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TOP STORY FDA, FTC warn companies for selling unapproved opioid cessation products FDA.gov FDA and FTC this week posted joint warning letters to the marketers and distributors of 12 opioid cessation products for illegally marketing unapproved products with claims about their ability to help in the treatment of opioid addiction and withdrawal. “The FDA is increasingly concerned with the proliferation of products claiming to treat or cure serious diseases like opioid addiction and withdrawal,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. Read more→ UNPA NEWS
Only 18 seats remain for UNPA FSVP training, Feb. 28-March 1, in Sandy, UtahThis course is designed to help participants understand the role of importers under the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (FSVP) rule, part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The course will focus on the expectations of the new rule and will explain the requirements of importers. Many importers are already outside of compliance with this law, published in 2015. Early-bird discount for the 10th Annual UNPA Members' Retreat ends Feb. 16$100 registration savings for the 10th Annual UNPA Members' Retreat, to be held in Park City/Deer Valley, Utah, May 8-10, end Feb. 16. Plan to join us for this year's meeting, with a focus on the business of dietary supplements. Sponsorships for the 10th Annual UNPA Members' Retreat are now availableSponsorships for the 10th Annual UNPA Members' Retreat, to be held in Park City/Deer Valley, Utah, May 8-10, are now available. Sponsorships are an effective way to support UNPA, increase your company’s visibility and get your products and services in front of a highly desirable and targeted audience: the UNPA membership. For more information, contact Kira Olsen, 801.474.2572, x107. Recently posted at unpa.com:
FDA to expedite release of recall informationWhen FDA identifies that a product it regulates violates the law, it works with the manufacturer and distributors to facilitate the product’s recall. Now, as part of a larger effort to increase transparency, empower consumers, and enhance public health, FDA is working to alert the public sooner whenever a product has been recalled.Supplement rivals argue over FDA’s role in ostarine lawsuitIn November 2017, a biopharmaceutical company urged a federal appeals court to reverse a district court ruling involving competitors in the sports supplement industry. It’s unusual for a pharmaceutical firm to formally meddle in private litigation between two marketers of supplements; but, GTx has invested in the development of a SARM (selective androgen receptor modulator) at the heart of the lawsuit.FDA’s soy heart health claim: 25 grams of soy protein per day remains clinically relevantFDA is not meeting its mandate for providing clear, evidence-based guidance that is practical and actionable, says DuPont in comments on the agency’s proposal to revoke the soy protein heart health claim.M&A ACTIVITY China’s Feihe International completes acquisition of Vitamin WorldChinese dairy and infant formula specialist Feihe International has completed its acquisition of U.S. retailer Vitamin World for an undisclosed sum.Aker Biomarine acquires Enzymotec’s krill oil business in $26.4 million dealThe acquisition is part of Frutarom’s merger plan to “enable the rapid, efficient, and comprehensive integration of the global activities of both companies.”LEGISLATIVE Senate advances Trump’s health secretary nomineeThe Senate on Tuesday advanced the nomination of Alex Azar to be secretary of Health and Human Services over a key hurdle by a 54-43 vote. PARTNERSHIPS Puris, Minneapolis-based maker of pea protein, and Cargill form joint ventureCargill will expand into the pea protein space as part of a new deal with the U.S.’s largest producer of pea protein, Puris, which has plans to build a second plant as a result. Neptune to partner in researching krill oil as CBD carrier, bioavailability enhancerNeptune Technologies and Bioressources have concluded a partnership to research krill oil combinations with CBD for wellness products, as well as possible medical cannabis applications. BOTANICAL ADULTERATION Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program publishes gingko leaf extract adulteration bulletinThe ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program has released a Botanical Adulterants Bulletin for gingko (Gingko biloba) leaf extracts. The leaf extracts are used mainly to improve mental performance, for circulatory issues, such as peripheral arterial occlusive disease, and for vertigo and tinnitus.Adulteration: Don’t be fooled, know the factsIncreased knowledge and awareness of natural products has in turn increased their global demand. This well-documented paper from UNPA member Sabinsa highlights various examples of botanical extract adulteration and explores several unethical and cheap measures plaguing the industry, as well as tips on how to overcome them. Gingko adulteration has become rather sophisticated, says herbal expertFor more than a decade, supplements with gingko leaf extract have ranked in the top 25 of the most popular herbal supplements in the U.S., but adulteration of the ingredient has become sophisticated, according to Stefan Gafner, PhD., chief science office of the American Botanical Council.DIRECT SELLING Multilevel marketers gain pyramid scheme resource in FTC guidanceFTC recently published a detailed guidance for multi-level marketers (MLMs) of nutritional supplements and other products, providing the agency's thinking on myriad factors that help distinguish a pyramid scheme or illegitimate operation from a lawful business. The MLM industry is calling the guidance “imperfect, but a good start".GLOBAL REGULATORY Are new German recommendations for maximum vitamin and mineral levels unreasonable?The methods used by German authorities in proposals for safe maximum levels of vitamin and mineral supplements have come under criticism for failing to take into account EU-wide guidance from EFSA and "is at odds with internationally recognized procedures". Unilever’s black tea circulation claim rejected by EFSAUnilever’s claim that the flavonol content of black tea contributes to improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation has been declined by the European Food Safety Authority.RETAIL Inside Amazon Go's store of the futureThe technology inside Amazon’s new convenience store, opening Monday in downtown Seattle, enables a shopping experience like no other—including no checkout lines. Trader Joe's, Costco and Amazon top list of shoppers’ preferred grocersCombining a survey of 11,000 U.S. households with retailers’ financial performance, data science company Dunnhumby named Trader Joe’s, Costco, Amazon, H-E-B, Walmart, Wegmans, Aldi, Sam's Club, Sprouts Farmers Market and Whole Foods Market shoppers’ most preferred grocers.ORGANICS USDA proposed changes to ‘national list’ for organic producersThe NOSB’s latest proposed changes to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances are up for public comment through March 19. They include adding 16 substances to the National List, including activated charcoal, electrolytes, mineral oil and zinc sulfate, and prohibiting the use of the botanical pesticide Rotenone in the production of organic crops.Albertson’s private label organic brand reaches $1 billion in salesAlbertsons reported that itsO Organics brand has generated $1 billion in sales. The chain plans to introduce some 500 new SKUs this year. Congressmen scold USDA for organic industry animal welfare rule delayMembers of Congress chastised USDA last week for threatening to withdraw a widely popular rule passed in the 11thhour of the Obama administration that would heighten animal welfare standards for organic producers.UNPA MEMBER NEWS Cyanotech names Mawae Morton as CEOand member of the board of directorsKailua Kona-based Cyanotech Corp. announced that its president, Mawae Morton, has been named chief executive officer and a director of the company. Morton replaces founder and interim CEO, Gerry Cysewski, who will return to his role of chief scientific officer. NOW honored by national association for business resourcesNOW, based in Bloomingdale, Ill., has been selected by the National Association for Business Resources as one of the nation’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For for the fifth consecutive year, as well as being recognized for the first time as one of The Nation’s Best and Brightest in Wellness for 2017. Thorne introduces at-home test for fertility, thyroid, sleep, stress and heavy metalsThorne is introducing five tests that can be performed at home, designed to provide insight for a personal plan of what to eat, how to exercise and whether to add nutritional supplements.APAC MARKET Food, supplement firms beware: Chinese prosecutors demand more investigations into advertising breachesFood and supplement companies are firmly in the sights of China's Supreme People's Procuratorate, which is demanding a fresh clampdown on illegal advertising for food, drugs and wellness products. Research on finished good buoys fitness drink Celsius leading to broad based distribution in ChinaResearch done on finished formulations and a commitment to a positioning as a dietary supplement are the cornerstones of his brand’s success, says the head of the fast-growing fitness beverage manufacturer Celsius.WEIGHT MANAGEMENT To win in weight management game, a botanical ingredient needs science, transparency, suppliers sayAs weight management products enter a new landscape with sales expected to flatten out over the next five to 10 years, well-researched ingredients will be well positioned to weather that storm and to continue to prosper, according to suppliers. UNPA members OmniActive Health Technologies and Sabinsa weigh in on the issues. Poor science, overblown marketing cause ingredients to fall by waysideA number of ingredients have fared well in the weight management game, generating solid sales over the years. Others have burned brightly and then flamed out fast.MARKETING Brands face loyalty, engagement shiftsIt’s not business as usual for the world’s biggest brands, as political polarization and viral social movements have changed engagement and brand loyalty, according to Brand Keys’ “2019 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index,” which reveals that 94 percent of categories are seeing value changes in how consumers engage. Master the journey to digital: 4 areas of focus for CPGsHistoric CPG leaders are falling behind as their smaller, digitally enabled counterparts rewrite the rules and consumer expectations are changed by digitally native operators, such as Uber, Amazon and Netflix.MARKET RESEARCH Mintel finds over half of Americans report living healthier in 2017New research from Mintel revealed that Americans, who may have resolved to live a healthier life in 2017, foundsuccess. More than half ofAmericans say they lived a healthier lifestyle compared to the year prior, and45 percent say they have made dramatic changes to improve their health. Where in the world are supplement sales growing?The $121.2 billion global supplement industry is growing faster in some regions than others. This infographic shows where growth is occurring (and where it's not).RESEARCH Vitamin C update: What is the RDA and how much is best for youManfred Eggersdorfer, Ph.D., is a professor of healthy aging and holds the chair for healthy aging at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands. In this interview with Richard Passwater, Ph.D., he discusses new science indicating that the recommendations for vitamin C are too low and people miss health benefits that would be achieved by an optimal level. Ohio State study: Women run faster when taking supplementsIn a small study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, young women, who took a supplement of minerals and nutrients (including iron, copper, zinc, carnitine and phosphatidylserine), ran faster, covered more distance on a bike and performed better in a test of stepping on and off a bench than those who did not take it. Curcumin may reduce memory problems, improve moodResearchers have long been interested in studying the neurological and psychological effects of curcumin, and the latest study, published in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, shows that a daily dose of the compound could help prevent memory problems in older adults. Microbiome manipulation: Could fiber-rich muesli help fight arthritis and other autoimmune conditionsA diet rich in fiber could aid chronic inflammatory joint diseases, leading to stronger bones, through the increased production of short-chain fatty acids in the microbiome, say researchers.Omega-3s bone health benefits underlined in hip fracture meta-analysisHigher intake of fish and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) is linked to a lower risk of hip fractures. Innovative delivery system shows potential in combating vitamin D deficiency: Mouse studyA nano-emulsion based delivery system may be an effective way to combat vitamin D deficiency, say researchers in China, the U.S. and Turkey.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. 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