Legislators strike a deal on farm bill legalizing hemp

TOP STORY
Legislators strike a deal on farm bill legalizing hemp
​The top House Agriculture Democrat, Collin Peterson of Minnesota, says a final farm bill agreement rejects controversial House provisions to tie food stamp benefits to expanded work requirements but greenlights hemp cultivation. Legislators noted that there is more work to be done, including finalizing legal and report language as well as Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scores but indicated that this work is a priority. Read coverage
Final farm bill makes hemp legal, details revealed→
Tentative deal reached on farm bill→

REGULATORY
Experts debate pros, cons of mandatory product registry of dietary supplements
A veteran attorney in Washington says it's an idea whose time has come: a mandatory product registry for the dietary supplement industry, while another experienced lawyer feels otherwise. UNPA’s Loren Israelsen also weighs in.
 Dietary supplement ingredient importers arrested in connection to smuggling, money laundering schemeTwo southern California residents were arrested in connection with a long-running scheme to smuggle purported dietary supplement ingredients into the United States from China, the Department of Justice announced. Lynn Chau and Bao Luu were charged in a seven-count indictment, which also charged Chau’s import company Pure Assay Ingredients Inc.
 FDA adds heavy metals contamination to its list of concerns about kratomFDA has warned consumers against kratom products because of heavy metal contamination. The announcement joins numerous warnings the agency has issues in recent years on the botanical.LEGAL
FTC refunds more than $750,000 to consumers in disease-claims caseFTC has started to refund more than $750,000 to consumers who were duped into buying products labeled as supplements marketed with spurious disease claims.M&A ACTIVITY
Unilever to acquire Horlicks and GSK’s Health Food Drinks portfolio; names new CEOUnilever will acquire GlaxoSmithKline’s Health Food Drinks portfolio in Asia for €3.3billion ($3.8billion), a move that will boost its presence in the Indian market. The company also appointed Alan Jope, who currently heads Unilever's beauty and personal care division, as the replacement for longtime CEO Paul Polman.
 New acquisition targets changing marketplaceWhat kinds of businesses are most attractive to forward-thinking acquirers in the natural products arena? Acquisition, or inorganic growth, is one method being employed by established and cash-rich companies to adapt to this changing marketplace. Clorox and Nestlé made major acquisitions over the last 12 months in the VMS/nutraceutical space.LEGISLATIVE NEWS
Nutritional Outlook's 2018 Best of the Industry Awards, Industry Leader: Senator Orrin HatchThere are few figures more revered in the dietary supplement industry than Orrin Grant Hatch, the Republican senator who has represented the state of Utah since 1977 and championed dietary supplements throughout his career, most notably with his most seminal contribution: the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. On the eve of his retirement, Nutritional Outlook recognizes his contributions to the industry with remembrances from industry leaders.PRODUCT QUALITY
Dyad Labs confirms nutraceutical industry self-regulation compliance through blind protein-ID tests on leading productsIn October 2018, Dyad Labs conducted 25 highly advanced protein identification tests and confirmed that the nutraceutical industry’s practice of self-regulation is largely effective regarding label accuracy of protein products. Protein-source testing methods have been subjective and without direct analysis. Many have suspected that without selective testing, some brands would claim an expensive protein source, but substitute a less expensive protein.
 Call for public NMR database viewed favorably by industry expertsA recent call by a formidable team of researchers for a publicly accessible nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) database was met with approval by experts in the natural products industry.
 Spiked supplements cultivate alarming street drug appealStreet-drug brands illegally claiming to be dietary supplements make blatant regulatory violations, but “whack-a-mole” enforcement has proven to be difficult.HEMP/CBD
Firms find ways past CBD morass with other botanicals that target endocannabinoid systemAn extensive history with cannabis products was the foundation for a new line of CBD-free dietary supplements that target the endocannabinoid system, according to Jade Beutler, CEO of Emerald Health Bioceuticals.GLOBAL REGULATORY
EFSA provides interactive Dietary Reference Value tool for food firmsThe European Food and Safety Authority has made available an interactive tool designed to give food firms easy access to nutrient amounts needed to maintain population and individual health.
 EFSA authorization form: Strengthening trust or jeopardizing competitivenessLegislators took a step towards increasing the transparency of the European Food Safety Agency's authorization process in a bid to improve trust and risk prevention. However, concerns are mounting that this could have the unintended consequence of hampering the competitiveness of European food businesses.
 New Zealand health ministry issues further warning over supplement ingredientThe director general of New Zealand's Ministry of Health has issued yet another public warning about supplements containing Artemisia annua extract, after 11 more reports of liver complications from consuming such products surfaced.
 Swedish court overrules National Food Agency in vitamin D sales banThe Swedish Supreme Administrative Court has overruled a decision by the country’s local government that prohibits sales of food supplements, declaring the ban to be “without constitutional support.”
 Battle lines drawn over nutrition labeling in EuropeNutritional labeling is an emotive subject in Europe, drawing strong responses from all sides of the debate. As the European Commission prepares to release its report on the topic next year, can—and indeed should—consensus be reached for a single pan-European front-of-pack labeling system?BOTANICALS
AHP releases first monograph, therapeutic compendium for oshaThe American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) announced the release of a monograph and therapeutic compendium for Oshá Ligusticum porteri and closely related species. A joint effort of AHP, United Plant Savers, and the ERB Foundation of the American Herbal Products Association, it is the first pharmacopoeia monograph ever developed for this botanical, presenting the rich history of ethnobotanical use and detailed information on sustainable harvest practices for one of North America’s more important indigenous plants.RETAIL
GNC hopes experiential store will be one-stopshopGNC Holdings this week announced the grand opening of its experiential store in Pittsburgh. The new store features unusual offerings, such as smoothies, dietitians and body analyses alongside typical GNC products, to allow consumers to customize their wellness regimen.
 Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. announces leadership changeSprouts Farmers Market Inc. announced that Amin Maredia, the company’s CEO and member of the board of directors, will transition away from the company to pursue other interests. Jim Nielsen, Sprout’s president/COO, and Brad Lukow, CFO, will serve as co-interim chief executive officers until a permanent successor has been named.APAC MARKET
Personalized nutrition in Taiwan: Technology, affordability and celebrity backing driving consumer interestThe understanding and demand for gene testing and personalized nutrition are growing in Taiwan, according to TCI Gene, a Taiwanese firm.
 IP trends show joint support innovation in ChinaA country-based analysis indicated a very large increase in patent filings in China for joint support nutritional products.MEDIA WATCH
How much protein do you really need?The marketing is enticing: Get stronger muscles and healthier bodies with minimal effort by adding protein powder to your morning shake or juice drink. Or grab a protein bar at lunch or for a quick snack. But do we really need all this supplemental protein? It depends.ORGANICS
OFRF releases guidebook on organic practices for climate mitigationThe Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) released the eighth guidebook in its popular Soil Health and Organic Farming Series. Organic Practices for Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Carbon Sequestration examines research related to the capacity of sustainable organic systems and practices to sequester soil carbon and minimize nitrous oxide and methane emissions.SPORTS NUTRITION
The dark side of sportsIn this anonymous guest piece from Nutrition Business Journal’s annual Dark Issue, a sports nutrition professional talks about the crimes and irresponsible practices he saw and why it forced him to walk away from his job.BOTANICALS
Unstudied plants may be at risk of extinctionPlants have long gotten short shrift in conservation circles. Although perhaps a fifth of the U.K.’s species are at risk, according to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, identifying which ones are on the brink is a somewhat anecdotal business. Less than 10 percent of plant species have been assessed by the IUCN Red List, considered the preeminent global directory of extinction threat.INNOVATION
Omega-3 innovation: KD Pharma launches DPA and PRM ingredientsEPA and DHA: These two fatty acids have been the focus of omega-3 research for a long time, but emerging data is shining the spotlight on DPA (docosapentaenoic acid) and the fascinating world of pre-resolving mediators (PRMs).
 AI-driven peptide discovery bodes well for sports nutrition and beyondPeptAIde, the world's first bioactive ingredient discovered and delivered through artificial intelligence (AI), is the culmination of a partnership between BASF and Nuritas formed in January 2017. The ingredient hints at the depth of impact that AI could have on sports nutrition.UNPA MEMBER NEWS
Shaklee welcomes renowned physiologist, registered dietitian to Pure Performance teamShaklee Corporation announced the addition of world-renowned sports physiologist Genadijus Sokolovas, Ph.D., and Sarah Scherer-Oursland, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, for the Shaklee Pure Performance Team. Sokolovas and Scherer-Oursland will advise the 90+ team members on matters concerning sports nutrition and dietary supplements for top performance on the field of play.
 Whole Kids Foundation raised $3.9 million for children's nutritionWhole Foods Market’s Whole Kids Foundation raised $3.9 million through its annual Growing Healthy Kids campaign to fund K-12 school programs aimed at improving children’s nutrition and wellness in North America and the United Kingdom. The Austin, Texas-based nonprofit foundation was established in 2011. Donations made through the September register campaign will serve more than 500,000 students in 1,000 schools.
OmniActive launches Improving Lives FoundationThe Improving Lives Foundation—Omniactive’s most ambitious corporate responsibility project—focuses on improving the health of small farming communities and promoting gender equality in rural India. Through regional community- and school-level nutrition and hygiene programs, the foundation focuses on several key areas, including protection and improvement of vision; improved nutrition to help farmers and their families meet their nutritional needs; improved sanitation and clean water systems.
 Sabinsa’s Nigellin Black Cumin seed extract identified as a potent favorable immunomodulation in asthma inflammationRecent research published in Frontiers of Pharmacologyidentified Nigellin BCS - Amber, Sabinsa’s Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) seed extract, as being the most effective of the 10 Nigella sativa extracts used in an in vitro study, which suppressed the release of the most active cytokines and identified a prostanoid with inflammatory properties. It may possess a favorable effect in the context of asthmatic conditions.ECOMMERCE
Subscription supplement seller uses smart-cap technology to drive compliance reordersA new ecommerce-based subscription supplement brand launches with a unique feature: a smart-cap technology intended to drive compliance and help manage reordering.ENVIRONMENT
Beekeepers say weedkiller, dicamba, poses threatThe polarizing weedkiller dicamba faces new criticism for its effects on the honeybee population, after being disparaged for creating rifts in the agriculture community and harming wildlife. Beekeepers are going to extreme measures to keep bee populations out of harm’s way by relocating thousands of hives in some cases.PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
Findings suggest that personalized medicine is disrupting cancerIncreasing evidence shows that powerful dietary interventions such as short-term fasting and carbohydrate restriction can disrupt tumor metabolism, synergizing with standard therapies such as radiation and drug therapy to improve efficacy and ultimately, cancer survival.EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

UNPA member companies have posted the following employment opportunities. To include a job posting, email editor@unpa.com.

NEW!
Sales Account Executive – Medical, Chicago, posted by Ortho Molecular Products
Sales Account Executive – Medical, Naperville, Ill., posted by Ortho Molecular Products
Sales Account Executive – Medical, Salt Lake City, posted by Ortho Molecular Products
Sales Account Executive – Medical, De Moines, Iowa, posted by Ortho Molecular Products
Sales Account Executive – Medical, New York, posted by Ortho Molecular Products
Sales Account Executive – Medical, Anaheim, Calif., posted by Ortho Molecular Products
Inside Sales Representative, Woodstock, Ill., posted by Ortho Molecular ProductsMARKETING
B2B marketers now devote 28 percent of marketing budget to account-based marketingMost B2B marketers believe in account-based marketing. But it’s still a relatively new practice, according to the 2018 ABM Benchmark study, a report by ITSMA, the marketing community that pioneered the idea in 2002, Demandbase and the ABM Leadership Alliance. 
 Big opportunity for small companies as skeptical consumers search for ethical brandsBig health food and drink companies must go small with their marketing tactics as skeptical consumers are shunning established firms and demanding ethical brands, according to new research from Health Ingredients Europe.
 Consumers prefer brands that take a standThe majority of consumers globally prefer buying from brands that take a stand on issues they care about, and they are ditching those that don’t, according to Accenture Strategy.
 Five signs your brand needs some truthBrands have access to boatloads of truth from customers 24/7 on the web—but some brands respond with a shrug, thinking, “haters gonna hate.” Sometimes that’s true, but brand marketers cannot afford to dismiss customer dissatisfaction when competing for market share.
MARKET RESEARCH
Why new brands need both ecommerce and retail strategiesNBJ's proprietary research indicates that independent young brands are looking past retail in their launch strategies and focusing on ecommerce as an initial step. But how will this change the fate of brick-and-mortar, and what does Whole Foods have to do with it?RESEARCH
Data supports increased role for probiotics and prebiotics in healthy agingGut dysbiosis is a common feature of the afflictions that come with aging, according to a Japanese review. The findings open wider the door for probiotics and prebiotics as a healthy aging positioning.
 Mars RCT supports epicatechin for vascular benefits of cocoa flavonolsThe vascular benefits of cocoa flavanols are linked to the bioactivity of (−)-epicatechin, but not procyanidins, according to results of a randomized, controlled, double-masked intervention trial.
 The majority of Americans aren’t getting enough cholineRecent analyses indicate that large portions of the population (approximately 90 percent of Americans) aren’t getting enough of the essential nutrient choline. These current findings come from a new article in Nutrition Today, which summarizes the peer-reviewed literature and discussions from the 2018 Choline Science Summit.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.