The ongoing ‘fermentation revolution’ in the supply of amino acids continues to affect the production and potentially the price of these important nutrients, said Jim Schultz, CEO of GWI, a California company specializing in the import of ingredients...
International Vitamin Corporation (IVC) has acquired Adam Nutrition Inc., a move that boosts IVC’s existing manufacturing capacity for solid doses and adds a new capability for producing nutritional supplement and functional food powders in the US.
Flora Research Laboratories, a leader in natural products research, testing, and phytoforensics, has joined the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA).
Consumer demands for more information and greater transparency are being met by a growing number of certifications in the dietary supplement and natural products industry. One such standard - the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) Program – has expanded...
There is much talk about sustainability in the dietary supplement ingredients marketplace, but what does it mean exactly? Consultant Chris Kilham, known as The Medicine Hunter, makes a strong case for using the term to mean a marketplace in which all...
Many brand owners, particularly first time entry brand owners, remain ignorant about their responsibilities under good manufacturing practice (GMPs) when using contract manufacturers, say industry experts.
A lack of good laboratory practices specific to dietary supplements may be a hindrance in terms of assuring quality across the labs, but could the supplement industry come together to write its own?
The practice of ‘dry labbing’ continues in the dietary supplement space, but could industry attempts to produce a ‘trusted list of labs’ help companies make better decisions and stay GMP compliant?
Smart phones are enhancing the way CROs run clinical trials, but what's possible with mobile technology, how is the technology affecting recruitment and compliance, and how do you measure success?
Tightening regulations, crowded categories, and more demanding consumers are making product-specific data a very hot area, leading contract research organizations (CROs) tell NutraIngredients-USA.
SmartyPants Vitamins has just announced that it has closed a $2.2 million second round of financing via CircleUp, bringing their crowdfunding total to $4.7 million, but what separates this company from other supplement entrepreneurs?
Dry labbing and lab shopping are problems that persist in the dietary supplements industry, according to Frank Jaksch, CEO of ChromaDex. It is still all too easy for a company to get the results it wants, he said at a recent conference.
The Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act has given rise to a thriving dietary supplements industry. Botanical ingredients have always been a part of that picture, but the concept of where they fit within that category has shifted over the years...
Thought leaders in the natural products field form an academy, similar in concept to those formed in ancient Greece that gave rise to the term. And that academy can help foster the common prosperity of the US and Mexico, said Vicente Fox, former president...
The Food and Drug Administration has agreed to new deadlines for final rules detailing the implementaiton of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). The agreement comes as part of a settlement in a lawsuit brought by advocacy groups claiming that FDA...
The global health and nutrition (H&N) sector continues to expand, but regulations are tighter than ever and players need to understand this if they are to succeed, says the chief of the biggest global supplements organisation.
Costa Mesa-based Alkemist Labs is expanding its testing capabilities into the omega-3 sector, with the success of its label claim verification/ R&D division allowing for continued reinvestment.
From warning letters to GMO labeling and FSMA, it’s been a busy year for the regulatory people. In this special gallery we review the top regulatory, policy & enforcement headlines from 2013.
DNA barcoding for botanicals has a bright future, despite comments that it may not yet be fit for purpose, and the next 2-3 years will see a ‘huge shift’ towards the ‘robust and reliable technology’, says the CEO of AuthenTechnologies.
Finished product testing has been predicted to be a key focus for regulatory enforcement as FDA inspectors gain more experience and move beyond the first tier GMP compliance issues, but much of the industry is not yet ready for this increased scrutiny,...
The extent of adulteration of herbal supplements has been a question for as long as the products have been on the market. In light of damaging publicity, such as Monday’s article in The New York Times, is there evidence that progress is being made on...
Enzymes manufactured in India contaminated with an antibiotic have appeared in the US and Canadian markets after popping in Europe and Japan. The contamination could result in one of the biggest slews of product recalls in history.
Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc., has acquired Utah-based Powder Processors, Inc., a move which complements the company’s overall business in particle engineering.
‘Qualifying more than one analytical lab’ and ‘using reference materials to evaluate lab proficiency’ are just two of the seven tips for companies when selecting a contract lab, according to an extensive article by highly qualified industry experts.
Leading analytical lab Alkemists Laboratories has expanded its service offerings to include a new R&D division focusing on finished product method development, verification & validation.
A new warning letter illustrates FDA’s stance on the obligations of private label distributors to ‘ensure that all phases of the production of [a] product are in compliance with dietary supplement CGMP requirements’.
A longstanding vitamin C price fixing case has reached conclusion with a $162 million judgment in the case involving four Chinese companies. While its a victory for the concept of private enforcement, it doesn’t mean cartel behavior by Chinese companies...
An assortment of nonprofit groups has formed the Natural Products Alliance of North Carolina, an official with the group said. The alliance will help regional companies grow, formulate, test, make, and brand their botanically-based products in one vertical...
The FRS Company, makers of the FRS energy drink and related products, announced a series of corporate moves yesterday that included a management change and the acquisition of a contract manufacturing and formulation company.
NSF International announced a significant expansion of its footprint in Latin America with the acquisition of INASSA Group of Lima, Peru. INASSA provides technical analysis, laboratory and sanitation services. In particular, the move means NSF will be...
A recent teleseminar put on by the American Herbal Products Association on GMP compliance made it clear that there is still a significant portion of the dietary supplement industry that is confused about who is responsible for what when a marketer hires...
In another example of the growth of the dietary supplement sector, Atlanta-based contract manufacturer Private Label Nutraceuticals announced a significant expansion.
A commitment to quality and to an “abundance mentality” has driven contract manufacturer VMI Nutrition to far surpass its original goals, said managing partner Bruce Remund.
The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) has awarded a contract for method optimization and validation for the testing of MSM (methylsulphonylmethane) to Blaze Science Industries and Tampa Bay Analytical Research.
By applying physiological stressors like partial sleep deprivation, it is possible to test the effects of dietary supplements in healthy populations and stay compliant with DSHEA, says Dr Jay Udani, CEO of Medicus Research.
The practice of dry labbing in the industry is continuing, and the practice is becoming more sophisticated, increasing the need for continued vigilance, says Frank Jaksch, CEO of Chromadex.
Chromadex will develop create single laboratory validated methods for the quantitative determination of total silymarin content of milk thistle and of total curcuminoid content in turmeric under a government contract, the company announced Monday.
Marlyn Nutraceuticals Inc., a Phoenix-based contract manufacturer, has successfully completed an NSF GMP for Sport certification program, the company announced recently.
Electronic record keeping is slowly making inroads into the analytical chemistry side of the dietary supplement business. But for many lab techs, it’s still a pencil and paper world.
There are serious weaknesses in a system that allows firms to self-affirm the safety of food ingredients without the approval or knowledge of regulators, according to researchers conducting a probe into the nation’s food additives law.
California-based nutritional supplement contract manufacturer Natural Alternatives International (NAI) has posted a 30.3% rise in net sales to $17.4m in the three months to March 31, 2012.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking the information seriously from Dateline NBC’s exposé on dry labbing in the dietary supplements industry, NutraIngredients-USA has learnt.
Yesterday's airing of a Dateline NBC exposé on dry labbing practices in dietary supplements represents an opportunity for industry to tackle the problem head on, says Frank Jaksch, CSO and co-founder of ChromaDex.
Sales of NBTY’s vitamins, minerals and health supplement (VMHS) brands grew 10% in the US food, drug and mass merchandise channel in 2011 - more than double that of industry growth of 4.5% - according to bosses at the nutritional supplements giant.
New Jersey-based private label supplements maker Reliance has opened a new eco-friendly facility that will consolidate all of its activities under one roof.
Schiff Nutrition will continue to play in the private label supplements market but will “step away” from “crazy” tenders and pump all available funds into its brands from MegaRed krill oil to Sustenex probiotics, bosses have revealed.
Suicidally low bids for contracts to supply top US retailers with private-label dietary supplements have forced supplements giant NBTY to “walk away” from some tenders, bosses have admitted.
NSF International’s acquisition of Connecticut-based contract laboratory Pharmalytica Services will allow the company to deliver of a wider range of health science services to the dietary supplements, biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device industries,...
The disconnect between a traditional understanding of energy, such as endurance, and the rise of energy drinks, is raising questions as to how we measure energy, says the CEO of CRO.