AHPA Issues Guidance on Labeling of Protein

The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) issued an industry guidance for calculating the amount of protein listed on dietary supplement and food labels. The guidance was adopted by the AHPA board of trustees at the recommendation of its sports nutrition committee and creates a voluntary standard to help customers compare protein levels in various products.

Current labeling regulations set by FDA allow the amount of protein in food and supplements to be calculated as a factor of nitrogen content, but doe not define the sources of nitrogen included in the calculations. The AHPA guidance establishes that protein that is calculated must include only proteins that are chains of amino acids connected by peptide bonds and to exclude any non-protein nitrogen-containing substances from the calculations. According to AHPA, many companies use this quantification method and it encourages others to adopt the standard.

"This guidance highlights the industry's ability to identify an issue and collaborate to develop an effective solution," said AHPA president Michael McGuffin. "Members of AHPA's sports nutrition committee have committed to adopting this guidance to help ensure food and supplement labels provide consumers with comparable information needed to make informed purchasing decisions."