SupplySide West to tackle mushrooms in combined presentation/happy hour event

Interest in functional mushrooms has been soaring. Activity at recent Informa Markets trade shows demonstrates that many companies have launched lines featuring mushroom ingredients or are considering doing so.

At SupplySide West in Las Vegas, Informa Markets is presenting an in-depth presentation on this category that will arm attendees with the information needed to understand the opportunities and comprehend the challenges of these ingredients.

The session will kick off with a presentation by Roy Upton, DipAyu, founder and executive director of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Upton will provide a brief overview of the rich history of scientific discovery when it comes to the health benefits of these ingredients. The history of use of these ingredients stretches back to ancient times.

Next up are representatives of two companies – Julie Daoust, Ph.D., chief science officer of M2 Ingredients and Bill Chioffi, chief operating officer of Nammex. Their presentations will take attendees through differing approaches to the supply of these ingredients.

Chief among those differences is the question of whether mushroom ingredients should be labeled to make clear whether the finished product is made from the fruiting bodies of the organisms alone or whether the ingredient includes material from the mycelium only or contains parts of both.

Fungi consist of both fruiting bodies and mycelium. The mycelium is the threadlike network that grows into and permeates the material being digested, be it wood, organic material in the soil or other feedstock. The fruiting bodies are the mushroom caps that protrude above the ground or grow from the material being digested, such as tree trunks.

The panel discussion that follows the presentations will delve into this topic. By the end of the session attendees will have a comprehensive understanding of the issues surrounding this potential contentious topic, as well as hearing from the panel of experts, which will include Holly Johnson, Ph.D., chief science officer of the American Herbal Products Association, on other areas of interest within the category.

New this year is a 60-minute happy hour/networking session immediately following the on-stage discussion and presentations. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask more in-depth questions and make connections for future business opportunities.The session takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 1 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. in Islander Ballroom C in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.