Beyond The Headlines: FDA blocks CSPI poppy seed petition, ASA upholds child health advertising standards

This week in nutrition news, the US FDA denied a request by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) to set limits on opiate contamination in poppy seed products, while the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) touted the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) decision to uphold child health centered policies. At the same time, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) unveiled its Sports and Active Nutrition Forum (SANF).

Nutrition news

The FDA denied the CSPI’s petition to set maximum limits on opiate contamination in poppy seeds, citing a lack of information and resources. CSPI had filed the petition in 2021 after several consumers were injured by contaminated seeds. Opiates like morphine and codeine from poppy sap can contaminate seeds, leading to dangerous health effects when consumed in large quantities, such as in poppy seed tea. According to CSPI, evidence of contamination levels far exceed European safety standards. The organization said that the FDA’s denial highlighted its limited resources and inability to regulate such risks effectively.

The OHA praised the ASA for upholding government standards on junk food advertising.The OHA, a coalition of over 60 health organizations, praised the ASA for upholding UK government policies addressing child health. The OHA urged the ASA to finalize stricter advertising guidelines and called on the government to resist industry lobbying. The UK government reaffirmed its commitment to implement restrictions on less healthy food and drink advertising before 9 pm on TV and anytime online by October 2025. These rules target 13 food categories with high fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) content and are meant to protect children from junk food marketing. The ASA’s February 2024 consultation raised concerns about loopholes in draft guidelines, which allowed advertising generic items, product ranges or brands associated with unhealthy products. The OHA noted these guidelines were influenced by food industry representatives before public input. The revised guidelines will reduce HFSS product marketing and encourage companies to reformulate for healthier alternatives.

The CRN announced the launch of SANF, which has evolved from its previous Sports Nutrition Working Group. SANF was formed to advance the sports and active nutrition sector through education, advocacy, self-regulation and legal initiatives. The forum builds on the Working Group’s achievements, which included voluntary guidelines, safety alerts on substances like SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators), advocacy to maintain market access and legal support for the category. CRN president Steve Mister emphasized SANF’s role in addressing unique challenges and opportunities, while chair Simon Sum highlighted its importance in fostering responsible growth.

Business news

Enhanced Medical Nutrition (EMN), a food-as-medicine company, completed a US$5 million Series A financing round led by dsm-firmenich Venturing and Ajinomoto’s Corporate Venture Capital arm, with contributions from PeakBridge, Elder Ventures, angel investors and existing shareholders. The funding will support the expansion of Enroute, EMN’s innovative nutrition program designed for managing the dietary needs of surgical patients. EMN seeks to establish a new standard of care by leveraging nutritional technology to minimize risks, accelerate recovery and increase positive surgical outcomes. Investors emphasized EMN’s scientific validation, patient-centric innovation and potential to transform healthcare nutrition and surgical care on a broad scale.Danone North America announced its latest round of grants to study probiotics and the microbiome.

Danone North America announced its 2024–2025 Fellowship Grants program, which will offer two US$25,000 awards to graduate students researching the role of the gut microbiome, yogurt and probiotics in human health. This initiative marks the 13th year of Danone’s support for advancing scientific knowledge in this field. Past recipients have explored the microbiome’s connection to obesity prevention, metabolism and brain development. Danone also committed to promoting health-focused food innovation and investing US$4 million in nutrition research by 2030. Applications are open until March 24, 2025, for US-based graduate students pursuing research on gut health. Last year’s winners studied probiotics’ effects on immunity and metabolism and gut microbes’ role in red blood cell production.

Product launches

Form Health introduced a new science-based program to prevent the progression from overweight to obesity, with the goal of reducing the risk of weight-related cardiometabolic conditions like type 2 diabetes and hypertension. The program targets individuals with a BMI of 25–29.9, combining personalized lifestyle intervention led by Certified Specialists in Obesity and Weight Management Registered Dietitians with a one-time medical consultation. Unlike Form Health’s obesity program, medications are not prescribed. Designed in collaboration with employer partners, the initiative addresses overweight care, offering tools for behavior change, nutrition and physical activity via the Form Health app. The company highlighted the program’s potential to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs, noting a 5% BMI reduction can save US$3.4K annually. By expanding into prevention, Form Health will provide employers with a cost-effective alternative to GLP-1 medications and help combat the high healthcare costs of obesity.

Cizzle Brands Corporation unveiled Spoken Nutrition, an NSF Certified for Sport nutraceutical line, designed for athletes and active individuals. The products were formulated by leading sports professionals and target specific health needs, such as restorative sleep, cardiovascular health, muscle performance and recovery. The company notes that the line has already gained traction, with Major League Baseball MLB teams placing orders during its soft launch. As the dietary supplement market grows, Spoken Nutrition said it intends to capitalize on the demand for trustworthy, effective products by earning NSF certification and addressing concerns over supplement labeling accuracy.The Lancet published a new framework for diagnosing obesity that extends beyond mere BMI calculations.

Scientific studies

A study led by the Lancet Commission on Clinical Obesity introduced a groundbreaking framework for diagnosing obesity based on individual health evaluations beyond traditional BMI measurements. Three researchers from Pennington Biomedical Research Center contributed to the global initiative, which redefined obesity as a chronic disease and categorized it into clinical and pre-clinical stages. The Lancet: Diabetes & Endocrinology framework emphasizes organ function and daily activity impacts, offering more precise criteria for healthcare providers. Endorsed by 75 medical organizations, the study looked to improve patient care, public health policy and awareness of obesity’s complex nature.

Recent research published in Nature revealed the critical yet overlooked role of small-scale fisheries in global nutrition, livelihoods and environmental sustainability. These fisheries, often characterized by low-tech, labor-intensive methods, contribute 40% of global catch and support nearly 500 million people, half of whom are women. Moreover, they provide essential nutrients to 2.3 billion coastal residents and account for 44% of fisheries’ landed economic value. The research, involving over 800 experts, emphasized small-scale fisheries’ importance in achieving Sustainable Development Goals but noted that most fishers lack formal rights, making them vulnerable to exclusionary policies. The study called for stronger governance and support to safeguard these vital systems.