Just as the regulatory environment for dietary supplements, food
supplements and nutraceuticals is evolving in the United States, so
is the case in other key global markets. But for a number of years
both the EU and Japan have imposed...
The FTC has ordered the makers of 'cure all' Seasilver to pay
almost $120mn for failing to comply with an earlier order to
reimburse consumers - thereby signaling to infringing companies
that it stands by its rulings.
Fuji Chemical Industry has been granted a US patent for the use of
astaxanthin to reduce inflammation, enabling the manufacturer to
further strengthen its position in the market.
Health Canada has approved Orafti's Beneo inulin as a dietary
fiber, allowing manufacturers to advertise higher fiber content on
food labels and opening the way for other brands to seek go-ahead.
The Natural Products Association is seeking to remove suspicion
that dietary supplements taken by sportspeople may be contaminated
with illegal steroids by extending its TruLabel random testing
program to sports products.
The FDA has exerted post-market regulatory muscle by testing the
contents of several sexual health supplements sold via the Internet
in a first-of-its-kind survey and subsequently issued a warning, in
which it calls them illegal drugs.
The gelatin industry has hit back at the claim that its
animal-derived ingredient may not be safe for consumption, in the
wake of increased negative publicity following tightened Canadian
regulations and new "mad cow disease"...
Health Canada is calling on natural health product manufacturers to
replace what is frequently bovine-sourced gelatin, a decision that
coincides with a new case of "mad-cow disease" in the
country.
The FDA stepped up to the plate and declared nicotine water NICLite
violates the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and is not a
dietary supplement - a move that could potentially counter
criticism the agency is negligent and does...
AOAC, the not-for-profit organisation contracted by NIH Office of
Dietary Supplements to develop validated analytical methods, will
give an update of progress on key ingredients at NNFA.
The long-running push for dietary supplement good manufacturing
practices (GMP) has taken a new twist, as members of Congress sent
letters to the FDA expressing hope that they will be finalized and
implemented months earlier than...
An amendment to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act that would obligate
supplement manufacturers, packers and distributors to notify FDA of
any serious adverse events reports (AERs) was introduced yesterday,
to the applause of the industry...
In the US, the role of court action in defining limits not set by
regulators is generating a flood of costly court cases for the food
industry: much unnecessary, and all damaging.
Canadian associations are collaborating to open lines of
communication between industry, academics and the government over
the forthcoming regulations for functional foods, and to help the
industry prepare for the future.
The marketing of functional confectionery products has been called
into question following an FDA warning letter sent to Masterfoods
USA over health claims and folic acid in its CocoaVia chocolate
bars.
The upper limit (UL) of vitamin D should be raised to 250
micrograms per day, the Institute of Medicine heard last week, as
experts discussed the state-of-play of DRIs and ULs.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has performed a U-turn over
the ban imposed last year on the export of five-year-old wild
American ginseng roots - a decision met with relief from an
industry that feared years of decline while...
Health Canada has expanded its 2003 Novel Foods approval of Ocean
Nutrition's MEG-3 to higher doses and more foods, giving the
microencapsulated fish-oil supplier a head-start on new entrants to
the market.
Confusion over the exact jurisdiction of Canada's Natural Health
Products Directorate does not bode well for nutraceutical food and
drinks seeking the federal stamp of approval that can lead to
better sales.
The FDA has confirmed the qualified health claim linking whole
grain barley to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, which
could help raise awareness of the grain amongst heart
health-conscious consumers.
Food and beverage companies working in Australia and New Zealand
will see a faster response to applications for new food ingredients
and products from next year, the authorities say.
FDA has finally announced that publication of current good
manufacturing practice for dietary supplements has been set for the
end of 2006, but past disappointments have led an industry
organization to consider self regulation as...
Ocean Nutrition Canada has secured an Excellent Source Nutrient
Content Claim for combined EPA/DHA ingredients, giving food
manufacturers an additional tool with which to market their
products.
A question mark has been hanging over the legality of ephedra for
more than a year, since a Utah court threw open to debate the FDA's
2004 final ruling banning the herbal. Now with the hearing of FDA's
appeal just one week...
The Whole Grain Stamp program is evolving to give the number of
grams of whole grain ingredients in a serving, an initiative that
will help consumers keep track of their consumption.
Liquid dietary supplements that use the same preservative system as
some soft drinks could contain elevated levels of the carcinogen
benzene, according to Flora Research Laboratories, which has been
contracted to carry out tests.
A proposal by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to ban
schools from selling junk food and soda has been blocked by a
legislative committee on the grounds that it does not provide a
"total approach" to child nutrition.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has posted rules informing
importers, exporters and re-exporters of their obligations for the
Hoodia species, as the US market for slimming products continues to
grow.
The Traditional Medicines (TM) Congress has extended the comment
period for its draft regulatory model for traditional medicines in
response to requests from practicing herbalists.
Two leading spirulina producers have criticised the National
Organic Standards Board's (NOSB) decision to disallow the use of
Chilean nitrate in organic production as unjust, and have declined
to alter their process as safety...
Makers of cherry-based supplements are seeking to meet FDA
marketing standards on their websites by ensuring that any claims
linking cherries and health are 'two clicks' away from sales
pages.
The AOAC Task Force on Dietary Supplements has issued a call for
industry, government or academia to prioritize ingredients that
need validated methods.
A permanent commissioner could be on the cards for FDA after
President Bush signalled yesterday that he intended to nominate
Andrew von Eschenbach for the job on a permanent basis - an
appointment that could help smooth regulatory...
Many overseas companies selling nutraceuticals in Europe are
risking having their products removed from the market as they have
not gone through the correct regulatory channels, warns a
consultant to the natural products industry.
In the aim of generating awareness of the difference between
dietary supplements and illegal drugs, the National Nutritional
Foods Association (NNFA) has today reinforced its stance against
amending the present legal framework that...
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) is today rallying
support for potential legislation that would mandate reporting of
serious adverse events for dietary supplements and
over-the-counters to the Federal Drug Administration.
Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals has agreed to pay Ohio and 15 other
states $2.5 m, to refund customers who filed complaints and to stop
making health claims they can't back with scientific proof.
More soft drinks will be tested for cancer-causing chemical benzene
in the UK after it was revealed some drinks contain up to eight
times the legal limit for drinking water.
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) has announced the date
for its second Day of Science, with the focus on science and
regulation that will foster debate between industry, government and
academia.
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has initiated its
fifth survey in order to quantify annual harvests of selected North
American herbs used as ingredients in herbal products.
America's soft drinks association said it would have to look again
at benzene in drinks, after new tests revealed to
BeverageDaily.com suggest it and food safety authorities
failed to stamp out a problem.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized around $3m worth
of dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids in a move to
"protect the public health."
US agribusiness firm Cargill on Friday filed an appeal of a judge's
ruling in December that prevents the company from enforcing patents
for high oleic oils.
The FDA has released draft guidelines on the labeling of food
products containing whole grains, to support the message of the
2005 Dietary Guidelines. Although subject to comments, it seems
'good' and 'excellent'...
A lawsuit aimed at getting soft drinks out of US schools on obesity
grounds will be filed in Massachusetts, just as lawmakers there
prepare to vote on a school junk food ban.
AHPA's executive committee has voted to support legislation
currently pending in the US House of Representatives that would
stop individual states from requiring foods and supplements to
conform to their own regulations.
Consumers fail to distinguish between different levels of health
claims permitted on foods, reducing the impact of all claims, say
researchers at the Federal Trade Commission.
The wording of health claims - both full and qualified - confuses
consumers and discourages marketers from using them, the NNFA has
said in comments submitted to the FDA.