NutraCast Podcast: Asma Ishaq on collagen

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What was once a popular injectable filler has found its way into supplements and functional food and beverages. Collagen is popping up in everything from coffee to bars to popcorn.

To learn more about this ingredient, we spoke to a pioneer of collagen research in dietary supplements, Asma Ishaq, CEO of Modere. Her start with collagen goes back almost 20 years, well before collagen was considered a mainstream ingredient.

To highlight collagen's recent popularity, the trust Transparency Center launched the Collagen Stewardship Alliance this week. The alliance is aimed at raising collagen awareness as well as tracking data, and offering its insight to a broad range of associations, academia, government, and healthcare communities.

"We've been gathering data on collagen and collagen products for some time now, and the Ingredient Transparency initiative, as its name indicates, supports transparency in source disclosure, proper attribution of science, product quality and clarity in messaging," explained Len Monheit, Trust Transparency Center CEO. 

Monheit appointed Ishaq as chairperson of the Collagen Stewardship Alliance board.

“This is the first established authority as far as trade associations go that is dedicated purely to collagen. So it’s very exciting that I get to spearhead this effort,” she said. “Modere is excited to support this initiative for the collagen category. As collagen's popularity has grown, there has been loose appropriation of the real science, mixed messaging regarding sources and sustainability - there’s a lot of work we will do to steward future growth.”

The Nutrition Business Journal reported that the collagen market is forecasted to surpass $400 million by 2022.

To hear more about the collagen industry, the new board and what Ishaq is working on next, check out the NutraCast. 

NutraCast is a podcast that focuses on insights from inside the nutrition industry. It is a production by NutraIngredients-USA. Music by Kevin Macleod.