Industry groups call fiber guidance too restrictive

​FIBER GUIDANCE
Industry groups call fiber guidance too restrictive
Nutritional Outlook
In public comments released in response to FDA’s recent draft guidance on dietary fiber, two industry associations (NPA and CRN) told the agency that its criteria for what is considered a dietary fiber are too stringent. Part of what is unclear is whether the agency will consider some of the more advanced fibers, such as soluble and insoluble prebiotics, as dietary fibers, in part because it says a dietary fiber must have a physiological effect. Read more→

UNPA NEWS
Regulatory Update #2: FDA Inspections 101How are FDA inspectors trained? How does a supplement facilities inspection take place? How can you be better prepared? This second in a series of regulatory updates by Larisa Pavlick, UNPA's VP, Global Regulatory & Compliance, walks you through what you need to know to be ready for your next inspection and includes a number of resources to help you prepare. Requires UNPA member log in to view.Read more→

RSVP for UNPA members' meeting at Expo WestUnited Natural Products Alliance
RSVP today for UNPA's annual members' meeting at Natural Products Expo West, to be heldThursday, March 9, from8-8:50 a.m., in Room 201D of the Anaheim Convention Center.The meeting isopen to UNPA members and invited guests, and there is no charge to attend. NOTE: You'll need your show badge and ID to gain access to the convention centerThursdaymorning.Learn more andRSVP→


Register for ICSB, CHPA Dietary Supplements Seminar
Registration is open for the following conferences, both of which are sponsored, in part, by UNPA. UNPA's Larisa Pavlick is speaking at ICSB.
International Conference on the Science of Botanicals,April 3-6, Oxford, Miss.
CHPA Dietary Supplement Seminar,May 10, NorthBethesda, Md. (UNPA member discount available)

Recently posted at unpa.com:
The PPT presentations from NDI III: Roadmap to a Viable NDI Policy, UNPA member price: $295
Border Tax Memo by Patricia Knight and Peter Reinecke, UNPA Senior Political Advisors (requires log in)
U.S. Dept. of Commerce international buyer services program at Expo West (log in)
FDA meeting with Cara Welch & Steven Tave, summary by Larisa Pavlick (log in)
Tablet & Encapsulation Equipment and DEA, report and regulatory resources by Larisa Pavlick (log in)
"Three Myths About Dietary Supplements … and How Knowing the Right Answers Is Good for Your Integrative Medicine Practice," article by Loren Israelsen and Frank Lampe

Plus, updated industry events calendar,Member Memos (log in) and UNPA educational archives (log in).LEGISLATIVE
Industry applauds new bill allowing HSA money to cover supplementsNutraingredients-usa.com
The newest version of the proposed Health Savings Act, a bill sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Rep. Eric Paulsen, R-Minn., would allow consumers to use their tax-free health savings account dollars to pay for dietary supplements as well as drugs, doctor visits and other health services.Read more→INVESTMENT
Chinese show more interest in buying supplement brands; probiotic maker UAS Labs raises $21 millionNutraingredients-usa.com, Xconomy.com
The U.S. investment community has only a limited interest in investing in or acquiring dietary supplement brands, but interest in the sector from Chinese investors is expected to continue, according to Nutrition Capital Network. In other investment news, the Wisconsin-based manufacturer UAS Laboratoriesdisclosed that it raised $21.2 million in new funds, which came from 12 investors, in a recent SEC filing. Read coverage:
Chinese investment in supplements expected to continue: NCN→
Probiotics maker UAS Laboratories raises $21.2 million from investors→M&A ACTIVITY
Kraft Heinz drops Unilever bid, but analysts wonder if other deals will followFoodnavigator.com
Unilever shares plummeted as Kraft Heinz dropped its multi-billion dollar merger bid, although the withdrawal was reportedly amicable. Unilever’s decision to snub the deal was likely met with relief from its biggest union, which predicted significant job loss and poorer products. Analysts also point out the timing was no accident with the weak sterling post Brexit making it favorable to buy British.Read more→FINANCIALS
Nu Skin announces year-end results; GNC misses expectations; DSM profits soar; Blackmores sees sales slumpNuSkin.com, NaturalProductsINSIDER, Nutraingredients.com
Nu Skin Enterprises announced a decline in revenues for 4Q and 2016, with revenues at $2.21 billion, compared to $2.25 billion in 2015. The company said it made significant progress on 2016 initiatives and reiterated its expectations, saying it is positioned for growth in 2017. GNC Holdings reported 4Q results that missed expectations, with the company noting that the results failed to reflect the fundamental changes to the business model that have been adopted. In its year-end report,Royal DSM saw a pre-tax profit increase of 17 percent with a strong performance from its nutrition division. Net profits at Australian supplements manufacturer Blackmores slumped by 41 percent in the first half of the financial year, with the firm reporting reduced demand from Chinese ‘daigou’ shoppers, who buy in Australia and then ship goods back to their homeland. Read coverage:
Nu Skin Enterprises reports fourth quarter and 2016 results→
GNC CEO: Financial results don’t reflect fundamental changes→
DSM sees profits soar as innovation drives success→
Profits slump at Blackmores as challenging China market continues to take its toll→OMEGA-3s
GOED's monograph sets precedent in industry self-regulationNutraingredients.com
The early 2000s were a time of health claims success and growing consumer awareness around the benefits of omega-3s, but concerns over quality in the sector spurred stakeholders to work together to create quality standards for the industry. The result was the “precedent setting”GOED Voluntary Monograph, one of the first voluntary approaches to self regulation by the industry. Based on strict global regulatory standards, the monograph has been evolving over the years and is now in its fifth iteration.Read more→CBD
FDA may move against CBD supplements following commercialization of GW Pharma productNaturalProductsINSIDER
In part two of this series on the regulatory hurdles facing the CBD market, manufacturers and marketers may be running out of time before the federal government moves to protect the compound from GW Pharmaceuticals, which is now under investigation to treat severe forms of epilepsy. Legal experts estimate that the company will pressure FDA to move against the supplement industry once it gets approval to commercialize CBD as a drug.Read more→CONSUMER EDUCATION
ONHA rolls out campaign to encourage omega-3 testingNutraingredients-usa.com
The Organic and Natural Health Association has launched a consumer education campaign to encourage the public to test their omega-3 levels to identify supplementation needs. The campaign follows its “Power of D” campaign, which garnered more than 35 million media impressions as part of an international population-based nutrient study.Read more→UNPA MEMBER NEWS
NOW opens new manufacturing facility; dōTerra’s CSR, sustainability programs create big impact; USANA program empowers women; Wittenberg added to Whole Foods’ Hall of FameNutraceuticals World, DirectSellingNews, PRNewswire, Whole Foods Market
NOW, the Bloomingdale, Ill., based manufacturer of natural products for the health food channel, has opened a new 200,000-square-foot distribution facility in Roselle, Ill., making it the third U.S.-based operations facility for the company. The new facility will support increased volume and efficiency needed for long-term growth and continues NOW’s track record for investing in state-of-the-art technologies.Read more→

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and philanthropy have always been part of the mission for dōTerra, a direct seller of therapeutic grade essential oils, but its CSR and supply-chain programs are examples of how such efforts can create maximum impact by engaging both employees, representatives and suppliers.For example, its Global Botanical Network uses expertise of local growers and distillers to develop a seamless supply chain.Read more→

Global health company USANA Health Sciences recently held the sixth annual Successful Women Encouraging Entrepreneurs Together Retreat, celebrating successful female USANA business builders. This year, the company teamed up with the Phoenix Womens’ Rescue Mission Changing Lives Center, dedicated to helping women get back on their feet. The USANA group donated professional clothing, purses and shoes to the cause.Read more→

Long-time Global VP of Quality Standards Margaret Wittenburg has been added to Whole Food’s Market's Hall of Fame, which honors past team members or board members for their outstanding contributions to the company. Wittenberg has been a key voice in issues related to sustainable seafood, farm animal welfare, and sustainable and organic agriculture. She currently serves on the board of trustees for the American Botanical Council.Read more→
ORGANIC/NON-GMO
Demand for organic, non-GMO grains pass supply; organic farming pioneers pass the baton to a new generationFeedstuffs.com, NPR.org
Rising demand for organic and non-GMO grains in the U.S. is outpacing demand even though domestic production of non-GMO crops has risen. Imports of organic grains from India, the Ukraine, Romania and Turkey surged in 2016, according to a new report from CoBank. As it comes time for pioneers of California’s organic farming movement to pass the baton, not all are having an easy time finding successors. Some are leasing their farms to organizations, while others are passing them down to their children. Read coverage:
Rising demand for organic, non-GMO grains outpaces US production→
As California’s organic farming pioneers age, a younger generation steps in→MARKET RESEARCH
Calcium, D supplements could save EU€4 billion; US adults with arthritis take more supplementsNutraingredients.com, Nutritional Outlook
Fortification or supplementation programs to increase levels of calcium and vitamin D could prevent almost 200,000 fractures per year in Europe – saving €3.96 billion in avoidable healthcare costs, according to a new report from Frost and Sullivan. A new study finds that 62.5 percent of U.S. adults with arthritis take at least one dietary supplement, compared to 49 percent of adults without arthritis who say the same, according to a recent analysis of NHANES data from 2011-12, published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine.Read coverage:
Calcium plus vitamin D could save European healthcare nearly €4 billion→
People with arthritis more likely to take dietary supplements, study finds→RESEARCH
Vitamin D helps colds; omega-3s lessen chemo effects; ATP helps exercise recovery; report adds to safety data on bioactives; calcium from prickly pear supports boneNewHopeNetwork, Nutraingredients.com, Nutraceuticals World, Nutritional Outlook
A new British meta-analysis of 25 RCTs, comprising more than 10,000 subjects, has found that vitamin D supplements reduced the risk of experiencing at least one acute respiratory tract infection. Those with lower blood levels of vitamin D benefited most.Omega-3 supplementation helped lessen chemotherapy-induced mucosal toxicities, such as stomatitis and diarrhea, and provided liver protection for oesophageal cancer patients, according to a recent Japanese study. Researchers at the University of Tampa found that oral supplementation of ATP prevented a drop in ATP, ADP and AMP levels post-exercise and prevented decline of ATP in later exercise. Growing interest in the role of bioactive nutrients has prompted new analysis of tolerable upper intake levels in a report published in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, which adds to the current body of evidence. New research out of Mexico suggests calcium from Opuntia ficus indicaor prickly pear may be effective at improving several markers of bone health in rats. Read coverage:
Vitamin D study shows benefit against colds, flu→
Omega-3 and chemotherapy: Supplementation reduces stomatitis and diarrhea in cancer patients→
Peak ATP shown to boost ATP levels and muscle excitability→
Report highlights safety data on bioactive nutrients→
Calcium from prickly pear plant may improve bone health, animal study suggests→ETC.
The food industry as climate saviorNewHopeNetwork
The bad news is troubling, with reports of imminent oxygen loss and industrial agriculture stripping soil of carbon and then creating acidification in the oceans, which is killing off the plankton. But the good news is that humans can cool the planet with regenerative agriculture. In this commentary, Nutiva CEO John Roulac says the natural products industry must play a part in saving the earth and explains why and how to take first steps in doing so.Read more→