Farm bill passes House, includes access to multivitamins for SNAP; Senate takes up bipartisan bill6/28/2018
TOP STORY Farm bill passes House, includes access to multivitamins for SNAP; Senate takes up bipartisan bill The recently passed House of Representatives’ farm bill includes an amendment that would allow for people to purchase multivitamins using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dollars. However, such a measure is not included in the bipartisan Senate farm bill, which includes protection for funding of local and organic agriculture as well as a provision to legalize hemp production at a federal level and make it eligible for crop insurance. Senators began filing amendments to the farm bill this week, but most of them are not expected to get voted through.Jonathan Miller, general counsel to the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, is bullish that a final version of the farm bill, negotiated between the House and Senate, will include the Hemp Farming Act of 2018. Read coverage: Farm bill passes house, includes access to multivitamins for SNAP→ Senate votes to take up bipartisan farm bill→ Lawyer optimistic McConnell will secure hemp legislation in final farm bill→ UNPA NEWS
FSVP training in Sandy, Utah, Sept. 20-21 If you import ingredients for food or dietary supplement use, click on the link above to see if you should attend this FSMA-based training session to ensure regulatory compliance! This two-day training will be held Sept. 20-21 in Sandy, Utah. Just published! The 2Q18 UNPA Asia Report The 2Q18 issue of the UNPA Asia Report, a 16-page mini-magazine published in Asiaceutical Insights, distributed in China and Asia, is now available for viewing and downloading. Recently posted at unpa.com:
REGULATORY Trump wants single federal food safety agency put under USDA As part of a plan to reorganize government, President Trump is seeking to consolidate federal food safety efforts under one organization, called the Federal Food Safety Agency, housed within the USDA. Currently, FDA and USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services handle food safety issues, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assists with foodborne illness outbreaks. ACI Dietary Supplement Regulatory Forum: A new FTC, changes to Supplement Facts panel, navigating retailer demands What should the dietary supplement industry keep in mind in the current political and regulatory landscape? And what are some common legal pitfalls? To find out, NutraIngredients-USA went to the Sixth Annual Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Forum on dietary supplements hosted by the American Conference Institute and CRN. ORGANIC USDA appoints Jennifer Tucker, Ph.D., as deputy administrator of NOP USDA announced the appointment of Jennifer Tucker, Ph.D., as deputy administrator of the National Organic Program under the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. Tucker previously served as the associate deputy administrator of the NOP. As deputy administrator, Tucker will oversee the development and enforcement of the national organic standards. LEGAL RXBAR sued for allegedly misleading consumers with clean label Protein bar maker RXBAR was hit with a proposed class-action lawsuit that claims the brand misleads consumers with its front-of-pack design. Brands are trying to convey the clean-label message through a combination of branding, images and ingredients, but, from a legal perspective those waters are getting murkier, according to attorney Justin Prochnow. CBD/HEMP/CANNABIS Schumer introduces Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act: New legislation would decriminalize marijuana Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., introduced new legislation to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. The act removes marijuana from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act but allows states to ultimately decide how they will treat marijuana possession. FDA approves CBD medicine, signals enforcement priorities against unapproved products FDA has approved a cannabidiol-based drug derived from marijuana. Its top official said the agency remains concerned over claims that unapproved CBD products can cure or treat diseases like cancer. Industrial hemp is the crop to watch Maine is among the 19 states that have enacted legislation to make growing hemp legal. While farmers in the state grew just a quarter acre in 2016, that number will likely reach around 888 acres this summer. Some of this hemp will be used to make CBD tinctures and salves. M&A ACTIVITY VitaCoco owner All Market Inc. acquires energy drink brand Runa Natural energy-drink maker Runa, which has an eight-SKU line of beverages made from the native Amazonian plant guayusa, has been acquired by the parent company of Vita Coco. All Market Inc. CEO Michael Kirban said Runa sales are currently growing at over 50 percent year-to-date. Decernis acquires Food Fraud Database from USP Decernis, a provider of technology and content solutions for product compliance, safety and risk management, announced the acquisition of USP’s Food Fraud Database. The Food Fraud Database, launched by USP in 2012, helps food manufacturers, retailers and other stakeholders make informed decisions about the vulnerability of their food ingredients to economically motivated adulteration. OBITUARY Softgel pioneer Ron Udell remembered as valued mentor Industry pioneer Ron Udell, founder of Softgel Technologies Inc., where he spent 25 years, was remembered warmly after news of his passing spread. He was just two weeks shy of his 70th birthday. RETAIL Amazon Prime discounts for Whole Foods purchases will cover entire U.S. from June 27 Since it debuted a 10-percent discount on some Whole Foods purchases by Amazon Prime members in Florida back in May, Amazon has slowly extended member discounts to other states. Now, all stores across the country will offer a discount on hundreds of sale items starting this week. DIETARY SUPPLEMENT CAUCUS Consistent multivitamin use can combat nutritional deficiencies Micronutrient deficiencies affect more than one in four people in the U.S., a sobering statistic shared with the 130-person audience at the Dietary Supplement Caucus luncheon briefing on hidden hunger this month. The briefing was led by Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and senior scientist, Jean Mayer, USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. GLOBAL REGULATORY FSAI report outlining upper vitamin and mineral limits is for food industry to 'take on board' The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has made available a report recommending maximum safe levels for 21 of the 30 vitamins and minerals available in food supplements in Ireland. Brexit’s effect in U.S.-U.K. food and dietary supplement trade The U.K.’s departure from the EU sparks uncertainty in future trade agreements with the United States, which may not be finalized until after Brexit occurs. PATENTS/TRADEMARKS Patent, trademark trends in healthy aging Innovation in healthy-aging products has been consistent since 2001, but brands are moving away from terms such as “aging” and “old” to focus on “wellness.” SPORTS NUTRITION The Goldilocks issue: When will sports nutrition fit women just right? Despite equal participation numbers, women are routinely excluded from sports nutrition research. PERSONALIZED MEDICINE Next dimension of personalized nutrition: Startup Baze pushes into U.S. dietary supplement market Baze, an at home blood testing kit that measures an individual’s micronutrient levels to determine a set of personalized monthly supplements, has completed a soft launch in the U.S., aiming to introduce consumers to the next level of dietary supplementation, co-founder Philippe Schulte said. DSM underlines personalized nutrition focus and acquisition ambitions DSM has underlined personalized nutrition as a major focus under its new strategy and stated it would continue to seek acquisitions to strengthen its nutrition offerings. INNOVATION Savanna Ingredients develops natural sugar without calories Germany’s Savanna Ingredients has developed a process to produce allulose—real sugar without calories—on a mass scale. The group expects to achieve European foodstuffs approval within the next two years. Centenarian microbiota and metabolites: Japanese experts using findings to develop new products Researchers from Japan are using the findings of studies on centenarians in the country to try and produce new products that will replicate the beneficial aspects of their microbiota. Microencapsulation technology offers potential for creatine in liquid formats A microencapsulation technology developed by AnaBio and distributed in Europe by Prinova will create new potential for the inclusion of creatine in liquid delivery formats, such as gels, gummies and sports drinks. PHOTO OF THE WEEK The Sami-Sabinsa Group was honored with Best Manufacturer Exporter Award Gold in the 'large' category at the 13th Export Excellence Awards in Bangalore, India. Export-Import Bank of India Managing Director David Rasquinha presented the award to Shaheen Majeed, Sabinsa president worldwide, assisted by K Ravi, president, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry. Photos to share? Send .jpg file with clear ID, when/where taken with photographer ID, if known, to editor@unpa.com. APAC MARKET Pharmacies have potential to become important channel for China in supplement sales While sales of health foods via e-commerce have been growing by leaps and bounds in China, Zhang Zhong Peng, director of the UNPA partner China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products has said pharmacies also have the potential to become an effective sales channel. UNPA MEMBER NEWS Standard Process Innovation Center boosts supplement science A new Nutrition Innovation Center on the Standard Process North Carolina Research Campus is designed to conduct high-impact nutritional research with the goal of transforming health care. Chenguang Biotech Group welcomes Ingredientsonline.com and executives from eight supplement companies Chenguang Biotech Group Co. Ltd., based in Quzhou, China, hosted a delegation of 19 general and purchasing managers from nine U.S.-based natural products companies, including ingredientsonline.com, Informa, Shaklee, NASC, Now Foods, ADH Health and Innophos. During the one-day tour, the group visited the CCGB nutritive pharmaceutical factory and grounds, including the quality inspection and development center and the plant-extraction facility. Omniactive strengthens nutrition innovation solutions team To broaden its reach and focused expertise in the Americas and reinforce the Nutritional Innovations & Solutions team, OmniActive Health Technologies has recently welcomed Larry Esposito as its new senior vice president, business head of the Americas, and Nicole Taber as Midwest sales manager, overseeing the U.S. Pacific Northwest region. Sabinsa recognized for export achievement by Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry The Sami-Sabinsa Group was honored with 'Best Manufacturer Exporter Award Gold' in the large category at the 13th Export Excellence Awards organized by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, in Bangalore, India. The Global Curcumin Association welcomes Verdure Sciences as founding board member Noblesville, Ind.-based Verdure Sciences has joined The Global Curcumin Association as a founding board member alongside Sabinsa Corporation. Verdure is the developer of Longvida Optimized Curcumin.MARKET RESEARCH Natural retailers see sales declinein 2017Take a sneak peek at the 2018 Natural Foods Merchandiser Market Overview with this snapshot at how natural channel retailers performed in 2017. The complete report is coming in early July. Small companies making up greater share of new product launchesNearly half of top-ranking brands come from small manufacturers, according to a new IRI report.RESEARCH Prebiotics shown to armor rats against stress by altering brain structureResearch presented at the recent Probiota Americas showed that adding prebiotics to the diet to promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria actually altered the structure of rats' brains in a model testing stress response. Study: Probiotic supplementation may improve postpartum depression symptomsSupplementation of a probiotic strain was linked to improved postpartum depression symptoms, according to Rebecca Slykerman, a senior research fellow at the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland. First arterial health study on MitoQ CoQ10 ingredient suggests positive anti-aging effectsResults from the study indicate that a CoQ10 ingredient known commercially as MitoQ, from Antipodean Pharmaceuticals in Irvine, Calif., may help improve arterial stiffness and “reverse” arterial aging in older adults. Black ginger extract improves erectile dysfunction, sexual satisfaction, says new pilot studyKaempMax, a Kaempferia parviflora ethanol extract, improved self-assessed sexual health in middle-aged men experiencing mild erectile dysfunction. Probiotic dietary supplements could slow bone loss in elderlyThe use of probiotics in maintaining good bone health is an intriguing possibility for the future after researchers point to their use in elderly women, which resulted in a 50 percent reduction in age-related bone loss. Astaxanthin, the 'perfect summer supplement'? Study shows skin protection effectsA new study analyzing the protective role astaxanthin plays in UV-induced skin deterioration found that it may have innate skin protection benefits against direct UV radiation damage.FDA WARNING LETTERS & GUIDANCES Current FDA enforcement actions and guidancesKeep up to date on FDA’s current enforcement actions, including general warning letters, recall information and GMP compliance issues, with this link to FDA's website. Search and sign up for a variety of FDA Guidances. Comments are closed.
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