This week’s big news across the global nutrition and supplements industries includes the abrupt resignation of Jim Jones as head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Human Foods Program, Balchem’s partnership with the women’s FC Bayern Munich, HMOs helping Nestlé rebound China infant formula sales, and remembering AHPA’s Michael McGuffin.
FDA’s Human Foods Program commissioner resigns
James “Jim” Jones, deputy commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Human Foods Program, resigned last week, citing “indiscriminate” layoffs to multiple key staff members.
In a candid interview with STAT, Jones stated: “I’m not sure if it’s a lack of understanding of how things get done, or it’s that there’s really no seriousness about what they want to get done. I don’t know. But I didn’t want to spend the next six months of my career on activities that are fundamentally about dismantling an organization, as opposed to working on the stated agenda.”
Commenting on the news, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) stated that, while staffing changes can occur during any presidential transition, it is critical that the FDA maintains the resources, expertise and staffing levels necessary to ensure effective dietary supplement oversight that undergirds consumer confidence in the supplement market.
Michael McGuffin: Tributes pour in for AHPA’s long serving president
Industry leaders paid tribute to the life and legacy of Michael McGuffin, longtime president of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), who passed away on Feb. 17.
The news was announced by AHPA, the organization he led for 25 years. The association said he “leaves an indelible mark on the natural products industry through his steadfast advocacy for reasonable regulations and proactive self-governance. Beyond his professional contributions, he was a trusted mentor, a cherished friend to many and a pillar of the herbal community.
“We will deeply miss his humor, his encyclopedic knowledge of the herbal industry, his wise counsel—and, of course, his expert tomato-growing skills. While we mourn his passing, we also celebrate his remarkable legacy, which will continue to shape AHPA and the broader industry for years to come,” AHPA stated.
Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council, said: “All companies that sell herbs and botanical ingredients in the United States owe a debt of gratitude to Michael (and AHPA)—and they should be supporting AHPA and Michael’s work and laudable legacy.”
Balchem partners with FC Bayern Munich to highlight vitamin K2 benefits
Specialty ingredient supplier Balchem announced a multi-year partnership with the women’s FC Bayern Munich squad to raise awareness of the benefits of vitamin K2 for health and performance.
The collaboration will see K2VITAL—a 99.7% all-trans vitamin K2 MK-7—become an official partner of the women’s soccer team.
“Vitamin K2 represents a promising opportunity for sports nutrition and athletic performance,” said Dominik Mattern, vice president of science, business development and marketing at Balchem. “While its benefits on cardiovascular and bone health are well-established, recent studies into vitamin K2 have also revealed that its advantages extend beyond these health categories.”
FC Bayern Munich says the collaboration aims to educate consumers and inspire healthy habits.
“As a pioneer in the health sector, Balchem aligns perfectly with our club’s dedication to always lead the way by supporting innovation and excellence,” said Michael Diederich, executive vice chairman of FC Bayern. “Together, we wish to further raise people’s awareness of the importance of a healthier lifestyle.”
HMOs help Nestlé rebound infant formula sales in China
Nestlé’s FY24 financial results highlighted that infant nutrition was the “largest contributor” to organic growth in the Greater China Zone, registering high single-digit growth.
The company said this growth was driven by the Nestlé NAN brand and supported by improved sales momentum from the brand Wyeth illuma. Nestlé NAN in Hong Kong, for example, is formulated with Sinergity, a proprietary blend of probiotics and six human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs).
Nestlé has rolled out products containing the Sinergity blend in 15 markets last year.
There is much more potential for products containing the blend, especially in Asia, Oceania and Africa (AOA) and Latin America, said CEO Laurent Freixe. The plan is to launch it in over 10 more markets this year.
“One of our big bets is Sinergity, a proprietary blend of probiotics and HMOs,” he added. “We have rolled out in fifteen markets in 2024 and we see much more potential—in particular in AOA and Latam.”
