Supplement industry news and updates – February 2024

FDA doubled foreign facility inspections in 2023 – article

FDA inspections of firms outside the U.S. for compliance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) regulations related to dietary supplement products grew to 40 in FY23, up from 17 the year before. The agency issued 60% of those facilities a Form 483 for observations of alleged violations. See how that compares to domestic inspections here.

SPINS product intelligence attribute spotlight: Prebiotic fibers – analysis

Gut health has been a rising consumer trend for years now, and prebiotic fibers (or just prebiotics) have been a rising star in products related to this movement for nearly a decade. But many questions remain: What are prebiotics? Are they fibers? Are they also probiotic? This analysis works through some of these concepts and explains why retailers should expect to continue seeing prebiotics hit shelves. Read more here.

Where’s the berberine? Not in these bottles, reveal NOW tests – article

None of the 33 products the supplement manufacturer tested met label claims for berberine content and almost a third contained almost none at all. The company’s VP of global sales and marketing was not surprised that the “Nature’s Ozempic” TikTok craze led to subpar products on the market, and probably more to come. Read more here.

2023 supplement trend recap and 2024 opportunities – article

It’s time to target the consumers who don’t even know what they’re missing. The 27% of adults who don’t take supplements regularly may be the industry’s biggest challenge — but they’re also its biggest opportunity. Learn why some consumers may shrug off supplements and how the industry can reach them here.

Mostly FDA ‘good days’ for new dietary ingredients in FY23 – article

FDA acknowledged 6% of premarket notifications for NDIs this year, the third year in a row that over half received “good day” letters. Premarket notifications are crucial, says the agency, because they represent FDA’s only chance to review the safety of ingredients in supplements before they are marketed to consumers. Read more here.

Planning for fish oil supply chain challenges – video

Swap algae for anchovies? Find out about other sources of omega-3 from the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) as Peru’s supply of anchovy oil — the main source used in supplements sold in the U.S. — remains sparse. Learn how the organization is helping brands manage risk here.