August in review: EFSA unveils up-to-date dietary supplement guidelines, Spotlight on ashwagandha

02 Sep 2024 --- In August’s major health and nutrition industry news, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published guidelines on the regulation and use of dietary supplements and we looked at the recent controversies, safety and bans on the botanical ashwagandha. 

In our August review, Nutrition Insight looks back at some of the biggest stories of the month, including our conversation with Frieslandcampina Ingredients on the latest advances in post-workout recovery, Kerry’s partnership with APC Microbiome to better understand the gut-brain axis and we spoke with two authors of a recent study on the impacts of public skepticism over water safety.

August
Burdensome mandatory supplement listing proposal sparks controversy, CSPI calls for “broader reforms”
Many US trade associations representing the supplement industry oppose the recently proposed Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2024, with reactions ranging from “misguided,” “unnecessary” and “burdensome” to the proposal being “too limited.” A recent bill, proposed by US Senator Richard Durbin, would introduce mandatory supplement listing in a US FDA (Food & Drug Administration) database. We examine the industry’s feedback and suggestions for alternative and additional reforms and speak with the regulatory counsel for the Council for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) about the proposed legislation.

Advancing sports nutrition: Rousselot spotlights the multifunctional benefits of collagen
Consumer demand for science-backed sports nutrition and post-workout recovery solutions is on the rise. At the same time, athletes and weekend warriors alike say they want convenient products in formats that are easy to access, use and carry. We sat down with Florencia Moreno Torres, the health and nutrition global business development manager at Rousselot, for an in-depth look at the latest trends and innovative ingredients advancing the sports nutrition and workout recovery spaces and to get a glimpse at how the company’s collagen innovations meet these growing needs.We discussed antibacterial and antimicrobial resistance in agri-food systems with Erik Ruiz, the Safer Pharma program manager at the European branch of Health Care without Harm.

Bone strength boosts: Gnosis by Lesaffre and Tirlán reveal emerging healthy aging trends
Experts point out that consumers are looking to prepare for the effects of aging at younger and younger ages. At the same time, bone strength and health are emerging as major concerns in light of the global challenges presented by an aging population. We sat down with Xavier Berger, the market manager for mobility and joint health at Gnosis by Lesaffre and Gwen Gould, the senior marketing manager for dairy ingredients at Tirlán, to better understand trends, factors and ingredients driving innovation in the growing bone strength and healthy aging space.

EFSA’s latest guidance on dietary supplements for consumers, suppliers and producers
The EFSA shares its most up-to-date advice on EU regulations for over-the-counter tablets, capsules, powders and liquids containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, herbal extracts and other dietary supplements. We talked to an EFSA spokesperson who told us that while dietary supplements may be used to maintain general health, mental and athletic performance and the immune system, they are not considered medical and not intended to treat disease.

Staying sharp: Kyowa Hakko champions proprietary brain nutrient for smart aging
We caught up with an expert at Kyowa Hakko USA who shares insights about the demand for performance-specific brain health supplements that optimize productivity and results, support immune health and improve natural age-based cognitive decline. Maria Stanieich, the company’s senior marketing manager, revealed that its proprietary nootropic, Cognizin Citicoline, has been clinically researched and has been shown to improve mental energy, memory, focus and attention.We sat down with Stefan Gafner, Ph.D., the chief science officer at the American Botanical Council, to discuss the safe and responsible use of botanical supplements and herbal medicines.

World Humanitarian Day: How CARE Afghanistan works with “de facto authorities” to ensure nutrition
The humanitarian organization CARE warned that the ongoing food insecurity situation in Afghanistan — one of the most significant humanitarian crises in the world — is at risk of becoming forgotten. Graham Davison, the director for CARE Afghanistan, told us how the provision of international support and engagement has been problematic since the “de facto authorities” took over the nation in 2021 and highlighted the need to provide food aid and safe drinking water, especially to vulnerable groups, such as women, girls, young boys and people with disabilities.

Kerry details APC Microbiome partnership to explore innovative gut-brain axis solutions
Aiming to explore new concepts in the gut-brain axis, Kerry recently joined forces with APC Microbiome Ireland, a research center focused on microbiome science. The partnership combines Kerry’s market reach and product development capabilities with APC Microbiome’s scientific insights and research excellence. We spoke with Sonja Nodland, Kerry’s RDA senior manager of immune health, who spotlighted that the gut-brain axis has been gaining rapid attention due to its potential to improve mental and physical well-being. She also revealed that the partnership aims to develop “novel, best-in-class postbiotics” that solve unmet health needs for conditions involving the gut-brain axis.

Regulatory update: Spotlight on international authorities’ response to ashwagandha safety concerns
There is increased scrutiny over ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) among national food safety agencies in the EU and UK due to safety concerns associated with the botanical used for several thousand years in traditional remedies. The botanical is banned in food supplements in Denmark, while Dutch and French authorities have advised against its consumption in specific population groups. In this three-part series, we explored the regulatory status of ashwagandha and the food authorities’ safety concerns with botanical experts, food safety agencies and industry players.We talked with Dr. Monique Tan, the lead author of Action on Salt and Sugar’s latest report on the unhealthiness of the UK’s out of home food sector.

Global skepticism about the safety of drinking water at an all-time high, study flags
More than half of adults worldwide said they expect to be seriously harmed by their water within the next two years, according to a recent survey. We caught up with two of the authors of a new study led by international health experts from Northwestern University and the University of North Carolina, US, who provided valuable insights about public perceptions of drinking water safety. The researchers pointed out how the growing distrust in water quality negatively impacts health, nutrition, psychological and economic well-being — even when the water meets safety standards — because perceptions shape attitudes and behaviors.

UN-backed local youth groups lead famine alleviation in Sudan’s refugee camps
Finally, we looked at the young Sudanese citizens who are leading the response to the famine caused by the country’s ongoing civil war. The volunteers operate out of emergency response rooms supported by the UN and provide lifesaving nutrition to the more than half a million refugees in the North Darfur region of the East African nation. We talked with a spokesperson at the UN’s WFP (World Food Programme), who called on local leaders to ensure the safe transit of food and essentials as the fighting continues.

By William Bradford Nichols

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