This week’s big news across the global nutrition and supplements industries includes a week of economic chaos in the United States, Spanish researchers raising concerns about label claims for melatonin supplements, and Blackmores obtaining B Corp certification for all its brands.
USA: A rollercoaster of a week as tariff adjustments rattle the supply chain
Last week started with one reality and ended with another. On April 2, President Trump announced a 10% Global Tariff, with higher level Reciprocal Tariffs imposed on dozens of specific countries. One week later, on April 9, the U.S. Government announced it was pausing the reciprocal tariffs for 90 days (the global tariffs will stay in place).
However, China was excluded from the pause, with the Trump Administration increasing tariffs even further to bring the total U.S. tariff on Chinese goods to 125%.
The dietary supplements industry is heavily reliant on China for many of its ingredients. A number of ingredients, from vitamins and minerals to amino acids and Coenzyme Q10, were included on an exempted list.
Multiple stakeholders weighed in on the tariff situation:
Tariffs: UNPA’s Israelsen navigates landscape for dietary supplements industry
CRN on tariffs: ‘We can’t give our companies good advice when you don’t know what will happen’
NPA’s Fabricant on tariff exemptions: ‘If there are things off the list, come to DC’
Tariff ‘whiplash’ causes ‘paralysis’ among CPG businesses and retailers
Europe: Spanish researchers uncover significant labeling inaccuracies in melatonin supplements
A new analysis of melatonin food supplements by scientists at the University of Murcia, Spain found significant disparities in the advertised melatonin content and the true content in 11 out of the 13 products tested.
“The sale of melatonin supplements that combine synthetic melatonin and herbs has become widespread, without estimating the actual contents of phytomelatonin or other ingredients,” Professor Marino Bañón Arnao told NutraIngredients. “We found that the amounts of synthetic melatonin present in food supplements do not correspond to the labeling. In addition, there is no significant supply of melatonin from the plants, or herbs, that make up the supplement.”
In total, 11 out of the 13 tested supplements had deficits, with alleged disparities greater than 10% in nine products. The researchers also alleged that 30% of the products had “very high deficits outside the regulations.”
Blackmores obtains B Corp cert for all brands to meet sustainability demand
Blackmores Group has obtained B Corporation (B Corp) certification for all its brands, including eponymous brand Blackmores, BioCeuticals and Pure Animal Wellbeing.
The aim is to meet consumer expectations for sustainability and disclosure requirements, and to ensure resilient supply chains.
B Corp certification is well established across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and has mounting significance in Asia, especially among younger demographics and conscious consumers, said Sally Townsend, head of sustainability at Blackmores.
“Interestingly, the principles ingrained in the company when Maurice Blackmore founded it more than 90 years ago are completely aligned with the B Corp mission,” she told NutraIngredients.
“We know that to solve worldwide challenges, we need to work as a global community, and that’s why our supplier and industry partnerships are at the heart of our progress toward a more sustainable industry. The B Corp Certification process required us to engage stakeholders from all areas of the business to take stock of our current performance and future aspirations.”
