Covid-19

New Hope cancels Expo East show

16-Jun-2020 By Hank Schultz

New Hope Network, a division of Informa Markets, has announced that its Expo East trade show, which had been scheduled for late September in Philadelphia, has been cancelled.

Vitamin D story becomes ever more compelling, supplement brand founders say

12-Jun-2020 By Hank Schultz

Recent research on vitamin D has made an even more compelling case for the critical importance of the nutrient, the founders of a supplement brand say.

Natural products scored huge wins in stock-up period, and gains persist, report finds

08-Jun-2020 By Hank Schultz

Natural products were big winners during the COVID-19 stock up period in March, according to a new SPINS/IRI report. For supplements, any product offering immune health benefits showed huge gains. And consumers seem to be sticking with these choices,...

FTC steps up virus claims enforcement while CSPI wants more done about Amazon sales

05-Jun-2020 By Hank Schultz

The prevalence of virus-treatment claims in the marketplace has made for both heightened enforcement from federal regulators and calls for even more action from an advocacy group regarding products sold on Amazon.

Culturelle probiotics to be studied in COVID-19 exposed households

05-Jun-2020 By Stephen Daniells

Scientists at Duke University have received approval for a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (formerly Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) in COVID-19 exposed households.

NAD cites superfood marketer for video implying coronavirus claim

04-Jun-2020 By Hank Schultz

The National Adverting Division has joined in the battle against coronavirus disease claims by advising a company marketing a superfoods blend to take down a video that NAD says crosses the line.

COVID-19: Internet 'rife with misinformation' about Vitamin D, say scientists

22-May-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Reports arguing high dose Vitamin D supplementation could treat COVID-19 are based on speculation and are a risk to public health, warns a team of scientists from across the globe.

News in brief

Supply woes cut Clorox’s supplement sales, but sanitizer demand more than fills gap

21-May-2020 By Hank Schultz

Based on strong sales of its cleaning products, The Clorox Company has increased its stock dividend. But supply bottlenecks meant sales of the company’s dietary supplements fell, bucking an industry trend.

Supplement marketer perseveres despite disruptions in GNC sales channel

19-May-2020 By Hank Schultz

FitLife Brands, a marketer of a variety of dietary supplements, posted modest sales gains despite disruptions caused by problems at GNC, which is the company’s primary sales channel.

Nature’s Sunshine rides immune health demand to strong sales despite pandemic-related declines in Asia

18-May-2020 By Hank Schultz

Nature’s Sunshine reversed years of sales declines in North America as demand for immune health products surged. This more than compensated for coronavirus-related sales declines in Asian markets.

Celsius bucks postulated drop in energy category, notching 95% sales growth

14-May-2020 By Hank Schultz

Energy drink manufacturer Celsius was able to quickly transition its marketing to online, streaming events which helped it to report a strong quarter, even as the face to face marketing it had relied on came to a hard stop.

GNC turns up volume on bankruptcy alarm

12-May-2020 By Hank Schultz

Struggling supplement retailer GNC has reiterated a forthright statement that filing for bankruptcy court protection might be only days away.

Despite sales bump, brands that are not preparing for stormy seas ahead could struggle, consultant says

05-May-2020 By Hank Schultz

The dietary supplement industry as a whole is enjoying booming sales as consumer stock up on products to support optimum health. But an industry strategist warns that that sales bump is likely to be ephemeral, and brands that are not strategizing vigorously...

60-second interview: Jon Peters, president, Beneo

BENEO president: ‘We have seen higher and more volatile demand during the pandemic’

05-May-2020 By Elaine Watson

From fewer containers and reduced shift work at harbors to delays in planned maintenance in factories, the coronavirus pandemic is impacting global supply chains in myriad ways. FoodNavigator-USA (FNU) caught up with Jon Peters (JP), president at Beneo,...

Essential oils marketers added to list of coronavirus claims offenders

04-May-2020 By Hank Schultz

Some producers of essential oils have thrown their hats into the coronavirus claims ring, according to recent warning letters from the US Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission.

From the Editor's Desk

Supplement industry can help consumers change their health regimens after the crisis

01-May-2020 By Hank Schultz

Given the current torrid pace of sales for some categories, the dietary supplement industry could emerge from the present crisis is a significantly strengthened position. Even categories that are in the doldrums stand to benefit.

Regulators using ever more powerful microscopes to look for disease claims, attorney says

01-May-2020 By Hank Schultz

Marketers of natural products need to be on their best behavior during this pandemic crisis as regulatory authorities comb through every aspect of a company’s marketing to look for disease claims, an attorney says.

Gut to get through this: Gut health top of the lockdown agenda

30-Apr-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Coronavirus has given a huge portion of the population both the time and the inclination to learn more about how they can improve their health and two women devoted to gut health education have seen their virtual education platforms flipped into overdrive...

FTC nails 10 MLMs for illegal disease treatment, earnings claims related to coronavirus crisis

27-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The US Federal Trade Commission has sent 10 warning letters to network marketing companies whose participants it alleges have been making illegal COVID-19 treatment claims and earnings claims related to the pandemic crisis.

From the Editor's Desk

How firms respond to opportunities created by pandemic will say a lot about their corporate cultures

24-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

Companies are taking a number of different tacks to be of service during— and potentially to profit from — the current pandemic crisis.

Diet and gut health are crucial modifiable risk factors in coronavirus severity, says professor

24-Apr-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

The professor behind the COVID Symptom Tracker app - said to be the biggest ever citizen science project in health - predicts that diet and nutrition will soon be recognised as an essential element of immunity and a big modifiable risk factor in the fight...

Trade orgs ask IRS to allow flex spending accounts to go toward supplement purchases

20-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

A group of trade associations has asked the IRS to allow the use of tax advantaged medical savings accounts to be used for the purchase of dietary supplements, a move that the group says could support consumers’ health as well as boost the economy.

Designs for Health tests employees, contractors for coronavirus antibodies

20-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

Florida-based company Designs for Health has announced a program to company-wide blood tests to look for coronavirus antibodies among its employees. The results could help the company devise a cogent back to work strategy.

From the editor's desk

Finding gratitude in the midst of crisis

17-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

In this time of doubt there is much to be grateful for in the dietary supplement industry, and much to be personally thankful for as well.

In the Lupin: Aussie firm sees huge spike in demand for immunity-boosting prebiotic products

16-Apr-2020 By Guan Yu Lim

Australia-based The Lupin Co has seen a five to six times increase in demand for products such as its prebiotic-rich lupin flakes, flours, protein bars and cereals over the past 12 weeks.

Consumer attitudes: The short and long term effects of an unprecedented pandemic

15-Apr-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Analysts for the customer insights firm FMCG Gurus have predicted the short and long term impacts of COVID-19 on consumer attitudes and how food, drink and supplement brands can remain front of mind after customers’ purchasing decisions have been transformed...

CORONAVIRUS: SPOTLIGHT ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Curcumin supply escapes worst of coronavirus supply disruptions

14-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The rapid shutdown of Indian society to combat the coronavirus crisis has inconvenienced manufacturers of curcumin ingredients, but thus far has not put a critical dent in inventories, suppliers say.

CORONAVIRUS: SPOTLIGHT ON THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Echinacea demand spike likely to cause bottlenecks, price increases

10-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The rapid increase in demand for echinacea products is putting a strain on the supply system that may take some time to sort through, suppliers say.

Despite FDA pronouncements, industry coalition action the coronavirus claims warning letters keep coming

08-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued an additional six warning letters in recent days on coronavirus claims. The letters coincide with an industry coalition raising a red flag on the growing flood of such claims on dietary supplement-type products.

Natural Grocers raises workers’ pay, adjusts store hours to respond to disease crisis

08-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

Dietary supplement retailer and organic grocery purveyor Natural Grocers has responded to the coronavirus crisis by increasing workers’ pay and expanding store hours to include time specifically to serve at risk populations.

Depleting stocks, longer delivery time: Companies on meeting vitamin C supply amid COVID-19 disruption

08-Apr-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The huge demand for vitamin C has sent stocks running low for retailers and the situation is further complicated by longer delivery times and more expensive freight costs.

Trade groups ask retailers not to stock products making coronavirus claims

07-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

A coalition of dietary supplement industry trade associations have come out in support of FDA actions against fraudulent coronavirus treatment claims and have urged retailers to not stock products with such claims on their labels.

Unproven COVID-19 health claims: China’s crackdown on ads for oral sprays, probiotics and anti-hangover tea

07-Apr-2020 By Tingmin Koe

The Chinese authorities have named and shamed a string of fake advertisement, mostly surrounding unproven COVID-19 health claims.

Nevada governor orders health food stores to close as part of disease lockdown

03-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has ordered health food stores to close in his state, prompting pushback from dietary supplement industry stakeholders.

FDA sends warning letter to CBD firm over coronavirus claims

02-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued another warning letter on COVID-19 claims. This one was issued to a Nevada company marketing CBD products.

Coronavirus: Spotlight on the Supply Chain

Potential supplement supply bottlenecks identified in response to federal government request

01-Apr-2020 By Hank Schultz

The US Department of Agriculture has contacted stakeholders in the dietary supplement industry to potential problems in the supply chain of dietary supplements in light of the current coronavirus crisis.

Federal guide calls supplement workers ‘essential;’ task for industry now to ensure state and local mandates reflect that

31-Mar-2020 By Hank Schultz

A new federal government update on who may be considered essential workers now specifically includes employees of dietary supplement manufacturing and sales operations. Trade groups said it’s now up to industry to make sure that is reflected in local...

NIU’s Global Round-up: TGA postpones overseas GMP inspections, Italian authorities crack down on coronavirus claims, and more

30-Mar-2020 By Stephen Daniells

The novel coronavirus is impacting every level of the nutra- industry in almost every country, so check out our round-up of the key news from around the globe for the past seven days.

Plant-based diet could be 'helpful' to vulnerable during pandemic, say researchers

30-Mar-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

The high antioxidant, flavonoid and fibre intake associated with a plant-based diet can help manage asthma and this could be helpful for many vulnerable people during this pandemic, according to the authors of a new clinical review.

Editor's Spotlight: Startup Focus

Global AI startup adds immunity support to personalised nutrition tech amid Coronavirus

30-Mar-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

A global AI startup company has created a way to help consumers find the nutrition and supplements they need to support their immune system during this health pandemic.

AHPA: Our essential community is in this together

26-Mar-2020 By By Michael McGuffin, president, American Herbal Products Association

The world as we know it is changing.

Coronavirus relief package will ease loan process for smaller supplement firms

26-Mar-2020 By Hank Schultz

The $2 trillion stimulus packaged passed unanimously by the US Senate this morning will have important implications for the dietary supplement industry that may help companies survive the worst of the coronavirus crisis impacts.

Coronavirus immunity claim warning for Omega-3 industry

24-Mar-2020 By Nikki Hancocks

Omega-3 businesses have been warned about the dangers of making immunity claims during this Coronavirus crisis.

NIU’s Global Round-up: COVID-19 dominates global headlines, and more

23-Mar-2020 By Stephen Daniells

What’s happened across the Nutra-verse over the past seven days? A lot has happened in the global nutrition industry over the past seven days, the majority of which is linked to the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Stay on top of things with our...

Industry stakeholders lay out safety, regulatory challenges

23-Mar-2020 By Danielle Masterson

The Natural Products Association (NPA) recently held a webinar on political and legislative insights. At the forefront — the expansion of health savings accounts, new dietary new dietary ingredient enforcement, DSHEA, accurate labels, and Cannabidiol...