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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

2.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)

Basis of presentation

We have prepared the accompanying audited financial statements reflecting all adjustments, all of which are of a normal recurring nature, that are, in our opinion, necessary in order to make the financial statements not misleading. We follow accounting standards set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The FASB sets generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) that we follow to ensure we consistently report our financial condition, results of operations, earnings per share and cash flows. References to GAAP issued by the FASB in these footnotes are to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ (Codification). The FASB finalized the Codification effective for periods ending on or after September 15, 2009. Certain prior year accounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2011 financial statement presentation.

(b)

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

We consider all highly liquid investment instruments that mature within three months of their purchase dates to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are principally invested in securities backed by the U.S. government. Amounts in excess of these FDIC limits per bank that are not invested in securities backed by the U.S. government aggregated $281,000 and $899,000 at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Certain cash balances in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) limits per financial institution are maintained in money market accounts at financial institutions that are secured, in part, by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Short-term investments are classified as held to maturity and are comprised principally of certificates of deposits that mature in more than three months from their purchase dates and not more than twelve months from the balance sheet date and are held at different financial institutions that are insured by the FDIC within the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000 per institution per depositor. We are required by bank debt covenant to maintain at least $1,000,000 of otherwise unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments consist of the following (in thousands):

	As of December 31,				(Decrease)
	2011		2010		Increase
Cash and cash equivalents	$	782	$	1,399	$	(617	)
Short-term investments		4,178		3,227		951
	$	4,960	$	4,626	$	334

(c)

Trade Receivables

Trade receivables are carried at the original invoice amount less an estimate made for doubtful collection. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts on a monthly basis by identifying troubled accounts and by using historical experience applied to an aging of accounts. Trade receivables are written off when deemed uncollectible. Recoveries of trade receivables previously written off are recorded as income when received. A trade receivable is considered to be past due if any portion of the receivable balance is outstanding for more than 30 days. Interest is charged on past due trade receivables.

(d)

Inventory

Inventory includes raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods and is recorded at the lower of cost, on the first-in, first-out method, or market (net realizable value). Work-in-process and finished goods inventories include materials, labor and manufacturing overhead. Inventory consists of the following (in thousands):

	As of December 31,				(Decrease)
	2011		2010		Increase
Raw materials	$	218	$	237	$	(19	)
Work-in-process		1,000		977		23
Finished goods		448		387		61
	$	1,666	$	1,601	$	65

(e)

Property, Plant and Equipment

We depreciate property, plant and equipment on the straight-line method by charges to operations in amounts estimated to expense the cost of the assets from the date they are first put into service to the end of the estimated useful lives of the assets. The cost of the building, acquired in 1993, and the 2001 and 2007 additions thereto, are being depreciated through 2023. Related building improvements are depreciated over ten year periods. Large and durable fixed assets are depreciated over their useful lives that are generally estimated to be ten years. Other fixed assets and computer equipment are depreciated over their useful lives that are generally estimated to be five and three years, respectively. See Note 3.

(f)

Intangible Assets

We amortize intangible assets on the straight-line method by charges to operations in amounts estimated to expense the cost of the assets from the date they are first put into service to the end of the estimated useful lives of the assets. The $250,000 acquisition of product rights related to Wipe Out^Ò Dairy Wipes in December 1999 was amortized to cost of sales over the ten-year period ended in December 2009, and the related manufacturing rights acquired in 2001 for $45,000 were amortized to cost of sales through December 2009. In connection with certain credit facilities entered into during the third quarter of 2010, we incurred debt issue costs of approximately $26,000, which costs are being amortized to other revenues (expenses), net over the terms of the credit facilities.

We continually assess the realizability of these assets in accordance with the impairment provisions of Codification Topic 360, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. If an impairment review is triggered, we evaluate the carrying value of long-lived assets by determining if impairment exists based on estimated undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining useful life of the assets and comparing that value to the carrying value of the assets. If the carrying value of the asset is greater than the estimated future cash flows, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value. The cash flow estimates that are used contain our best estimates, using appropriate and customary assumptions and projections at the time. We also review the estimated useful life of intangible assets at the end of each reporting period, making any necessary adjustments.

(g)

Disclosure of Fair Value of Financial Instruments and Concentration of Risk

Financial instruments consist mainly of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and an interest rate swap. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk are principally cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. We invest our short-term investments in financial instruments that are insured by the FDIC. We account for fair value measurements in accordance with Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. Codification Topic 820 applies to fair value measurements that are already required or permitted by other accounting standards, except for measurements of share-based payments and measurements that are similar to, but not intended to be, fair value and does not change existing guidance as to whether or not an instrument is carried at fair value. The adoption of this Statement did not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, earnings per share, cash flows or financial statement disclosures.

Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable is principally limited to certain customers to whom we make substantial sales. To reduce risk, we routinely assess the financial strength of our customers and, as a consequence, believe that our accounts receivable credit risk exposure is limited. We maintain an allowance for potential credit losses, but historically we have not experienced significant credit losses related to an individual customer or groups of customers in any particular industry or geographic area. We did incur a net loss of $14,000 during 2010 as the result of the bankruptcy of a former distributor. The carrying amounts of our financial instruments approximate fair market value.

We believe that supplies and raw materials for the production of our products are available from more than one vendor or farm. Our policy is to maintain more than one source of supply for the components used in our products. However, there is a risk that we could have difficulty in efficiently acquiring essential supplies.

(h)

Interest Rate Swap Agreement

As described in Note 6, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement in 2010. All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheet at their fair value. On the date the agreement was entered into, we designated the derivative as a hedge of the variability of cash flows to be paid related to the long-term debt described in Note 6. The agreement has been determined to be highly effective in hedging the variability of identified cash flows, so changes in the fair market value of the interest rate swap agreement are recorded in other comprehensive income, until earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows (e.g. when periodic settlements on a variable-rate asset or liability are recorded in earnings). We formally documented the relationship between the interest rate swap agreement and the related hedged items. We also formally assess, both at this interest rate swap agreement’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the agreement is highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flow of hedged items.

(i)

Revenue Recognition

Revenues related to the sale of manufactured products are recorded when title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, which is at the time of shipment and when collectability is reasonably assured. Royalty income is recognized on the accrual basis based on sales as reported to us by our licensee and is recorded as other revenues (expenses), net.

(j)

Expense Recognition

Advertising costs are expensed when incurred, which is generally during the month in which the advertisement is published. Advertising expenses amounted to $5,000, $16,000 and $33,000 during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. All product development expenses are expensed as incurred, as are all related patent costs.

(k)

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes in accordance with Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes, which requires that we recognize a current tax liability or asset for current taxes payable or refundable and a deferred tax liability or asset for the estimated future tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards to the extent they are realizable. We believe it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized through future taxable income and future tax effects of temporary differences between book income and taxable income. Accordingly, we have not established a valuation allowance for the deferred tax assets. Codification Topic 740-10 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold that a tax position must meet before being recognized in the financial statements. In the ordinary course of business, there are transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax outcome is uncertain. In addition, we are subject to periodic audits and examinations by the IRS and other taxing authorities. We have evaluated the positions taken on our filed tax returns. We have concluded that no uncertain tax positions exist as of December 31, 2011. Although we believe that our estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates. See Note 8.

(l)

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

The net loss per common share has been computed in accordance with Codification Topic 260-10, Earnings Per Share, by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, without giving consideration to outstanding stock options because the impact would be anti-dilutive.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2011		2010		2009
Weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period		2,984,749		2,970,833		2,958,784

Dilutive stock options		—		—		—

Shares that could have been repurchased with the proceeds from the dilutive stock options		—		—		—

Diluted number of shares outstanding during the period		2,984,749		2,970,833		2,958,784

Outstanding stock options not included in the calculation because the effect would be anti-dilutive		236,000		273,500		401,000

For additional disclosures regarding the outstanding common stock options, see Notes 9(a) and 9(b).

(m)

Employee Stock-Based Compensation

We account for the stock-based compensation in accordance with Codification Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, which generally requires us to recognize non-cash compensation expense for stock-based payments using the fair-value-based method. The fair value of each stock option grant has been estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, as detailed in Note 9(b). Accordingly, we recorded $38,000, $30,000 and $94,000 of compensation expense pertaining to stock-based compensation, which resulted in an increase in loss before income taxes of approximately $0.01, $0.01 and $0.03 per share (before the effect of income taxes), during the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Codification Topic 718 requires us to reflect gross tax savings resulting from tax deductions in excess of expense reflected in our financial statements as a financing cash flow, but there were no significant tax deductions during the three years in the period ended December 31, 2011.

(n)

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual amounts could differ from those estimates.

(o)

New Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted

Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Topic 220) will be adopted during the first quarter of 2012. Under ASU 2011-05, we have the option to present the total of comprehensive income (loss), the components of net income (loss), and the components of other comprehensive income (loss) either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income (loss) or in two separate but consecutive statements. This guidance eliminates the option to report components of other comprehensive income (loss) as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. Under either option, we are required to present each component of net income (loss) along with total net income (loss), each component of other comprehensive income (loss) along with a total for other comprehensive income (loss), and a total amount for comprehensive income (loss). In a single continuous statement, we are required to present the components of net income (loss) and total net income (loss), the components of other comprehensive income (loss) and a total for other comprehensive income (loss), along with the total of comprehensive income (loss) in that statement. In the two statement approach, we are required to present components of net income (loss) and total net income (loss) in our statement of operations. The statement of other comprehensive income (loss) should immediately follow the statement of operations and include the components of other comprehensive income (loss) and a total for other comprehensive income (loss), along with a total for comprehensive income (loss). ASU 2011-05 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, and retrospective application is required. The guidance is effective for our first quarter ending March 31, 2012. The Company believes the adoption will impact only the presentation of the financial statements.