Document:

Exhibit 10.5

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement" is entered into between NutraStar,  a
Nevada  corporation  (the  "Company"),  and Cherukuri  Venkata Reddy Sastry (the
"Employee") as of April 1, 2000.

1. SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT.

     (a)  POSITION.  The period of the  Employee's  employment by the Company is
referred to below as the "Term."  During the Term,  the Company shall employ the
Employee as its Research  Pharmaceutical  Chemist,  reporting  to the  Company's
Chief Executive Officer and its Board of Directors (the "Board"). The Term shall
commence as of April 1, 2000 and continue until March 31, 2004.

     (b) OBLIGATIONS.

          (i) During the Term and except as  expressly  noted in this  Section I
     (b), the Employee  shall devote his full  business  efforts and services to
     the  Company  in  the  performance  of  his  duties,  consistent  with  the
     Employee's  position with the Company,  as shall  reasonably be assigned to
     him by the Board.  The  Employee  agrees,  during the Term,  not to provide
     employment  or  consulting  services  to  others  outside  the  Company  or
     otherwise  engage in any  other  business,  profession  or  occupation  for
     compensation or otherwise.  However,  subject to the Employee's  compliance
     with the  provisions  of Section 6, below,  (x) the Employee may serve as a
     director on boards of directors of other companies and may serve any civic,
     educational  or  charitable  organization  in  any  manner  that  does  not
     materially  interfere with his duties to the Company,  and (y) the Employee
     may also invest and manage  personal assets in businesses to an extent that
     does not  interfere  with his  duties to the  Company  and does not  create
     material conflicts of interest with the Company.

          (ii)  The  Employee  hereby  represents  to the  Company  that  he has
     discussed his  resignation  of employment  with his current  employer,  The
     RiceX  Company,  which the Employee  shall make effective no later than the
     date hereof,  and that the execution and delivery of this  Agreement by the
     Employee  and  the  Company  and the  performance  by the  Employee  of the
     Employee's  duties  hereunder shall not constitute a breach of or otherwise
     contravene,  the terms of any  employment  agreement or other  agreement or
     policy to which the Employee is a party or otherwise bound.

     (c) AT-WILL STATUS/WRITTEN TERMINATION NOTICE. The Employee and the Company
agree that the  Employee's  employment  with the Company  constitutes  "at-will"
employment.  Therefore,  this employment  relationship  may be terminated at any
time,  with or without  cause or reason,  at the option either of the Company or
the Employee,  subject only to satisfaction of the notice requirements set forth
below and the Company's  obligations with respect to severance  compensation and

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benefits  otherwise  specified  in this  Agreement.  The  party  initiating  the
termination of employment  shall give the other party written notice stating the
effective  date of  termination,  which  effective date may (i) in the case of a
termination of the Employee's employment by the Company for Cause (as defined in
Section 2(d)(3)),  be the date of giving of notice or any later date and (ii) in
the case of a termination  of the Employee's  employment by the Company  without
Cause or due to the Employee's resignation, shall be a date at least thirty (30)
days after the date of delivery of such notice to the other party.

     (d) OTHER  AGREEMENTS AND FORMS. The Employee agrees to sign and deliver to
the Company on request (i) a copy of the Company's standard form of Confidential
Information Agreement required of other senior management employees, as the same
may be updated from time to time for  purposes of  financing  or other  business
transactions or otherwise,  and (ii) any other employment-related forms that may
be required by law.

2. COMPENSATION

     (a) BASE SALARY.  While employed by the Company,  the Company shall pay the
Employee as  compensation  for his services a base salary at a rate no less than
$55,000 per annum.

     (b) ANNUAL  BONUS.  The Company  agrees to maintain an annual bonus program
for members of the senior management group including the Employee.  The Employee
shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus under the terms otherwise governing
the annual bonus program.

     (c)  BENEFITS.  The  Employee  shall be  entitled to a total of 10 weekdays
(Monday  through  Friday) per employment  year  commencing upon the date of this
Agreement  for  vacation,  sick  leave  and  other  personal  time off work (the
"Personal  Time"),  in  addition to  national  or other  holidays  chosen by the
Company as holidays  for all  employees  (which  general  holidays  shall not be
counted as Personal  Time).  Any accrued but unused Personal Time may be carried
forward into subsequent years; provided, however, that no Personal Time shall be
earned or accrued if the  accrued  but unused  Personal  Time  available  to the
Employee at any tune exceeds a total of 30 days.  Personal Time shall not resume
to be earned until  accrued and unused  Personal  Time again  declines  below 30
days. The Employee and the Company shall reasonably cooperate with each other in
scheduling Personal Time used for vacation.  During the Term, the Employee (and,
to the extent  otherwise  applicable,  family  dependents)  shall  otherwise  be
eligible to participate  in the expense  reimbursement,  medical,  insurance and
other benefit and welfare plans maintained by the Company that are applicable to
other senior  management of the Company,  and on a basis no less  favorable than
that made available to any other executive officer of the Company.  In addition,
the Company shall during the Term pay or reimburse the Employee for (i) $300 per
month  automobile  allowance  and, (ii) dues  actually  incurred and paid by the
Employee for continued membership in the _____________________ organizations.

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     (d) SEVERANCE. If the Company terminates the Employee's employment with the
Company  without  "Cause" or the  Employee  resigns for "Good  Reason"  (both as
defined below),  then the Company shall pay the Employee the base salary,  bonus
and  benefits  payable to the Employee  under  Sections  2(a),  (b) and (c) (the
"Severance  Payment") for the remainder of the Term.  The Company shall also pay
the Employee all salary, unused vacation, earned bonuses, and other benefits, if
any,  which are otherwise  accrued,  owing and unpaid at the date of termination
(the "Accrued Pay"). Upon a termination of the Employee's  employment  described
in this  Section  2(d),  the  Employee  shall  have  no  further  rights  to any
compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

          (i) Time of Payment.  The Company  shall pay the  Employee all Accrued
     Pay on the effective  date of  termination,  and shall pay the Employee the
     Severance Payment in monthly  installments  commencing within ten (10) days
     after the effective date of termination.

          (ii) Release. The Company shall be entitled to require, as a condition
     of payment of the Severance Payment, that the Employee execute and deliver,
     and (if  revocation is otherwise  allowed under federal age  discrimination
     law) not revoke for seven days,  a general  release by the Employee in form
     and content  satisfactory to the Company in which the Employee releases the
     Company and its affiliates from all claims and liabilities  that may relate
     to the Employee's employment by the Company and/or arise under any state or
     federal  laws  relating to  employment.  This  release  shall not excuse or
     impair timely payment by the Company of any sums due under this Agreement.

          (iii) Cause Defined. For the purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall
     mean the Employee:  (1) has been guilty of, or has pleaded "no contest" to,
     personal acts or omissions which constitute a felony; or (2) has personally
     committed a material act of  dishonesty,  fraud,  violation of law or other
     intentional  misconduct  having  the  effect of  injuring  the  reputation,
     business or business  relationships  of the Company;  or (3) has  willfully
     breached his  fiduciary or  contractual  duties to the Company;  or (4) has
     intentionally or through gross  negligence  failed to perform the duties of
     his  position  after being  warned in  writing;  or (5) has  willfully  and
     wrongfully   disclosed   trade  secrets  or  other  material   confidential
     information in violation of his duties to the Company;  or (6) has violated
     the provisions of Section 6, below.

          (iv) Good Reason Defined.  For the purposes of this  Agreement,  "Good
     Reason" shall mean (1) a reduction in the Employee's base salary;  or (2) a
     material   demotion;   or  (3)  a  material  reduction  in  the  Employee's
     responsibilities  or  authority;  or (4) an  involuntary  relocation of the
     place of the Employee's  employment  with the Company more than twenty (20)
     miles away from El Dorado Hills (excluding  business travel consistent with
     the Employee's  duties to the Company);  or (5) any material breach of this
     Agreement by the Company  which,  in each of the cases  described in causes
     (1) through (5),  above,  is not cured  within  fifteen (15) days after the
     Employee  gives  written  notice to the  Company  stating the nature of the
     claimed breach.

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          (v)  Mitigation.  The amounts  payable by the Company to the  Employee
     under this paragraph (d) shall be reduced by any  compensation  that may be
     earned  by the  Employee  in  connection  with any  subsequent  employment,
     self-employment or otherwise.

          (vi) Exclusive Payment.  Except for payments and rights referred to in
     this  paragraph (d), the Employee shall not be entitled to collect or claim
     any other amounts from the Company in connection  with the  termination  of
     the Employee's employment by the Company without Cause.

     (e)  TERMINATION DUE TO EMPLOYEE'S  DEATH OR DISABILITY.  If the Employee's
employment  with the  Company  terminates  due to his  death or  Disability  (as
defined  below),  then the Company  shall  continue to pay the  Employee's  base
salary  through  the end of the  month in which  such  termination  occurs.  The
Company shall also pay the Employee all salary, unused vacation, earned bonuses,
and other benefits,  if any, which are accrued,  owing and unpaid at the date of
termination.  Upon a termination of the Employee's  employment described in this
Section 2(e), the Employee shall have no further rights to any  compensation  or
any other benefits under this Agreement.

For purposes of this Agreement,  Disability shall mean  commencement of benefits
to the Employee  based on full  disability as defined under the Company's  group
disability insurance policy, if any, in effect at the time of that event; and in
the  absence of any such  policy,  the  absence of the  Employee  from full time
performance of his duties for a period in excess of ninety (90) consecutive days
due to incapacity of the Employee from physical or mental illness.

     (f)  TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY FOR CAUSE OR DUE TO EMPLOYEE'S  RESIGNATION
WITHOUT GOOD REASON.  If the Company  terminates the Employee's  employment with
the Company for Cause or if the Employee resigns his employment with the Company
without Good Reason, then the Company shall pay the Employee all salary,  unused
vacation,  earned bonuses, and other benefits, if any, which are accrued,  owing
and unpaid at the date of  termination.  Upon a  termination  of the  Employee's
employment  described in this Section 2(f),  the Employee  shall have no further
rights to any compensation or any other benefits under this Agreement.

     (g) VESTED PLAN BENEFITS NOT AFFECTED. No provision of this Agreement shall
be interpreted  to deny or impair any payments  and/or rights that are vested or
otherwise  payable in  accordance  with the express  terms of any stock  option,
ERISA,  retirement,  insurance,  or other benefit plan which has been written or
formally  adopted by the Company,  or COBRA  rights  governing  continuation  of
health  insurance  benefits.  These  payments  and rights are in addition to any
payments otherwise due under this Agreement.  However, the Employee acknowledges
that termination of his employment  under any circumstance  will end any further
participation  in any benefit  plans as may be provided in the  applicable  plan
documents.

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3. ASSIGNMENT.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and (a) the heirs, executors and legal representatives of the
Employee upon the Employee's death and (b) any successor of the Company (whether
by purchase of assets or shares,  merger,  consolidation or otherwise).  None of
the rights of the Employee to receive any form of compensation  payable pursuant
to this Agreement shall be assignable or  transferable  except by will or by law
upon the death of the  Employee.  The Company shall require any successor of the
Company to agree in writing  expressly  to perform  this  Agreement  to the same
extent as would be required if no such succession had taken place.

4. NOTICES. All notices,  requests,  demands and other communications called for
hereunder  shall be in  writing  and  shall  be  deemed  given if (i)  delivered
personally,  (ii) one (1) day after  being sent by Federal  Express or a similar
commercial  overnight  service,  or (iii) three (3) days after  being  mailed by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid and addressed to
the parties or their  successors in interest at the following  addresses,  or at
such other  addresses  as the parties  may  designate  by written  notice in the
manner aforesaid:

     If to the Company: 1261 Hawk's Flight Court, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762.

     If to the Employee: at the last residential address known by the Company.

5. SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is
declared by a court of competent  jurisdiction to be illegal,  unenforceable  or
void,  this  Agreement  shall  continue  in full force and effect  without  that
provision.

6. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AGREEMENT AND NON- COMPETITION.

(a)  Confidentiality.  The Employee agrees to enter into the Company's  standard
confidentiality  and inventions  agreement required from other senior management
from time to time.  Without  limiting the  foregoing,  the Employee  agrees that
Employee will not at any time (whether  during or after this employment with the
Company)  disclose  or use for his own  benefit or  purposes  or the  benefit or
purposes of any other person,  firm,  partnership,  joint venture,  association,
corporation or other business organization,  entity or enterprise other than the
Company  and  any  of  its  subsidiaries  or  affiliates,   any  trade  secrets,
technology,  information,  data or other  confidential  information  relating to
customers,  development programs, costs, marketing,  trading,  investment, sales
activities,  promotion,  credit and  financial  data,  manufacturing  processes,
financing methods,  plans, or the business and affairs of the Company generally,
or of any  subsidiary  or affiliate of the Company,  provided that the foregoing
shall not apply to  information  which is not unique to the  Company or which is
generally  known  to the  industry  or the  public  other  than as a  result  of
Employee's breach of this covenant. Employee agrees that upon termination of his
employment  with the  Company  for any  reason,  he will  return to the  Company
immediately  all  memoranda,   books,  papers,   plans,  business  or  financial
information,  letters  and other  data,  and all  copies  thereof  or  therefrom

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embodied or stored in documents, disks of any nature, or other media, in any way
relating to the business of the Company and its  affiliates,  except that he may
retain  personal notes,  notebooks and diaries that do not contain  confidential
information of the type described in the preceding  sentence.  Employee  further
agrees  that he will not  retain  or use for his  account  at any time any trade
names,  trademark or other  proprietary  business  designation  used or owned in
connection with the business of the Company or its affiliates.

     (b)   Non-Compete.   Employee   acknowledges   and  recognizes  the  highly
competitive  nature of the  businesses  of the  Company and its  affiliates  and
accordingly agrees as follows:

          (i) To the fullest extent the same may be  enforceable  under any law,
     during  the Term and for a period  of nine (9)  months  following  the date
     Employee  ceases to be employed by the Company (the  "Restricted  Period"),
     the Employee  will not directly or  indirectly  (i) engage  anywhere in the
     world  (the  "Geographic  Area") in any  business  for the  Employee's  own
     account that  competes  with the  business of the  Company,  (ii) enter the
     employ of, or render any  services  to, any person  engaged in any business
     that competes with the business of the Company within the Geographic  Area,
     (iii)  acquire a  financial  interest  in,  or  otherwise  become  actively
     involved  with,  any person  engaged in any business that competes with the
     business of the Company within the Geographic Area, directly or indirectly,
     as an individual,  partners,  shareholder,  officer,  director,  principal,
     agent, trustee or consultant, or (iv) interfere with business relationships
     (whether  formed  before or after the date of this  Agreement)  between the
     Company or any of its affiliates that are engaged in a business  similar to
     the business of the Company (the  "Company  Affiliates")  and  customers or
     suppliers  of  the  Company  or  the  Company   Affiliates.   The  Employee
     acknowledges  that this is a reasonable  restriction to prevent  inevitable
     disclosure of trade secrets of the Company or Company Affiliates,  and that
     the Employee shall have the burden of proving that this  restriction is not
     reasonably   appropriate   for  the  protection  of  these  trade  secrets.
     Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  this  restriction  shall not preclude the
     Employee from accepting employment at a company in which he does not own or
     share a controlling  interest if the Employee's  duties during such 9 month
     period following  employment with the Company do not involve the Employee's
     participation  in  activities  or lines of business  which compete with the
     business  of the Company or Company  Affiliates  and do not  conflict  with
     clause (iv) above.

          (ii) Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in this Agreement,  the
     Employee  may,  directly  or  indirectly  own,  solely  as  an  investment,
     securities  of any person  engaged in the business of the Company which are
     publicly  traded  on a  national  or  regional  stock  exchange  or on  the
     over-the-counter market if the Employee (i) is not a controlling person of,
     or a member  of a group  which  controls,  such  person  and (ii) does not,
     directly  or  indirectly,  own five  percent  (5%) or more of any  class of
     securities of such person.

          (iii) During the Restricted Period, the Employee will not, directly or
     indirectly  (i)  solicit or  encourage  any  employee of the Company or the
     Company  Affiliates  to leave the  employment of the Company or the Company
     Affiliates  or (ii) hire any such  employee who has left the  employment of

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     the Company or the Company Affiliates  following,  or within one year prior
     to, the date of the Employee's  termination of employment  with the Company
     or the Company Affiliates.

          (iv) During the Restricted  Period, the Employee will not, directly or
     indirectly,  solicit or  encourage to cease to work with the Company or the
     Company  Affiliates any consultant  then under contract with the Company or
     the Company Affiliates.

          (v) During the  Restricted  Period,  the Employee will not directly or
     indirectly,  solicit, or encourage to cease to do business with the Company
     or the Company Affiliates,  any customer,  vendor,  supplier or other third
     party with whom, prior to the termination of the Employee's employment, the
     Employee has had any significant  role in negotiating  contracts,  managing
     that account or otherwise  dealing with that customer or other third party.
     The Employee acknowledges that this is a reasonable  restriction to prevent
     inevitable   disclosure   of  trade  secrets  of  the  Company  or  Company
     Affiliates,  and that the  Employee  shall have the burden of proving  that
     this restriction is not reasonably  appropriate for the protection of these
     trade secrets.

     (c) Savings Clause. The Employee acknowledges that no shareholder or lender
would  invest any monies in the Company  without  the  benefit of the  covenants
contained in this Section 6 by the  Employee,  and that these  covenants  are an
important  part  of the  Company's  strategy  to  achieve  value  for all of its
shareholders,  including  the  Employee  to the  extent of his  interest  in the
Company's  stock.  The Employee  represents  that he has consulted  with counsel
concerning  the terms of this  Agreement,  including,  but not  limited  to, the
provisions  of this  Section  6,  and  acknowledges  that  compliance  with  the
provisions  of this  Section 6 are fair and  reasonable.  The  Employee  further
acknowledges  that  compliance  with the  provisions  of this Section 6 will not
create  any  hardship  on the  Employee  as he has both  independent  means  and
sufficient income to be fully self-supporting without competing with the Company
or otherwise violating any of the provisions hereof.  Accordingly,  the Employee
shall be bound by the provisions  hereof to the maximum extent permitted by law,
it being the intent and spirit of the parties that the foregoing  shall be fully
enforceable.  However,  the parties further agree that, if any of the provisions
hereof  shall for any  reason be held to be  excessively  broad as to  duration,
geographical  scope,  property  or  subject  matter,  it shall be  construed  by
limiting and reducing it so as to be enforceable to the extent  compatible  with
the applicable law as it shall herein pertain.

     (d)  Specific  Performance.  Employee  acknowledges  and  agrees  that  the
Company's  remedies  at law for a  breach  or  threatened  breach  of any of the
provisions of this Section 6 would be  inadequate  and, in  recognition  of this
fact,  Employee agrees that, in the event of such a breach or threatened  beach,
in addition to any remedies at law, the Company, without posting any bond. shall
be entitled to cease  making any  payments or  providing  any benefit  otherwise
required by this Agreement and obtain  equitable  relief in the form of specific
performance,  temporary restraining order,  temporary or permanent injunction or
any other equitable remedy which may then be available.

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7. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  Except for that certain Confidential Information Agreement
between  the  Company  and  the  Employee  (and  any  other  subsequent  written
confidentiality  agreement  signed  by  the  Company  and  the  Employee),  this
Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding  between the Company
and the Employee  concerning the  Employee's  employment  relationship  with the
Company,   and  supersedes  and  replaces  any  and  all  prior  agreements  and
understandings  concerning  the  Employee's  employment  relationship  with  the
Company.

8. ARBITRATION

     (a) The  Employee  and the Company  agree that any  dispute or  controversy
arising  out of,  relating  to, or in  connection  with this  Agreement,  or the
interpretation,  validity,  construction,  performance,  breach,  or termination
thereof  (and  whether  arising in  contract,  tort,  statutory  law,  equity or
otherwise),  shall be settled by arbitration to be held within  twenty-five (25)
miles of the  location of the  Employee's  then most recent  principal  place of
employment  with the  Company  in  accordance  with the  National  Rules for the
Resolution  of Employment  Disputes  then in effect of the American  Arbitration
Association  (the  "Rules").  There  shall be a single  arbitrator  agreed  upon
mutually by the parties.  If the parties  cannot agree upon the  selection of an
arbitrator within 30 days after the demand for arbitration given by one party to
the other,  the  selection  of the  arbitrator  shall be made as provided in the
Rules.  The arbitrator  may grant  damages,  injunctions or other relief in such
dispute or controversy,  except that the arbitrator  shall not have the power to
award any damages or other relief or remedy that would not be  available  from a
court of  competent  jurisdiction  located in  California.  The  decision of the
arbitrator  shall  be  final,  conclusive  and  binding  on the  parties  to the
arbitration.  Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's  decision in any court
having jurisdiction.

     (b) The arbitrator shall apply California law without reference to rules of
conflicts of law and any applicable  federal law of the United States of America
to the merits of any  dispute or claim.  The  arbitration  proceedings  shall be
governed by federal arbitration law and by the Rules, without reference to state
arbitration  law. The Employee and the Company hereby  expressly  consent to the
personal  jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in California for
any action or  proceeding  arising  from or  relating to this  Agreement  and/or
relating to any arbitration in which the parties are participants.

     (c) The Company and the  Employee  shall each pay one-half of the costs and
expenses of such  arbitration,  and shall  separately pay its or his own counsel
fees and expenses during the course of arbitration, provided that the arbitrator
shall have the discretion to award  attorneys' fees to the Employee in the event
the arbitrator  determines that the Employee should be considered the prevailing
party.

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     (d) THE  EMPLOYEE  UNDERSTANDS  THAT BY SIGNING  THIS  AGREEMENT,  EMPLOYEE
AGREES TO SUBMIT ANY FUTURE CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF, RELATING TO, OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE INTERPRETATION, VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE,
BREACH, OR TERMINATION THEREOF TO BINDING ARBITRATION, AND THAT THIS ARBITRATION
CLAUSE  CONSTITUTES A WAIVER OF THE EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND RELATES
TO  THE   RESOLUTION   OF  ALL   DISPUTES   RELATING   TO  ALL  ASPECTS  OF  THE
EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE  RELATIONSHIP,  WHETHER  ARISING UNDER  CONTRACT OR FEDERAL OR
STATE LAWS RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

     (e)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  each party agrees that the foregoing
arbitration  clause  shall not apply to the subject  matter of the  Confidential
Information  Agreement or similar  written  contract in effect from time to time
between the parties, and neither party is obligated to submit to arbitration any
dispute arising under such separate written agreements.

9. NO  ORAL OR  INDIRECT  MODIFICATION.  This  Agreement  may  only be  amended,
canceled or discharged in writing  signed by the Employee and a duly  authorized
officer  (other than the Employee) of the Company.  The Employee  agrees that no
employee handbook, employment policies or other acts or omissions of the Company
shall be  considered  to be part of this  Agreement  or any  implied  employment
agreement  except to the extent  stated in writing  and signed by the parties as
provided in this Section 9.

10.  WITHHOLDING.  The Company  shall be entitled  to  withhold,  or cause to be
withheld, all applicable  withholding taxes required by foreign,  federal, state
or local laws from all cash and noncash  compensation  or other payments made to
Employee in connection with his employment, this Agreement, or other agreements,
if any, between the Employee and the Company.

11. ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The Employee acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to
discuss this matter with and obtain  advice from his own attorney if so desired,
has had sufficient  time to, and has carefully read and fully  understands,  all
the provisions of this Agreement, and is knowingly and voluntarily entering into
this Agreement.

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12.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be signed in counterparts,  each of which
shall be an  original,  with the same  effect as if the  signatures  thereto and
hereto  were upon the same  instrument.  A  signature  transmitted  via email or
facsimile  transmission  shall  be  as  binding  as  a  manual  signature  on  a
counterpart hereof.

                        NutraStar
                       a Nevada corporation
                       ("Company")

                       By:
                          --------------------------------------------------
                       Print Name:
                                  ------------------------------------------
                       Title:
                             -----------------------------------------------

                       Print Name:                         ("Employee")
                                    ----------------------

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                       CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AGREEMENT
                       ----------------------------------

Please read  carefully:  this document  contains  assignments  of inventions and
copyrights,  and other  important  provisions  relating  to legal  rights.  This
Confidential  Information  Agreement  (the  "Agreement")  is entered  into as of
____________________,  between  NutraStar,  a Nevada corporation (the "Company")
and Cherukuri  Venkata Reddy Sastry (referred to below as "I"). While serving as
an employee, independent contractor, director or other capacity with the Company
(referred to, as the case may be, as "relationship" below), I may have access to
information  about the Company or its business.  I acknowledge  that the Company
has a legitimate  interest in keeping this information  confidential in order to
maximize the Company's business opportunities. I confirm my intention to protect
this information  against  unauthorized use.  Therefore,  in consideration of my
relationship  with the Company and other legal and adequate  consideration,  the
receipt of which is hereby acknowledged,  I agree for the benefit of the Company
that:

1. Provisions Related to Trade Secrets

     (a)  Proprietary  Information.  As  used in  this  Agreement,  "Proprietary
Information"  means  the  following,  whether  now or later  owned or  existing,
whether or not marked  "confidential,"  and however embodied or stored:  (1) any
information  (including  without limitation any formula,  pattern,  compilation,
program,  device,  method,  technique  or  process)  relating to or owned by the
Company that derives  independent  economic value,  actual or potential from not
being  generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic
value from its  disclosure  or use, and (2) any other  invention,  trade secret,
knowledge or information  pertaining to the Company or the Company's existing or
prospective businesses,  customers,  suppliers, and others with whom the Company
does or intends to do business, which relates to products, services,  processes,
know-how,   designs,   formulas,   methods,   work  in  process,   improvements,
discoveries,  plans for  research,  software  programs,  source or object codes,
algorithms,  data,  techniques,  marketing,  selling,  business plans,  budgets,
unpublished  financial statements,  licenses,  prices, costs, employee skills or
compensation, or other matters.

     (b) Trust.  I acknowledge  that the Company  possesses and will continue to
develop and acquire valuable Proprietary Information, including information that
I may develop or discover as a result of my relationship  with the Company.  The
value of that  Proprietary  relationship  Information  depends  on it  remaining
confidential. The Company depends on me to maintain that confidentiality,  and I
accept that position of trust.

     (c)  Prohibited  Use/Disclosure.  I will not  disclose  or use at any time,
either  during  or  after my  relationship  with the  Company,  any  Proprietary
Information  except for the  exclusive  benefit of the Company as required by my
duties for the Company, or as the Company expressly may consent to in writing. I
will  cooperate  with  the  Company  and  use my best  efforts  to  prevent  the
unauthorized disclosure, use or reproduction of Proprietary Information,  except
as expressly authorized by the Company.

                                       11
<PAGE>

     (d) Return of Information. Upon the end of my relationship with the Company
for any reason, I immediately will deliver to the Company all tangible, written,
graphical  machine  readable and other  materials  (including  all copies) in my
possession or under my control containing or disclosing Proprietary Information.

     (e)  Waivers.  I waive all claims and  defenses I might  otherwise  have to
assert that the Company's  procedure or lack of procedure to protect Proprietary
Information  lessens  or  excuses  any duty I have  expressly  agreed to in this
Agreement.  I further waive any right I might  otherwise have to assert or claim
that any acts or omissions of the Company  outside this  Agreement  constitute a
set off,  counterclaim  or  defense to any  rights  the  Company  has under this
Agreement.

     (f) Other Agreements. I agree that I will not directly or indirectly commit
or cause a violation or breach of the Company's nondisclosure  obligations under
any agreement to which the Company may be or become a party.  I will comply with
the confidentiality provisions of, and execute such confidentiality forms as may
be required  under,  any contracts  between the Company and parties  contracting
with the Company.

2. Ownership of Inventions

     (a) Inventions.  As used in this Agreement, the term "inventions" includes,
but is not limited to, all  inventions,  original  works of  authorship,  ideas,
patterns,   devices,   techniques,   discoveries,    improvements,    processes,
developments,  designs,  know-how, data, programs,  formulas,  source and object
codes, methods,  diagrams,  technology and trade secrets, whether or not reduced
to practice or the subject of any governmental filings.

     (b)  Assignment  to  Company.  I agree to  communicate  to the  Company  as
promptly  and fully as  practicable  all  Inventions  conceived  or  reduced  to
practice by me (alone or jointly by others) at any time  during my  relationship
with the  Company.  I hereby  assign to the Company  and/or its  nominees all my
right,  title and  interest  in such  Inventions,  and all my  right,  title and
interest in any patents,  copyrights,  mask work rights, trademarks, and service
marks, and all applications,  registrations, and other filings or rights related
thereto on a  worldwide  basis  (collectively  referred  to for  convenience  as
"Proprietary  Filings").  I will assist the Company and/or its nominees (without
charge but at no  expense  to me) at any time and in every  lawful way to obtain
for its  and/or  their  own  benefit,  all  Proprietary  Filings  for  all  such
Inventions anywhere in the world and to enforce its and/or their rights in legal
proceedings.

     (c) Labor Code Exception.  Any provision in this Agreement  requiring me to
assign my rights in any Invention does not apply to an Invention which qualifies
under the provisions of Section 2870 of the California  Labor Code. That section
provides that the  requirement  to assign "shall not apply to an invention  that
the  employee  developed  entirely  on his or her own  time  without  using  the
employer's equipment,  supplies,  facilities, or trade secret information except
for  those  inventions  that  either  (1)  relate at the time of  conception  or
reduction to practice of the invention to the employer's business,  or actual or

                                       12
<PAGE>

demonstrably  anticipated research or development of the employer; or (2) result
from any work  performed by the employee for the employer.  I understand  that I
bear the burden of proving that an Invention qualifies under Section 2870.

     (d) U.S.  Contracts.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  I also assign to the
Company (or to any of its  nominees)  all rights  which I may have or acquire in
any  Invention,  full title to which is required to be in the United States by a
contract between the Company and the United States or any of its agencies.

     (e) Power of  Attorney.  I hereby  irrevocably  designate  and  appoint the
Company  and each of its duly  authorized  officers  and  agents as my agent and
attorney-in-fact  to act for and in my behalf and stead to execute  and file any
document and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution,
issuance and  enforcement of Proprietary  Filings with the same force and effect
as if executed and delivered by me.

     (f) List of  Excluded  Inventions.  I have  attached  hereto as Exhibit A a
complete  list of all  Inventions  that I consider to be my property or owned by
others  and that I wish to  exclude  from  this  Agreement  (with  only  generic
listings if specific disclosure would violate any prior agreement).  If no items
are listed, I agree that there are no such items.

3. Other Promises

     (a) No  Competition  During My  Relationship  with the  Company.  During my
relationship with the Company, I will not, without the Company's express written
consent,  engage in any  employment or business  other than for the Company,  or
cause or assist (in any manner) in the  formation or  operations of any business
competitive with or similar to the existing or future business of the Company.

     (b) No Solicitation/Use of Proprietary Information.  I agree that during my
relationship with the Company, and for one (1) year following its termination by
me or by the Company,  I will not: (1) directly or indirectly,  alone or working
for others,  solicit business as to products or services similar to the products
or services of the Company from any of the  Company's  customers or  prospective
customers  with whom I have had any contact prior to the end of my  relationship
with the  Company,  or (2) solicit  for  employment  any person  employed by the
Company (or its  affiliates  or  successors).  I agree that the  identity of the
Company's  suppliers and  customers and the related terms of dealing  constitute
trade  secrets of the Company  and that the  foregoing  promise is a  reasonable
means of protecting the Company's  trade secrets from the inevitable  disclosure
that would result from a violation of the foregoing covenants.

     (c) No Conflict with Other Agreements. My relationship with the Company and
my  compliance  with this  Agreement do not and will not breach any agreement to
keep  in  confidence  information  acquired  by me  prior  to or  outside  of my
relationship with the Company.  I have not brought and will not bring with me to
the  Company  for  use in the  performance  of my  duties  at  the  Company  any
materials, documents or information of a former employer or any third party that

                                       13
<PAGE>

are not  generally  available to the public  unless I have  obtained  (and first
given to the Company)  express  written  authorization  from the owner for their
possession  and use by or for the  Company.  I will not use or  disclose  to the
Company during my  relationship  with the Company any information if that use or
disclosure  would cause me to violate any contractual or legal duty to any third
party. I have not entered into,  and will not enter into, any agreement,  either
oral or written,  in conflict with this Agreement.  I am not obligated under any
contract or other agreement, or subject to any judgment,  decree or order of any
court or  administrative  agency,  that would  interfere with the use of my best
efforts to promote the interests of the Company or that would  conflict with the
Company's existing or proposed business known to me.

4. General

     (a) Amendment.  My obligations  under this Agreement may not be modified or
terminated,  in whole or in part, except in a writing signed by the President of
the  Company.  Any waiver by the  Company of a breach of any  provision  of this
Agreement will not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

     (b)  Severability/Interpretation.  Each provision of this Agreement will be
treated as a separate and independent  clause, and the  unenforceability  of any
one provision will in no way impair the  enforceability  of any other provision.
If any provision is held to be  unenforceable,  such provision will be construed
by the  appropriate  judicial  body by  limiting  or  reducing it to the minimum
extent  necessary to make it legally  enforceable.  If any  provision  hereof is
considered  unclear or ambiguous,  it shall not be construed against the Company
but instead  shall be construed  to give effect to the  interests of the Company
consistent with the specific provisions of this Agreement.

     (c) Survival of My  Obligations.  My obligations  under this Agreement will
survive the  termination  of my employment or other  relationship  and any other
contract with the Company,  regardless of the cause, lack of cause, or manner of
such  termination.  This  Agreement  will inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the successors and assigns of the Company.

     (d) No Implied  Terms.  I understand  that the provisions of this Agreement
are a material  condition to my relationship with the Company. I also understand
that this Agreement is not an employment contract, and nothing in this Agreement
shall create or imply (1) any right to require the Company to employ or continue
to employ me, or otherwise  enter into or continue any contract with me, (2) any
particular terms of employment or other  relationship,  or (3) any limitation on
the right of the Company or me to end my employment or other relationship.

     (e) Remedies and Attorneys'  Fees. Any breach of this Agreement likely will
cause  irreparable  harm to the  Company  for  which  money  damages  could  not
reasonably or adequately compensate the Company.  Accordingly,  I agree that the
Company  will be  entitled  to a court  order of  specific  performance  of this
Agreement  and  injunctive  relief to enforce  this  Agreement,  in  addition to
damages and other  remedies  available  to the Company by contract or by law. If
any action or  proceeding  shall be commenced  to enforce this  Agreement or any

                                       14
<PAGE>

right arising in connection  with this Agreement,  the prevailing  party in such
action or  proceeding  shall be entitled to recover  from the other  party,  the
reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and expenses incurred by such prevailing party
in such action and any related  appeals,  bankruptcy,  collection or enforcement
proceedings.

     (f) Applicable  Law. This Agreement will be governed by and  interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of California governing a contract made in
and between residents of California and wholly performed within California.

     (g) Complete  Agreement.  This  Agreement  contains the complete  agreement
between the Company and me concerning  the subject  matter hereof and supersedes
all other agreements and written or oral  understandings.  This Agreement may be
executed in counterparts.

                                                     ___________________________
                                                     (Signature)

                                                     ___________________________
                                                     (Print Name)

         AGREED AND ACKNOWLEDGED:

         NutraStar

         By:
            -----------------------------------------

                                       15
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT "A"

                            LIST OF PRIOR INVENTIONS
                            ------------------------

                                                          Identifying Number
         Title              Date                          or Brief Description
         -----              ----                          --------------------

                                       16Exhibit 10.6

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS  AGREEMENT,  dated as of April 15, 2003,  is by and between  NutraStar
Incorporated,   a   California   corporation   ("Employer"),   and  John  Howell
("Executive").

                                   WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS,  Executive  desires to enter into the employment of Employer,  and
Employer desires to employ Executive  provided that, in so doing, it can protect
its confidential information, business, accounts, patronage and goodwill.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  foregoing  recitals and of the
mutual agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     Section 1. Position; Duties. Executive will serve as an officer of Employer
in the position of President and Chief Operating Officer.  Executive will report
to the Chief  Executive  Officer and the Board of  Directors of the Employer and
its  designees.  Executive  will  perform  the duties  that the Chief  Executive
Officer  and the  Board of  Directors  of the  Employer  may  from  time to time
reasonably  direct,  and such duties as may be  specified  for his office in the
Bylaws of the Employer. Executive will devote his best efforts and substantially
all of his  business  time,  ability and  attention  to the business of Employer
during the Original Term and any Renewal Term of this Agreement. Executive shall
comply with all policies, rules and regulations of Employer.

     Section 2. Term.  Without  limiting  the  express  rights of  Executive  to
certain  payments upon an early  termination of this Agreement as provided under
Section 4,  Executive's  employment  is  at-will  and may be  terminated  by the
Employer  at any time with or  without  cause.  Subject to the  foregoing,  this
Agreement shall commence on April 15, 2003 (the "Effective  Date") and,  subject
to earlier  termination  pursuant to this  Section 2 or Section 4, end three (3)
years  after the  Effective  Date of this  Agreement  (hereafter  the  "Original
Term"), unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement. After
the Original Term, this Agreement shall be automatically  renewed for successive
terms of one (1) year each (each a "Renewal Term"),  unless  terminated  earlier
pursuant to Section 4 of this  Agreement or unless  either party gives the other
party sixty (60) days' written  notice,  prior to the expiration of the Original
Term or any  Renewal  Term,  as the  case  may be,  of that  party's  intent  to
terminate this Agreement at the end of the Original Term or any Renewal Term.

     Section  3.  Compensation.  Subject  to  Section  4,  as  compensation  for
Executive's services, and as compensation for Executive's covenants set forth in
this Agreement,  including without  limitation Section 5, the Employer agrees as
follows:

          (a) Base Salary.  During the Original Term and any Renewal  Term,  the
     Employer will pay  Executive a base salary  ("Base  Salary") at the rate of
     ten thousand dollars  ($10,000.00) per month,  prorated for any partial pay
     period.  The Base Salary  will be paid in  accordance  with the  Employer's
     regular  payroll  practices  and subject to  increase  by the  Compensation
     Committee  of the Board of  Directors  in its sole  discretion.  During the

                                       1
<PAGE>

     period  beginning  with the  effective  date of this  agreement and for the
     first four months of this agreement,  the Executive's  base salary shall be
     deferred except for:

          i.   Ten percent (10%) of any deferred  salary for any preceding month
               shall  be  paid  for  every  twenty  thousand  dollars  ($20,000)
               reduction in monthly operating overhead, plus,

          ii.  Ten percent (10%) of any deferred  salary for any preceding month
               shall be paid for every fifty  thousand  ($50,000)  of  payables,
               including deferred salaries,  which are either converted to stock
               or eliminated.

         At the end of the fourth month,  Employer  shall total any  accumulated
         deferred  salary of Executive and pay that amount to Executive in eight
         equal monthly payments, in addition to his monthly Base Salary.

          (b) Annual  Bonus.  Executive  shall be  eligible to receive an annual
     bonus ("Annual Bonus") based upon his performance as determined in the sole
     discretion  of the Board of Directors of the Employer.  At the  Executive's
     option, the Annual Bonus shall be payable in cash or in an amount of shares
     of the  Employer's  common  stock that equals the amount of the bonus based
     upon the market price of the  Employer's  common stock on the date that the
     bonus  is  paid.  Bonus  shall be paid on the  anniversary  of  Executive's
     employment under this Agreement (provided that Executive is employed by the
     Employer on such date) during the Original Term and the  following  Renewal
     Terms, if applicable.

          (c)  Stock  Options.  Executive  shall  receive  a stock  award of one
     million   (1,000,000)  shares  of  common  stock  of  Employer  subject  to
     complying, during the term of this Agreement, with the milestone events set
     forth in the form of Executive Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement attached
     hereto as Exhibit A and  pursuant  to all other  terms and  conditions  set
     forth therein. The parties shall execute such agreement simultaneously with
     the execution of this Agreement.

          (d)  Miscellaneous.  Executive  shall  be  entitled  to the  following
     additional benefits:

               (i) A car allowance not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) per
          month; beginning on the seventh (7) month of employment;

               (ii) Reimbursement of all properly  documented business expenses,
          in accordance with the Employer's policy, as may be modified from time
          to time, for reimbursement of business expenses;

               (iii) An annual paid  vacation of twenty  (20)  business  days in
          accordance  with the Employer's  vacation policy for executives of the
          Employer generally;

                                       2
<PAGE>

               (iv)  Such  other   benefits,   including   health  benefits  and
          participation in executive benefit plans, made available to executives
          of the Employer  generally  and provided as soon as practical  without
          violation of the Employer's policy terms; and

               (v) Such stock options as may be granted from time to time by the
          Board or any committee thereof;

               (vi) Reimbursement for Executive's  reasonable monthly cell phone
          charges  incurred  as  a  business  expense  in  connection  with  the
          performance with Executive's duties hereunder;

               (vii) Reimbursement of Executive's reasonable relocation expenses
          for  Executive's  relocation  from Genoa,  Nevada to El Dorado  Hills,
          California.

     Section 4. Termination;  Compensation Upon Termination.  This Agreement and
Executive's employment shall be terminated upon:

          (a) The Occurrence of Cause. For purposes of this Agreement,  Employer
     shall have "Cause" to terminate the Executive's  employment  hereunder only
     upon:

               (i)  The  willful   failure  or  neglect  by  the   Executive  to
          substantially  perform  his  assigned  duties to the  Employer  or any
          subsidiary (other than any such refusal resulting from the Executive's
          disability or incapacity due to physical or mental illness);

               (ii) The engaging by the Executive in criminal conduct or conduct
          constituting moral turpitude;

               (iii) The willful insubordination of the Executive;

               (iv) The embezzlement, theft or misappropriation by the Executive
          of any property of Employer or its affiliates;

               (v) Fraud, acts of dishonesty or misrepresentation, or other acts
          (including any breach of the Executive's  covenants  contained in this
          Agreement)  that cause harm to Employer or  substantial  damage to its
          reputation or that of its subsidiaries (other than as a consequence of
          good faith  decisions made by the Executive in the normal  performance
          of the Executive's duties hereunder);

               (vi) A  conviction  for or plea of nolo  contendere  to a  felony
          which carries a minimum  prison  sentence  upon  conviction of one (1)
          year or longer;

               (vii)  Executive  commits a material  breach of this Agreement or
          any written policies of Employer;

                                       3
<PAGE>

          (viii) Breach of Executive's  fiduciary obligations to the Employer or
               any of its subsidiaries; and/or

          (ix) Any chemical  dependence which materially affects the performance
               of Executive's duties and responsibilities to the Employer or any
               of its subsidiaries;

     Provided,  that in the case of the  misconduct set forth in clauses (i) and
     (ix) above, such misconduct shall continue for a period of thirty (30) days
     following   written   notice   thereof  by  the   Employer  to   Executive.
     Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  Executive shall not be deemed to have been
     terminated  for Cause  unless and until there shall be  delivered  to him a
     copy of a duly  adopted  resolution  of the  Employer's  Board of Directors
     finding  that  the   Employer   has  "Cause"  to  terminate   Executive  as
     contemplated  in this  Section  4(a).  If Employer  terminates  Executive's
     employment for Cause, Employer will pay Executive his Base Salary in effect
     on the date of termination  through the date of  termination,  prorated for
     any partial payroll period.

          (b)  Executive's  Death.  If  this  agreement  is  terminated  due  to
     Executive's death, the Employer will pay Executive's estate his Base Salary
     then in effect  through the date of  termination,  prorated for any partial
     payroll period.

          (c)   Executive's   Disability.   For  purposes  of  this   Agreement,
     "Disability"  means a disability by reason of the  occurrence of any injury
     or disease  (including  mental  illness) or a physical or mental  condition
     that, in the opinion of an appropriate physician,  (i) results in Executive
     becoming  unable  adequately  to  perform  his  customary  duties  for  the
     Employer, either with or without reasonable accommodation,  (ii) has lasted
     for a  consecutive  period  of at least  ninety  (90)  days,  and  (iii) is
     expected to continue to last for more than an additional consecutive period
     of at least ninety (90) days. If  Executive's  employment is terminated due
     to  disability,  Employer will pay Executive his Base Salary then in effect
     through the date of termination, prorated for any partial payroll period.

          (d) Termination by Employer Without Cause. Employer may terminate this
     Agreement and  Executive's  employment  without Cause at any time,  with or
     without  notice.  If Employer  terminates  Executive's  employment  without
     Cause,  Employer  will pay  Executive  (i) his Base  Salary  then in effect
     through the date of  termination,  prorated for any partial  payroll period
     and (ii) a severance  payment  equal to one month of the  Executive's  Base
     Salary in effect on the date of termination,  for every month of continuous
     employment  immediately prior to termination,  not to exceed a total of six
     (6) months.

          (e) Voluntary  Termination by Executive.  Executive may terminate this
     Agreement at any time upon  delivering  thirty (30) days' written notice to
     the Employer. If Executive voluntarily terminates this Agreement,  Employer
     will pay  Executive  his Base  Salary in effect on the date of  termination

                                       4
<PAGE>

     through the date of  termination,  prorated for any partial payroll period.
     On  or  after  the  date  the  Employer   receives  notice  of  Executive's
     resignation,  the  Employer  may, at its option,  pay.  Executive  his Base
     Salary  through the  effective  date of his  resignation  and terminate his
     employment immediately.

          (f)  Termination  by  Executive  or Employer  After Change of Control.
     Within nine (9) months  after the  occurrence  of a "Change of Control," as
     defined  below,  if Employer  terminates  Executive's  employment  and this
     Agreement  without Cause or, if  Executive,  upon thirty (30) days' written
     notice to Employer,  terminates  his employment and this Agreement for Good
     Reason,  as defined below,  Employer will pay Executive (i) his Base Salary
     then in effect  through the date of  termination,  prorated for any partial
     payroll  period,  and (ii) a severance  payment equal to  Executive's  Base
     Salary in effect on the date of termination  for a period of two (2) years.
     On  or  after  the  date  the  Employer   receives  notice  of  Executive's
     termination  under this Section 4(f), the Employer may, at its option,  pay
     the  amounts  set  forth in this  Section  4(f) and  terminate  Executive's
     employment  immediately.  This  Section  4(f)  shall not apply if,  after a
     Change of  Control,  the  Employer  has Cause (as  defined in Section  4(a)
     above) to terminate Executive's  employment or Executive does not have Good
     Reason to terminate his employment.  For purposes of this Agreement,  "Good
     Reason" shall mean the  occurrence of any of the following  events  without
     Executive's consent:  (i) a material reduction in Executive's  authority or
     responsibility,  but not  including  termination  of Executive for "Cause;"
     (ii) a reduction  in the Base  Salary  payable to  Executive;  or (iii) the
     Employer  otherwise  commits a material breach of this Agreement;  provided
     that "Good Reason" shall not include the temporary  appointment  of another
     person  to  fulfill  Executive's  responsibilities  during  any  period  of
     disability  of  Executive.  For  purposes of this  Agreement,  a "Change of
     Control"  shall be  deemed  to  exist  upon  the  occurrence  of any of the
     following:  (i) the Employer is merged or consolidated or reorganized  into
     or with another corporation,  and as result of such merger,  consolidation,
     or reorganization  less than a majority of the combined voting power of the
     then-outstanding securities of such corporation or entity immediately after
     such  transaction  is held in the  aggregate by the holders of Voting Stock
     (as  hereafter   defined)  of  the  Employer   immediately  prior  to  such
     transaction;  (ii)  the  Employer  sells  or  otherwise  transfers  all  or
     substantially  all of its assets to any other  corporation or legal person,
     less than a majority of the combined  voting power of the  then-outstanding
     securities of such corporation or legal person  immediately after such sale
     or transfer is held in the  aggregate by the holders of the Voting Stock of
     the Employer  immediately  prior to such sale or transfer,  (iii) if during
     any period of  twenty-four  (24) months  following a merger,  tender offer,
     consolidation,  sale of assets, or contested election,  at least a majority
     of the Board of  Directors of the  Employer  shall cease to be  "Continuing
     Directors." For purposes of this Section 4(f), "Continuing Directors" shall
     mean  directors  of  the  Employer   prior  to  such   transaction  or  who
     subsequently became directors and whose election or nomination for election
     by the  stockholders  of the  Employer  was  approved by a vote of at least
     two-thirds  (2/3)  of the  directors  then  still in  office  prior to such
     transaction.  The term  "Voting  Stock"  shall mean,  for  purposes of this
     Section 4(f), the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in
     the election of directors of the Employer.

          (g)  Other   Positions  with  Employer  or   Subsidiaries.   Upon  the
     termination of Executive's  employment with Employer,  Executive will, upon
     request,  resign from any  position he then holds as an officer or director

                                       5
<PAGE>

     of Employer or any  subsidiary  of Employer.  If  Executive  fails to do so
     within  three  days of such  request,  Executive  agrees  that the Board of
     Directors of the Employer or any such subsidiary, as applicable, shall have
     good cause to remove him from any and all such positions.

     Section 5. Proprietary and Confidential Information.

          (a) Executive acknowledges that he has become, and during the Original
     Term and/or any Renewal  Term of this  Agreement,  Employer  agrees that it
     will provide access to Executive and make  Executive  familiar with various
     trade  secrets and  confidential  information  consisting  of,  among other
     things:  trade  secrets,  methods of  operation  and  production,  patents,
     techniques, designs, processes, technologies,  compilations of information,
     past,  present and prospective  customer lists,  records,  copyrights,  and
     specifications  that are owned and commercially  beneficial and valuable to
     the Employer,  including any  compilation  of various trade secrets or data
     derived   from   such   information    (collectively,    the   "Proprietary
     Information").  The Proprietary  Information  does not include  information
     which (i) at the time it is disclosed by the  Executive  was already in the
     public  domain or (ii) is  required  to be  disclosed  by  applicable  law,
     regulation or judicial or regulatory process.

          (b) Executive  agrees that Executive will not disclose,  either during
     Executive's  employment with the Employer or at any time after  Executive's
     termination, for whatever reason, any Proprietary Information to any person
     or  entity,  except in the  course of  Executive's  duties on behalf of the
     Employer,  and that,  similarly,  Executive will not, at any time, use such
     information  for the  benefit  of any  person  or  entity  other  than  the
     Employer. Executive agrees that upon Executive's termination of employment,
     Executive  will  deposit  with or return to the Employer all copies (in any
     media,  including,   without  limitation,   electronic  storage  media)  of
     documents,  records, notebooks or any other information or documentation of
     the  Employer's  Proprietary  Information,  and  all  derivatives  thereof,
     whether the  Proprietary  Information  or  documentation  was  developed or
     prepared  by  Executive  or by  others.  Executive  acknowledges  that this
     covenant of  nondisclosure  is an integral  term of this  Agreement  and is
     given  in   consideration   of   Executive's   employment   and  the  other
     consideration granted in this Agreement.

     Section 6. Exclusive Duties and Nonsolicitation.

          (a) Executive  agrees that prior to the  termination of this Agreement
     Executive  shall not,  without the prior  written  consent of the Employer,
     which consent may be withheld in the Employer's  sole  discretion,  engage,
     whether  for  compensation  or not,  as an  individual  proprietor,  owner,
     partner,  stockholder,   officer,  director,  executive,  agent,  investor,
     consultant,  sales representative or in any other capacity  whatsoever,  in
     any activity or endeavor  that  involves any business in which the Employer
     is  then  involved.  Additionally,  Executive  agrees  that  prior  to  the
     termination of this Agreement  Executive will not,  directly or indirectly,
     attempt to solicit or conduct  business with any person or entity that is a
     client,  customer or  prospect  of the  Employer.  In  addition,  Executive

                                       6
<PAGE>

     acknowledges  Executive's  duty  during and after the  termination  of this
     Agreement,  both  by  contract  and  common  law,  not  to  interfere  with
     contractual  relationships  and  not to use  proprietary  and  confidential
     information about customers or clients of the Employer for the advantage of
     any person or entity other than the Employer.

          (b) Executive further agrees, during Executive's  employment and for a
     period of twelve (12) months  after  Executive's  termination  for whatever
     reason,  notwithstanding any allegation of breach of this Agreement, not to
     solicit,  influence or attempt to influence,  directly or  indirectly,  any
     employee  of the  Employer  to  terminate  his or her  employment  or other
     contractual  relationship  with  the  Employer  for any  reason  including,
     without limitation, working for a competitor.

          (c) The covenants of the Executive contained in this Section 6 will be
     construed as independent of any other provision in this Agreement,  and the
     existence  of any  claim or cause of action by the  Executive  against  the
     Employer will not  constitute a defense to the  enforcement by the Employer
     of said covenants.  Executive further agrees that notwithstanding any other
     alleged breach of this Agreement,  the provisions of this Section 6 will be
     valid and binding upon Executive.

          (d) The Executive  understands  that the  covenants  contained in this
     Section 6 are essential  elements of the transactions  contemplated by this
     Agreement  and, but for the  agreement of the  Executive to this Section 6,
     the Employer would not have agreed to enter into such transactions.

          (e) Executive  further agrees and acknowledges that this Agreement (i)
     is reasonable as to length of time,  scope and geographic area for purposes
     of protecting the commercial advantages enjoyed by the Employer,  (ii) will
     not interfere with Executive's ability to pursue a proper livelihood in the
     event of  termination of Executive's  employment  with the Employer,  (iii)
     does not  impose a greater  restraint  than is  necessary  to  protect  the
     goodwill  or  business  interests  of the  Employer  and (iv) is more  than
     adequately  paid for in the  consideration  derived by Executive under this
     Agreement.

          (f) The Employer and Executive also agree that the court under Section
     17(a) or arbitrators  under Section 17(b) will have  jurisdiction to modify
     any  provisions  of this  Section  5 in  accordance  with  the  court's  or
     arbitrators' respective ruling as to reasonableness or scope of application
     and that,  consistent  with Section 12 of this  Agreement,  this  Agreement
     shall remain  enforceable as modified or amended in the jurisdiction  where
     this Agreement is so modified or amended.

     Section 7. Assignment of Inventions. Executive hereby assigns and agrees to
assign to Employer,  its  successors,  assigns or nominees,  all of  Executive's
rights to any discoveries,  inventions and improvements,  whether  patentable or
not,  made,  conceived or suggested,  either  solely or jointly with others,  by
Executive while in the Employer's  employ,  whether in the course of Executive's
employment,  with the use of Employer's time, material or facilities, or that is
in any way within or related to the existing or contemplated scope of Employer's

                                       7
<PAGE>

business. This Section 7 shall not apply to Executive's music, books, scripts or
similar pursuits that are outside the scope of Executive's employment,  were not
created with the use of Employer's time,  material or facilities,  and which are
unrelated to the existing or  contemplated  scope of Employer's  business.  Upon
request  by  Employer  with  respect  to any  such  discoveries,  inventions  or
improvements, Executive will execute and deliver to Employer, at any time during
or after Executive's  employment,  all appropriate documents for use in applying
for, obtaining and maintaining such domestic and foreign patents as Employer may
desire, and all proper assignments therefor,  when so requested,  at the expense
of  Employer,  but  without  further  or  additional  consideration.   Executive
acknowledges  that to the extent  permitted by law,  all work  papers,  reports,
documentation,  drawings,  photographs,  negatives,  tapes and masters therefor,
prototypes  and  other  materials  (hereinafter,  "items"),  including,  without
limitation,  any and all such  items  generated  and  maintained  on any form of
electronic  media,  generated by Executive  during  Executive's  employment with
Employer will be considered a "work made for hire" and that ownership of any and
all copyrights in any and all such items shall belong to Employer. The item will
recognize  Employer as the copyright  owner,  will contain all proper  copyright
notices,  e.g.,  "(creation date) New Visual Corporation,  All Rights Reserved,"
and will be in condition to be registered or otherwise placed in compliance with
registration or other statutory requirements throughout the world.

     Section  8.  Executive's  Acknowledgments  and  Representations.  Executive
represents  and  warrants  that he is free to enter into this  Agreement  and to
perform each of the terms and covenants of it. Executive represents and warrants
that he is not  restricted  or  prohibited,  contractually  or  otherwise,  from
entering  into  and  performing  this  Agreement,  and that  his  execution  and
performance  of  this  Agreement  is not a  violation  or  breach  of any  other
agreement between Executive and any other person or entity.

     Section 9.  Attorneys'  Fees and Costs.  If any action in arbitration or at
law or in  equity  is  necessary  to  enforce  or  interpret  the  terms of this
Agreement,  the prevailing party will be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees,
costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which he or
it may be entitled.

     Section 10. Waiver of Breach. The actual or apparent waiver by either party
to this  Agreement  of a breach  of any  provision  of this  Agreement  will not
operate or be  construed as an actual or  constructive  waiver of that breach or
any subsequent breach by any party.  Waivers are not effective unless in writing
and signed by the party granting the waiver.

     Section  11.  Multiple  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed in
counterparts,  each of which for all purposes is to be deemed an  original,  and
all of which constitute,  collectively,  one agreement.  In making proof of this
Agreement,  it will not be  necessary  to produce  or account  for more than one
counterpart of this Agreement.  Furthermore, a photocopy of any counterpart will
be valid and have the same effect as an original.

     Section  12.  Severability  and Savings  Clause.  If any one or more of the
provisions or subjects  contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability  will not affect the validity and  enforceability  of any other
provisions or subjects of this Agreement, and it is the intention of the parties
that there  shall be  substituted  for such  invalid,  illegal or  unenforceable

                                       8
<PAGE>

provision a provision as similar to such provision as may be possible and yet be
valid, legal and enforceable.  Further,  should any provisions of this Agreement
ever  be  reformed  or  rewritten  by a  judicial  or  arbitration  body,  those
provisions  as  rewritten  will be binding on  Executive  and the Employer as if
contained in the original Agreement.

     Section 13. Successors; Survival; Affiliates. This Agreement and the rights
and  obligations  under this  Agreement  will be  binding  upon and inure to the
benefit  of  the  parties  to  this   Agreement  and  their   respective   legal
representatives, and will also bind and inure to the benefit of any successor of
the Employer by merger or  consolidation or any assignee of all or substantially
all of the  Employer's  assets.  Except to any such successor or assignee of the
Employer, neither this Agreement nor any rights or benefits under this Agreement
may be assigned by either party to this Agreement.  Each covenant on the part of
Executive contained in Section 5 shall be construed as an agreement  independent
of any other  provision of this  Agreement and shall survive the  termination of
this  Agreement.  The  existence  of any claim or cause of  action of  Executive
against the Employer,  whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise,  shall
not  constitute  a  defense  to the  enforcement  by the  Employer  of any  such
covenant.  The  protective  covenants in Sections 5, 6 and 7 shall also inure to
the benefit of the  Employer's  affiliates  (as  hereinafter  defined) and these
covenants shall be enforceable  against  Executive by each of such affiliates as
third  party  beneficiaries.  An  "affiliate"  of the  Employer is any person or
entity that directly, or indirectly through one or many intermediaries, controls
or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Employer.

     Section 14. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement  supersedes any and all other
agreements,  either oral or in writing,  between  the  parties  with  respect to
Executive's  employment  by the  Employer  (including  any prior offer letter or
employment  agreement) and contains all of the covenants and agreements  between
the parties with respect to such employment.  This Agreement can only be changed
by the parties in writing, executed by the party against whom enforcement of any
modifications may be sought.

     Section 15. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed
in  accordance  with the  substantive  laws of the State of  California  without
regard to conflict of law provisions.

     Section 16. Notices. Any notice under this Agreement will be in writing and
will be deemed to have been duly given when  delivered  personally  or three (3)
days after such  notice is  deposited  in the United  States  mail,  registered,
postage prepaid, and addressed,  to the Employer, at its principal office, or to
Executive  at  Executive's  last  permanent  address as shown on the  Employer's
records.

     Section 17. Remedies.

          (a) Injunctive  Relief.  Executive  agrees that a breach or threatened
     breach,  based  on  reasonable  and good  faith  evidence  of a  breach  on
     Executive's  part,  of any  covenant  contained  in Sections 5, 6 or 7 will
     cause  irreparable  damage  to the  Employer.  For that  reason,  Executive
     further  agrees  that the  Employer  is entitled as a matter of right to an
     injunction  from  any  court of  competent  jurisdiction,  restraining  any
     further violation of any of such covenants by Executive, Executive's future

                                       9
<PAGE>

     employers,  Executives,  partners,  agents or any person or entity related,
     directly or  indirectly,  to  Executive.  The right to an  injunction is in
     addition  to whatever  other  remedies  the  Employer  may have,  including
     specifically  the  recovery  of  damages.  Venue for any action  under this
     Section 17(a) shall be in the state or federal courts located in Sacramento
     County, California.

          (b) Resolution of Disputes.

               (i) Employer and  Executive  agree that any claim or  controversy
          arising out of or pertaining to this  Agreement or the  termination of
          Executive's  employment,  including  but not  limited  to,  claims  of
          wrongful   treatment   or   termination   allegedly   resulting   from
          discrimination,  harassment or retaliation on the basis of race,  sex,
          age,  national  origin,  ancestry,  color,  religion,  marital status,
          status as a veteran of the Vietnam era, physical or mental disability,
          medical condition, or any other basis prohibited by law (hereinafter a
          "dispute")  shall be  resolved by binding  arbitration  as provided in
          this  Section  17(b).  The parties  agree that no party shall have the
          right to sue any other party regarding a dispute except as provided in
          this Section.

               (ii) Any dispute  between the parties  shall be submitted to, and
          conclusively  determined  by, binding  arbitration in accordance  with
          this Section  17(b).  The  provisions  of this Section 17(b) shall not
          preclude any party from seeking  injunctive  or other  provisional  or
          equitable  relief  pursuant to Section  17(a) in order to preserve the
          status quo of the parties pending  resolution of the dispute,  and the
          filing of an action  seeking  injunctive or other  provisional  relief
          shall not be construed as a waiver of that party's arbitration rights.
          The  arbitration of any dispute  between the parties to this Agreement
          shall be governed by the provisions of the California Arbitration Act.
          (California Code of Civil Procedure  section 1280, et seq.,  including
          the provision of California Code of Civil Procedure section 1283.05.)

                                       10
<PAGE>

               (iii) The arbitrator  shall be a neutral  arbitrator  selected by
          Employer and Executive. Within thirty (30) days of service of a demand
          for arbitration by either party to this  Agreement,  the parties shall
          endeavor in good faith to select a single arbitrator.  If they fail to
          do so within that time  period,  each party  shall have an  additional
          period of  fifteen  (15) days in which to appoint  an  arbitrator  and
          those arbitrators  within fifteen (15) days shall select an additional
          arbitrator.  If any party  fails to  appoint an  arbitrator  or if the
          arbitrators  initially  selected  by the  parties  fail to  appoint an
          additional  arbitrator within the time specified herein, any party may
          apply to have an arbitrator  appointed for the party who has failed to
          appoint,  or to  have  the  additional  arbitrator  appointed,  by the
          presiding judge for the Superior Court, Sacramento County, California.
          If the presiding  judge,  acting in his or her personal  capacity,  is
          unable  or  unwilling  to  appoint  the  additional  arbitrator,  that
          arbitrator  shall be selected in accordance  with  California  Code of
          Civil Procedure section 1281.6.

               (iv) In the  case of any  dispute  between  the  parties  to this
          Agreement,  either  party shall have the right to initiate the binding
          arbitration process provided for in this Section 17(b) by serving upon
          the other party a demand for  arbitration  within the  statutory  time
          period from the date the dispute first arose.

               (v) Any  arbitration  hearing  shall be conducted  in  Sacramento
          County, California.

               (vi) The law  applicable to the  arbitration of any dispute shall
          be the law of the State of California,  excluding its conflicts of law
          rules.

               (vii) Except as otherwise  provided in this  Section  17(b),  the
          arbitration shall be governed by the California  Arbitration Act (Code
          Civ.  Proc.,  ss.  1280 et seq.).  The  parties  shall be  entitled to
          conduct discovery  sufficient to adequately  arbitrate their claims or
          defenses,  including access to essential  documents and witnesses,  as
          determined by the arbitrator and subject to limited  judicial  review.
          In addition,  either party may choose, at that party's discretion,  to
          request that the arbitrators  resolve any dispositive motions prior to
          the  taking  of  evidence  on the  merits  of the  dispute.  By way of
          example,  such dispositive  motions would include,  but not be limited
          to, those which would  entitle a party to summary  judgment or summary
          adjudication  of issues  pursuant to Code of Civil  Procedure  section
          437c or  resolution  of a special  defense as provided  for at Code of
          Civil  Procedure  section 597. In the event a party to the arbitration
          requests  that the  arbitrators  resolve  a  dispositive  motion,  the
          arbitrators  shall receive and consider any written or oral  arguments
          regarding the dispositive  motion,  and shall receive and consider any
          evidence  specifically  relating thereto,  and shall render a decision
          thereon, before hearing any evidence on the merits of the dispute.

               (ix)  Scope of  Arbitrators'  Award  or  Decision.  Employer  and
          Executive agree that if the arbitrators  find any disputed claim to be
          meritorious,  the  arbitrators  shall have the  authority to order all
          forms of  legal  and/or  equitable  relief  that  would  otherwise  be
          available in court and that is appropriate to the claim.  Any decision
          or award by the arbitrators  shall be in writing and shall be specific
          enough to permit limited judicial review if necessary.

               (x) Employer  shall bear any costs of  arbitration  that are over
          and above costs that would be incurred by the Executive had he/she not
          been required to arbitrate  the dispute,  but instead had been free to
          bring the action in court.  Each party  shall bear its own  attorneys'
          fees. However,  Employer and Executive agree that the arbitrators,  in
          their  discretion and consistent with applicable law, may award to the
          prevailing  party the costs and attorneys' fees incurred by that party
          in  participating  in the  arbitration  process as long as they do not
          exceed  those  that  would be  incurred  by the  Executive  in a court
          action.

               (xi) This  agreement to arbitrate  shall survive the execution of
          this Agreement.  The expenses of such arbitration will be borne by the
          losing  party  or in such  proportion  as the  arbitrators  decide.  A

                                       11
<PAGE>

          material or anticipatory  breach of any section of this Agreement will
          not release either party from the obligations of this Section 17.

               (xii) BY EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT THE PARTIES HERETO ARE AGREEING
          TO  HAVE  ANY  DISPUTE  ARISING  OUT OF THE  MATTERS  INCLUDED  IN THE
          "RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES"  PROVISION DECIDED BY NEUTRAL  ARBITRATION AS
          PROVIDED BY  CALIFORNIA  LAW AND ARE WAIVING ANY RIGHTS  EITHER  MIGHT
          POSSESS TO HAVE THE DISPUTE  LITIGATED  IN A COURT OR JURY  TRIAL.  BY
          EXECUTING  THIS  AGREEMENT  EACH  IS  INTENDING  TO  WAIVE  HIS OR ITS
          JUDICIAL  RIGHTS TO APPEAL.  EACH PARTY  UNDERSTANDS  THAT IF HE OR IT
          REFUSES TO SUBMIT TO ARBITRATION AFTER AGREEING TO THIS PROVISION,  HE
          OR IT MAY  BE  COMPELLED  TO  ARBITRATE  UNDER  THE  AUTHORITY  OF THE
          CALIFORNIA  CODE OF CIVIL  PROCEDURE.  AGREEMENT  TO THIS  ARBITRATION
          PROVISION IS  VOLUNTARY.  BY EXECUTING  THIS  AGREEMENT  EACH PARTY IS
          INDICATING  THAT HE OR IT HAS READ AND  UNDERSTOOD  THE  FOREGOING AND
          AGREES TO SUBMIT DISPUTES  ARISING OUT OF THE MATTERS INCLUDED IN THIS
          ARBITRATION OF DISPUTES PROVISION TO NEUTRAL ARBITRATION.

                           [Signature page to follow]

                                       12
<PAGE>

         The parties hereto have executed the Agreement effective as of the date
first mentioned above.

                                NUTRASTAR  INCORPORATED

                                By:  ______________________________
                                Name:  ___________________________
                                Title:  ____________________________

                                ________________________________
                                John Howell

                                       13

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