Healthy INSIDER Podcast: Recent Episodes
Natural Products INSIDER
Natural Products INSIDER is home to the latest news updates, research and analysis for manufacturers and marketers of dietary supplements.
The https://organicandnatural.org/ (Organic & Natural Health Association)’s partnership with the https://www.wmsfranklinfoundation.org/ (Williams-Franklin Foundation) will open more opportunities in the natural products industry for students and graduates of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU). Specifically, Organic & Natural Health committed to help raise US$50,000 for the Williams-Franklin Foundation--a nonprofit that provides scholarships, networking and mentoring opportunities to HBCU students with extreme financial need--during the next five years. While Organic & Natural Health started the partnership, this is an industry-wide initiate. In this podcast, Karen Howard, CEO and executive director, Organic & Natural Health Association, and Brian Terry, national sales manager, https://www.nordicnaturals.com/consumers/ (Nordic Naturals), join Sandy Almendarez, senior content director, Informa Markets, to discuss the importance of this program and the beneficial ripple effects it will have to improve the natural products industry.
ToddCast Episode 5:The medicinal value of hemp CBD has been proven with FDA approval of a CBD isolate drug. Even so, the forces aligned against its widespread use remain. Sean Murphy, founder of Hemp Business Journal and now with WAFBA producing the NoCo Hemp Expo in Denver (and online) March 25-27, https://www.nocohempexpo.com/ (https://www.nocohempexpo.com/) talks with Insider senior editor Todd Runestad about: Murphy’s young son, Atlas, born with a terminal brain condition—and how, even in the cannabis capital of Colorado, he has been unable to legally use CBD to help. What the leading hemp companies are doing to stay ahead sustainably. The opportunities for hemp beyond medicinal—nutritional, textiles, biomaterials.
Health Equity & Advocacy Project (HEAP) just launched, its mission to educate and inspire Blacks and other melanin-challenged populations to get their vitamin D levels up to healthy. Their lives may depend on it. The merging of #BLM with COVID has created a moment where the Black community’s health outcomes with the pandemic is worse than most—as is vitamin D blood levels, and a slew of published research over the past year has shown at least a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and worse COVID-19 outcomes. Brian Terry, national sales manager at Nordic Naturals, saw opportunity. He sat down with Insider senior editor Todd Runestad to discuss: That an incredible 82% of Blacks are vitamin D deficient, compard to 63% Latinx and 31% White. What can vitamin D do to help peoples’ health status? Why supplementation is the only realistic solution. Terry is a Black man in a White industry. What has his experience been—are natural products people really full of peace and love?
The 54-store U.S. chain of sports nutrition stores has committed to an omnichannel solution from NewStore to modernize its operation and inventory management while delivering information and products in the many ways customers today demand. 5 Star’s chief marketing officer Jared LeMantia discusses what prompted this move, what is involved in transitioning to this new system, and how the customer experience will change.
When sports nutrition retail chain 5 Star Nutrition chose NewStore’s omnichannel cloud solution as its pathway to future growth and success, it was the company’s first foray into nutrition. NewStore’s chief commercial officer Rick Berger explains how mobile point of sale (POS) and cloud-based order management that have been changing fashion and sporting goods retailing can also transform nutrition retailers, who can run their stores from an iPhone.
ToddCast episode II: Sports nutrition has long been a hotbed of innovation. The first tubs of whey protein powders were originally used by body builders, but the conceit has diversified into plant proteins for anyone seeking a performance edge. Listen to this interview between senior editor Todd Runestad and sports nutrition innovator extraordinaire and president of Imaginutrition, Anthony Almada, as they discuss: How EAS turned on the pro sports world with creatine and other power boosters. Immunity supplements may be the new multivitamin, but can they also find a home in the sports nutrition aisle? How the latest sports ingredient, beta-alanine, increases exercise capacity—but is also an antioxidant and can enhance immunity.
BIPOC brand targets diabesity with plant-based powders. The company had been laser-focused on the Black population. With high-quality ingredients and GMP-certified production, this on-point brand was able to get a shot at the best big box retailer in the country. Watch CEO Claude Tellis and CMO Kareem Cook sit down with senior editor Todd Runestad as they discuss the challenges and sweet smell of success: The challenges and indignities of being a Black-owned company, which makes this deal all the sweeter. What success looks like now—sales figures, time horizons, new demographic markets opened, and flying over the hurdle of Costco’s No. 1 concern. How hoops legends Magic Johnson and Grant Hill—along with strong assists from a pair of women on the back end—have helped this company earn the spotlight.
ToddCast Vol. XXIX: Duffy MacKay has lived and breathed Washington, D.C., for a decade as senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a leading trade group serving the dietary supplements industry. Like so many other supplements veterans, he jumped ship and swam to the boisterous shores of hemp CBD land. MacKay sits down with Insider senior editor Todd Runestad to talk about the similarities between the last quarter-century of supplements and the last five of CBD, in particular as it relates to FDA regulation. Tune in as they discuss: How CBD companies don’t quite get that they are in the supplements business, not the marijuana business. Rules and regulations apply. Whether potential FDA commissioner in the Biden administration, David Kessler, has “evolved his thinking” from supplements enemy to hemp accepter if not promoter. Whether Congress can write laws to compel the FDA to stop its slow-dance of hemp CBD regulations.
Marc Brush, principal at the Bend consultancy, honed his market research bona fides running Nutrition Business Journal. He’s helping shape the personalized healthcare and nutrition pursuit, is building the future of innovative immune-support products and brands, and has genius insights on the future of consumer demographics and market success. Listen in as Insider senior editor Todd Runestad sits down with Brush as they discuss: How to make personalization work in the market (hint: no one is there yet). As we enter the second year of the colds-and-flu season, has immunity supplements supplanted multivitamins as the foundation of health? Is influencer marketing really losing its luster? What then, then?
ToddCast Vol. XXVIII: COVID times are accelerating the health care paradigm, and the leading thinker on functional medicine and personalized nutrition is leading the charge. Immune boosting is so 20th century. Think immune rejuvenation. Think training your immune system like you would build muscle for fitness. Think of categorizing your immune function into immunity personalities. Insider senior editor Todd Runestad rethinks the future of nutrition with Dr. Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D., founder of the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute and president of Big Bold Health. They discuss: The five categories of one’s immune system personality—angry, confused, sensitive, withdrawn and balanced—and nutrients that support each one. Bland’s serendipitous journey of discovery of the next great superfood (and crop for carbon times), Himalayan tartary buckwheat. What the future of health care and functional medicine looks like in 2050.
ToddCast Vol. XXVII: From Tonalin CLA to 5-Loxin, Aker krill to MenaQ7 vitamin K2, Eric Anderson has been at the forefront of marketing evidence-based, IP-protected ingredients to quality-forward responsible brands. Tune in as Anderson sits down with Insider senior editor Todd Runestad as they discuss: How to navigate a market with brands pirating ingredients and stifling innovation on one end and those that care about quality and evidence on the other. How to communicate all aspects of quality, from sustainable sourcing and clinically validated ingredients to lab test results. What the surge in immune products post-COVID looks like for consumers looking to support general wellness.
Market leaders are leading the market through diligence, innovation and new ways of thinking. You would expect anything less from the hemp biz? The last 10 months have changed our lives dramatically. Supply chains are being rewritten and remapped due to the pandemic. This is another opportunity to bring manufacturing to the agriculture center of production in this country because supply chains will require domestic supply because nobody wants supply disruption. How do we make sure we take care of the climate and take care of the sustainable story for the next 20 years? Senior editor Todd Runestad sits down with Simon Liegel, co-founder of Driftless Extracts, and Josh Hendrix, an established leader in the hemp industry sitting on major boards and managing BestBall CBD and Hendrix Holdings. They discuss: How brands can qualify a supplier—what to look for, what questions to ask. What kept the green rush from coming to fruition for many hemp farmers—and the opportunities that remain. How Wisconsin is looking past cannabinoids and driving hemp usage toward the grain and fiber angle—packaging, textiles, paper and other industrial applications. Traceabiliity. Sustainability. Verification. And other significant considerations.
ToddCast, Vol. XXV: Known in the trade as The Medicine Hunter, Chris Kilham travels the world over and really digs in with indigenous cultures to discover herbal remedies for the Western world—kava and maca being two preeminent herbs that Kilham was there at the start of both. During the COVID downtime, we caught up with Kilham resting comfortably just five miles from North America’s largest organic schisandra farm. Listen in to this podcast with senior editor Todd Runestad as Kilham discusses: As one of the world’s great longevity botanicals, why schisandra berry “really needs its day.” Differentiation among the three great adaptogenic superstars today—ashwagandha, rhodiola, Schisandra—and why an adaptogen virtually unheard-of outside the West may be the “king of kings.” Why the herb with a well-built commercial infrastructure but was beaten down by a questionable safety study a decade ago is nevertheless poised for a return. Is he going to talk about cannabis and CBD? You know he is!
While being careful to not pick winners and losers, ABC founder—and now anointed as one of the luminaries gracing the Mount Rushmore of the Natural Products Industry—identifies botanicals vital for vitality and immune health. But really, though, that's not even close to the half of it. Listen in as they dive into the deep end of the pond and talk about: Evolutionary biology and the kindom—no typo—that links plants and animals on this fair planet. The conflict between vitalism and reductionism in how herbalists think about health care. The List. Immunomodulators, sure, but also herbs for vitality.
The right people leading a supplement or functional food company can take the company to the next stage of success, or can mean the brand stays in business at all. But as Angela Marturano, president, Orchid Holistic Search, said, “Working for a company, you're dedicating the majority your life to that business. In return, what is a company willing to do for you to make you feel valued?” It’s a good question. And thankfully, Marturano provided insight into what the top candidates are after when it comes to choosing their employer.
Consumers are clamoring for supplements that support a healthy immune system. Innovative supplements company NB Pure wanted to create a zinc supplement in an innovative spray delivery format. Listen in as senior editor Todd Runestad sat down with Gene Tracy, director of quality assurance / quality control at NB Pure as they dig into: What kind of zinc, and at what dose, would work best in a spray delivery format. Formulation challenges around potency, contamination, flavor and shelf-stability. Microbial challenges, stability testing, and taste issues.
Countries and regions around the world use hemp differently. Listen for details around the differences between Canada, Europe, and Asia. Yes, there was massive overproduction of hemp in 2019 in America. But hemp CBD is a worldwide sensation, and there are opportunities for hemp farmers around the world. Perhaps the largest vertically integrated hemp firm in the U.S. was formed in 2020 when CPG brand Kadenwood acquired Colorado-based supplier EcoGen. Garrett Bain is president of EcoGen and a veteran of the hemp supply business. Natural Products Insider senior editor Todd Runestad sat down with Bain to discuss: The evolving Asian markets, and how Australia is a stepping stone to Asia. Specifics around the “complicated” regulatory environment in Canada. How the European market improves the quality of U.S.-grown hemp.
To help increase awareness of the importance of vitamin D supplementation about minority populations, The https://organicandnatural.org/ (Organic and Natural Health Association) launched the “https://powerofd.org/ (Get On My Level)” campaign in partnership with Dr. Ken Redcross, author of “Bond: The 4 Cornerstones of a Lasting and Caring Relationship with Your Doctor.” The campaign highlights the proven health benefits of vitamin D and encourages people in communities most at risk to know their vitamin D level by either asking their doctor or measuring and monitoring their own levels at home using a test kit and vitamin D calculator from Organic & Natural Health research partner, https://www.grassrootshealth.net/ (GrassrootsHealth). In this podcast, Dr. Redcross speaks with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa Markets, about the important of vitamin D for minority populations. They cover: The need for the medical community to foster and support the patient-doctor relationship. How Black and Latinx communities generally view supplements as part of their healthy lifestyles. How supplement brands can promote their vitamin D supplement to ethnic minority populations.
CBD researcher Alex Capano, Ph.D., studies at the Lambert Center for the Study of Medicinal Cannabis and Hemp at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Her groundbreaking work was on CBD for opioid addiction—which also found, not surprisingly, quality of life improvements around pain, sleep and anxiety. Natural Products Insider senior editor Todd Runestad sat at the bench with Capano to discuss the frontiers of CBD research. Listen in as they discuss Safety concerns around liver toxicity, drug interactions and whether drowsiness is a side effect or an effect. The best way to take hemp CBD—a loading dose, or start low and go slow? What the science says around possible maximum upper intake dosages.
The fountain of youth has been sought for centuries. In the last two decades some ingredients—namely resveratrol and NAD+—have gained notoriety for an ability to lengthen the time study organisms live. The question is always whether the natural bioactives work in humans. It’s all but impossible to conduct a 40- or 50-year human clinical trial, so what now? In this Healthy Insider Podcast, senior editor Todd Runestad sits down with veteran anti-aging researcher Brian Kennedy, director of the Center for Healthy Longevity at the National University of Singapore, to discuss: The difference between lifespan and healthspan—and how the latter may be more important. Biomarkers that can be regulated and which contribute to what is known as the biological clock. What alpha-ketoglutarate (LifeAKG) did in study results in a landmark study published Sept. 1in Cell Metabolism.
ToddCast Vol. XVIII: You say you want a revolution? Hemp is the answer—that’s right, it can pave the way to better alternatives than many of the problems staring us in the face as industrial, civilized humans – the plastic problem, the climate crisis, the pollution of our waterways, the unsustainable way we have organized our societies. Natural Products Insider senior editor Todd Runestad catches up the hemp majordomo promoter Morris Beegle, co-founder and president of WAFBA—short for We Are For Better Alternatives. Listen in as they dig into:
How it’s time for people engaged in the hemp CBD business to go pro—or go home and stop gumming up the architecture of this fledgling industry. The key to the realm of hemp dominance is when “whole plant utilization” comes to fruition—using not just the flower for CBD but the stems, stalks and seeds for biomaterials, biofuels, bioplastics, animal feed and healthy human nutrition. The one entity that can save us from being “f@(#*d” by climate change and lead the way (with hemp, of course) on a more sustainable course
Too much hemp in the fields and barns, too many brands, too little regulatory certainty (and misguided when it does get released). Buckle up!
Josh Hendrix has been around the hemp farms, the hemp businesses, the hemp boards. He’s sharp, smart and informed—and reasonably hip, at least by Kentucky standards. Natural Products Insider senior editor Todd Runestad sat down with Josh to assess the damage from smoking embers of the hemp CBD business in mid-2020. Yes, there was massive overproduction in 2019. Yes, there is regulatory intransigence. Yes, there was 4,000 hemp CBD brands at last count. But you know what you don’t know?
- How the leading CBD brand is positioning itself as something bigger than just a hemp CBD brand.
- The big mistake most of those CBD brands make that will be a big contributor to their ultimate demise.
- “If you and I get on the phone in 10 years and hemp fiber is not a huge part of the materials world, I’ll be shocked.”
Tennessee’s Frederick Cawthon is emblematic of a 2020 hemp farmer—in 2019 his team grew 85 acres, and then thanks to the oversupply and consequent market saturation and price collapse, in 2020 he grew 15 acres. Hear Cawthon’s founding story of how he got into the hemp business, how he assembled a crack growing team, marshaled investors, even cajoled the local college president to open dormant dorms to farm workers during the summer grow season. But more than that, hear Cawthon speak about hemp’s potential to revitalize rural regions, and how CBD has the potential to be the next great ingredient that can be infused in a range of products by the world’s biggest CPG companies. Listen to this fascinating Toddcast with Natural Products Insider’s senior editor Todd Runestad, as they discuss:
- How his mother, the Lord, the universe and CNN fit into the spark of an idea to change his life and become a hemp farmer.
- How hemp can be a zero-carbon detox agent to clean up farms, communities and ecosystems.
- How all that hemp oversupply could be gone from barns across the nation if only two organizations would try just a little bit harder.
Hemp acreage has gone from 7,000 acres in 2015 to 27,000 to 78,000 in 2017 to an eye-popping half a million acres after the 2018 farm bill was passed. The ensuing gut has scaled back many farmers’ plans even while more farmers chase the gold ring—but the bigger problem remains intransigence by the FDA and USDA, which seem to be doing their drug warrior best to keep the hemp market from reaching full potential. Natural Products Insider senior editor Todd Runestad sat down with Rick Trojan, president of the Hemp Industries Association, to talk about a wide-ranging number of hempy topics, including:
- Are we in Bustville? Too much USDA opposition making farmers felons, too much FDA creating fear around CBD, too many farmers getting in too fast and driving down the price?
- How institutional racism figures into the history of hemp (it’s not a pretty sight, and it will open your eyes). #BLM
- Is the main challenge to hemp how potentially disruptive it is to various pre-existing industries? Are you up for the legislative and cultural fight to put more money in the pockets of farmers and rural communities rather than large corporations?
Despite the impact on business and industry posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, dietary supplement companies are still obligated to meet regulatory requirements including supplier qualification, ingredient testing, aspects of GMP compliance and more; every person involved in compliance must understand their responsibilities. To support the gap around in-person education and training, NSF International has developed Quality & Regulatory Digital Week, taking place August 3 to 7, 2020. Designed with the global nutraceutical industry in mind, various courses delve into particular aspects of regulatory compliance. The two-part Botanical Identification and Testing Course, set for August 6 and 7, addresses a range of issues unique to the herbal industry. In this Healthy Insider podcast, John Travis, senior research scientist at NSF, offers thoughts around the importance of botanical identification and testing methodologies.
In this podcast, Travis and Informa’s Heather Granato discuss: • Why botanical identification continues to be of critical interest across the global supplement space, particularly as it relates to vendor qualification. • Concerns around the issue of supply chain scarcity and potential adulteration, and how that could impact testing processes and methods. • Key steps that manufacturers can take to ensure their botanical materials meet quality specs.
Adulteration of botanicals has been going a fact of human commerce since time immemorial. Only very recently has the game taken a turn for the technical as criminals and unsuspecting buyers use ever-more sophisticated tools—and schemes—to stay ahead of each other. In response, the American Botanical Council has co-created a Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program, a free series of bulletins to help buyers, brands and contract manufacturers learn which ingredients are being targeted, and the means why which adulterers are using to fool tests. Natural Products Insider’s senior editor Todd Runestad sat down with ABC’s founder, Mark Blumenthal, to discuss the risks at stake. Tune in to discover:
- How saw palmetto is being spiked with help from the animal slaughter trade.
- What manufacturers can do to prevent rejected raw materials from re-entering the trade.
- Whether blockchain can be a viable tool to ensure trustworthiness in the trade.
On Thursday, July 9, from 2:00-2:30pm Eastern time, tune in to a related webinar with NOW Foods CEO Jim Emme on Challenges in the botanical ingredient supply chain: Opportunities for manufacturers to create change. Click here to register for this free event, courtesy your business partners here at Natural Products Insider.
Plenty of former and current professional athletes advocate for the use of CBD in sports nutrition, and many of them have launched their own line of supplements or topical products in this space. However, selling CBD products to athletes is both riskier and less risky than selling CBD products to other demographics. To explain this conundrum, Rick Collins, partner at Collins Gann McCloskey & Barry, joins Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa Markets, on this podcast to discuss the legal aspects of selling CBD in sports nutrition products.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is set up to assess and approve single synthetic chemical constituent pharmaceutical drugs—drug, after all, is its middle name. But food is its first name, yet the agency has a great deal of difficulty regulating dietary supplements, in particular botanicals with many different active phytochemicals in a plant, and especially hemp CBD with one ingredient in particular, THC, being a controlled substance drug! So it’s a challenging scenario all the way around, from the regulators to the would-be regulated. Natural Products Insider senior editor Todd Runestad digs into these important—and vexing—issues with Duffy MacKay, senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for CV Sciences, a pioneering and leading brand known for its PlusCBD Oil line. Tune in and listen to the pair discuss some provocative issues, including:
What does regulatory compliance look like to a hemp CBD company? What else looks different in the hemp CBD world compared to the larger dietary supplements business? Crystal ball question: What do ultimate hemp CBD regulations might look like? Pharma only? Food allowed? Upper safe limits established? No isolate?
MacKay will be leading a discussion with many of the hemp CBD industry’s leading legal minds, in a webinar, “Legal, regulatory and market forces shaping the hemp CBD industry,” Thursday, July 2, from 2-3pm Eastern time, 11-12 Pacific. To register, go to naturalproductsinsider.com and atop the home page, on that bar, click on Media Assets, then Webinars, and scroll down till you see the title, and register.
Research is only in its infancy in cannabinoid research, though it is clear they have benefit. The future may portend new tricks in product formulation. Yes, we will continue to discover new individual cannabinoids, a la CBD isolate that’s been approved as a pharmaceutical drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We will also see blending combinations of individual cannabinoids. We will also see increased research on the so-called entourage effect--the mixture of all the cannabinoids inside the cannabis plant—even, yes, with THC. There will also be deeper looks at the terpenes. And also, the blending of hemp with complementary botanicals. The future is truly wide open. Join Informa senior editor Todd Runestad as he takes a deep dive into the hemp fields with Jason Mitchell, co-founder and president of hemp pioneering company HempFusion, as they look beyond CBD and go into:
• Why is CBG not only an emerging cannabinoid but is in fact the mother of all cannabinoids? • Beta-caryophyllene and the aromatic terpenes. • CBD is not ‘more is better.’ CBD is ‘better is better.’ It’s not about how much you take, it’s did it work?
Jason Mitchell will be moderating a SupplySide webinar, “Hemp cannabinoids: CBD (and THC) aren’t the half of it.” This will be broadcast Tuesday, June 30. To tune in, go to naturalproductsinsider.com and right up near the top, on the right, click “Media Assets” and “Webinars” and find the webinar.
The Organic & Natural Health Association (O&N), with research support from Grassroots Health, submitted a health claim petition to FDA regarding vitamin D’s role in reducing preterm births. According to Karen Howard, CEO and executive director of O&N, this petition was denied because FDA said the studies didn’t account for the vitamin D participants received through sunlight exposure. Rather than walk away defeated, Howard and her Association made lemonade out of lemons, by supporting the substantiation of a structure/function claim, which currently appears on Simply GOODHEALTH’s Vitamin D3 label. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa Markets, Howard tells the tale of the structure/function claim development and what lessons the rest of the industry can learn.
The natural products industry is less diverse than the general population in terms of the consumers we serve and the individuals that lead our companies. Yet, this market is full of people who want to improve the justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (J.E.D.I.) makeup of our cultures, customers and consumers. The first step in education, especially for those who are just becoming aware of the privilege they hold in society and the ways they operate within an unjust system. This podcast with Laura Dickinson and Sheryl O’Loughlin, cofounders of the J.E.D.I. Collaborative discusses the resources available and actions brands can take to further J.E.D.I. in the natural products industry.
Contemporary notions of health and wellness are changing for consumers, who are seeking involvement in managing or preventing health conditions that affect their lives. How do supplements fit in?
Jon catches up with Brent Tignor, Vice President Human Resources at Balchem Corporation. Learn more at: https://www.https://balchem.com
There is no cure for the novel coronavirus. Still, consumers are searching for natural supplements that optimize immune function. Is there anything new under the sun?
Jon catches up with David Thibodeau, Managing Director at Wellvest Capital. Learn more at: https://www.https://wellvestcapital.com
Once upon a time in probiotic history, the probiotic genus lactobacillus had 261 species, but as of mid-April 2020, it was reclassified into 23 novel genera as well as the previously known lactobacillus, paralactobacillus and pediococcus (Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2020 Apr 15. DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004107). This reclassification has a huge impact on products made with probiotics that fall into this family, since this change can cause confusion among regulators, consumers and formulators. In this podcast, Ivan Wasserman, managing partner, Amin Talati Wasserman, discusses what probiotic brands need to consider given this change, as well as other pressing legal concerns.
Elan Sudberg of Garden Grove, California-based Alkemist Labs, talks with Jon Benninger, VP of the Health & Nutrition Network of for Informa Markets about how smaller-scale labs prepared for the impact of COVID-19.
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., is author of many books that reveal the shortcomings of the allopathic medical model. Many of these issues can be addressed by targeted, sometimes high-dose, nutritional supplementation. In this Healthy Insider Podcast, senior editor Todd Runestad talks with Teitelbaum about compelling supplement solutions that any supplement formulator or retailer in store aisles would do well to tune in on:
- 10% of the people who get covid-19, even a mild form, may come down with post-viral fibromyalgia and fatigue.
- Why don’t conventional American doctors give much thought to fibromyalgia and fatigue?
- Key supplement categories to focus on—and the ingredients that power them—beyond immune health here in the world full of pandemonium.
Wilson Lau talks about how his toddler is teaching him how to approach life again "with a renewed curiosity.” He said Nuherbs has adopted all the measures, but at the same time cut back on OT to keep employee mental health a priority. He also explains his three reasons his company was fortunate with the outbreak - number one, being organic and lab-tested means you contract out with farmers and wild collectors well in advance. Lots more too about supply chains and adulteration concerns.
Paul Schulick is co-founder of the legacy New Chapter supplements company, and has just launched For the Biome—at the start, a skin-care company with formulations that “speak your skin’s language” and “awaken your skin, microbiome, and consciousness.” Get ready to expand your consciousness in this scintillating conversation with an industry pioneer and innovator who is bringing new thinking to preventive health care. In this Healthy Insider Podcast, senior editor Todd Runestad and Schulick go deep on topics such as: • The root of why we are not healthy is America’s disease-treatment system and not a true health-care system. Is today’s health crisis an opportunity to shift that paradigm? • The challenge of using best-in-class ingredients, and how the most expensive product is the one that does not work. • Schulick’s basic message for people who want to survive the coronavirus and also for those who want to live a healthy, sustainable, sentient, compassionate life in the 21st Century and beyond.
Surviving a pandemic and economic fallout requires an active, flexibility and adaptive approach marked by firm, focused decisions.
Personalized nutrition brand Care/Of tried to bring consistency to consumers thrown off their regular nutrition path during pandemic.
The hemp biz is known as a man’s world, yet two of the most successful, innovative players are women. Hear them roar!
Listen in on challenges and frustrations, successes and inspirations in today’s hemp CBD business. New Hope Network’s ingredients and supplements editor Todd Runestad sits down with Jess Mulligan, co-founder of Winged Nutrition, and Annie Rouse, co-founder of Anavii Market, Chief Knowledge Officer with LifePatent, and founder of OverCome. They talk about:
Fundraising when it seems like all the money belongs to men. Frustrations like Amazon’s on-again off-again relationship with CBD Inspirations like “selling something that changes lives.” Dropping the veil of perfection.
NOW Foods is powering ahead despite social distancing and sanitary requirements, as its immune business booms and ingredients like vitamin C are in high demand.
Energy, hydration, testing, gaming and sweeteners highlight the topics discussed in this podcast featuring Bryan Morin, sports category manager of NOW Sports.
Let’s talk cannabis in all its iterations—medical and recreational marijuana, supplemental CBD, and agricultural hemp. And that’s just the appetizer!
Who’s up for some delicious vegetarian lunch? Informa senior editor Todd Runestad breaks bread with Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association, and Elan Sudberg, CEO of Alkemist Labs, to discuss the ABCs of herbalism today: American consumer trends; Botanical expertise in the realms of regulations from USDA, FDA and DEA; and that ineffable quality called Courage. Listen up as we dig into these noshable notions:
What have we learned in the 10 years since the American Herbal Products Association chartered its cannabis committee? Consistency in the herbal market—seven of the top 10 best-selling herbs from a decade ago are still on the list today. Courage: On a personal, professional, and association level.
With supply chains in 80 countries that employ 300,000 people, the company can make a difference to end poverty, hunger and more, per Randy Kreienbrink, VP of marketing. Martin Bauer, with its global reach providing more than 200 botanical ingredients to the tea, food, beverage, dietary supplement and animal nutrition industries, has committed to several sustainability goals, including tackling climate change, poverty and global hunger. All these goals and more are outlined in its Sustainably Report, released in February 2020. Per the Sustainability Report, Martin Bauer promised to purchase 56% of its major botanicals through certified supply chains and to follow Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set forth by the SDG Compass. In this podcast, Randy Kreienbrink, vice president of marketing, Martin Bauer Group, talks with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa Markets, about the company’s sustainability goals.
In the wake of the postponement of Expo West 2020—let’s call it Expo Rest—we still met in Southern California with movers and shakers in the field. Informa senior editor Todd Runestad sat down with Erik Goldman, editor-in-chief of Holistic Primary Care, a media company that connects integrative practitioners to the supplements market and holistic healing practices. Sit down with us and listen to this provocative conversation where the two discuss:
- What health conditions are practitioners recommending cannabis—medical and recreational marijuana as well as hemp CBD.
- “Health is more than the absence of disease” and how the medical community is shifting to deal with post-modern health conditions. -In the wake of the postponement of Expo West 2020, it begs the question, How much do we believe in our medicine?
Nutiva’s new Organic MCT Protein offers innovation in a saturated protein powder market, and the company commits itself to worthy environmental causes, leading to the honor of finalist for the 2020 NEXTY Awards in the Best New Supplement Category. The Organic MCT Protein powders hit on several trends, including plant-based ingredients, non-GMO, keto, paleo, vegan, dairy free, grain free, gluten free and sugar free. The medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) powder is derived from organic coconuts, and organic plant protein powder comes from pea, sunflower, pumpkin seed and hemp seeds. Available in vanilla and chocolate, it offers 6 g of MCTs, 20 g of plant protein and 4 g of branched chain amino acids per serving. It also contains the prebiotic acacia fiber. In this podcast, Steve Naccarato, CEO, Nutiva, talks with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa Markets, about the product’s ingredient selection and formulation, as well as the company’s philanthropic efforts.
Concern is high, and answers are few as the dietary supplement industry faces the pandemic COVID-19, the respiratory diseases caused by a novel coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China. By press time, COVID-19 has reached 108 countries, infected nearly 125,000 people, and more than 4,500 people have died. Industries across the world are considering how this virus will play out, and how it will affect their people and products. For supplement brands, special considerations focus on supply chain concerns, FDA enforcement and illegal marketing claims. In this podcast, Jim C. Griffiths, senior vice president of international and scientific affairs, Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), discusses the issues facing supplement brands with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa Markets.
Supplement brands that follow procedures to ensure adulterated materials aren’t circulated to other companies will help clean up the industry, create better products and safeguard consumer loyalty. However, shifting operations to reject and destroy ingredients without paying vendors can be scary and risky, especially without these details outlined in supplier agreements. In this podcast, Jim Emme, CEO, NOW Foods Health Group, discusses how brands can help reduce adulteration with help from the Botanical Adulteration Prevention Program (BAPP).
Discovering the person behind personalized nutrition – podcast Many personalized nutrition brands capitalize on the blood tests that can indicate a consumer’s dietary shortfalls, but to truly understand a person's needs, other factors need to be considered as well, according to Diana Morgan, head of scientific and regulatory affairs, Care/of. She encourages brands to also consider a person’s diet, lifestyle, physical activity, sleep, stress level, medications and environment. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa Markets, Morgan dives into personalized nutrition for supplement brands.
Today's Ashwagandha Advantage podcast, featuring master herbalist and formulator Blaire Edwards, discusses how targeting women's health concerns, such as chronic stress – which may suppress the immune system, disrupt digestion, sleep, and hormonal balance, and cause sexual health dysfunction – can benefit from regular intake of ashwagandha. Revered for its ability to address the underlying consequences of stress and support vitality, ashwagandha is poised to provide a solution for a variety of women's health needs.
Consumer and environmental demands mean supplement and functional brands must address how their practices affect the environment. But the “how” of implementing these regenerative agriculture, processing and packaging procedures can intimate companies. Fear not, says Erin Callahan, director, Climate Collaborative; brands don’t have to save the entire world today, but they do need to take the first step.
Influencers who champion supplement and functional food products to their followers give those brands great opportunity for exposure to a welcoming audience, but companies must be selective when choosing influencers—yes, more than one—who will speak about their offerings, notes Amy Summers, owner and president, Pitch Publicity. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa Health & Nutrition, Summers covers best practices when using influencers.
What’s the story with CBD safety? The United Nations reported it’s completely safe for human consumption. The US FDA says otherwise. INSIDER senior editor Todd Runestad sits down with Stuart Tomc, senior VP business development, for CV Sciences—the only brand to have submitted a self-GRAS dossier to the FDA. Listen up as they discuss:
- How has the market changed from before the first farm bill and after this second farm bill
- Why the CV Sciences’ self-GRAS for CBD means
- Considerations that any CBD company needs to go through to firmly establish themselves on the right side of the law, even as the law evolves.
Consumers want personalized nutrition products, but often lack access to the medical test that measure nutrient statuses. Supplement brands can help, says industry veteran Michael McBurney. Personalized nutrition—where brands offer products that can help a specific person based on his or her individual needs—could, and arguably should, be the future for supplement brands that strive to help consumers meet nutrition goals. However, access to devices that test nutrient statuses is holding consumers and the industry back from the breakthrough that’s needed to propel this market. Michael McBurney, Ph.D., adjunct professor, department of human health and nutritional sciences, University of Guelph, describes what supplement/functional food brands can do create an market where personalized nutrition is an option for more people. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa Markets, McBurney covers personalized nutrition for supplement brands.
The supplement market is robust with household penetration at over 80 percent, according to Bob Sanders, executive vice president, health care and home care practice leader, IRi (Information Resources Inc.). Still, supplement brands have opportunities to grow their reach among consumers who already rely on supplements for nutrition, Sanders noted in this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa Markets.
The new generation of supplements consumers is entering the market, and it all starts with herbs. We sit down with Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association, to dig into the fecund earth of the herbal market. Listen to Todd Runestad, senior editor, INSIDER, as they discuss:
- How hippies, Mormons and German multinationals came together to form an industry
- Common herbs in different healing traditions around the world
- Cannabis, hemp and CBD. Of course you knew we’d talk about this!
Dustin Gersch, owner, Paleo Powder Seasonings LLC, created Paleo Powder AIP Coating Mix, which works like traditional breadcrumbs, but uses cassava pulp as a carrier for the seasoning blend to offer a grain- and gluten-free, certified Paleo and non-GMO coating for at-home chefs. The AIP Coating Mix is seasoned with Himalayan pink salt, garlic and onion powders and Italian seasoning and mimics traditional offerings in terms of mouthfeel, taste, color and texture. Along with Paleo Powder Seasonings, Gersch is a financial planner and the father of two kids under 3 years old. His story is one of hustle and dedication. In this podcast, Gersch and Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa, discuss Gersch ideation and product launch process, including the challenges he’s faced.
Don’t call it a gummy; Llama Naturals’ Bites win NEXTY Multivitamin Award – podcast Llama Naturals Plant-Based Vitamin Bites—a strawberry and cherry flavored multivitamin chew for children—won the 2019 Best Multivitamin NEXTY Award at SupplySide West. Llama Naturals’ multivitamin is free of artificial sweeteners, gelatin, artificial ingredients, colorings, synthetics and added sugar, notes Brad Baum, co-founder, Llama Naturals, in this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Natural Products Insider. They cover: • The R&D process that included pillows sales, taste challenges and more than 50 iterations. • The reason behind the slow-cooking manufacturing process. • The importance of using organic ingredients.
Many factors contribute to the aging process, some of which can be influenced. In this podcast, Kieron Edwards, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of Sibelius Natural Products, discusses the physical implications of aging, along with strategies to help support living well for the long haul.
The simple booth-and-samples approach to trade shows no longer wins; brands and event hosts face a bigger challenge ensure success for all.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) OK’d CBD for athletes under its testing scheme, but many involved in sport are still unsure who can take what form of cannabis.
Major trade organizations in the supplement and functional food industry disagree on major issues, such as a legal path for CBD’s use in foods and beverages and whether a mandatory supplement registry would be beneficial. This diversity of opinion is a good thing, says Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., CEO and president, Natural Products Association (NPA). Different voices and ideas reflect the growth and diversity of our industry, Fabricant says in this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Informa Markets. Fabricant also details NPA’s stance on controversial issues.
When Zollipops founder Alina Morse was 7 years old, she went to the bank with her dad, Tom, and the teller offered her a lollipop. While she wanted to accept, her parents always told her that candy was terrible for her teeth. In that moment the idea for Zollipops was born. Alina and her dad set off to make delicious lollipop treats that were good for teeth. This origin story as well as the brand’s mission and formulation fueled the product’s winning of the Best Brand Storytelling NEXTY Award at SupplySide West 2019. In this podcast, Tom speaks with Sandy Almendarez, content director, Natural Products INSIDER, about the origin and formulation process of Zollipops.
Heather Granato and Judie Bizzozero discuss some of the major trends seen at Food ingredients Europe, including the importance of supply chain transparency and the globalization of plant-based nutrition.
VitaNourish’s multivitamin water contains essential vitamins, including vitamins C, B1, B12, B5 and B6 without containing masking agents. VitaNourish utilizes nano-sized vitamin particles, so the vitamins don’t need to me masked, but stability and testing methods challenged the brand during formulation. Darren Brown, vice president, VitaNourish, talks with Sandy Almendarez, content director, INSIDER, about the product, which was selected as a finalists in the Best Multivitamin category for the 2019 NEXTY Awards at SupplySide West.
The Omega-3 Clinical Study Database, now in phase 2 data extraction, will one day be a searchable database of human clinical trials that examined the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), or the combination of those two long-chain omega-3s. GOED (The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s) started this endeavor two years ago, as Ellen Schutt, executive director, explains in this Healthy Insider Podcast, and has narrowed down 35,000 potential studies into 4,000 specifically focused on EPA/DHA that need to be categorized for demographics, dosage, intervention and outcome.
Kin+Kind’s CBD Product Line is an organic, vegan, cruelty-free and vet-tested topical CBD available in foam, balm and ear applications, each with 200 mg of CBD. The balm contains organic coconut oil, beeswax, hemp seed oil and CBD, and can be used on dog/cat ears and paw pads, hot spots or achy joints. The ears product is to cleanse and calm. On this Healthy Insider podcast, Kin+Kind’s owner Janine Ling discusses how the line is mixed by hand in the U.S., with U.S.-sourced hemp CBD and witch hazel to support CBD absorption. She also notes how the formulas contain various essential oils (bergamot, lavender, clary sage and Ho Wood) and natural oils (coconut, olive and glycerin) to help make the product spreadable.
Our podcast with Dr. Elijah McCarthy, ND, discusses understanding sexual health systemically and how ashwagandha plays a supporting role. The path to sexual health is not a straight-line, there are many factors involved that support vitality, performance and hormone production. As one of the great Rasāyana herbs within Ayurveda, ashwagandha supports many life functions.
The tradition coupled with the latest research indicated specific benefits of regular intake for supporting sexual health and vitality.
Beyond the label, back through the supply chain, brands face growing demand to provide more info on ingredients and production.
Trade associations in the supplement and functional foods industry disagree on a number of key issues, including a mandatory dietary supplement registry and a legal pathway to market for CBD. Brands that are members of multiple organizations may be funding efforts that oppose each other. Therefore, Steve Mister, president and CEO, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), said it’s important for companies to examine the practices of each of their trade organizations to see if they align with the brand’s values. And it’s on trade organizations to find common ground so the industry can be unified when it communicates with FDA and legislators.
With a range of prebiotic ingredients available and increasing understanding of mechanisms of action, the future looks bright for the prebiotics market. In this podcast, Len Monheit, executive director of the Global Prebiotics Association, discusses considerations such as prebiotic research, tips for connecting with influencers, myths and misconception about prebiotics and fiber, proprietary market data and more.
Earth’s Creation developed the supplement OptiNOs to prompt the body to naturally increase strength and endurance. Product R&D took year, and the company followed with in vitro and clinical trials. The science and commitment to helping athletes with natural ingredients and processes landed Earth’s Creation a finalist’s place in the 2019 NEXTY Awards at SupplySide West in the Best Sports Nutrition Supplement category. In this podcast, Jordan Kyle, head of research and development, Earth’s Creation, discusses the product’s formulation and effects with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, Natural Products INSIDER.
Many companies are taking steps to implement sustainability initiatives. In this podcast, New Hope Network’s Chris McGurrin chats with Stacey Gillespie and Aimee Sprinkel of Gaia Herbs about NEXTY Award wins, consumer education around sustainability, and simple steps for brands to make their organizations more sustainable.
The idea of supporting well-being as a preventive measure throughout the lifespan is becoming increasingly appealing to consumers. In this podcast, herbalist and nutritionist Michael Altman discusses healthy aging ingredients and formulation considerations.
In this podcast at SupplySide West, representatives of BI Nutraceuticals explore farming, extraction, dosing, regulation and other aspects of the hemp-derived CBD market.
For the third year in a row, three-quarters of Americans reported taking supplements in the annual survey from the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), and consumers of all ages are taking the industry’s newest darling ingredient—CBD. In this podcast CRN’s Nancy Weindruch discusses the top takeaways from the 2019 survey.
Popular food flavors are influenced by major cultural shifts, such as wars, recessions and nostalgia. New Hope Network’s Adrianne Smith discusses these influence trends and more noticed at SupplySide West 2019.
Sandy Almendarez and Alex Smolokoff discuss trends seen at SupplySide West 2019, including collagen everything, natural colors and help getting through the stresses of daily life.
SupplySide West 2019 offered numerous trends, highlighted by innovation in capsule and pill delivery formats and a continued focus on formulation for the e-sports and gaming communities. INSIDER’s Connor Lovejoy, assistant editor, joins Sandy Almendarez, content director, to discuss the latest trends at SupplySide West 2019, including: • A shift in philosophy for brands offering plant-based capsules and pills. • Pill and capsule innovation in how ingredients are delivered through a pill. • The interesting from brands to offer products for the e-sports and gaming communities. • How brands are no longer just looking to offer consumers energy but mental energy.
While supply chain players do a good job of keeping up with trends happening globally, the success of micro-markets and individual ingredients lies in the hands of regional consumers and that all-important regulatory red tape.
Vitafoods Insights’ associate editor, Charlie Bastiaanse, joins Sandy Almendarez, content director, to compare trends across North America, Europe and Asia.
This podcast will cover:
• Retail-ready CBD in all its glory gaining traction in the U.S. market compared to Europe, which continues to face regulatory challenges. Despite consumer awareness and demand, CBD remains classified as a Novel Food with food authorities delaying reclassification until research advances. • Sweeteners and flavour technology in the spotlight, especially for CBD and omega-3 ingredients. • Digestive health is particularly prominent in Europe and across the APAC region, especially in beverage finished products. • Why claims and certifications matter, and how to adjust messaging to the confused consumer.
Charlie Bastiaanse can be reached at charlotte.bastiaanse@informa.com
This podcast at SupplySide West explored several issues around CBD and the 25th anniversary of DSHEA.
Judie Bizzozero offers key insights into macro forces driving healthy food and beverage innovation in 2019, including plant-based nutrition, sugar reduction and sustainability.
Steve Myers talks about how the growing awareness of the importance of cognitive performance in sports was manifested in SupplySide West 2019 ingredient offerings.
Efficacious ingredients, human clinical research and product differentiation are all vital components of natural products success. They were also widely on display at SupplySide West 2019. In this podcast, INSIDER’s Karen Butler Sandy Almendarez discuss these and other trends Butler in dietary supplements and functional food and beverage.
At SupplySide West 2019, the great minds of the health and nutrition industry gathered to discuss large concerns that affect all businesses in this space. Heather Granato, vice president of content, health and nutrition, Informa Markets, which hosts SupplySide West and publishes Natural Products INSIDER, was onsite to cover these macro issues.
Brands need to show consistency of responsibility of oversight during every step—up to and including—the finished product, explained Heather Fairman, CEO of DF Guardian Consulting.
Jennifer Cooper, chief scientific officer, Savant Science, reviews how emerging science is revealing the microbiome’s impact on cognitive health.
Firmly established in the marketplace and widely recognized by consumers, beneficial bacteria have endless opportunity, particularly as research continues to reveal new findings. Scott Bush, president of Probiotic Consulting, discusses the industry—from where it’s been to where it may be headed—along with ways probiotics marketers are differentiating, tips for overcoming challenges unique to the niche, and more.
Ingredients ebb and flow in popularity across the natural products space; understanding the success rate both in the supply chain and with consumers is critical to finding the whitespace for market success. Unfortunately, data can be more challenging than one might think in the health and wellness industry. In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Eric Pierce, vice president of business insights for NEXT Data & Insights (whatsnextinnatural.com), and Evan Cobb, manager of client relationships, discuss suppliers’ needs for data to address challenging questions and bolster business growth. Eric and Evan will be presenting at SupplySide West in Las Vegas on the SupplySide Central Stage; their talk, “Real-World Best Practices: Suppliers Using Data to Drive Success,” takes place Friday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m. (https://west.supplysideshow.com/en/Events_and_Education/session-details.html?SessionID=80) In this podcast, Pierce, Cobb and Informa’s Heather Granato discuss: • The questions keeping suppliers up at night—from identifying markets to finding a competitive advantage—and how data provides support to make informed decisions. • Tips for utilizing data to identify whitespace, improve and increase sales, and even innovate in new categories. • New techniques being used by NEXT to fuel product development, from A/B and concept testing with consumers to guidance on differentiating through marketing attributes.
Jeff Hilton, co-founder of BrandHive, offers tips on how brands can effectively incorporate certifications without causing “certification fatigue.”
Macro issues such as the aging U.S. demographic and the health issues that brings; an interest in transparency in the supply chain; and a move toward “tribes” related to wellness initiatives and product purchases are all impacting the way brands can connect with consumers in the dietary supplement space. In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Tracy Landau, president of MarketPlace (market-pl.com), and Megan Hook, growth strategy director, discuss new consumer research techniques they used in a recent study about consumer desires in the supplement space, including the use of video capture to offer qualitative insights. Tracy and Megan will be presenting at SupplySide West in Las Vegas on the SupplySide Central Stage; their talk, “What Consumers Want in a Supplement Brand,” takes place Friday, Oct. 18, at 2:30 p.m. (https://west.supplysideshow.com/en/Events_and_Education/session-details.html?SessionID=80) In this podcast, Landau, Hook and Informa’s Heather Granato discuss: • How the intersection between the aging population, their related health concerns and “pill fatigue” is impacting product development and ideation. • The way “tribes” and a reliance on social media and other technology is allowing brands to connect directly with consumers and to use influencers to drive new supplement usage. • How the “Intel Inside” desire by branded ingredient suppliers is finally at a point to connect with brand owners and consumers, as it delivers on a promise of differentiated science and a traceable supply chain.
Kurt Schneider, president, Tech Bridge West, offers advice to help brand owners in the process of forming and establishing an effective contract manufacturing partnership.
FSMA swept in much-needed food safety regulations for U.S. brands, but many companies continue to struggle with foreign import requirements, notes Rae Martin, Continuum Partner Consulting. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), when signed into law in January 2011, created regulatory requirements for preventive controls across the supply chain for human and animal food facilities. This unprecedented law better ensured imported products meet U.S. standards for safety, notes Rae Martin, president, Continuum Partner Consulting, in this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, Natural Products INSIDER.
Upcoming SupplySide West sports summit speaker Kevin Turner, Ph.D., the Carbery Group, explains why fermented ingredients are back in vogue and popping up more often in performance nutrition for active consumers.
Technology is having a profound effect on the supply chain, from how we communicate to the way ingredients are produced. New types of genetic engineering are allowing the production of ingredients not before seen in the dietary supplement space, sometimes without clear communication about how they were developed and commercialized. In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Dana Perls, senior food and agriculture campaigner at Friends of the Earth (foe.org), discusses steps that buyers and marketers should take to ensure they’re sourcing ingredients that align with their values, and communicating clearly with consumers. Dana will be presenting at SupplySide West in Las Vegas in the “Unraveling the Biotech Conundrum” workshop on Thursday, Oct. 17. In this podcast, Perls and Informa’s Heather Granato discuss: • How technologies like gene editing are changing how ingredients can be developed despite the potential for unforeseen consequences. • Which categories of ingredients are prioritized for production through gene editing technologies, and whether they’re already on the market. • The questions buyers can and should ask to ensure they’re receiving ingredients that clearly identify how they’re produced.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, David Foreman, science engineer and media medical expert, Herbal Pharmacist Media, reviews critical considerations when developing stress support products, including causes, health effects and nutritional solutions.
Blake Ebersole, president, NaturPro Scientific, reviews delivery considerations that are essential to a product’s success.
Blake Ebersole, president, NaturPro Scientific, reviews delivery considerations that are essential to a product’s success.
Good laboratory practices (GLPs) may not be legally required in full for supplement testing labs to follow in the U.S., but they are best practices that quality brands should demand of their contract lab partners. As Jen Johansen, vice president of quality, regulatory and government affairs, Cyanotech Corp., explains, GLPs are a set of principles and requirements for testing procedures, facilities, personnel, methods and references standards. GLPs are part of a larger quality system to ensure test results are reliable and consistent. While GLPs are not outlined in full in the dietary supplement regulations, sections of the mandated GMPs (good manufacturing practices) overlap with GLPs.
Although the probiotics market is showing some signs of maturation, industry analysts indicate the category has merely established a firm foundation from which to extend growth in many directions. NMI’s Diane Ray, John Davidson from Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes, and Scott Bush of Probiotic Consulting lend their expertise to this audio report gauging the future of probiotics.
Supplement brands should conduct paper audits—reviews of documentation and questionnaires—before they visit a potential contract lab partner in a person. Should red flags appear during the paper audit, the brand will know this lab isn’t the best partner, saving them the time and costs of an onsite inspection, notes Tara Lin Couch, Ph.D., senior director of dietary supplement and tobacco services, EAS Consulting Group LLC. In this podcast, Couch speaks about contract lab audits and requalification, as well as other ways to vet contract labs before partnering with them with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, Natural Products INSIDER.
The most common violations of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) are failing to develop a foreign supplier verification program (FSVP) and not identifying hazards that require a control, according to FDA audits analyzed by Registrar Corp. These violations show that the U.S. food industry is falling below expected standards, said Coley Anderson, industry and government relations director, Registrar Corp. In this podcast Coley discusses FSMA audit violations and how food brands can better comply with the law with Natural Product INSIDER’s editor-in-chief Sandy Almendarez.
While it’s a trend, interest in plant-based eating is a macro trend that’s not going to strop anytime soon. I think we’ll continue to see growth of plant-based ingredients across all food segments, said Ed Dudley, director of technical and analytical innovation at Griffith Foods.
For many brands, Amazon is the 800-pound gorilla—a channel that could boost your product to great consumer success, or prove a distraction that pulls attention from established distribution. What it can’t be is ignored. In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Chris Rawlings, founder of Judolaunch (judolaunch.com), discusses how to take advantage of the real estate that is your Amazon product listing. Understand the impact that images, descriptions, SEO and reviews have on brand success is the first step toward achieving it. Chris will be presenting at SupplySide West in Las Vegas on the SupplySide Central Stage; his talk, “Formulas for the Perfect Product Listing on Amazon,” takes place Friday, Oct. 18, at 10:30 a.m. In this podcast, Rawlings and Informa’s Heather Granato discuss: • The unique requirements to keep in mind when writing copy for Amazon listings and how it differs from straight marketing and packaging copy. • Differences between reviews and seller feedback, and the best ways to engage with customers, even utilizing tech solutions to ease the process. • Ways to avoid counterfeit competition and protect your brand.
Naturally Proud Network supports LGBTQ+ people in the natural products industry -- podcast Profession support and networking opportunities for LGBTQ+ individuals in the health and nutrition industry was long overdue when the Naturally Proud Network was launched on LinkedIn in 2017. The group offers LGBTQ+ visibility and sends the important message that it’s OK to be yourself at work, according to Ken Seguine, co-founder, Naturally Proud Network, and head of Algatech US. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, Natural Products INSIDER, Seguine discusses the Naturally Proud Network’s origin, goals and future.
Environmental and social stewardship are the heart of Nutiva’s business plan, according to Derek McNamara, senior purchasing manager, so the plant-based organic superfoods brand strives to offer sustainable packaging, including recyclable and compostable options. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, McNamara covers Nutiva’s packaging and other eco-friendly initiatives.
Natural colors and flavors come with their own set of challenges for companies but the payoff can be substantial. Food and beverage brands should take notice of how important consumer perception of natural colors and flavors can be.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Natural Products Insider (INS) podcast, Connor Lovejoy, assistant editor, sits down with Tom Vierhile, vice president of strategic insights, North America, Innova Market Insights to discuss:
• Natural colors and flavors trends • Innova-specific data on consumer behavior • Natural colors and flavors technology • Natural colors and flavors outlook To hear more about Tom Vierhile's insights into natural colors and flavors take a look at his SupplySide West Workshop: Colors & Flavors: Superheroes of Product Success, Thursday, Oct. 17, 9-11 a.m. in Las Vegas.
Increasing the amount of recyclable packaging is currently the best solution to the natural product industry’s contribution to landfills, according to Jeremiah C. McElwee, senior vice president of merchandising and product development, Thrive Market. But the goal is to one day offer a package that benefits the environment and consumer, rather than being garbage. Packaging can one day be regenerative rather than sustainable or destructive. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, McElwee discusses his passion for finding a packaging solution.
Seed genetics are emerging as a paramount first step in quality-control efforts. Tim Gordon, president of Bihar Hemp, walks us through the issues.
“Our shareholders aren’t the only ones we’re responsible to,” noted Stacey Gillespie, director of product Strategy, Gaia Herbs Inc. “The environment is our stakeholder,” she said, and that is why the herbal supplement brand dedicates itself to improving the sustainability of packaging among other initiatives to ensure the company follows earthy-friendly practices. Gaia Herbs is part of the Climate Collaborative, a natural products industry organization where businesses join forces to reverse climate change. Gaia helps in this way by using cartons made from 100% recycled paperboard sourced from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forests. In 2018, Gaia saved over 742,000 gallons of water; 511,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of Power and 347 cubic yards of landfill space by using ecofriendly packaging. In this podcast, Gillespie is joined by Alison Czeczuga, sustainability and social impact manager, Gaia Herbs, to discuss the company’s commitment to sustainable packaging with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER.
Natural colors and flavors play an unheralded role in the reception a consumer will give a product. Food and beverage brands have to come to grips with the realization that complex trends in the natural colors and flavors industry can make or break their product.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Natural Products Insider (INS) podcast, Connor Lovejoy, assistant editor, INS, sits down with Suzy Badaracco, president of Culinary Tides Inc. to discuss:
• Natural colors and flavors background. • Natural colors and flavors birth patterns. • Technical direction for natural colors and flavors. • Consumer research for color and flavor trends in food and beverage.
When it comes to almond farming, sustainability is the name of the game. Almond Board of Caifornia associate director of trade marketing and stewardship Harbinder Maan joins Alex Smolokoff to discuss what the Almond Board of California is, how it encourages sustainable growing practices and environmental responsibility, and what goals it has helped set for the industry at large.
CPG brands across all sectors must consider the sustainability of their packages, and this is particularly true for those in the natural products industry. Consumers want to avoid plastic and would rather spend their money on products that come in compostable, reusable and recyclable packages; however, they are not willing to give up convenience, according to Steve French, managing partner, Natural Marketing Institute (NMI). In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, French discusses consumer desires for CPG packaging
Evolution of the cognitive health market is shaped by numerous consumer trends, but perhaps none as impactful as growing interest in healthy aging.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Susan Hewlings, Nutrasource, reviews factors that impact sleep quality and offers insight to improve sleep habits.
Health and nutrition brands are dedicated to the health of consumers and the planet, taking care to ensure products are organic, Fair Trade certified and regenerative. The packages that house those products, however, have continued to be a pain point. Packaging options, especially the popular flexible pouches, often don’t live up to the same level of integrity as the products themselves because they aren’t compostable or recyclable. The Compostable Packaging Collaborative, an initiative from OSC2, gathers natural product leaders to address this packaging concern and continues to make advancements to further sustainable packaging options for food and supplement products. In this podcast, Lara Dickinson, executive director and co-founder, OSC2, discusses the challenges and advancements in achieving compostable flexible film packaging with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER.
Peter Barton Hutt, senior counsel with Covington & Burling LLP, said DSHEA has improved “the credibility and reliability of the industry.”
Supplement testing labs can work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) Analytical Methods and Reference Materials Program (AMRM) to develop and implement quality assurance programs (QAPs) and reference materials. The level of collaboration among supplement testing labs that compete for business, as observed by Catherine Rimmer, natural products program coordinator, NIST, shows the level of commitment this industry has to quality. Supplement testing labs can work with NIST and AMRM to obtain and develop reference standards and QAPs. In this podcast Rimmer and Adam Kuszak, Ph.D., director of AMRM, discuss the landscape of supplement contract labs from their viewpoint as standards experts and outline the opportunities brands have to improve their lab practices.
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is designed to change the culture of food safety in the U.S. from a reactionary to a preventative mindset. It’s come with challenges, but the law is helping evolve this thinking in the U.S. as more food and supplement brands are meeting FSMA requirements, according to Bill Bremer, principal, food safety compliance, Kestrel Management. In this podcast, Bremer previews his upcoming SupplySide West presentation on the implementation of the FSMA, the foreign supplier verification program (FSVP) and international rules for the food and beverage sectors.
In the past sports nutrition products focused primarily on performance enhancement for professional athletes and body builders. Today's sports performance and recovery products need to be more inclusive, serving broader customer demographics. Bodybuilders, cross-fitters, dancers and weekend warriors alike want products to not only enhance performance, but to maintain lifelong health and vitality.
Coby McLellan, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development for Weider Global Nutrition, discusses the modern approach to creating balanced sports nutrition products to meet today's consumer's needs, and the role ashwagandha can play in daily support within performance enhancing supplements.
Diversity and inclusion have become hot topics in business circles, with companies evaluating their internal policies and procedures, even as employees and customers demand more accountability for results. Zoe Feldman, director of the Chobani Incubator (https://chobaniincubator.com/), forged her own path through traditional-thinking venture capital firms to now guide the company’s incubator program. From the top down, Chobani is invested in its people and developing an inclusive workplace; its Spring 2019 incubator class reflects this commitment, offering opportunities to unique ventures seeking to break out of the mold.
In part one of this podcast, veteran lawyer Peter Barton Hutt of Covington & Burling LLP reflects on FDA’s role over the decades in regulating dietary supplements and efforts to impose restrictions that were stymied time and again.
Lifestyle trends like keto, vegan, gluten free and FODMAP diets present challenges to food scientists who must come up with creative ways to make products that fall within the nutritional guidelines while keeping the labels as “clean” as possible.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Lisa Mabe, CEO, Green Purse PR, draws on consumer shop-along research to uncover how certifications impact buying decisions.
When it comes to the fight against botanical adulteration in the natural products industry, Mark Blumenthal’s efforts top the list. The American Botanical Council (ABC) founder joins INSIDER’s Karen Butler for a discussion about the evolution of botanical adulteration—and the tools available to industry to help prevent and identify it. Some takeaways include: botanicals of greatest adulteration concern from the early 1970s to 2019, ways industry has kept pace as adulteration schemes have developed, and how organizations involved in the fight determine their priorities.
Increased interest in health and wellness is one of the biggest market drivers for the functional beverage category. Listen to Jim Tonkin, president and founder of Healthy Brand Builders, a beverage consultancy company, and Judie Bizzozero, senior editor, Natural Products INSIDER, discuss opportunities and considerations for launching functional beverages.
Rodney Benjamin, director of research and development and technical support, Bergstrom Nutrition, discusses the impact of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) from an ingredient supplier’s perspective.
You often can’t truly identify if something is a food trend or fad until you are looking in the rearview mirror. Listen to Lynn Dornblaser, director of innovation and insight at Mintel, and Judie Bizzozero, senior editor, Natural Products INSIDER, discuss whether gluten-free, keto, vegan and even FODMAPs have potential to impact the market long-term.
Yadim Medore, CEO and founder of Pure Branding, divulges findings of a recent study on transparency, including what it means to consumers and brand owners.
Grain-free dog food—particularly products containing high levels of potatoes, pulses, or legumes like lentils and peas—is under fire as FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) investigates a potential connection between canine diet and a heart disease known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Holistic veterinarian Chris Bessent shares details such as the affected breeds and pet food companies; hazards of modeling animal nutrition after human food trends; suggestions for dog food manufacturers to mitigate risk and boost transparency; and a possible link between glyphosate (an herbicide used in farming), grain-free foods and cardiac issues.
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) created a regulatory need for supplement safety testing, but the GMPs (good manufacturing practices), issued in 2007, set a fire in the industry to partner with supplement testing labs that meet high quality standards. Yet, without FDA audits of third-party labs for GMP compliance, labs may not be feeling the burning desire to fully comply with regulations. Elan Sudberg, CEO of Alkemist Labs, a contract testing laboratory specializing in plant authentication, said FDA should be conducting more audits of supplement testing labs to ensure compliance. A recent warning letter sent to ABC Testing may signal the start of this welcome trend. In this podcast, Sudberg discuses lab audits and other aspects of DSHEA that affect labs operations.
Roy Bingham, CEO and co-founder, BDS Analytics, discusses how the legalization of marijuana in the United States has laid the foundation for CBD and other hemp-derived products.
Everyone experiences stress, it's impossible to avoid, but how can we support the body's ability to correct ware and tare and find balance. Product innovators today can take queues from the ancient healing practices of Ayurveda.
We had a conversation with Nick Bitz, N.D. and discussed the Ayurvedic approach to stress and how Ashwagandha in particular has been used traditionally, and can be used today in product formulations to support stress.
Dr. Bitz is a licensed, board-certified naturopathic doctor who specializes in Ayurveda. He also holds a dual degree in Human Biology and Cognitive Neuroscience.
Bernadette Marriott, Ph.D., professor emeritus, department of medicine and psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, reviews a recent study evaluating supplement use among military personnel—and reports unexpected findings.
Michael Smith, M.D., director of education and spokesperson, Life Extension, and Rachel Adams, managing editor, discuss how Life Extension applies artificial intelligence to overcome limitations of human longevity studies.
From issues with ginseng in the early 1970s to modern-day concerns with ingredients such as ginkgo biloba, bilberry and saw palmetto, the natural products industry is no stranger to botanical adulteration. In this podcast, Mark Blumenthal of the American Botanical Council and ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program; Holly Johnson, Ph.D., of the American Herbal Products Association; and Margaret Dohnalek, Ph.D., of Valensa International discuss advancements in the effort to ensure botanical authentication for safe, effective products.
In this podcast, Sandra Eskin of The Pew Charitable Trusts describes her support for a mandatory product registry for dietary supplements.
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994’s (DSHEA) requirement for supplement manufacturers to establish GMPs (good manufacturing practices) took the supplement industry from a loosely regulatory industry to one with complex rules for product safety and quality, according to Robin Koon, executive vice president of sales and marketing, Best Formulations. Yet, Koon, a man who works with the law every day, added, the law could have been improved by better defining vague terms and requiring independent testing. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Koon discusses DSHEA in honor of its 25th anniversary.
Drugs aren't the answer. INSIDER's Connor Lovejoy sits down with Jason Miller, Jade Mountain Medicine, to discuss the latest research behind tried-and-true botanical ingredients and their ability to slow and prevent cognitive decline.
Trends on display at the 2019 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo in New Orleans, as discussed by Informa editors Heather Granato, vice president of content; Sandy Almendarez, director of content; and Judie Bizzozero, senior editor, food and beverage.
After a food or supplement brand does the hard work of cleaning up and truly understanding its supply chain, it’s eager to get the work out to its consumers, who are increasingly interested is spending money on products they can trust. But that story may be too technical and complex for a distracted consumer. The key is finding the right information and for each marketing channel, according to Todd Pauli, founder and managing partner, 24 Stories.
Paul Schulick, founder of supplement company New Chapter, discusses his most recent venture, For the Biome, with insight on ideation, formulation and the biome.
Following her April 10 sports nutrition presentation at SupplySide East 2019 in Secaucus, New Jersey, Imbibe’s Holly McHugh talked to INSIDER’s Steve Myers about the latest trends in sports drinks for active consumers, including alternative sweeteners, innovative protein applications and hyper-personalization.
Dietary supplement executives, the head of a consumer advocacy group and others debate the pros and cons of the 25-year-old Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) gave supplements a defined pathway to market in the U.S. and has helped the industry flourish. But 25 years later, the law could use an update, according to Mark Potocnjak, CFO at Herbally Yours Inc. Specifically, in with podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Potocnjak thinks the DSHEA should be updated so it: • Better defines the category of “supplements” • Allows brands to include new ingredients in the Supplement Facts Panel and to outline efficacious doses in that panel • Allows supplements to make disease prevention claims, if the research supports those statements
Once upon a time, probiotics were the only “-biotic” that ruled the healthy CPG (consumer packaged good) landscape. As consumer understanding and research findings grew, other -biotic categories formed with their own research supporting human and animal health. Some, such as prebiotics and synbiotics, are gaining consumer traction, but others, such as postbiotics and psychobiotics are still gaining their footing. And CBD-biotics? Is that a thing? (No, it’s not.) In this podcast Ivan Wasserman, managing partner, Amin Talati Upadhye LLP, discusses the growth of these -biotics in the marketplace and the regulatory challenges they face.
The climate is changing, and suppliers in the botanical industry are weathering droughts, floods, rising temperatures and other deviations that impact supply chains. The finished product brands that feature these herbs can act now to enhance sustainability, improving their businesses, the communities that support their crops, the health of their consumers and the condition of the planet. In this podcast, Ann Armbrecht, director, Sustainable Herbs Program, discusses how brands can start ease the climate conundrum with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER.
During the Maple Symposium at the American Chemical Society conference in Orlando, Florida, Jonathon Tremblay, Ph.D., associate professor, School of Kinesiology and Exercise Science, University of Montreal, sat down with INSIDER to detail the latest research on maple syrup on muscle bioenergetics and recovery hydration.
In this podcast interview, former U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) reflects on the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), whether the law is in need of reform and the concept of a mandatory product registry.
Japanese shoppers have a variety of healthy consumer package goods (CPGs) to choose from offered in several types of retail outlets from convenient stores to supermarkets, specialty stores and high-end shops in luxury stores. Like American consumers, they are interested in snack foods, unique flavors and ingredients, and food “experiences.” But unlike Americans, third-party certifications aren’t valued as much, but presentation is king. Lisa Mabe, founder and CEO of GreenPurse PR, observed these aspects of the Japanese retail landscape during a recent visit where she was conducting shopper research. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Mabe recounted her top takeaways of the Japanese specialty food market
In this podcast narrated by INSIDER’S Judie Bizzozero along with Lynn Dornblaser of Mintel, Megan Bishof of Tate & Lyle, and Afrouz Naeini of Ingredion, discuss how natural sweeteners are advancing sugar reduction efforts by food and beverage makers.
INSIDER caught up with Navindra Seeram, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, at the 2nd Annual Maple Symposium during the American Chemical Society Conference in Orlando, Florida, to talk about the maple-focused event and the future of maple syrup and extracts in human nutrition and health.
A Dozen Cousins, a natural food brand that makes ready-to-eat (RTE) beans inspired by regional Black and Latino recipes, serves underprivileged populations that otherwise have little access to healthy foods. The brand does this by using authentic, yet upgraded, recipes that replace traditional ingredients with more healthful options. The brand also gives back to the community by supporting the Happy Kitchen/La Cocina Alegre, which offers a cooking and nutrition education program in Austin, Texas. A Dozen Cousins took home the NEXY award for the Best New Pantry Food at Natural Products Expo West in March 2019, and in this podcast, Ibraheem Basir, founder and CEO, discusses the brand’s ideation and future goals with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER.
A quarter century ago, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act (DSHEA). One of the lead architects of the original law, attorney Scott Bass, was a champion for the dietary supplement industry, working collaboratively with Sen. Orrin Hatch, Rep. Bill Richardson and industry colleagues like Loren Israelsen to craft a bill that would protect the rights of the industry and consumers. With the power of hindsight, Bass takes on the new dietary ingredient provision, appropriate product claims and the need to develop a DSHEA 2.0 to benefit both industry and consumers. Key points of this podcast include: • How the New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) language was drafted and how industry’s failure to play by the rules suggests mandatory listing may be a necessary regulatory change. • A discussion of how to incentivize companies to do more clinical research into safety and efficacy of their ingredients and products. • Steps that could be put into place to provide more resources to FDA to effectively regulate the industry.
Fermentation, a traditional food production method, is gaining traction among consumers looking for ancient wisdom in current food offerings, according to data presented by NEXT Data and Insights at SupplySide East 2019. Foremother Foods LLC’s new Live Culture Picaflor Pepper Flakes is a great example of a brand seeing success using lactofermentation, which uses salt and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to acidify and preserve produce. The Live Culture Picaflor Pepper Flakes won the NEXTY Award for the Best New Condiment at Natural Products Expo West 2019, and this podcast with Marcus McCauley, founder and CEO at Foremother Foods LLC, explores the product’s ideation, formulation and future.
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) gave FDA the authority to issue cGMP (current good manufacturing practice) requirements for dietary supplements, which the agency did in 2007. Tara Lin Couch, Ph.D., senior director of dietary supplement and tobacco services, EAS Consulting, remembers the issuance of cGMPs as a major disruptor of supplement manufacturing, even for those brands that previously followed pharmaceutical GMPs. In this podcast, Couch discusses the transition from pre-GMPs to post-GMPs, how manufacturing has become more sophisticated in the past 25 years and that DSHEA’s biggest omission was not including raw material suppliers.
SupplySide East, the East Coast’s leading ingredient and solutions trade show, showcased the happenings making waves in the natural product industry, including transparency, the expansion of “-biotics” and plant-based nutrition. In this podcast, Informa editors Heather Granato, vice president of content; Steve Myers, senior editor; and Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, discuss trends on display at SupplySide East 2019.
Teton Waters Ranch, a grass-fed beef product company, offers consumers Certified Humane® raised and handled burgers, sausages, hot dogs and meatballs while ensuring ranching practices are regenerative. The brand’s new product—Teton Waters Ranch Burger Blends, a mixture grass-fed beef and mushrooms to provide increased nutritional benefits while reducing the overall calorie and fat content of an all-beef burger—won the Best New Frozen Product NEXTY Award at Natural Product Expo West in March 2019. In this podcast, Nadine Rich, director of marketing, Teton Waters Ranch, discusses the brand, formulation and accessibility with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER.
Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Michelle Perkins, founder of Counter Culture, discuss the process of innovation that led to Counter Culture’s all-purpose probiotic household cleaner.
Food giant Mars Inc. recently launched its Seeds of Change Accelerator program, which offers funding and mentorship for purpose-driven businesses. Informa’s Heather Granato spoke with Mars’ Gary Arora, head of accelerator and global lead, launchpad, about the company’s mission and values, and why now is the right time to support next-gen businesses.
In 2016, FDA announced its Final Rule requiring both the Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts boxes on product labels get updated to reflect new scientific information and to help consumers make more informed choices. Most brands have until 2020 until they need to update their labels, but some have already implanted the changes. This has caused confusion among consumers who question why products have different labels. While FDA has a campaign to help educate consumers on the changes to the Nutrition Facts Panel, it doesn’t have a similar program for the Supplement Facts Panel. In this podcast, Brian Wommack, senior vice president, communications, Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), discusses the update to the Supplement Facts Panel and how brands can help consumers navigate the change.
Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Sara Newmark, vice president of social impact at MegaFood, talk about the benefits and challenges of incorporating climate action into a company’s business model.
Recovering from exercise goes beyond the short window following that last sprint, bench press or mile, advised Susan Hewlings, Ph.D., R.D., vice president of scientific affairs for Nutrasource, in this podcast preview to her talk at SupplySide East 2019.
Adaptogenic herbs might be as close to the silver bullet as it gets—lowers stress, increases energy sans jittery caffeine, improves mental clarity. While ginseng has been around longer, ashwagandha has been leading the adaptogenic charge for the past three to five years. Its rise is so pronounced it has hopped out of the supplements bottle and is now the front-of-pack leader in functional beverages. Listen to Todd Runestad, senior editor, Natural Products INSIDER, talk with Mark Blumenthal, founder/executive director of the American Botanical Council, Scott Larkin, president of Connect Nutrition, and Carl Germano, author of Road to Ananda, published in 2019 and all about the endocannabinoid system and CBD. They’ll talk about: • What it means for consumer acceptance once ashwagandha gets lampooned on SNL. • The top 10 adaptogenic herbs on the market today. • Why hemp-derived CBD may be the new king of the adaptogenic set.
It was not enough for Annabella Buffalo Creamery to offer dairy products that contains higher levels of protein, fat, calcium and phosphorous compared to cow’s milk (Functional Foods in Health and Disease 2012, 2(4):86-106). Nor was it enough that Annabella’s milk products—sourced from water buffalos—had fewer allergy and intolerance concerns than cow’s milk (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009 Apr; 102(4): 349. DOI: 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60342-0). Annabella went a step further to ensure the water buffalos that provide milk for its organic cheeses and yogurts are grass-fed, never confined and never fed grain and year-round in Colombia. This, along with great taste, was why Annabella was honored with a NEXTY award for “Best New Meat, Dairy or Animal-Based Product” for its low-moisture mozzarella at Natural Products Expo West 2019. In this podcast, Andres Salazar, managing director, Annabella Buffalo Creamery, discusses his business and product with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER.
Jeff Hilton, chief marketing officer at Brand Hive, talks with INSIDER editor Todd Runestad about the brave new world of omnichannel marketing. What is this omnichannel, you ask? Not your father’s TV, that’s for sure. Hilton talks about • Directing marketing activity at consumers who frequent different channels and influence points. • The blurred lines between channels. • The overlapping channels between ingredient suppliers and manufacturers. • The key ingredient in that relationship that will make downstream consumers customers for life.
Understanding evolving consumer needs has been critical to exploding the plant-based foods category. Listen to Sara Young, vice president and general manager of Morningstar Farms & Plant Based Proteins, and Judie Bizzozero, senior editor, Natural Products INSIDER, discuss the brands’ commitment to go 100 percent vegan by 2021.
Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, Connor Lovejoy, assistant editor, and Alex Smolokoff, editorial coordinator, discuss what goes on behind the scenes with the Expo West standards team and discuss the trends that stood out.
Supplements take many forms, and senior editor Todd Runestad takes many supplements. In this podcast, he and Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, explore Expo West 2019 trends such as CBD/hemp, the microbiome, functional ingredients and wellness shots.
Among the food, beverage and supplement launches at Expo West 2019, Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, and Karen Butler, senior editor, discuss trends such as mushrooms, mentorship and plant-based.
Sandy Almendarez and Josh Long of Natural Products INSIDER discuss the basics of DSHEA as part of a series of podcasts examining the 25th anniversary of the dietary supplement law.
Keto, oat milk and microbiome support trending at Expo West 2019 – podcast Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, and Rachel Adams, managing editor, review trends seen at Expo West including keto-inspired products, an insurgence of oat milk and widening solutions to support the microbiome.
In this podcast, INSIDER’s Sandy Almendarez and Josh Long reflect on quality and legal issues around CBD highlighted March 5 during an all-day summit at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California.
Natural product experts Heather Granato and Sandy Almendarez discuss the trends they saw during 2019’s Natural Products Expo West tradeshow in Anaheim, California. Natural Products Expo West, with its 88,000 attendees in 2019, is the place to find trending and notable finished products in the U.S. health and nutrition marketplace. In this podcast, Heather Granato, vice president of content, Informa Exhibitions, and Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, Natural Products INSIDER, cover the top trends they saw on the expo hall show floor, in education sessions and during networking events. They cover: • Plant-based protein is still hot, but smart brands are using ethically produced animal-based products to reclaim some of the protein space. • Digestive health products that feature prebiotics, synbiotics, probiotics and postbiotics. • Coconut used for its flavor, fat and recovery properties, as well as the growth of MCT oil. • Mission-based companies using their products and Expo West to promote causes they care about. • Packaging concerns that plague an industry that must supply safe products, but also wants to reduce waste. Granato’s favorite fun product: Shottys, kosher, gluten-free, gelatin party shots make with premium vodka in recyclable, BPA-free cups.
The initiative from OmniActive Health Technologies aims to fostering positive change for the communities, customers and consumers impacted by the company’s products and practices. To foster positive change for the communities that help build dietary ingredient supplier OmniActive Health Technologies, its Improving Lives Foundation works to improves the lives of the rural famers that supply its ingredients. The corporate social responsibility (CSR)initiative includes gender equality, nutrition and sanitation components. In this podcast Brian Appell, marketing manager, OmniActive Health Technologies, and Rushva Parihar, corporate social responsibility consultant, OmniActive Improving Lives Foundation, discussion the Foundation with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER.
We are at a clear inflection point in terms of creating the next generation of food and agriculture. Listen to Walter Robb, former co-CEO of Whole Foods Market and now principal at Stonewall Robb Advisors, and Judie Bizzozero, senior editor, Natural Products INSIDER, discuss meaningful change and disruption in the organic & natural sector.
In this podcast, a naturopathic doctor, Colorado lobbyist and VP of a wholesale ingredient manufacturer discuss the hottest ingredient in the natural products industry—CBD.
Data from a 2018 study conducted by Nielsen and commissioned by the Plant Based Foods Association revealed plant-based food sales grew by 20 percent from the previous year to reach a staggering $3.3 billion. Listen to Michele Simon, executive director of the Plant Based Foods Association, and Judie Bizzozero, senior editor, Natural Products INSIDER, discuss key factors surrounding the growing plant-based market
Success in the natural products market comes to brands that plan, revaluate and execute a business strategy that hinges on the people and capital. Bob Burke, principal, Natural Products Consulting, discusses the steps brands can take to ensure they achieve success selling their supplement, food, beverage or personal care product with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER. In this podcast, Burke covers: • Principles of a solid business plan including having a remarkable product, a gross margin that allows for cash flow and marketing plan and more. • The importance of plugging the right people in the right positions within the company organization • The high return on investment (ROI) that comes from engaging with consumers and following industry trends. Burke is speaking at the Natural Products Business School on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. at 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California. Register for the session at expowest.com.
Nutraceutical innovations have helped countless consumers in their pursuit of well-being. In this podcast, Gene Bruno of Twinlab talks with editor Karen Butler about the importance of creating scientifically backed products that meet all regulatory requirements.
The work environment that best suits the next generation of natural product industry leaders includes flexible time and the ability to work from home when needed. Monique Simison, senior sourcing manager, nutrition global procurement, Nutrilite, says these aspects and the greater culture at Amway, which owns Nutrilite, help keep her committed to and motivated by her job. In this podcast, Simison discusses her career in the natural products industry with Rena Cohen-First, director of sales, western region, Wright Group. They cover: • How a career in the supplement supply chain is like a position within the military; • How Nutrilite fosters a culture that Simison “fell in love with” and that she says, she “can’t imagine going somewhere without it;” and • How dynamic job responsibilities have allowed Simison to grow without changing her employer.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Lori Colman and Bob Musinski, CBD Marketing, discuss the role of online listening in understanding social media health trends and consumers.
Mickey Schuett, president of GBMM Brokers and Consulting, talks with INSIDER editor Todd Runestad about the business of hemp. Schuett consults with many hemp-derived CBD companies. Here we discuss the following issues: • How the evangelical community is selling hemp. • How start-ups are not familiar with GMPs or even the business of taking ingredients to finished products. • Problems abiding by traceability practices and claims. • The value of lawyering up. • Whether the pharmaceutical CBD a good thing or a bad thing for CBD supplements.
Since ideation two years ago, the Supplement OWL (Online Wellness Library) launched, and now includes over 12,000 labels and is guided by an advisory board to ensure it continuously meets industry needs. In addition, the Commercial Data Exchange (CDX) portion of the OWL, which helps retailers compare products, has become more robust. In this podcast, Gisele Atkinson, vice president, quality and technical affairs, Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), and Douglas “Duffy” MacKay, N.D., senior vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, CRN, discuss the OWL’s progress and future. CRN spearheaded the industry-wide initiative. Atkinson and Duffy cover: • The benefits of the Supplement OWL for brands, retailers, regulators and consumers; • The CDX option, and how it ensures confidentially of proprietary information; • The future of the Supplement OWL and how it may help thwart regulatory impositions on the supplement industry.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Ian Lirenman, CEO and founder of emerginC, discusses the process of innovation behind its recently launched Rawceuticals Blend moisturizer, a finalist in the 2018 SupplySide West Editor’s Choice Awards.
Falling asleep is “an act of faith,” notes Tieraona Low Dog, M.D., author, educator and integrative medicine clinician, where humans must trust they are in a safe place to become unconscious for hours. It’s no wonder that botanicals and other supplements aren’t sleeping pills or magic bullets that cure insomnia. Rather, as Dr. Low Dog, explains, key ingredients can help reduce stress and can play a role in lifestyle changes that help address consumer sleep concerns. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Dr. Low Dog covers: • Botanicals and other specialty nutrients that she uses in her practice to help her patients achieve better relaxation and sleep • The role health and nutrition brands can play in the emerging science of personalized nutrition • Why good clinicians are crucial to helping consumers/patients in achieving better sleep and health outcomes
Phoenix-based Spinato’s Fine Foods recently took its award-winning gluten free pizza recipe from the restaurant to retail stores nationwide. Listen to Todd Niezgodzki, national director of sales and business development, Spinato’s Fine Foods, and Judie Bizzozero, senior editor, Natural Products INSIDER, discuss to how the company identified market opportunity and clean label formulation considerations.
LifeBoost CEO Ted Mills talks with Todd Runestad, INSIDER senior editor, about his company’s cute little countertop appliance, Tespo, and how it will change the game for nutrient intake. Mr. Coffee has met his match.
For every SupplySide West 2018 attendee who washed their hands at the booth of hygiene equipment provider Meritech, the company donated US$1 to Edesia Nutrition, a nonprofit organization that produces peanut-based, ready-to-use therapeutic foods for humanitarian aid organizations working in emergencies, conflict zones and food insecure regions around the world. The company raised $2,544 for Edesia Nutrition, which will help save the lives of roughly 50 malnourished children.
Botanical ingredients such as echinacea, boswellia, curcumin and andrographis offer potential benefits, whether in humans or animals. In this podcast, Cheryl Myers of EuroPharma tells editor Karen Butler how she integrated her knowledge as a registered nurse with the wellness resources available through natural products.
Todd Runestad, senior editor at Informa Health & Nutrition, talks with Scott Larkin, CEO of Connect Nutrition, about relationship building between suppliers and manufacturers. As an industry veteran, Larkin gets into a number of fascinating ingredient topics in a deep and real way. Key topics in the podcast include: • Adaptogens • “Mycellial consciousness” • Cannabis & CBD • Carotenoids • Glyphosate: Clean label 2.0
Do bacteria cells really outnumber human cells in our bodies six to one? Is bacterial diversity in the gut always better? Listen to this podcast with Don Brown, N.D., director of Natural Products Research and Consultants, as he describes the facts and fictions of probiotic lore as either upheld or debunked by science. In this podcast, Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, asks Dr. Brown: • Do good and back bacteria actually compete for “space” in the gastrointestinal tract? • Does a pregnant woman taking a probiotic improve birth outcomes? • Do antibiotics kill probiotics, making supplements ineffective during times of antibiotic use?
n this podcast interview during SupplySide West in November 2018, Frank Lampe of the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) discusses UNPA members’ increasing interest in CBD and hemp extracts.
A passion for beer led to a patented technology for rescuing spent grains that could revolutionize the food ingredient supply chain. In this podcast, Dan Kurzrock of ReGrained talks with editor Karen Butler about upcycling, and the joys and challenges of creating planet-conscious products.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Lindsey Bristol, MS, RD, senior marketing manager at Swanson, offers tips and insight on building an influencer program from scratch.
Research has shown the many benefits sleep has for every target demographic, but research has not shown that dietary ingredients can cause rid consumers of insomnia or put them to sleep faster. But perhaps, that shouldn’t be the goal of botanicals, vitamins and minerals, according to Michael Grandner, Ph.D., director of the sleep and health research program and an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry in the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Instead, supplements and functional foods help consumers optimize the rebuilding and recovery aspects of sleep. In this podcast, Grandner talks with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, about nutrition and sleep, including: • Why most consumers are taking melatonin incorrectly • How energizing ingredients, such as vitamin B12, can help benefit sleep • The problem with current research on dietary ingredients’ ability to promote sleep and where researchers can better spend their time.
Todd Runestad, senior editor at Informa Health & Nutrition, talks with Eric Anderson of NattoPharma about “the forgotten vitamin,” vitamin K2, especially the menaquinone-7, or MK-7, form. Compelling research is catapulting the ingredient into the supplement industry in produts for all stages of life, from infants through seniors trying to preserve bone health and keep arteries flexible. Key topics in the podcast include: • Research establishing vitamin K2 as a revolutionary ingredient for bones and heart health. • Follow-up research showing those who consumed the most K2 (from real cheese) had 50% less calcium in their arteries, and 50% reduced risk of death from coronary heart disease. • 19 studies establishing MK-7 takes calcium out of arteries, where you don’t want it, and puts it in bones, where you do. • The latest human research showing MK-7 reduced hardening of the arteries—the top cardio killer.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Justin Prochnow, shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, draws on FTC and FDA actions and regulations to offer guidance on legally marketing via social media.
Companies are seeking greater transparency through the supply chain, with ingredient buyers looking to truly understand where their ingredients are sourced and produced. In June 2018, Heather Granato, vice president of content, took part in IngredientsOnline.com’s inaugural Technology & Transparency Tour. While on the ground visiting five different primary suppliers, she chatted with fellow travelers from companies including ADH Health, Cott Beverage Solutions, Innophos, the National Animal Supplement Council, NOW Foods, Promotion in Motion, Shaklee and Threshold.
Todd Runestad, senior editor at Informa Health & Nutrition, powwowed with Tim Gordon, president of Functional Remedies and the Colorado Hemp Industries Association, about the current state of affairs in the booming hemp and CBD market. Gordon reveals all the ways—from seed to shelf—that CBD companies can differentiate in the market. And, this interview having taken place the day after election day 2018, Gordon also offers his insights into the ways large and small that the hemp world shifted. Key topics in this podcast include: • Colorado election returns around hemp and CBD. • Differentiating products by: seed genetics • Where it’s grown • Extraction methods • Carrier oils • Product formats and categories
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy Insider Podcast, Steve Peirce, president and CEO of RIBUS, discusses the launch and vision of the Clean Label Alliance.
In this podcast interview at SupplySide West, Sean Lake of BUBS Naturals—a marketer of collagen protein—weighs in on a friend from childhood who inspired him to start a business that gives a portion of its proceeds to a military charity.
Voluntary supplement product registries, such as the Supplement OWL, are great for the industry, but they aren’t enough to allow FDA to reduce the amount of illegal ingredients on the market. The solution, according to attorney Scott Bass, partner, Sidley Austin, is a legally mandated product registry. Some argue this step involves too much government intervention, but industry veteran Bass contested that the industry may not have a choice. He sees the legal requirement as inevitable, and it’s best if the industry work with FDA from the start to ensure the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) isn’t violated. In this podcast, Bass discusses how industry can best shape a mandatory product registry with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER. He addresses: • The reason he thinks that Congress will soon mandate a supplement registry • Why a legal registry a good think for the industry, the government and consumers • How the industry can work with allies, including FDA, to ensure the registry isn’t accompanied by threats to DSHEA
From the science, definition and regulatory environment to product development and market data, global interest in prebiotics is on the rise. In this podcast, Len Monheit of the Global Prebiotic Association (GPA) talks with Karen Butler about the wealth of opportunities for prebiotics.
In this podcast interview at SupplySide West, Brian Wommack of the Council for Responsible Nutrition discusses findings of a survey that highlight consumers’ growing confidence in, and demand for, dietary supplements.
SupplySide West brings diversity of companies, diversity of ingredients and diversity of health conditions addressed, as noted by first-timer Connor Lovejoy, assistant editor, INSIDER. In this podcast, Lovejoy discusses the trends he saw at the Las Vegas tradeshow with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER. They also discuss: • Anti-inflammatory ingredients that address issues from sports nutrition to joint health, stress and more. • The importance of human clinical trials, and the investment it takes for companies to conduct research on their ingredients and finished products • Adaptogens’ growth and marketing challenges.
From CBD’s upgraded status as “the biggest product in the history of natural products” to rice and chickpea making labels easier to read, Todd Runestad, senior editor, INSIDER, and ingredients editor, New Hope, discusses trends he saw at SupplySide West 2018. In this podcast, he talks with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, about: • The entrepreneurial activity of CBD and why the market is expected to get even bigger in the next year • Clean label’s growth from foods to supplements with new ingredients used as supplement flow agents and binders • Ingredients of note, including moringa, collagen, PQQ, chickpea, vitamin B1, collagen and more.
Prebiotic ingredients have moved to function 2.0 by serving a dual purpose of feeding beneficial probiotics in guts as well as offering other health benefits, such as cognitive or anti-inflammatory health. Prebiotics’ emerging popularity is among the trends noted by Karen Butler, senior editor, Natural Products INSIDER, at the 2018 SupplySide West show in Las Vegas. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Butler also discusses: • New research on polyphenol that shows their prebiotic and antioxidative effects • Ingredient and finished product companies finding and using functional ingredients from previous waste components • Brands’ increasing efforts to listen and conform to consumer demands for functional, healthy products with clean labels and sustainable sourcing practices.
The food and beverage supply chain is cleaning up to better provide regenerative, nourishing, accessible and tasty options to consumers across the globe. But this is no easy task with food brands needing to examine their practices and understand how their actions affect environments and workers in the supply chain. The Esca Bona Pavilion at SupplySide West 2018 engaged companies working to create a good food system that is regenerative, nourishing and accessible to all. Jenna Blumenfeld, senior food editor, New Hope Network, was the emcee at the Esca Bona Pavilion, and she gives her top takeaways from the show in this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER.
Pea protein ingredient launches flourished at SupplySide West 2018, with suppliers offering enhanced options that address pea’s earthy flavor and gritty texture. Judie Bizzozero, senior editor, INSIDER, talks about companies such as Axiom Foods, Danisco, TIC Gums, Ingredion and more that showcased new pea protein ingredients. Bizzozero and Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, also discuss other trends in the food and beverage space, including: • Stevia’s advancements to help reduce sugar and artificial sweeteners in CPGs while also keeping the sweet taste. • Plant-based “dairy” alternatives and how the power of vegan products is reshaping the dairy category. • The emergence of collagen and bone broth for applications outside of sports nutrition.
Products using cannabidiol (CBD) as a dietary or food ingredient are increasing in the health and nutrition market, but brands must weigh consumer interest against legal challenges, according to Josh Long, legal and regulatory editor, INSIDER. CBD isn’t a legal dietary ingredient, according to FDA and DEA, but smart industry lawyers disagree. Long discusses CBD as well as recent state regulatory matters with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, at the 2018 SupplySide West trade show in Las Vegas. They cover: • The federal government’s arguments to support CBD’s illegal status, and the industry’s contention of these stances. • How CBD’s growing popularity and increased use is dependent on its continued demonstrated safety. • How companies and industry trade organizations can improve outcomes in state legislation and litigation directed at the health and nutrition industry.
Like elsewhere in the health and nutrition industry, sports performance researchers are looking to cannabidiol (CBD) to uncover new athletic benefits. Science is also starting to look at how natural ingredients affect women specifically rather than the traditional “pink it and shrink it” approach. Steve Myers, senior editor, INSIDER, discusses these and other sports nutrition trends with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, during the SupplySide West 2018 tradeshow in Las Vegas. They cover: • The keto diet’s role in sports nutrition, and products that are serving the keto athlete • The emergence and dominance of plant-based nutrition in sports nutrition and other health categories. • Partnerships among prominent companies in the health and nutrition space that are creating better ingredients for consumer health.
Companies are becoming increasingly conscious that business as usual isn’t what will support long-term success. Instead, those operations that are focusing on diversity and inclusion—both in their own teams and in how they look at consumer needs—are developing unique solutions and realizing successes. At this year’s SupplySide West, Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief of INSIDER, sat down with INSIDER’s Rachel Adams, managing editor, to discuss some of the trends that came to life at this year’s show.
The natural products industry has a long history of focusing on consumer needs, whether that’s in terms of greater communication or looking to the latest health issues, as well as thinking about the broader ways to give back to the world. At this year’s SupplySide West, Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief of INSIDER, sat down with Heather Granato, vice president of content, Informa Health & Nutrition, to discuss some of the big picture issues coming to life at this year’s show.
Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization that distributes life-saving supplements to malnourished children throughout the world, has an ambitious goal to provide prenatal vitamins to 50 million pregnant women by 2030. This achievement will be reached with help from consumer packaged good (CPG) brands, who gain goodwill with customers and employees while helping reduce infant mortality. In this podcast, Howard Schiffer, CEO and founder, Vitamin Angels, discusses the work the organization does and the symbiotic relationship the nonprofit has with finished product brands. With Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Schiffer covers: • The scope of Vitamin Angels’ reach, which includes 70 million children in 74 countries. • The impact that its Global Prenatal Campaign will have in reducing infant mortality • The SupplySide Cares program, which won the 2017 Do-Gooder Award from Trade Show Executive’s Gold 100 Awards for its work with Vitamin Angels.
Strenuous exercise boosts reactive oxygen species that potentially damage muscles, performance
Amazon and social media are forcing changes to legacy brands and brick-and-mortar outlets.
Being a leader in the clean label food and beverage space doesn't happen overnight. Understanding trends, ingredient considerations, supply chain issues and production processes is paramount for success.
Hiring and supporting employees that better mirror the population of a brand’s target demographics helps improve business return on investment (ROI) because product attributes can better respond to consumer needs. Having that personal expertise in house is better that relying on changing market data and guesses, according to Debbie Wildrick, chief strategy officer at MetaBrand. Wildrick, who is also board member of the Network of Executive Women, notes that the health and nutrition industry has a long way to go before its workforce reflects its consumer population. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Wildrick covers: • The movement in recent years for more gender equality in businesses of all sizes • The importance of inclusive workforces to build better leadership teams • Setting up and using affinity groups to lead diversity initiatives.
Research conducted on probiotics’ benefits is growing so rapidly that it’s difficult for anyone to follow completely, according to product developer Jeremy Appleton. N.D., vice president of science and education, Klaire Labs. However, Dr. Appleton enlightens listeners on emerging research on probiotics effects on mood. With Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Dr. Appleton covers: • The new class of probiotics called psychobiotics, which have research focused on the reduction of depression and anxiety • The importance of strain when creating probiotic products that benefit mood • Other ingredients, such as phosphatidylserine (PS), acetyl-L-carnitine, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and citicoline, that offer complementary effects to psychobiotics.
Creating business partnerships in the health and nutrition space is more than contracts, certificates of analysis (CoAs) and yearly audits. To make a truly successful relationship that provides sustainable return on investment (ROI), people who run finished product brands must “gel” with the people at the companies that supply their resources. In this podcast, Heather Fairman, CEO of DF Guardian Consulting Inc., outlines the importance of building connections throughout the supply chain. With Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Fairman covers: • How similar values among everyone in the supply chain leads to successful products and benefits to consumers • Why communication without connection can lead to harmful outcomes • That employees must be people first, and those who show vulnerability and openness create better ROI.
Supplement brands are required to evaluate their products for safety under federally mandated GMPs (good manufacturing practices), but many brands don’t have the expertise or equipment in house to conduct appropriate tests. Brands can turn to third-party contract laboratories to conduct these assays, but selecting the right partner is crucial for safety, legal and—often—financial success. In this podcast, Blake Ebersole, president of NaturPro Scientific, discusses the selection process and how a supplement brand can chose the best contract lab. With Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Ebersole covers: • Why contract labs need to be verified and evaluated like every other supplier the supplement brand uses • How long it usually takes a brand to research, interview and choose a contract lab • When it’s OK to conduct a paper audit and when it makes sense to conduct an onsite audit of a contract lab.
While the New York Attorney General’s investigation may have put the topic of botanical identity testing squarely in the mainstream spotlight, the industry has for years understood that herbs and botanicals pose unique challenges in laboratory testing. In the lead-in to SupplySide West, Heather Granato, vice president of content, spoke with Holly Johnson, chief science officer at the American Herbal Products Association (ahpa.org), about the considerations that manufacturers must keep in mind when doing testing and, especially, when partnering with suppliers and outside laboratories.
A regulatory consultant in the food and supplement industries must be confident and knowledgeable to navigate the murky waters of laws that are often not black and white. When a woman takes this role, she is acting outside of gender norms in a field dominated by men. In this Healthy Insider podcast, Rena Cohen-First, director of sales, Western Region, The Wright Group, talks with Denise Webster, regulatory consultant, Food Brand Protection, about her career as a Gen X female leader. Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, shares a bit of the Millennial perspective.
In a market with an increasing interest in transparency, technology solutions are now coming to the fore to help streamline the supply chain. Whether they’re using blockchain or other tech, companies are looking for ways to bring the dietary supplement industry to another level. In the lead-in to SupplySide West, Heather Granato, vice president of content, spoke with Skye Lininger, president of dietary supplements at TraceGains (tracegains.com), about the opportunities ahead to use technology to improve communication across the industry, while being mindful of concerns about data protection and privacy, as well as the recent acquisition of the Vitature platform and what that could mean to supply chain buy-in.
The term “organic” has a federal definition and decades of history, and sales growth rates for organic products continue to outpace those of conventional goods. Meeting the current and rising demand will take greater investments in the supply chain from all parties, with an emphasis on helping farmers through the transition to support long-term sustainable growth. In the lead-in to SupplySide West, Heather Granato, vice president of content, spoke with Brise Tencer, executive director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF.org), about the state of the organic industry and the role that manufacturers can play to support organic farming and a healthy supply chain.
Concerns about getting older can take many forms, from fear of burdening others to lack of energy and even running out of money to support oneself. Steve French, managing partner, Natural Marketing Institute, lays out what consumers fear most about getting older, and the surprising demographic that is most likely to try to do something about it, such as take a nutrition product. In this episode, INSIDER editor-in-chief Sandy Almendarez and French, discuss: • How consumers consider physical, social, financial and technological health all part of healthy aging. • How the top aging fears focus on cognitive health and financial security, and the type of health products consumers are taking to address these fears. • The market growth in fortified and functional foods is driven by Millennials, but matures still have the highest supplement usage rate.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Amanda Archibald, registered dietician and principal at the Genomic Kitchen, tackle the question: How do we translate nutrition science to the plate?
Consumers have always been in the driver’s seat when it comes to product development, as brand marketers try to anticipate and meet their needs. However, in an increasingly speedy world, what should marketers consider as they look at the trends and driving forces currently upending the nutrition marketplace? In the lead-in to SupplySide West, Heather Granato, vice president of content, spoke with Peter Wennstrom, founder and expert consultant with The Healthy Marketing Group (thehmt.com), about some of these global game changers and how brands are adapting.
In this podcast interview, Tara Lin Couch, Ph.D., of EAS Consulting Group, weighs in on brand owners—or so-called own-label distributors of dietary supplements—effectively partnering with contract laboratories to perform a variety of testing services.
Today’s range of functional beverages include everything from enhanced waters, juices, cold-brew coffee, RTD teas, etc. with an increased emphasis on the inclusion of shorter ingredient lists, with simple and recognizable names.
With so many natural products having broad appeal across age ranges, tailoring the verbiage, channel and takeaways to different demographics can incrementally improve market acceptance.
SupplySide West podcast: Getting employees to buy into corporate vision Executives at health and nutrition brand often create noble mission statements and visions, but those goals don’t always get appropriated translated and adopted throughout the company’s workforce. However, brands can take simple steps to help ensure employees buy in and exhibit company values, according to Karen Howard, CEO and executive director, Organic & Natural Health Association. In this podcast, Howard and Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, discuss: • Questions managers can ask in interviews to ensure they hire the candidates who understand and represent company values • The small steps company executives can take to show employees they are necessary to the company’s mission • Real-world examples of health and nutrition brands that treat their workforce right, and how they gain dividends.
Maintaining and improving cognitive health is something that affects almost every consumer and only becomes more difficult as they age. There are, however, vitamins, minerals and nutrients that can make that job easier. Parris Kidd, Ph.D., explains what these ingredients are, how they work, and why he believes the future is bright when it comes to brain health. In this episode, INSIDER editor-in-chief Sandy Almendarez and Kidd, chief science officer and director of quality for BrainMD Health, discuss: • The necessity of phosphatidylserine (PS) and glycerophosphocholine (GPC) for human health and now they benefit focus and memory • How the concentration of omega-3s in the brain allow for brain development from conception through old age • Why B vitamins are the most underrated dietary supplement, according to Kidd.
Probiotics have been one of the consistent growth categories across the natural products space, with product introductions in the supplement, food, beverage and even personal care categories. However, even as researchers are exploring the health benefits of specific strains, inconsistencies in regulatory approaches could hamper product introductions or line extensions—particularly into new geographies. In the lead-in to SupplySide West, Heather Granato, vice president of content, spoke with George Paraskevakos, executive director, International Probiotics Association (internationalprobiotics.org), about the market opportunities and challenges, as well as what SupplySide West attendees can learn at this year’s Probiotics Workshop and in the IPA Probiotics Resource Center.
Key points of this podcast include:
What types of health benefits are being substantiated by clinical research, and the ways those studies can be used to in effective consumer communication.
The regulatory conundrum that marketers face when trying to extend product lines into new geos, and the work being done by IPA and other firms to even the playing field.
Steps being taken by IPA to educate the market, both through its own educational efforts and outreach at SupplySide West.
Biotechnology has been applied in fields from medicine to agriculture for many years. But there remain a number of questions about the long-term usage of such technologies, particularly as it relates to consumer acceptability. In the lead-in to SupplySide West, Heather Granato, vice president of content, spoke with Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk, CEO of Canomiks ( (insilico.com), about the applications of biotechnology into the ingredient supply chain, including identifying benchmarks related to activity or adulteration, and delivering consistent quality ingredients to the consumer market, as well as questions buyers can ask when sourcing ingredients to ensure they will be acceptable to consumers. Key points of this podcast include: • How is biotechnology offering solutions around ingredient supply chain challenges? • Understanding the basis of “-omics” and how genetic investigations can identify multi-nutrient compounds with positive health impacts. • The ways that ingredient suppliers and manufacturers can use targeted technologies to deliver quality products to consumers.
Gen X may be the sandwich generation in more ways than one. Not only is this generation of 65 million people bookended by 75 million Boomers and 79 million Millennials, but they’re also the ones taking care of both aging parents and high demand children. In the lead-in to SupplySide West, Heather Granato, vice president of content, spoke with Aljolynn Sperber, managing director at Marketing Maven PR (marketingmaven.com), about the opportunities for marketers to reach this health conscious demographic, but also effective communication techniques to overcome their natural skepticism and address their desire for transparency.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Tamara Bernadot, co-founder and chief nutrition officer at Persona, discuss the role of technology in creating personalized nutrition solutions, and in driving innovation in the category.
GMPs (good manufacturing practices) require an own label distributor/brand holder to test their products with scientifically valid methods, but it’s up to brands to decide if it’s best to test in house or by using a third-party lab. A lot of factors that go into that decision, including time, resources, expertise and equipment. Aaron Secrist, vice president of quality and regulatory affairs, NOW Foods discusses the resources that a brand needs to set up an inhouse lab and when it makes sense for a brand to use a contract lab rather than keep the testing in house. Secrist and Sandy Almendarez, editor in-chief, INSIDER, cover: • The pros and cons of both in-house and outside third-party contract lab testing • What GMPs specially outline for supplement testing • What to look for when entering a partnership with a third-party contract lab
Informa’s Heather Granato talks with Alex Zhavoronkov, Ph.D., of Insilico Medicine, about the evolution of artificial intelligence, and how AI technology is being applied to investigate new ingredients that could beneficially impact the aging process, opening up new avenues for product development.
Stress and anxiety can lead to many health problems including insomnia, hypertension, adrenal fatigue and more, but for millennia, humans have been using calming botanicals to help relax and boost mood. In this podcast, Vince Kreipke, scientific advisor, Onnit Labs, discuses a few botanicals and how they help address stress and anxiety with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER. They cover: • The most common stress-related conditions that can be addressed with botanicals • Popular delivery forms for consumers who take to take botanicals for stress reduction • The role lemon balm, valerian root and CBD play in improving mood.
Developing a great-tasting functional beverage comes with challenges, but it’s far from impossible if you follow a few key guidelines.
The supply chain is becoming more connected and technology is driving transparency into the sourcing process. New solutions around blockchain can connect brands with their primary suppliers—even back to the farm—to create tangible, verifiable impacts. Christian Shearer of Regen Network and Terra Genesis discusses the potential.
Generation Z, those 20 years and younger, have had a short time to establish their shopping habits, but they have already have their own rules for what qualifies as a healthy product. They want brands to have helpful ingredients, demonstrate responsible social values and play a role in their overall holistic health, but Gen Z are frugal shoppers concerned with price point. In this podcast, Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, discusses Gen Z with Shelley Balanko, Ph.D., senior vice president, Hartman Group, including: • How Generation Z will likely evolve its shopping behavior as it matures • The differences in habits already shaping within the generation • The product attributes that impress Gen Z the most
Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Kurt Schneider, president of Tech Bridge West, review the basics of quality agreements in a contact manufacturer partnership, along with real-world examples and red flags that underscore the importance of an adequate, well-executed quality agreement.
Informa’s Heather Granato talks with Jeff Moyer of The Rodale Institute about organic and regenerative agriculture, and the ways brands can deliver truly healthy products to their consumers.
Technology is transforming the supply chain, improving companies’ abilities to produce ingredients and bring them to market, as well as make it easier to access information at any point of production. On a trip to China, Informa’s Heather Granato discussed the topic with professionals from companies including ADH Health, Cott Beverage Solutions, Innophos, the National Animal Supplement Council, NOW Foods, Promotion in Motion, Shaklee and Threshold.
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) which became law in 2011, and by September 2018 nearly all food, beverage and supplement makers will be required to follow the rules. FDA is actively enforcing rules and inspecting facilities based on varying implementation timelines. This means there’s no safe place to hide so suppliers and manufacturers need to have best practices in place to pass a FSMA audit.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Tara Couch, senior director of dietary supplement and tobacco services at EAS Consulting Group, discuss essential quality systems for an own label distributor in a contract manufacturing partnership.
Alternative sweeteners, clean label, plant-based protein, personalized nutrition, alternative dairy and better-for-you food and beverage ingredients. All these trends and more were on display at the 2018 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo.
Ginger Schlueter, assistant editor, spoke with Offir Benjamin, Ph.D., researcher and lecturer at Tel-Hai College. Listeners will learn about alternative dairy trends, how to reduce food waste and how education plays a vital role in entering the food space.
In this podcast, reporters Todd Runestad and Josh Long review last week’s landmark event—FDA approval of Epidiolex, a CBD medicine to treat rare and severe forms of epilepsy—and debate the potential impact on the natural products industry.
As consumers are seeking more transparency in the products they buy, and regulators aim to stretch tight budgets by focusing on the bad actors, self regulatory initiatives can take center stage. At SupplySide East in New Jersey in April, Heather Granato, vice president of content, spoke with Duffy MacKay, Ph.D., senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), about the importance of self regulation. In this podcast, MacKay discusses how the industry has come together around the concept of a registry and what lies ahead.
Ginger Schlueter, assistant editor, interviewed Taly Nechushtan, CEO and Nitzan N. Ben Chaim, CTO with InnovoPro Limited, makers of chickpea protein and starch. Learn why brands should consider chickpea protein and discover trends within the industry from Taly, while Nitzan concludes with the top four important characteristics of alternative proteins.
In 1994, Congress passed a landmark law—the Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act (DSHEA)—that included thoughts about how companies could bring new ingredients to market; in the 25 years since, the waters around new dietary ingredients (NDIs) have remained murky. At SupplySide East in New Jersey in April, Heather Granato, vice president of content, spoke with Marc Ullman, partner at Rivkin Radler, about the new dietary ingredient (NDI) process and what could or should happen with this process. Ullman recounts some of the challenges that industry has confronted, and the need for clearer direction from FDA. Key points of this podcast include: • The disconnect between the regulation and FDA’s guidance documents, and how that has added to industry confusion. • Some of the common failures seen in the NDI notification process—including firms not identifying the ingredient. • The troublesome issues around internal communication breakdowns within the agency departments overseeing NDINs and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) affirmations.
Ginger Schlueter, assistant editor, met and spoke with Boaz Olivero, founder and CEO, of Munbatim, to learn more about why the company got started, challenges and how he overcame them, and trends in the functional foods niche.
Across the natural products industry, brands are taking steps to be more sustainable and support their communities. Retailers and consumers are taking steps to request more from their product suppliers, raising the bar for “doing good” with business. Heather Granato, vice president of content, stopped off in New York recently to speak with Pierce Sioussat, president and CEO of Bioforce USA, about the role that natural products retailers play in maintaining the industry’s core values, which resonate with a growing number of shoppers. Sioussat discussed issues including B Corp certification, business as a force for good and the steps companies can take to make their own businesses more sustainable.
The use of SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators), synthetic compounds being investigated as new drugs, have triggered industry and regulator efforts to remove these compounds from dietary supplements. What the best approach to doing so is a matter of debate. Sports nutrition and bodybuilding industry attorney Rick Collins, a partner with Collins Gann McCloskey and Barry, sat down with INSIDER’s Steve Myers during the recent SupplySide East in Secaucus, New Jersey, to discuss the current situation with SARMs and review possible outcomes, including potential legislation.
In this Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Jeff Crowther, executive director of the US-China Health Products Association, discuss key factors driving growth of the dietary supplements market in China, including a push from the Chinese government toward preventative health care and growing interest in sports and exercise among Chinese consumers.
Ginger Schlueter, assistant editor, hosted Julia Schifter, VP business development, TIPA Corp, as she explained why and how the company got started, discussed environmental hazards of plastics and compared the concept of compostable flexible packaging to how an orange peel decomposes.
In this Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Jeff Crowther, executive director of the US-China Health Products Association, discuss the rapid adoption and evolution of social media and technology by Chinese consumers, and how these factors impact purchasing behaviors.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a hot trend in natural products for humans—and their pets. Bill Bookout of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) shares an update on the regulatory status of using hemp and CBD for animals, touching on the roles of FDA-CVM, AAFCO, the Farm Bill, DSHEA, pharma and more.
Ginger Schlueter, assistant editor, and Yair Moneta, head of business development, Inspecto, discuss the development of their nanoscale, a portable device that detects food contaminants in the field. The conversation explores Inspecto’s successes and challenges in product development, offering advice to industry newcomers.
Prebiotics for synergistic support of the microbiome, an emphasis on clinical research on ingredients, interest in beauty from within offerings and unique delivery forms. All of this and more were on display at SupplySide East 2018. SupplySide East 2018 returned to Secaucus, NJ, for the first time since 2011, delivering to the Northeast a solutions-focused event around ingredients and supply chain solutions. In this episode, Steve Myers, INSIDER managing editor, and Heather Granato, vice president of content, Informa Exhibitions, discuss the top trends they discovered at SupplySide East 2018. These included: Beauty from within Cold-water dispersible ingredients for beverage formulation Collagen for bone, joint and muscle health Delivery systems beyond pills—from gummies to “pixie sticks” Energy boosters without caffeine Prebiotics and probiotics Scientific research both into new ingredients and broadening an existing portfolio Vitamin K2
The editors also discuss ingredients from several companies including: AIC AIDP Anderson Global Group AstaReal Bioenergy Life Sciences Gelita Horphag Research Indena NattoPharma Roxlor
In this podcast, Josh Long of Natural Products INSIDER explores a lawsuit challenging a marijuana extract rule adopted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Long interviews cannabis attorney Bob Hoban and takes listeners to a federal appeals court in San Francisco where a panel of judges in February questioned lawyers for DEA and the Hemp Industries Association on the marijuana extract rule. The fate of the lawsuit has potentially broad implications for the burgeoning CBD industry.
Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Lara Dickinson, executive director at OSC2, cofounder at Climate Collaborative and partner at Pluot Consulting, discuss the challenges related to development and adoption of sustainable, flexible packaging and the industry’s first compostable flexible packaging at Natural Products Expo West 2018 in Anaheim, California, March 7-11.
Ingredion recently partnered with the non-profit food business incubator The Hatchery Chicago as part of the Ingredion for Emerging Business initiative to help new food and beverage companies turn innovative ideas into on-trend and scalable products. In this podcast Judie Bizzozero, editor of Food Insider Journal, Evan Hyman, director of Emerging Business at Ingredion, and Natalie Shmulik, CEO of The Hatchery Chicago, discuss the importance of investing in entrepreneurs, the challenges they face, and how supply chain investment is critical.
Supply chain traceability and mission-based business, plant-based protein and bone broth, and digestive health and CBD. All these trends and more were on display at the 38th annual Natural Products Expo West. In this episode, Heather Granato, vice president of content, Informa Exhibitions; Judie Bizzozero, editor, Food Insider Journal; and Rachel Adams, INSIDER managing editor; discuss the top trends they discovered at Expo West 2018.
China has always been important to the supply side of the U.S. health and nutrition industry, but smart businesses are tapping into the growing significance of the Chinese consumer base. Yet, accessing the market of 400 million people is not an easy task for U.S.-based brands who must navigate regulation and communication barriers. The U.S. trade organization the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) is working to strengthen the bridge to China by creating memorandum of understanding (MOU) agreements with several Chinese organizations. In this podcast, Loren Israelsen, president, UNPA, discusses how the U.S. and Chinese natural products industries are starting to align, with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER.
In this edition of the Healthy INSIDER podcast, Judie Bizzozero, editor, Food Insider Journal, and Mary Christ-Erwin, partner at Porter Novelli and lead of the agency’s food and agriculture issues and policy group, discuss the importance of communication in the food and beverage industry--from research and development to marketing and branding. Christ-Erwin will be speaking on “Research & Development: Finding a Common Language” at the 6th Annual Supplier Night hosted by the Cactus Section of the Institute of Food Technology on April 17 in Phoenix.
Authentic leadership can be described as bringing oneself wholly into your team and business—“showing up” and being truly invested in revealing our true selves. This concept goes further in regenerative leadership, which takes the concepts of building a wholistic environment that yields dividends in long term health. In this Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Heather Granato, vice president of content, Informa, talks with Susan Skjei, Ph.D., director of Naropa University’s Authentic Leadership Center, about authentic and regenerative leadership. Their conversation touches on: • How to use the principles of authentic leadership to “till the soil” and create a healthy business environment • Why it’s critical to be willing to ask questions and truly listen to the answers to drive engagement through an organization • What consumers are seeking in terms of authenticity and their willingness to “invest” in companies that are truly transparent. Skjei is speaking at 2018’s Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California. The “Authentic Regenerative Leadership to Grow Your Business, Team & Community” session occurs Friday, March 9, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. If you have feedback on the podcast, email heather.granato@informa.com or tweet @NatProdINSIDER using #INSIDERpodcast.
2018 is a big year for U.S. politics and regulations that affect the health and nutrition industry. This year will bring the full implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), a new Farm Bill, mid-term elections, and the retirement of unprecedented numbers of congressional members, including the supplement industry’s beloved Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). In this podcast Loren Israelsen, president, United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), discusses what the industry can expect from the year ahead and where it should focus its efforts with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER.
Regenerative farming applies the principles of organic, while adding a focus on farms as closed systems—living organisms able to provide their own intrinsic solutions for healthy longevity. In this Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Heather Granato, vice president of content, Informa, talks with Elizabeth Candelario, president, Demeter, about the future of responsible agriculture. They discuss some of the misconceptions around regenerative agriculture and biodynamic farming, what a regenerative approach looks like along the supply chain, and how biodynamic agriculture can impact the food and nutrition industry—as well as the environment—in the future.
In this edition of the Healthy INSIDER podcast, Judie Bizzozero, managing editor, and Megan Westgate, executive director of the Non-GMO Project, discuss the current state of GMOs in the food supply and upcoming regulations scheduled to take effect in the near future. Westgate will be speaking on the “GMO Labeling: Regulations & Market Opportunities” panel on Saturday, March 10 during the Natural Products Expo West show in Anaheim.
Across the dietary supplements space, there’s a great interest in promoting quality, building trust and improving the transparency in the supply chain. At the same time, we’ve seen the rise of content marketing as a key platform for conveying information and bringing stakeholders together. The Inside the Bottle program, now in its third year, was developed by New Hope Natural Media—a partner to Natural Products INSIDER—to marry these concepts and help build community around these issues. In this edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Heather Granato, vice president of content in Informa’s Global Health & Nutrition Network, speaks with Jessica Rubino, senior content marketing director at New Hope, and Scott Steinford, the executive director of Trust Transparency Consulting. Among the issues they address: • Why is it critical for industry to come together and have an informed, active dialogue around issues related to supply chain quality and conscious business? • How can content marketing promote the development of supply chain transparency and improve communication among industry stakeholders? • What does “trust” truly mean to the dietary supplement industry?
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Scott Steinford, founder and CEO of Trust Transparency Consulting, discuss the role of transparency in establishing trust with supplements consumers.
There seems to be no shortage of innovative solutions and inspired product development in the global health and nutrition industry and the innovation landscape continues to look promising. Alessio Dantino from Crowdfooding joins us to discuss all areas of innovation and what we can expect from future start-ups.
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which became law in 2011, increased the regulatory requirements that food—and supplement—manufacturers must follow to ensure food safety. These risk-based preventative measures accompany the good manufacturing practices (GMPs) previously required by law. In this podcast, John Atwater, Ph.D., senior director of verification programs, USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia), discusses the new FSMA rules and how supplement brands can ensure their products meet all product requirements. Atwater and Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, cover: • The differences between GMP and FSMA requirements • An overview of the FSMA obligations, and how brands can ensure their products meet these conditions • Working with contract manufacturers to ensure GMP and FSMA requirements are met.
Nutrition Business Journal’s Global Supplement Business Report 2017 offers extensive insight to the European market ups and downs. Claire Morton, senior industry analyst at NBJ, joins us to discuss the ‘sleeping giant’ that is the European supplements market and offers her predictions for the industry in 2018.
For most people, skin is an integral part of healthy ageing, but it's usually skin appearance that gets the most attention. Topical products sales are booming, with more and more consumers concerned about wrinkles and thinning skin, but as Dr Mark Miller explains, there's more to skin health than wrinkle prevention. H e points out the importance of dietary supplement interventions and the link between oxidative stress and sunburn, wrinkles, ageing and even cancer. He details the major issues where skin health can be influenced by nutrition and natural products, explains the real cause of acne (it's pretty gross) and highlights the natural ingredients perfectly poised to protect skin health.
If the eyes are the windows to the soul, the inner spirit may need some yellow shades. Potentially damaging blue light was once only a problem for eyes subject to sun overexposure, but modern eyes are bombarded by blue light from endless device screens at all hours of the day and night. The yellow pigmented macula in the back of the eye can protect against blue light, the effects from which accumulate throughout life, but the nutritional foundation for the macula in the modern diet—the carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin from spinach and other green leafy vegetables—has not kept pace with the soaring blue light exposure. James Stringham, Ph.D., University of Georgia, talks about what his eye health research has revealed about how supplementation with these carotenoids can help protect the eye and vision from blue light exposure.
The health care industry is undergoing functional and structural changes from a 'fee-for-service' to 'value-based' services at a national level in various countries. This movement is currently experiencing renewed impetus as several food components are being employed as medicines, such as polyphenols, fibres, and probiotics. As Dr Dilip Ghosh, director of Nutriconnect, explains, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between bioactive molecules termed 'drugs' and other substances classified as 'nutrients.' He advocates for the nutraceutical model to shift from the illness to the wellness domain, focusing on keeping people healthy, rather than looking after them when they're ill. Dilip Ghosh will be speaking on the Vitafoods Europe 2018 Education Programme on this topic.
Millennials view food and health differently than Boomers and Gen X’ers. Millennials want food from brands with values, missions and purposes that align with their own ideals of improving the world. For them, health is not a blood pressure level or a body mass index (BMI); health is experiencing happiness, energy and vibrancy. Food and supplement brands can tap into theses mindsets by offering natural, safe and efficacious products, and using the right communication to explain the brand story, according to Amanda Hartt, market research manager, New Hope Network’s NEXT data and insights team. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Hartt discusses: • The cultural awakening where consumers feel an erosion of trust in conventional food system causing them to seek whole, unprocessed foods provided by mission-, purpose-driven brands in the natural and organic sector. • How Millennials look to food to improve their lives, how they hold a reverence for everything that goes into their bodies, and how they care about a food brands’ story. • Millennials’ trust in supplements, which is higher than older generations, and how they pride themselves on their supplement use rather than prescription drug use. Hart spoke at the SupplySide West 2017 Workshop “How Millennials Are Transforming Modern Marketing.”
Many supplement manufacturers have been searching for new ingredients to replace ephedrine since it was banned by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2004, and subsequently prohibited in Europe. As a researcher following the supplement industry closely, John Travis, senior research scientist at NSF International, was watching bodybuilding and workout blogs when he learned a new ingredient, 2-aminoisoheptane, had arrived on the scene. Here, John explains how he identifies and examines the various 'new ingredients' to discern their contents and highlights the need for consumer protection and the importance of certification.
Experiences leave their mark on the brain… literally. Baroness Greenfield explains how brands and digital advertising can actually shape our brains and how food and drink businesses can influence their consumers. Conveying taste and smell to a 'screen generation' comes with obvious challenges, but companies can communicate their messages in various ways by 'synergising the senses.'
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Xuesong Li, director of the management consulting practice at Kline & Co., discuss factors impacting the growth and trends of the global personal care market.
With Brexit and the US election sending ripples across the world, it's only logical to expect implications to food prices and supplies. Brexit sees the United Kingdom forced to consider agricultural policy, food safety standards and import tariffs following the departure from the European Union, and is now looking for new trade deals. The United States may seem the logical trading partner, but Donald Trump's 'America First' orientation is expected to see American standards and practices required in the UK. Prof Tim Benton, Professor of Population Ecology at the University of Leeds, discusses how geopolitics and food and drink are entwined, potentially setting off chain reactions across the globe.
2018 is upon us and all thoughts are turning to the potential and opportunities a new year brings. We called Hamish Renton, managing director of HRA Food and Drink, to discuss his predictions for the food and beverage markets in 2018 and how these apply to the nutraceutical and functional food industry.
Many integrative physicians—medical doctors and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) who self-identify as using holistic practices—turn to supplements to help their patients’ wellness. Brands that communicate and connect with these practitioners can find great opportunity in the partnership. In this Healthy INSIDER podcast, Yadim Medore, founder and CEO, and Susan Haeger, executive strategic consultant at Pure Branding, discuss a new study they conducted on how integrative physicians use supplements in their practices. With Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, they cover: • The size of the integrative physician supplement market, which reaches 13 to 18 million U.S. consumers • The top four attributes that integrative physicians look for in the supplement brands recommend • How—and where—supplement brands can best reach out to integrative physicians to build a partnership. This podcast was spurred by a presentation Medore gave at the annual conference of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) in Tucson, Arizona.
Affirming that pet trends are influenced by what’s hot for humans, a probiotic food topper for dogs and cats earned a 2017 Editor’s Choice Award (ECA) for best new animal nutrition product. In this podcast, Mika Wheelwright, CEO of Fidobiotics and Meowbiotics, discusses the development of probiotic products for animal nutrition, including delivery format, palatability, formulation, ingredients and quality.
Winning a 2017 Editor’s Choice Award (ECA) for best new multivitamin, Vitamin Packs capitalized on the personalized nutrition and convenience trends with its online assessment tool and home delivery model. In this podcast, CEO Jason Brown discusses how mass customization inspired the personalized nutrition movement, the importance of consumer compliance, and the role of science and technology in advancing successful nutrition products.
Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Elana Natker, MS, RD, discuss the role of dieticians as influencers to consumers, and how brands can work with dieticians to educate consumers on ingredients and ingredient science. Natker will present during the GOED Exchange 2018, Feb. 6 to 8, in Seattle.
Clinical studies show diets full of antioxidants are associated with significant decreases in the overall risk of various lifestyle diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and some cancers. But current research focuses solely on the low molecular weight (soluble) antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, phenolic compounds and carotenoids - it may surprise listeners to hear there is another type of antioxidant: macromolecular. These are polymeric phenolic compounds of polyphenols also found in fruits and vegetables and research is showing they have significant effects on health and wellness. Dr Jara Perez-Jiminez joins us from the Spanish National Research Council to discuss macromolecular antioxidants and why they've been so overlooked, and Dr Fulgencio Saura-Calixto will be speaking on the Vitafoods Europe 2018 Education Programme on the topic of antioxidants vs. polyphenols.
Steve Myers, managing editor, chats with Kara Nielsen, sales and engagement manager USA for Innova Market Insights, about the impact and dynamics of active consumers and active nutrition.
Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Stephanie Mattucci, global food science analyst at Mintel, discuss key trends impacting the omega-3 functional food market. Mattucci will present during the GOED Exchange 2018, Feb. 6 to 8, in Seattle Washington.
The link between foods and digestive orders is well recognised, and for many people FODMAPs are the culprit. These short-chain carbohydrates can ferment in the lower part of the large intestine if they're not digested properly, causing pain and bloating, but a new medical exclusion diet could be the solution for sufferers of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The original idea was a temporary, very restrictive diet, while sufferers identify their trigger foods but this is catching on in the food and drink industry, with manufacturers looking at three areas for innovation and even a certification making its way into the industry. Hamish Renton, managing director at HRA Food and Drink Marketing, joins us to discuss this diet and its potential, and guides us through fermentable oligo-, mono-, and polysaccharides!
Lifestyle trends from the food and drink industry are increasingly influencing the nutritional supplements market: from clean label to the shift towards vegetarian and vegan diets, movements originating in the food and drink sector are constantly evolving to influence nutraceuticals and functional foods. Dominik Mattern, business development manager at Capsugel, explains how manufacturers should adapt their product lines to provide supplements to appeal to increasingly diverse consumer preferences.
China is emerging as a critical global partner across myriad industries, including the supplement and food/beverage markets. In fact, between 70 and 80 percent of the raw materials in the U.S. dietary supplement industry are coming from China. Chinese suppliers are looking to become true partners with their customers, expanding on the existing awareness they’ve build through platforms like SupplySide, and looking for ways to leverage their expertise in new markets. In October, Heather Granato, vice president of content with Informa’s Health & Nutrition Network, traveled to China to attend the China Natural Ingredients Conference in Handan, and work on the June 2018 launch of SupplySide China. Also on the ground was Loren Israelsen, president of the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), who spoke at the conference and was traveling through the country meeting with suppliers and business partners, as UNPA extends its expertise into China. In this Healthy INSIDER podcast, Granato and Israelsen sat down in Handan, China, to discuss: • The importance of trust in building the bridge between the China and U.S. markets. • How Chinese producers are looking to change the equation, delivering good quality at a fair price. • The similarities in consumer expectations between markets, and how that is driving suppliers and manufacturers toward transparency. Links and Resources • SupplySide China (http://en.supplysidechina.com.cn/) • Exploring Natural Ingredients in China (https://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/blogs/global-evolutions/2017/11/exploring-natural-ingredients-in-china.aspx) • Image Gallery: Exploring CCGB’s Production in Handan, China (https://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/galleries/2017/11/ccgb-tour.aspx) Got feedback? Email Granato at heather.granato@informa.com or tweet to @NatProdINSIDER using the hashtag #INSIDERpodcast.
Immune health may well be a continuing area of interest for the nutraceutical and functional food industry, but this time of year, interest skyrockets. Germs abound and consumers snuffle and sneeze their way to the traditional cold and flu products, but as Mike Bush, President of Ganeden, points out, interest in immune health is increasing in every season, with savvy consumers turning to natural ingredients and probiotics. There's plenty of research on the gut microbiome impacting all areas of health and consumers are aware the gut harbours the majority of the body's immune cells, driving interest in probiotic products for immune health. But today's consumer doesn't want another pill - they want functional solutions to their immune health needs.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, and Bettina Mittendorfer, professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, discuss the unique nutritional needs of seniors, including the potential benefits of protein, amino acids and omega-3s to muscle mass and strength.
Companies are increasingly exposed to risks across supply chains and in an increasingly global marketplace, businesses need to ensure they are resilient to the many risks posed by climate change and the possibilities of unethical practices in factories far from head office. Brian Appell, market development manager at OmniActive Health Technologies, explains how a company can get serious about ensuring safe working standards, reducing its carbon footprint and implementing sustainable practices at each level of its supply chain.
Supplement use is at an all-time high—76 percent—among U.S. adults, and most (87 percent) are confident that supplements are safe, quality and efficacious, according to a recent survey commissioned by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs. In this podcast, Nancy Weindruch, vice president, communications, CRN, dives deeper into the data of the survey, which has been conducted yearly for 18 years, with Sandy Almendarez, INSIDER editor in chief. They cover: • The most popular supplements among the general population and among younger consumers. • The top reasons Americans take supplements, and the emerging importance of supplements that help boost energy • The factors that American consumers weigh when they make supplement purchases. This podcast was recorded at the CRN Annual Conference in Tucson, Arizona. Here the podcast Weindruch and Almendarez recorded following the release of the 2016 CRN consumer survey: Healthy INSIDER Podcast: Drivers for Supplement Use.
Today, obesity is a global epidemic with a total economic impact exceeded $2 trillion each year but, as Karin Elise Nielsen from IDNutra explains, encouraging consumers to purchase weight management products is trickier than expected. Trust and transparency are weighty issues in this category and consumers are looking for clean label, natural and science-backed ingredients to help them lose weight. As many weight management products are fads, driven by lifestyle magazines, social media and celebrity endorsements, consumers are wading through this €150 billion global market, seeking a new and innovative direction.
If the body's cells are constantly replicating and repairing tissues, why does the body age? Dr Mark Miller explains ageing is driven by various concepts, including shortening telomeres, the epigenome and inflammation. As he says, telomeres can be considered the aglets on the shoe laces of DNA, which can in theory be lengthened by copious amounts of wine; the epigenome acts as the software in our cells' hardware; and inflammation and leaky mitochondria go hand in hand. Although you could reverse the ageing process with 50 bottles of wine and a trip to Chernobyl, Dr Miller suggests the secret weapon in the fight could be (wait for it) a healthy diet and exercise.
Healthcare costs related to treating lifestyle diseases (that could be avoided if people just ate enough fish) will, according to a recent report, reach more than $22 trillion globally in the next 15 years. For a lot of people, getting more omega-3 still doesn't factor as a lifestlyle change they should make in order to live a healthy life - despite studies showing awareness of the benefits of omega-3s is at an all-time high in Europe. To discuss this disparity, we're joined by Matts Johansen, CEO of Aker BioMarine, discussing pill fatigue, healthy lifestyles and just how on earth we can convince people to do this one thing. Matts and Aker believe education is key to preventing the lifestyle diseases associated with a low omega-3 level, and that finding the right balance will put us all on track to becoming healthier. As part of their campaign to 'educate the world', they've launched a health awareness film, starring Maria who, despite her seemingly very healthy lifestyle, gets a real surprise when she returns to her roots in Greenland and discovers her omega-3 level isn't quite enough to maintain a 'truly healthy and balanced life'.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Karen Howard, CEO and executive director of the Organic & Natural Health Association, discuss the role of nutrient field trials to determine effective nutrient levels and maximize health outcomes on a broader level.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease affecting around 1 percent of the global population and research shows diet and other lifestyle factors influence this prevalence. The high intake of animal protein worldwide is also bringing gout back to the forefront and consumers are turning to natural ingredients to intervene. Karin Elise Nielsen from IDNutra explains, although there are many ingredients similar to the compounds found in human tendons, ligaments and cartilage, the industry needs to demonstrate efficacy to reach this mature but growing market.
Good nutrition is crucial in the early stages of life, yet there are some typical nutrient deficiencies seen in children. To discuss children's health and how staple food fortification can have a major impact on preventing nutritional deficiencies and associated health problems, we're joined by Sarah Louis, segment market manager of the nutrition improvement program for EMEA at DSM.
In 10 years, the omega-3 market has grown from a concentration on fish oil concentrates to a diverse industry with several sources and an increasingly interesting scientific substantiation. Adam Ismail, Global Organization for Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Omega-3s (GOED), described these factors and more that have matured the omega-3 industry in the past decade. In this podcast with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Ismail discuses: • The increase of quality omega-3 products on the market, spurred by a commitment to the GOED monograph, which is stricter than any regulation • How research—good and bad—have affected consumer interest in omega-3s, and emerging research that shows omega-3s’ benefit to health conditions beyond heart health • The growing number of sources for long-chain polyunsaturated acids (PUFAs), and how they help sustainability and a brand’s point of differentiation. Learn more about the issues and controversies affecting the omega-3 market at the GOED Exchange, Feb 6 to 8 in Seattle. Read more about Ismail’s take on the past decade in the INSIDER article, “10 Years of Fish Business.”
Healthy INSIDER Podcast 137: Vitafoods Insights – Getting up Close and Personal with Omega-3 Levels by Natural Products INSIDER
According to Ahmed El-Sohemy, Ph.D., founder of Nutrigenomix and professor at the University of Toronto, the field of nutrigenomics—the effects of nutrition intake on gene expression—is gaining popularity, particularly as consumers gravitate toward personalized nutrition. In this podcast, recorded after his presentation at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) 2017 workshop and conference in Tucson, Arizona, El-Sohemy talks with Heather Granato, vice president of content at Informa, about: • The early beginnings of genomic science and where the field is headed • Examples of nutrition/genetic overlap, such as a person’s ability to metabolize caffeine or lactose • Implications for personalized nutrition; for example, in addressing obesity or weight management To share your thoughts, email Granato at heather.granato@informa.com, or tweet to @NatProdINSIDER using the hashtag #INSIDERpodcast.
Taking home a 2017 Editor’s Choice Award (ECA) for best new probiotic product with its Superfood Chocolate Cocoa Mocha COFFEEBERRY® bar, Good Superfoods is also a contract manufacturer with a firm grasp of how to create winning natural products. In this podcast, founder and CEO Paul Frantellizzi and Jennifer Gaudry, senior vice president of research and development (R&D), discuss some of the challenges of creating unique superfood products, interesting proprietary functional ingredients making their way into confectionery formulations, and partnering with a contract manufacturer that has its own popular branded product lines.
From its roots in reducing the number of ingredients and opting for more "natural" alternatives, clean label has evolved to include transparency at every level—from sourcing and production methods to packaging and claims. As consumers continue to embrace health and wellness, brands offering clean label products must understand the mindset of the consumer and identify go-to-market opportunities.
Awareness of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids - DHA and EPA - may not be as widespread as expected; as Shai Karlinksi, vice president sales and marketing at Anlit, points out, people may know the term 'omega-3' but have less knowledge of their benefits or dietary sources. As global fish consumption isn't high enough to ensure a high omega-3 index level (a global health concern as omega-3 deficiency is associated with several chronic diseases), consumers need to be encouraged to turn to supplements and Shai believes it's far easier to tempt people into enjoying a functional food than a more traditional pill.
Think of a pink food: salmon, shrimp, red trout… flamingos. Astaxanthin is a deep red, fat-soluble pigment widely found through nature, giving these fish (and birds) their 'gorgeous' hue. Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant and recent clinical trials have highlighted its potential in sports nutrition to enhance performance. Dr Mark Miller uses salmon, stressed algae and flamingos to explain almost everything there is to know about astaxanthin.
SupplySide West, the largest gathering of the global health and nutrition industry, give a glimpse of what’s hot and what’s to come in new health product launches. In this podcast, Karen Butler, contact marketing manager, Informa’s health and nutrition network, disuses the trends she saw at the show’s education session, show floor and meetings. With Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Butler covers: • The blending of product categories: should a probiotic chocolate bar be in the digestive health aisle, with the candy or in the supplement section? • The growing space for adaptogens and Ayurvedic herbs in products addressed at stress management and beyond • The greater international presence—and focus—among U.S. health and nutrition companies. Join us in April 2018 for SupplySide East in Secaucus, New Jersey, to visit with more ingredient suppliers leading the way on these product trends.
Supplements are following foods and beverages with their attention on “clean” labels, but in some ways, supplements are leading the transparent trend. In this podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, supplements and beauty, INSIDER, covers the clean label and other supplement trends highlighted at SupplySide West on Sept. 25 to 29 in Las Vegas. With Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Adams covers: • How the Amazon/Whole Foods Market partnership affects the supplement industry and how it impacts the clean label trend • The smart brands that are cutting through the massive amount of data to create smart, effective personalized nutrition products • Innovations in protein, which has proven to be the most dynamic of the macronutrients. Join us in April 2018 for SupplySide East in Secaucus, New Jersey, to meet with the supplement ingredient suppliers that are helping finished brands lead these trends.
Sports nutrition products are becoming more mindful, mainstream and self-regulated, according to Steve Myers, managing editor, sports nutrition, INSIDER, who divulges the active nutrition trends he saw at SupplySide West on Sept. 25 to 29 in Las Vegas. With Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, he covers: • The growing trend of sports nutrition ingredients and products targeted to improve the cognitive function of athletes • The shift of the sports nutrition market from elite athletes to active consumers, and how brands navigate the shifting demographics • The lack of FDA/DEA enforcement in the sports nutrition industry, and how state governments, private litigation and self-regulatory efforts are filling the void. Join us in April 2018 for SupplySide East in Secaucus, New Jersey, to meet with sports nutrition ingredient suppliers that can help brands navigate and capitalize on these trends.
The supplement industry faces a lot of legal hurdles that come from federal agencies, state attorney generals, plaintiff lawyers and self-regulatory efforts. In this Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Josh Long, INSIDER legal and regulatory editor discusses the hot regulatory topics that were showcased at SupplySide West on Sept. 25 to 29 in Las Vegas. With Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Long covers: • FDA’s efforts to create an old dietary ingredient (ODI) list to help supplement brands decided if they must submit a new dietary ingredient (NDI) notification for their products. • The effects of the new U.S. president Donald Trump on the supplement industry. • The battle that’s brewing between cannabidiol (CBD) supplement/food brands and a pharmaceutical company that’s likely to obtain drug status for CBD. Join us in April 2018 for SupplySide East in Secaucus, New Jersey, for further discussions of how these regulatory trends affect the supplement industry.
It’s no surprise “clean label” is the major trend on the 2017 food and beverage scene, but the innovation lies in clean label’s emerging ties to trust and transparency, and the investment brands are making to ensure their products align with consumer values. In this podcast, Judie Bizzozero, editor, Food Insider Journal, discusses the food and beverage trends she saw during the 2017 SupplySide West trade show, held Sept. 25 to 29 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER. Along with clean label, they cover: • New plant-based ingredient offerings seen on the SupplySide West Expo Hall from companies such as Glanbia, Kerry, Dupont, Cargill, Tate & Lyle and more • The growing trend of fermented beverages (kombucha, anyone?) • Sugar reduction and weight management ingredient offering that allow for tasty and indulgent products. Join us in April 2018 for SupplySide East in Secaucus, New Jersey, to meet with more ingredient suppliers serving the food and beverage industries.
Many high-level movements are affecting the global health and nutrition industry, and several of these were highlighted at the 2017 SupplySide West trade show, held Sept. 25 to 29 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. In this podcast, Heather Granato, vice president of content for Informa’s discusses the trends she saw at the industry’s largest gathering with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER. They cover: • The growing opportunity for digestive health ingredients, such as probiotics, fiber and botanicals, that are finding applications across a wide range of health conditions • Consumer desire for more personalized nutrition products, and how smart brands are creating those products (and winning awards!) • Supply chain transparency’s move from a buzzword to real practices, such as ingredient suppliers partnering with the farmers who grow their materials. Join us in April 2018 for SupplySide East in Secaucus, New Jersey.
We are in the midst of a food renaissance. Food is no longer just an aspect of our individual lives; it’s increasingly a central part of our culture. It’s being used to help define who we are and the values important to us. The signs are everywhere—from celebrity chefs to bloggers to popular media covering all things food, all day, all night. For a brand to succeed in today’s fickle food culture, it needs to go beyond just being on the shopping list.
Consumers traditionally believe the skincare industry is all about topical products: the myriad creams, lotions and potions that saturate the market. Attitudes have since changed, as Golan Raz, head of global health division at Lycored explains, and millennials in particular have shifted their focus from how old they look to how old they feel, realising healthy, younger-looking skin starts from the inside out.
Bioavailability is defined as 'the proportion of a substance which enters the circulation when introduced into the body and so is able to have an active effect'. For dietary supplements, bioavailability 'generally designates simply the quantity or fraction of the ingested dose that is absorbed' - there has been much discussion recently over whether krill or fish oil is more bioavailable, but Dr Nils Hoem, chief scientist at Aker BioMarine, wants us to stop talking about bioavailability at all!
Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Ronak Sheth, chief customer officer at Label Insight, discuss consumer interest in “natural,” along with the evolution of the term. This podcast interview was recorded at the Natural Product Association’s The Big Natural conference in Las Vegas in June.
Free-from is among the latest food trends hitting the shelves, and whether you call it clean label, natural or wholesome, consumer demand for 'naturalness' is driving the free-from market and causing food and beverage makers to rethink how they formulate these products to appeal to health-conscious consumers. Hamish Renton, managing director of HRA Food and Drink, has positive predictions for the free from market, citing innovation and consumer demand for the sector's strong growth.
Vitafoods Asia 2017 was a melting pot of innovation, education and excitement about the nutraceutical and functional food industry in Southeast Asia. After an action-packed event, Heather Granato, VP Content for the Global Health and Nutrition Network, and Richard Nicholls, Marketing Coordinator, joined us to discuss the most interesting and exciting news from Singapore - What Was Hot at Vitafoods Asia 2017?
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Brooke Bright, senior data strategy manager at Label Insight, discuss how demands for clean labels and transparency are impacting dietary supplements.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Kurt Schneider, president at Tech Bridge West, discuss critical considerations when entering a contract manufacturing agreement from the perspective of both the brand owner and the manufacturer.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Jeff Hilton, co-founder and partner of BrandHive, review market conditions driving demand for personalized nutrition.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Jennifer Cooper, vice president of research and development (R&D) and quality at TCC, discuss how research is driving the advancement and relevancy of personalized nutrition.
In this SupplySide West edition of the Healthy INSIDER Podcast, Rachel Adams, managing editor, and Justin Prochnow, Esq., shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, discuss key considerations to ensure contract manufacturing agreements are sufficient for optimal business partnerships.
For any company relying on a global supply chain, the risks facing suppliers on a local level can have a domino effect for businesses , resulting in having to raise prices or reputational damage. Yoni Glickman, president of natural product solutions at Frutarom, joins us to discuss agricultural cooperation, variety cultivation and carbon footprint minimisation before considering whether a sustainable supply should be required for food and supplement manufacturers.
Brought to you live from Vitafoods Asia 2017, VP Content Heather Granato spoke with Dr Stephen Burns about his session on the Life Stages Theatre: physical activity and dietary interactions for the prevention of lifestyle diseases. Dr Burns argues small combined changes to diet and physical activity can lead to substantial reductions in risk factors for lifestyle diseases, covering functional foods, plant sterols and omega-3 fatty acids.
As consumers age, they want many of the same things as younger consumers, such as a healthy weight, personalized nutrition and healthy skin, but they are also more focused on certain categories of health, such as cognition and mobility (joint health). Listen in as Kara Nielsen, sales and engagement manager USA, Innova Market Insights, discusses the product categories and ingredients that consumers are looking for in their healthy aging products. With Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, Nielsen covers: • How different age groups view healthy aging, and how they view the products that help them age in a healthful manner • The role personalized nutrition pays in the current anti-aging product offerings • Emerging ingredients that will take the anti-aging market by storm
Nielsen will be speaking at SupplySide Central at SupplySide West, covering “Emerging Healthy Aging Trends” on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 1 to 1:30 p.m., and “Active Nutrition: Sports Meets Healthful Lifestyles” on Thursday, Sept. 28, 1 to 1:30 p.m. Visit supplysideshow.com for more information and to get registered.
In this podcast interview, Sean Murphy—founder and publisher of Hemp Business Journal—reports on sales of hemp-based CBD products and discusses related trends, including characteristics associated with successful companies in the burgeoning CBD market.
Recent survey results have shown supplement intake for European women peaked during pregnancy and very early motherhood, with 87 percent of respondents reporting consumption of vitamin supplements or fortified products while pregnant, and 75 percent purchasing in the first six months post-partum. Dan Aziz, president and founder of Premama, believes there's a great market for prenatal nutrition, as expecting mothers are well aware of their increased nutritional needs, and looking for innovative solutions to popping a prenatal pill every day.
Despite the wealth of products, information and resources available for fit living, obesity and overweight are causing health issues of global proportions. In this podcast, David Foreman—a registered pharmacist, author and media personality known as “The Herbal Pharmacist”—addresses some of the often-taboo topics that need to be part of the weight management conversation.
Consumers today are more knowledgeable about health and nutrition and are looking for solid evidence backing a product's efficacy. Dr Elke de Clerck, product and business development manager for Peptan, Rousselot, believes it is the ingredient supplier's responsibility to make sure their ingredient brand not only speaks to consumers, but also informs them to make the right decision, based on the strong science behind a product's claim.
Consumers aged 50 and older want the same attributes as other generations: efficacious products with clean labels in a variety of delivery forms. But brands need to address certain needs, such products that are easier to bite and that address their changing tastes and palates. In this podcast, Lesley Stevenson, expert consultant, Healthy Marketing Team, discusses senior nutrition needs and desires with Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER. They cover: Why should brands not overlook the older generation The features and attributes seniors are looking for in their health and nutrition products What the future of products for seniors will look like as the next generation ages Stevenson will be speaking at the SupplySide West Workshop “Supporting Healthy Aging With Targeted Formulations, Product Forms” on Tuesday, September 26 at 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Visit supplysideshow.com for more information and to get registered.
Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in the nutrition and healthy ingredients are on the rise, and 2017 is expected to be a record year, according to M&A expert Joseph Downing, managing director and partner, Alantra. In this podcast, Downing and Sandy Almendarez, editor in chief, INSIDER, discuss M&A trends and implications, including • The number of M&As in the health and nutrition industry in recent years, and how the trend compares to global M&A trends • Recent transactions to take note of in the health and nutrition space, and why they are important • The average costs of health and nutrition M&As and how companies can increase the value of their businesses Downing will be speaking at the SupplySide West Panel Discussion, “Navigating the Business of the Nutraceutical Industry” on Thursday, September 28 at 9-11 a.m. Visit supplysideshow.com for more information and to get registered.
The free-from foods market is booming in many parts of the world, widening into new categories and increasingly moving into the mainstream with introductions from major manufacturers and brands. Considerable effort has gone into developing gluten-free and lactose-free products globally in recent years, but at the same time, the whole free-from category is widening to include broader definitions such as dairy-, additive-, preservative- and GMO-free. Peter Wennstrom and Dr Lesley Stevenson from Healthy Marketing Team join us to offer an introduction to the global free-from market and predict the future of this booming industry.
Rescuing memory requires improving brain function. Fortunately, many next-generation memory ingredients offer substantial promise backed by clinical research. In this podcast, Parris Kidd, Ph.D., chief science officer and director of quality for BrainMD Health, examines brain health ingredients spanning ancient Ayurveda to modern-day, shedding light on concepts such as brain probiotics and neurobiotics.
The Asia-Pacific probiotics market is the largest globally, accounting for an estimated share of 38 percent in 2016. Part of this can be attributed to increasing awareness of the benefits of probiotics, and George Paraskevakos, executive director of the International Probiotics Association, joins us to discuss the consumer trends, popular products and innovation shaping the probiotics market in Asia.