NPF-DSEA merger strengthens industry support network

The merger, announced today, will see key initiatives instigated by DSEA now continue under a different umbrella. "This merger allows us to not only strengthen and expand the foundation's educational scope, it provides an established infrastructure that can be used to grow initiatives begun and planned by DSEA,"​ said Randy Dennin, chairman of the Natural Products Foundation. DSEA has already been dissolved as a corporate entity, and will now take advantage of NFP's tax-exempt status. Past presidents of DSEA - Elliott Balbert and Jon Benninger - have also joined the board of directors of NPF. NPF ​ The Natural Products Foundation (NPF) was founded in 2004 as a non-profit body designed to help regulate the US dietary supplements industry by focusing on quality assurance, science. At the time of its formation, the organization said it hoped to address the issues they felt were not being dealt with by trade associations - including product safety and efficacy, label accuracy, advertising compliance and education - and to support these groups' efforts to work with regulatory agencies and consumer advocacy groups. Some of the tasks it undertakes include examining advertising in the industry and eliminating misleading or fraudulent advertisements. The organization said it considers the regulations and guidelines which apply to the dietary supplement industry as the legal and lawful parameters in which the industry must operate, and it aims to help bring those who violate these rules into compliance. DSEA ​ DSEA is a coalition of industry leaders. It was set up in 2001 with the mission to educate consumers, media and policymakers on the benefits of dietary supplements for optimizing health and prevention of disease, with a focus on their safety, efficacy and regulation. One of the recent initiatives set up by the group was the launching of a website last year designed to publicize the positive face of the supplements industry. DSEA's website looked to attract consumers with more than $100 in free coupons for dietary supplements, along with ads from its 'Just Like Me' campaign, information about the campaign, a game, and links to dietary supplement information. DSEA's 'Just Like Me' campaign is also aimed at casting the dietary supplement industry and its products in a more positive light for consumers. The aim of campaigns such as 'Just Like Me' is to show consumers there are two sides to every story and that while some dietary supplements have been marketed on shady grounds, many others are manufactured and marketed by responsible companies and founded on clinical research. NPF-DSEA alliance ​ "Given the apparent collaboration of our efforts, it made sense for both groups to establish a formal affiliation, which we are most excited to announce to you today,"​ said Balbert, who founded DSEA, in a statement.​​"The quality and scope of the foundation's programs, especially with the addition of the programs DSEA pioneered, are well worth the continued support of our industry."​