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June 2008 was the deadline for large companies with more than 500 employees to comply with the final good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for dietary supplements. As the June 2009 and June 2010 deadlines for midsize and small companies loom closer, some manufacturers are still struggling to fulfill the rule's product-testing requirements. The April 2008 recall of two dietary supplement brands found to contain 200 times the amount of selenium listed on their labels highlights the fact that not every company is ready, willing, or able to hit the ground running.

German consumers will soon be the first in Europe to be able to buy low acrylamide baked goods, according to DSM Food Specialities. A German manufacturer of Speculatius Christmas biscuits will launch the biscuits in October in time for the Christmas.

The “Life…supplemented” Healthcare Professionals (HCP) Impact Study found that 79% of physicians and 82% of nurses recommend dietary supplements to their patients. The study also showed that 72% of physicians and 89% of nurses personally use vitamin, mineral, herbal and other supplements either regularly, occasionally or seasonally. In comparison, 68% of adults regularly take nutritional or dietary supplements.

A study published in the December 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has raised important philosophical issues regarding nutrient research and demonstrated the confusion when new research contradicts earlier work.

FDA will issue a final rule next week in the Federal Register that describes official good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for dietary supplements. The rule is intended to ensure the quality of dietary supplements and prevent them from containing contaminated, impure, or adulterated materials.

  If one word could summarize the industry’s hopes and fears over the past 12 months, that word would be safety. A string of food scares in 2007 severely eroded public confidence in FDA. Meanwhile, a wave of negative media articles dented public confidence in dietary supplements and functional foods, two market segments that have been under increasing scrutiny.

  Food is critical for human existence. However, food goes beyond nourishment, as it encompasses a multitude of human experiences and emotions, and these vary between cultures and religions. More recently, food is being used and appreciated differently by women and men.

  When members of Congress hold a hearing, it’s usually not a sign of good news. However, when the House Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture convened on April 18 to discuss the status of USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP), it heard some very good news: organic products accounted for nearly 3% of all retail sales in 2005, pulling in just under $15 billion for the year.

  Food manufacturers that are looking for new opportunities might want to consider gluten-free products. On January 23, 2006, FDA proposed allowing voluntary labeling for the products, which lack proteins in wheat that can harm people with celiac disease-a chronic inflammatory disorder of the small intestine that affects up to 1% of the general population.

  Government officials, consumer advocates, and industry representatives debated how FDA should regulate functional foods at a public hearing held December 5.

 Weight-loss supplements have taken a drubbing in recent years from government officials, consumer groups, and the media. A key issue behind the controversy is the level of scientific substantiation for product claims. While researchers haven’t reached a consensus about the effectiveness and safety of most weight-loss products, many popular natural ingredients do have some supportive data, and the number of research studies generating useful information is growing.

Why is there a growing trend in the U.S. vitamin industry to purchase raw materials in China?

At the World Health Organization’s (WHO; Geneva) upcoming European Ministerial Conference on Counteracting Obesity, which will be held in November in Istanbul, Turkey, many of the world’s leading health experts will convene to develop new plans for dealing with the obesity epidemic. With any luck, functional foods will be one of the strategies that helps makes a difference.

Since the passage of DSHEA in 1994, the industry has waited patiently for the advent of official good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for dietary supplements. The arrival of the GMPs, like the much-anticipated emergence of the groundhog, could herald either a long “winter” clouded with new regulatory burdens, or an early “summer” that levels the corporate playing field.

Is the media accurately reporting the results of the latest dietary supplement research? If not, what should the industry do? If so, what can the industry do? Manufacturers have been grappling with these questions for the past several years and may be closer to finding some answers.

Congress recognized that food allergies are a significant problem, and it determined that allergic consumers or caregivers have to make appropriate food selections based on accurate labeling of food products.

Jonathan Emord knows a thing or two about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Rockville, MD). He has defeated the agency in federal court a record six times and served as plaintiff’s lead counsel in the 1999 Pearson v. Shalala, 2001 Pearson v. Shalala, 2001 Pearson v. Thompson, and 2002 Whitaker v. Thompson cases.

Until recently, the federal government had said very little about what constitutes a whole-grain food. That changed on February 17, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Rockville, MD) issued a draft guidance document clarifying its views.

Soy makes a great deal of sense. It’s cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, highly versatile, and good for you. No wonder food ingredient manufacturers work long hours formulating new and novel soy-based food ingredients.