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Next Pharmaceuticals Expands Website
January 26th 2009Next Pharmaceuticals (Salinas, CA) has announced their expanded website, www.nextpharmaceuticals.com. Scientific articles that support their branded proprietary raw materials may now be accessed. The site also addresses product manufacturers. “Next Pharmaceuticals has grown significantly since the company’s inception into the dietary supplement industry and it was time that our website reflected that growth and loyalty to our customers,” said Charles Kosmont, NP CEO.
BI Nutraceuticals Educates Industry on ETO and Irradiation
January 22nd 2009BI Nutraceuticals (Long Beach, CA) has begun an education program designed to inform the dietary supplement industry about the FDA's (Rockville, MD) ban on the use of both irradiation and ethylene oxide (ETO) as a means of sterilization for raw materials.
AHPA Releases White Paper on Heavy Metals
January 21st 2009AHPA (Silver Spring, MD) announced its paper, “Heavy metal analysis and interim recommended limits for botanical dietary supplements,” on January 20. The paper provides industry with information on successful compliance with current good manufacturing practices (GMP).
EBF Releases Report Detailing Botanical Supplements
January 15th 2009In light of the popularity of botanical supplements in Europe, the European Botanical Forum (EBF; Brussels) has released its first fact file detailing the nutritional role of these ingredients. The file aims to correct some commonly-held misapprehensions, and offers an overview of aspects related to the use of these ingredients in food supplements. It includes regulatory and practical information on their current use.
Judge Orders Weight Loss Author to Pay More Than $37 Million
January 15th 2009A federal judge has ordered infomercial marketer Kevin Trudeau to pay more than $37 million for violating a 2004 stipulated order by misrepresenting the content of his book, “The Weight Loss Cure ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About.”
Marketers of Thermalean, Lipodrene, and Spontane-ES Must Pay More Than $15 Million
January 15th 2009A federal district court has ordered the marketers of three dietary supplements to pay more than $15 million for deceiving consumers about the products’ safety and effectiveness. The court imposed the final monetary judgment and permanent prohibitions against the marketers in December 2008, after granting the FTC's (Washington, DC) motion for summary judgment last June.
Nanomaterials a Regulatory Challenge for FDA, Report Concludes
January 14th 2009FDA’s ability to regulate the safety of dietary supplements using nanomaterials is inadequate due to a lack of information, resources and statutory authority in certain areas, according to a new report released by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN; Washington, DC).
Ecuadorian Rainforest Launches Online Video With Top 2008 Ingredients
January 9th 2009Ecuadorian Rainforest (Belleville, NJ) has launched an online video titled, “Nutraceuticals 2009,” the company announced on January 9. The video presents the top ingredients of 2008 based on ER sales figures and showcases new ingredients for 2009. The video can be viewed for free at: http://www.intotherainforest.com/blog/
AHPA Supports FDA’s Recall of Tainted Dietary Supplements
January 9th 2009The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA; Silver Spring, MD) supported the FDA’s efforts to recall products marketed as dietary supplements that contained undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients, AHPA said on January 9.
Robinson Pharma Completes Successful CGMP Audit
January 9th 2009Robinson Pharma Inc., (RPI; Santa Ana, CA) announced its completion of a surveillance audit for cGMP compliant manufacture of dietary supplements on January 9. The audit was performed by STR (Enfield, CT), a third party testing and auditing firm with a focus on quality systems and analysis.
NPA Advocates Strength of DSHEA
January 8th 2009Responding to recent statements regarding dietary supplement regulation, the Natural Products Association’s (NPA; Washington, DC) CEO, David Seckman, released this statement on January 8:“Increased scrutiny by professional sports leagues on steroid usage, which the NPA commends, has unfortunately also led to increased and unsubstantiated allegations that a "tainted" or mislabeled dietary supplement is to blame when an athlete tests positive for a banned substance.
Astaxanthin Detected in the Iris/Ciliary Body of the Eye, Fuji Says
January 6th 2009In a new study, Fuji Health’s (Burlington, NJ) brand of natural astaxanthin extract (AstaREAL) derived from Haematococcus microalgae was detected in the iris/ciliary body of New Zealand albino rabbit eyes 24 hours after ingestion, the company announced on January 6.
Aloha Medicinals Announces Construction of Second Nanoparticle Device
January 6th 2009Aloha Medicinals (Carson City, NV) announced the construction of a second proprietary nanoparticle manufacturing device, the company said on January 6. Aloha first introduced nano-sized medicinal mushroom products in early 2008.
New Standard for Stevia to Assure Product’s Quality
January 5th 2009Responding to the growing popularity of a plant-based sweetener, the U.S. Pharmacopeial (USP; Rockville, MD) Convention today announced it is developing a new standard to be included in the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) that will help food and beverage manufacturers assure the product’s quality for consumers.
FTC Considers Updating Its Guides to Endorsements and Testimonials
December 22nd 2008On November 21, FTC announced that it is seeking public comments on proposed revisions to the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. The proposed revisions are intended to ensure that testimonials describe typical consumer experiences. FTC will stop accepting public comments on January 30, 2009. Nutritional Outlook spoke with John Feldman, a partner at Reed Smith LLP (Washington, DC), about the proposed changes. Why is FTC considering making changes to the guides?
FDA Issues No Objection Letter to GRAS Status of Reb A; Companies Unveil New Products
December 17th 2008FDA issued a “no objection” letter to the GRAS status of rebaudioside A (Reb A), the stevia extract used in PureVia, PepsiCo’s (Purchase, NY) all-natural, zero-calorie sweetener, PepsiCo announced on December 17.
AHPA Urges USP to Adopt Guidelines on Heavy Metals
December 16th 2008The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA; Silver Spring, MD) has petitioned U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP; Rockville, MD) to adopt AHPA’s guidance limits for heavy metals in “orally consumed botanical-containing finished products,” AHPA announced on December 16.
“Life…supplemented” Study Reveals Doctor's Supplement Choices
December 11th 2008The results of the 2008 “Life…supplemented” Healthcare Professionals Impact Study show that orthopedic specialists, cardiologists and dermatologists both consume and give dietary supplements to their patients for nuanced diseases as well as overall wellness.
Nordic Naturals Defends Cod Liver Oil In Light of Vitamin A Study
December 4th 2008Nordic Naturals (Watsonville, CA) defended its cod liver oil products as posing no threat to consumers, the company said on December 1, in light of a report suggesting cod liver oil may be detrimental to humans due to its high vitamin A content.