative association of farms in California and Arizona, says that when the FDA issues consumer warnings before it has a good handle on the possible culprit, the economic devastation goes beyond farmers. Whose affected are "the people who pick in the field, the workers who grow it, the people who harvest it, the packing shed workers, which affects the truckers." (NPR) - Business/Health

** Fashion: My Vintage Baby Premieres Maternity Wear for Spring 2009. The new line of maternity tops will complement the My Vintage Baby’s children’s collection. This will be the Company’s first venture beyond the unique and nostalgic children’s apparel and accessories it's known for. For more information regarding My Vintage Baby please visit: www.myvintagebaby.com. (Press Release) - Fashion

** Fashion: Leonardo DiCaprio Partners with Jaeger-LeCoultre. The luxury company has collaborated with the charitable actor to create the Time to Care program, as well as develop two watches that will benefit the Leonardo DiCaprio Fund at the California Community Foundation. The timepieces will debut this fall, and all proceeds from the sales will directly benefit the cause. (Fashion Week Daily) - Fashion

** Business: Jennifer Lopez Closes Her Restaurant. According to Us magazine, Lopez has closed her buzzed about restaurant Madre's which is located in Pasadena, CA. The Latin inspired restaurant opened a little over six years ago. The restaurant's name was selected by then Gigli co-star Ben Affleck. No additional information given. - Business