Weekly Roundup: USDA recruits experts to update 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Fruit d’Or partners with Innovative Natural Solutions

01 Mar 2019 --- In nutrition news this week, The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has enlisted the help of 20 acclaimed scientists to review and update the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). Fruit d’Or has partnered with Innovative Natural Solutions (INS) and is showcasing prototypes featuring Elder Pure black elderberry extract as well as Taiyo’s Sunfiber prebiotic soluble fiber. In business news, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) has announced four promotions, while Artemis International Inc. has appointed Leslie Gallo as its new President. Also this week, the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) announced the publication of a new Laboratory Guidance Document (LGD) on grape seed extract in a bid to avoid its adulteration with other botanicals.

In brief: Appointments & retirements
The leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), has announced four staff promotions: Jim Griffiths, Ph.D., is appointed Senior Vice President International & Scientific Affairs, Sandra Khouri is promoted to Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration, Carl Hyland is the new Vice President of Membership Development and William Dumais is taking over as the organization’s Government Relations Associate. “These four staff promotions recognize each person’s professional growth, dedication to their respective field and diligence in contributing to CRN’s overall mission and strategic plan,” says Steve Mister, President & CEO, CRN. “I am grateful for the hard work and talent of these individuals, and I look forward to watching them continue to grow their capabilities.”

Leslie Gallo has been promoted to President of Artemis International Inc. while founder, Chairman and CEO Jan Mills maintains his position. Gallo has been an executive of The Berryceuticals specialist company since 2004 and was previously also Vice President of Operations. “Artemis International is a leader in berry-based phytonutrient ingredients under our Berryceuticals brand. We will continue to innovate, research, strengthen and expand our branded line-up of flavonoid-rich ingredients to take advantage of the growth opportunities we see ahead of us,” Gallo notes. “We will also be evaluating and potentially pursuing a more active entry into the food and beverage phytonutrient ingredient arena to complement our long-standing focus on the dietary supplement market.”

In brief: Acquisitions & partnerships
Organic cranberry and wild blueberry grower and supplier Fruit d’Or is announcing a partnership at this year’s Natural Products Expo West (March 6-10) with Missouri-based Innovative Natural Solutions (INS). INS is the largest grower, processor and supplier of black elderberry in North America. The partnership will allow INS to enter the nutraceutical industry as an ingredient manufacturer and supplier. Additionally, Fruit d’Or is showcasing new concept prototypes featuring Elder Pure black elderberry extract as well as Taiyo’s Sunfiber prebiotic soluble fiber. “Many of the industry’s top formulators are approaching Fruit d’Or to collaborate on science-based blends using our ingredients,” says Stephen Lukawski, Director of Sales and Business Development for Fruit d'Or Nutraceuticals.

In brief: Miscellaneous 
US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar have announced the appointment of 20 nationally acclaimed scientists on the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The move is a bid to ensure that US dietary guidance will reflect the latest science. The independent advisory committee will review scientific evidence on topics and questions identified by the departments and will provide a report on their findings to the secretaries. The report will help update the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). “USDA is committed to ensuring everything we do is data-driven and based on scientific facts, which is why this expert committee’s work in objectively evaluating the science is of the utmost importance to the departments and to this process,” says Perdue. “The scientists we selected to serve on the committee are national leaders in the areas of nutrition and health,” adds Azar. 

The Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) has announced the publication of a new Laboratory Guidance Document (LGD) on Grape Seed Extract (GSE). BAPP is a program endorsed by the American Botanical Council (ABC), the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) and the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR). The grape seed extract guidance document is the program’s 50th peer-reviewed publication and comments on the fitness-for-purpose of analytical methods to authenticate grape seed extracts and detect adulteration with proanthocyanidin-rich extracts from other plants. 

Arjuna plantArjuna Natural Ltd. will present a wide range of health-promoting botanical ingredients supported by scientific research at Vitafoods Europe 2019 (May 7-9) in Geneva, Switzerland. The company will exhibit its flagship turmeric extract BCM-95 coined Curcugreen, a proprietary combination of highly bioavailable curcuminoids. Additionally, Arjuna will showcase Shoden, a purified ashwagandha extract and Trilow, an all natural amla-derived bioactive extract, Herbagut, a polyherbal formulation for gut health and Oxystorm, an amaranthus extract.