Regulatory

Approximately 60% of global soft-drink launches in 2010 carried some type of health positioning, according to the latest report from Innova Market Insights.

If FDA begins requiring Investigational New Drug (IND) applications as a prerequisite for performing dietary supplement studies on humans, it could stifle research.

Should drug and supplement companies be required to alert investors whenever any adverse-event report (AERs) over a product arises-in case an AER is predictive of a larger problem with the product that could devalue shareholder stocks?

BioAstin, the natural astaxanthin ingredient from Cyanotech Corp. (Kailua-Kona, HI), has been self-affirmed generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in food, beverages, and supplements, at a dose of 1.5 mg/serving.

Ingredient supplier Beneo shared a few predictions for the functional ingredient market for 2011.

Scientists in the digestive- and immune-health sector have initiated a new petition, protesting what they say is an “illogical” process of approving health claims in the European Union.

The company has received certification ensuring its supplements are manufactured according to FDA’s GMP standards.

Just when it looked like the Food Safety Modernization Act was ready to become law, a lead candidate to head the subcommittee in charge of FDA’s budget is now sounding off on the bill.

Could FDA make a move to ban synthetic food dyes? According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, the agency has scheduled a March hearing to discuss whether these dyes may be risky to the health of young children.

2012 nutrition labels will require facts like total calories and total fat content.

Probiotic industry specialists are hoping that the FTC’s recent dispute with Dannon (White Plains, NY) over probiotic label claims will not devalue the sound science that exists within the field of probiotic science.

After a lengthy exchange of debates and rewrites, the U.S. House today passed the Food Safety Modernization Act by a vote of 215 to 144.

The Natural Products Association (NPA; Washington, DC) has reached a new milestone, granting its 500th NPA Natural Seal certification.

The earlier version proved problematic.

FDA yesterday issued a guidance aimed at helping small businesses understand the dietary supplements Current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).

The FTC announced yesterday that it has entered into a consent agreement with Dannon in which the brand will drop what the FTC says are deceptive advertising claims for its probiotic Activia yogurt and DanActive dairy drink.

The FTC announced on Monday that it has reached a settlement with major children’s vitamins brands to cease healthy-brain and eye-development claims.

In a proactive move to address tainted dietary supplements in the U.S. market, FDA today announced it has introduced new tools to both publicize and gather reports of adulterated products.

President Obama today signed off on The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which will for the first time set nutrition standards for all foods provided in schools.

The dietary supplements industry will have the valuable opportunity to meet with member of Congress, especially new members, during the Natural Products Association’s (NPA; Washington, DC) 14th annual Natural Products Day on Wednesday, April 6.

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA; Silver Spring, MD) has submitted its comments on FTC’s proposed changes to its Green Guides covering the use of environmental marketing claims.

Oat beta-glucan producer CreaNutrition AG announced the news.

But to what end?

The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act now awaits a signature from president Barack Obama.

Excipients might not always be the star of a dietary supplement product-that role most likely goes to the active ingredient-but make no mistake that excipients are more than just “filler.” And, excipients will need to answer to stricter FDA regulation in the near future, according to David Schoneker, director of global regulatory affairs for Colorcon (Harleysville, PA) and past chairman of the International Pharamceutical Excipients Council (IPEC). Schoneker spoke at a recent webcast sponsored by the Council for Responsible Nutrition and Virgo Publishing.

What’s making the FTC tick these days? Recent consent orders-not to mention POM’s lawsuit-have industry speculating.

There’s a train about to leave the station, and I sure want dietary supplements to be on it. That train is healthcare reform, or at least a substantial rethinking of the approach to healthcare in this country.

Nestlé, PepsiCo Invest in Nutrition Research