Natural Products Insider: Then and now – Ephedra

All it will take for critics of the dietary supplement industry to accelerate their plans to undo DSHEA is another crisis like ephedra, writes Jon Benninger, vice president and market leader at Informa Markets.

Jon Benninger

October 27, 2022

4 Min Read
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This series looks back at the stories we were covering in Natural Products Insider 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 years ago this month. In addition to providing some interesting history, I explore why these stories are still relevant today.

Then (October 2002): On Oct. 8, 2002, a Senate subcommittee chaired by Sen. Richard Durbin (R-Illinois) held a hearing titled “Ephedra: Who is Protecting American Consumers?” The hearing included testimony from representatives of FDA, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), American Medical Association (AMA), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Center for Drug Free Sport Inc. and Metabolife.

The hearing began with testimony from the father of a 16-year-old who died from a heart attack after allegedly taking an ephedra-containing supplement called Yellow Jackets. He said, “What I would like to see happen is for these products to be regulated so that a 16-year-old boy or girl cannot go into a gas station or convenience store and purchase them. If these companies have a problem with restricting access to these products so we don’t have to bury another child, they are irresponsible and don’t deserve to be in business.”

The AMA spokesperson testified that because dietary supplements are regulated as foods, “they are assumed to be safe and are subject to limited regulatory oversight. Therefore, it is imperative that dietary supplement products have essentially no risks, i.e., they must be extremely safe and provide some benefits for consumers. AMA believes that dietary supplement products containing ephedrine alkaloids fail to satisfy this requirement for a high benefit-to-risk ratio.”

During the hearing, Sen. Durbin said, “Today, I am again asking the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) and FDA to take meaningful action to address the public health threat posed by the dietary supplement industry and to use their authority to suspend sales of the product in the United States until we can ensure that it is safe.”

Now: Ephedra and ephedrine alkaloids in supplements are prohibited, thanks to a U.S. ban enacted by FDA in February 2004. Prior to the ban, a steady stream of products sold as dietary supplements contained higher and higher levels of ephedrine alkaloids. Some were marketed for weight loss, some for energy or performance, and some as an alternative to illicit drugs. Some products contained high levels of synthetic ephedrine alkaloids, not from the plant called ephedra.

Responsible members of the dietary supplement industry and the botanical industry did not support this behavior, and they encouraged regulators to step in. As American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) President Michael McGuffin said following the 2002 hearing, “If FDA does not enforce the law, the entire class of dietary supplements suffers, and our message of responsible marketing is lost.”

In fact, that is what ultimately happened. The ban on ephedra did not focus on products with synthetic ephedrine alkaloids, or products with excessive levels of ephedrine alkaloids, or products making outrageous claims. The ban covered all ephedra-containing products. Remember, ephedra is a plant that has been used medicinally for millennia. In this case, bad behavior by some companies combined with FDA’s unwillingness to implement and enforce the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) led to the eventual ban of all ephedra products. Although DSHEA became law in 1994, this was the first time FDA had used its authority under DSHEA to remove a product from the market. And the current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) final rule required by DSHEA would still not be published by FDA until 2007, 13 years after DSHEA became law. Note that FDA’s final guidance for the new dietary ingredient notification requirements of DSHEA are still not published today, nearly 30 years after DSHEA became law.

We continue to see the same opponents of consumer access to dietary supplements push their narrative. From Sen. Durbin to the AMA to some people within FDA, there remains a commitment to undo DSHEA and treat dietary supplements like prescription or over-the-counter drugs rather than as foods.

All it will take to accelerate their plans is another ephedra. The attempt to portray the white mulberry leaf situation as the next “dangerous herb” is evidence of this. Look for more of this in the coming months. Sen. Durbin and the DSHEA adversaries are searching for the ephedra 2.0 example they can use to achieve their goal.

Editor's note: At SupplySide West, on Nov. 3 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the SupplySide Stage, experts will discuss, "The white mulberry feeding frenzy: Warning for the supplement industry about opposition." For those who aren't attending the show in person, SupplySide Network 365 members also can watch the event online for free. 

About the Author

Jon Benninger

Informa

Jon Benninger is vice president and market leader at Informa Markets. He focuses on the strategic direction and growth of the SupplySide portfolio, which includes SupplySide West, SupplySide East, Natural Products Insider and Food & Beverage Insider. He coordinates with leaders of the other Informa health and nutrition events and brands, including Natural Products Expo West, Vitafoods, Food ingredients, Nutrition Capital Network, Nutrition Business Journal and MarketReady Insights.

Benninger joined the company in 1995 as the founding editor of the company’s first trade magazine for the nutrition industry. In his free time, Jon loves to cook for family and friends; if you are ever in Phoenix and want to enjoy a meal, all you must do is choose a country, region, or city, and Jon will cook it for you.

Jon Benninger

VP & Market Leader – SupplySide

Summary

  • Helped launch the SupplySide business in 1995.

  • Active in industry associations and initiatives and leads strategic partnerships for SupplySide.

  • Cares deeply about supply chain, quality, and innovation issues that drive industry growth and success.

Awards

  • ABC Mark Blumenthal Community Builder Award, 2018

  • Vitamin Angels Grateful Acknowledgement for Supporting Global Children’s Health, 2018

  • AHPA Visionary Award, 2014

  • NPA Industry Champion Award, 2014

  • CRN Crystal Apple Award for Industry Leadership, 2010

Current Volunteer Positions

  • Board Chair and Board Trustee, Sonoran University of Health Sciences (formerly Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine)

  • Founder and Board Representative, Nutrition Advisory Council, Sonoran University of Health Sciences

  • Director’s Circle, American Botanical Council (ABC)

  • Communications Committee, American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)

  • Communications & Media Outreach Committee, Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)

  • Company Council, International Association of Dietary Supplement Associations (IADSA)

  • Mentor, Women In Nutraceuticals

Past Volunteer Positions

  • President, Dietary Supplement Education Alliance, 2006 – 2008

  • Board of Directors, Dietary Supplement Education Alliance, 2001 – 2006

  • Board of Directors, Citizens for Health, 1999 – 2001

Speaker Credentials

  • "Trends in the US Market for Healthy and Functional Foods and Ingredients, Hi-Japan, Tokyo, 2019

  • “Trends Overview for Japanese Delegation to Natural Products Expo West” Anaheim, CA, 2019

  • “China: Impossible to Ignore” UNPA Member Retreat, Charleston SC, 2019

  • “Trends Overview for Japanese Delegation to Natural Products Expo West” Anaheim, CA, 2018

  • “Nutrition Industry Overview” US-China Business Exchange Dinner, Anaheim CA, 2018

  • “Industry Outlook: Market & Key Factors” National Enzyme Annual Meeting, Branson, MO, 2017

  • “State of the Human Dietary Supplement Industry” NASC Annual Conference, Austin, TX, 2016

  • “Consumer Concerns of Safety & Efficacy in Supplements” UNPA Member Retreat, Hawaii, 2016

  • “Nutrition, Health and Wellness Trends” Cactus IFT Meeting, Phoenix AZ, 2013

  • “Key Industry Events & Media in the US Market” World Ayurveda Congress, Bangalore, India, 2010

  • “Trends in the Dietary Supplement Industry” Pacific Technology Exchange, Los Angeles, 2010

  • “Succeeding in the US Market for Healthy Products” 4th Nutraceutical Summit, Mumbai, India, 2008

  • “Selling to the US Health Food Industry” Keynote Address, ANIPRON, Mexico City, 2007

  • 1997 – present: moderator/host at SupplySide events

  • 1997 – present: Frequent host/moderator of industry conference sessions, panel discussions & town halls

Resides in

  • Phoenix, AZ

Education

  • Arizona State University, B.A Journalism, 1991

Contact

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