GMOs in supplements: The inside story behind the Coalition for Supplement Sustainability

​GMOs
GMOs in supplements: The inside story behind the Coalition for Supplement Sustainability
New Hope Network
​Rapid consumer demand for non-GMO verified products has prompted the need for a transparent and mandatory ingredient supply chain. But with vast complexity in the vitamin and supplement manufacturing process, the task seemed impossible. Find out how industry leaders, such as New Chapter and UNPA members FoodState, Natural Factors, NOW Foods and Ortho Molecular Products, rose to the challenge in this downloadable presentation. Read more→

UNPA NEWS
IN TWO WEEKS! June 27-28 in Provo, Utah: UNPA's GMP Inspection Training: How to Avoid FDA's Top GMP violations
Is your firm ready for your next FDA GMP inspection? Preview UNPA's June 27-28 GMP training session, taught by Larisa Pavlick, UNPA's VP, Global Regulatory & Compliance, in this short video presentation. Learn more about the program and why you should attend before your next FDA GMP inspection. This course will cover all aspects of the inspection, with a focus on the key elements of quality: identity, purity, strength and composition.
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Register for these upcoming industry events
UNPA's "GMP Inspection Training: How to Avoid Citations and Prepare for Your Next FDA Inspection," June 27-28, Provo Utah--Save 20% when you register by June 5!

"Preventive Controls Workshop for Dietary Supplements: PCQI Training for Dietary Supplement Companies," July 17-19, Salt Lake City

Recently posted at unpa.com:
NEW! UNPA endorses the CRN OWL program (requires member log in)
NEW! A new language converter has been installed on a number of pages of the UNPA website. Check it out in the upper left corner!
The presentations and videos from the 2017 UNPA Members' Retreat are now available for viewing/downloading.(log in)
UNPA comments on FDA official's assertion that serious adverse events are going unreported.(log in)
FDA updates its FSVP resources with updated fact sheets and guidance document (log in)
“Dietary Supplements: State of the Industry,” UNPA presentation at New Hope Network,April 26(log in)
Washington Update: FDA User fees; Health Savings Accounts, by Peter Reinecke and Patricia Knight, UNPA Senior Political Advisors (log in)
"An Industry Perspective on Botanical Quality & Compliance," presentation at ICSB 2017 by Larisa Pavlick(log in)
The PPT presentations from NDI III: Roadmap to a Viable NDI Policy, UNPA member price: $295
Plus, updated industry events calendar,Member Memos (log in) and UNPA educational archives (log in).LEGAL
Court denies Hi-Tech motion in DMAA caseNaturalProductsINSIDER
A motion filed by Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals to reconsider its case with FDA over the legality of DMAA as a dietary ingredient has been denied. The June 2 order from U.S. District Court for Northern Georgia turned away Hi-Tech’s three primary arguments against the April 2017 summary judgment. Read more→LEGAL
Colgate/Tom's request stay in case while FDA defines ‘natural’FDA Law Blog
Personal care products are now joining food products as targets of class-action law suits regarding natural claims, with Colgate and its subsidiary Tom's of Maine being sued for the marketing of several personal care products with allegedly false and misleading “natural claims.” The companies now argue that these cases should be stayed until FDA defines natural, even though FDA’s action is focused on the definition for foods and not personal care. Read more→REGULATORY
FTC guidance offers clear importance for substantiationNaturalProductsINSIDER
Advertising and labeling claims are a primary way companies can grab consumer attention and distinguish one product from another. But as the market becomes crowded, competition has increased and claims have become increasingly aggressive and overreaching. This overview of FTC’s guidance document reflects just how important substantiation is to the agency, noting approximately half of the guidance is dedicated to the topic of substantiation. Read more→M&A ACTIVITY
Balchem to purchase Innovative Food ProcessorsNutraingredients-usa.com
Balchem Corp. has announced is acquisition of Innovative Food Processors Inc., a private manufacturer of agglomerated and microencapsulated food and nutrition ingredients, based in Faribault, Minn. The company will be integrated into Balchem’s Human Nutrition and Health business segment, which provides value-added nutrition products such as VitaCholine and Albion Minerals. Read more→GLOBAL REGULATORY
EFSA rejects Marks & Spencer application for protein-carb weight claimNutraingredients.com
A health claim application by leading U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer, suggesting that consumption of a fixed carbohydrate-to-protein ratio of less than 1.8 could help reduction of body weight, has been rejected by EFSA. The agency stated that a cause-and-effect relationship had not been established. Read more→POLITICS
UNPA's Peter Reinecke offers insights to changing political climateNaturalProductsINSIDER
In the new U.S. political climate, the health and nutrition industry faces many potential threats, but the biggest one comes from within the industry itself, according to UNPA Senior Political Advisor Peter Reinecke. In this podcast interview, Reinecke said complacency from industry members could halt the good strides brands have made with lawmakers and lead to unfavorable legislation. Reinecke also discusses other federal political matters, such as new FDA leadership and coverage of supplements in SNAP. Read more→UNPA MEMBER NEWS
Genysis appoints Adam Schwinghammer president; Indena's curcumin aids liver health; DSA honors former NuSkin CEOUnited Natural Products Alliance, Indena, NuSkin Enterprises
The Genysis Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Schwinghammer as president of the Genysis Brand Solutions Group. A 15+- year veteran in the dietary supplement, food and OTC manufacturing industries, Schwinghammer comes to Genysis with the passion and experience to lead the organization. He is most known for his commitment to quality and a strong reputation for research and development. Read more→

A recent randomized, controlled clinical trial has shown that the administration of Indena’s bioavailable curcumin formulation, Meriva, may improve the health status in subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as assessed by multiple liver parameters. This is the first clinical study investigating the effects, efficacy and safety of curcumin phytosome supplementation in fatty liver disorders. Read more→

Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. is pleased to announce that Truman Hunt was named as the 2017 inductee into the Direct Selling Association (DSA) Hall of Fame at the association’s annual meeting in June. Hunt, who served as Nu Skin CEO for 14 years, was recognized for his considerable contributions to DSA, the Direct Selling Education Foundation and the direct selling industry. In addition, Nu Skin was honored by DSA as one of the top 20 largest direct-selling companies, based on U.S. sales for 2016. Read more→
RETAIL
Vitamin World makes its own way since NBTY saleNewsday
When it was sold in February 2016 by supplement company NBTY (now Nature's Bounty) to a private equity firm, Vitamin World basically became a new company with a 40-year-old brand. It had to build a team, establish an operational process and find new manufacturers for its private-label products. It closed 50 underperforming stores and laid off 140 people after the separation, but the trials have actually invigorated the retailer, according to CEO Michael Madden. Read more→MEDIA WATCH
Researchers mixed about alternative treatments for depressionU.S. News
As many people turn to complementary and alternative treatments for depression, either in place of or in addition to conventional treatments, researchers are mixed about their efficacy. This article takes a look at some of the latest findings regarding St. John’s wort, omega-3 fatty acids, SAMe, as well as other therapies, such as yoga and exercise. Read more→PROBIOTICS
Chr. Hansen adds 100 new strains to probiotic libraryNutraingredients.com
Danish bioscience firm Chr. Hansen says the 100 new strains added to its library could help development of new commercial probiotics for a range of metabolic, immune and digestive health issues. The company partnered with the Rowett Institute, Wageningen University and the University of Groningen to add the strains and says some of the novel strains may be candidates for next-gen probiotics. Read more→MOU PARTNER NEWS
NCNPR, USDA partner to create natural insect repellentNational Center for Natural Products Research
An ongoing partnership between the Natural Products Utilization Research Unit at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Products Research is looking to nature to develop environmentally safe chemicals to manage pests. The goal is find safer alternatives to harsh synthetic chemicals. Read more→MARKET RESEARCH
NBJ supplement report details 'new normal'; grocery study says shoppers seek transparency; pre- and probiotics offer potential for sleep; non-GMO demand boosts organic salesNew Hope Network, Nutraingredients-usa.com,
Nutrition Business Journal's Supplement Business Report reveals market size and growth in dietary supplements, detailing a new normal era for supplements with revenues of $41.1 billion on 6 percent growth estimates for 2016, a. notch up from 5.9 percent in 2015. In the current retail landscape, stores that meet shopper demand for easy access to relevant information, clear quality standards and fair treatment of employees can win, according to the Food Marketing Institute’s 2017 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends report. As the potential link between the gut microbiota and sleep emerges, could prebiotics and probiotics find a lucrative place in the booming natural sleep aid category? Data from Euromonitor shows that the category is seeing robust growth of 30 percent annually and is predicted to hit $732 million by 2018. The growing popularity of non-GMO products is expected to drive growth of organic sales around the globe, according to Irish firm Research and Markets. The report predicts the global organic food and beverage market is expected to reach $320.5 billion by 2025, up from $77.4 billion in 2015. Read coverage:
2017Supplement Business Reportnew not-so normal→
Grocery Trend Report: Shoppers seek transparency→
Gut health, sleep: Is there potential for pre- and probiotics for sleep improvement→
Prediction: Organic foods and beverage market to reach $320.5 billion by 2025→RESEARCH
Vit D prevents respiratory issues; creatine deemed safe; omega-3s aid heart patients; low D, K linked to fractures; K2 with policosanol lowers cholesterolNutraingredients.com, Nutraingredients-usa.com, Nutraceuticals World,
Nutritional Outlook
Researchers from the Centre for Health Research and Development in New Delhi have foundthat vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of respiratory infections among Indian children aged six to 30 months.Creatine supplementation is safe and has a number of health benefits in populations ranging from infants to the elderly, according to a new position paper from the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Supplementing open-heart surgery patients with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids could reduce time spent in the hospital and lower risk of infections, according to a review of 19 RCTs, led by researchers at Sherbrooke University in Québec. A new study has highlighted the increased risk of fracture in children with low vitamin K status, in the first study to evaluate both vitamin D and K status in children with low-energy fractures. The study was underwritten by NattoPharma, the supplier of the MenaQ7 vitamin K. ArteroProtect vitamin K2 and octacosanol supplement may lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and raise HDL cholesterol, according to a study from Serbia. Read coverage:
Vitamin D deficiency linked to respiratory infections in Indian children, new data reveals→
Experts confirm safety and efficacy of creatine supplements→
Omega-3 may shorten hospital stay in heart surgery patients→
Study indicates low vitamin K2 status linked with bone fracture in kids→
ArteroProtect vitamin K2 and policosoanol supplement may help lower bad cholesterol→ETC.
Whole Foods' Mackey on the realities of present-day Wall Street; Vitamin Angels invests in low-tech USB drivesTexas Monthly, CNN Money
Whole Foods Market's CEO John Mackey pulls no punches in this engaging Texas Monthly interview, where he dishes on rebuilding the company's sales base while dealing with aggressive Wall Street investment, among many other topics. Read more→

Vitamin Angels, a California nonprofit working to address vitamin A deficiency in impoverished communities, has partnered with e-learning firm Torrance Learning to develop a training system for local public health workers that works on old computers with or without an internet connection, utilizing a USB drive. Read more→
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. Read more→