Council for Responsible Nutrition

CRN President & CEO Steven Mister recently discussed how a 2013 DNA scandal shook the #dietarysupplement and #functionalfood industry, and how vindication had finally come 11 years later in the latest episode of “Supplement Source.” Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eE9ubiKR

Breaking news: An amicus brief has been filed in support of CRN's age-restriction lawsuit in New York. Read the brief here: https://lnkd.in/dSuZMkUb

Disagreement without data is just disagreement The recent article published by the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), titled "Do Supplements Contribute to Eating Disorders?" authored by Katie Suleta critiques Dr. Susan Hewlings for allegedly not using scientific evidence to support her statements about dietary supplements. However, it is both ironic and hypocritical for Suleta to make such an accusation, considering that Suleta doesn’t provide a scintilla of evidence supporting a direct causal link between supplement use and the onset of eating disorders. Disagreement without data is just disagreement. In contrast, the dietary supplement industry, represented by organizations such as CRN, routinely cites comprehensive studies and reviews (as did Dr. Hewlings) that highlight the benefits and safety of supplements when used appropriately. For instance, you need only go to PubMed to discover numerous studies documenting the positive effects of supplements in filling nutritional gaps, supporting overall health, and managing specific health conditions. Furthermore, it is particularly unfortunate that Suleta, who authored a piece titled "My colleagues expect me to have a doctorate. But credentials aren’t everything" about respecting someone with credentials, fails to show respect for Dr. Hewlings, who has already obtained the very credentials Suleta herself is aspiring toward. Suleta writes: “Credentials aren’t everything, and everyone deserves respect—regardless of their degree.” Where then is the esteem for Dr. Hewlings? Surely respect in academia isn’t earned by trashing the work of more accomplished academics. And particularly where the ad hominin attacks are factually wrong, gratuitous, and deceitful. Additionally, Suleta's piece in Popular Science and The Conversation, "3 Marketing Myths the Supplement Industry Wants You to Swallow," demonstrates her ongoing bias against the industry and suggests she found an agenda and an easy target. Yes, academics have agendas too. Her repeated negative portrayal of the industry indicates a predisposition to criticize without presenting balanced or scientifically robust arguments. And while it is crucial to address any potential risks associated with dietary supplements, it is equally important to present arguments that are scientifically substantiated and balanced. The irony of Suleta accusing Dr. Hewlings of lacking scientific rigor, while failing to provide empirical evidence for her own claims, undermines the credibility of her argument. At the end of the day, policymakers should have evidence to justify proposed restrictions on consumers, and despite the strawmen tossed out by Ms. Suleta, there is still no data that draws a causal relationship between dietary supplement use and eating disorders. We suggest Ms. Suleta engage in a more nuanced and evidence-based discussion to truly understand the critical role of dietary supplements in public health. 

With regard to Claudia Adrien 's story in NutraIngredients (https://lnkd.in/giidvDMM) about our lawsuit in New York... Respectfully, the legal analysts interviewed for this story fail to appreciate key aspects of the case. They overlook the fact that commercial speech including truthful health information about dietary supplements — whether conveyed through labeling or advertising (and the New York law covers both) — is protected by the First Amendment. Moreover, the attorneys miss the arguments in our brief that even if the restriction itself (here an age limit on sales) is “conduct,” a law still implicates the First Amendment if the trigger for the restriction is speech (in this case a weight loss or muscle building claim in labeling or advertising).  Lastly, they overlook a long line of Supreme Court doctrine that espouses that a complete prohibition of speech is not required; any burden or restriction that chills speech can implicate the First Amendment’s protections.   Essentially, they miss that the law compels companies to alter marketing strategies, impacting their ability to communicate truthfully and lawfully about product benefits. As we argue in the brief, that violates the First Amendment’s protections on even commercial speech.    

👉 Do you know a female leader at a CRN member company who has: ✅ Increased women's presence in leadership roles… ✅ Broken barriers and championed diversity… ✅ Advocated for women's empowerment… ✅ Made significant contributions to women's health research… ✅ Elevated the dietary supplement industry with her work? 🏆 Nominate them for the first-ever CRN / Radicle Science Trailblazing Women Award! Learn more about the award and how to submit nominations here: https://lnkd.in/eVQ5Bppk

⚖ CRN today announced that it has filed its appellate brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit challenging a New York federal district court’s denial of CRN’s request for a preliminary injunction in its lawsuit against the recent New York State law that imposes age restrictions on the sale of certain #dietarysupplements. 🗣 “Our decision to pursue this appeal underscores our commitment to protecting the rights of our members and the consumers they serve,” said CRN President & CEO Steven Mister. “The New York law is a misguided approach that will not address the complex issue of eating disorders but will instead hinder access to truthful information and products that support health and wellness.” 👉 Learn more in our recent press release: https://lnkd.in/e3ENSnAN

Innovators in the #dietarysupplement and #functionalfood space, submit your proposal for consideration to be among our exclusive “Innovation Exchange” lineup this fall as part of our CONVERGENCE '24 gathering in Salt Lake City. https://lnkd.in/eszWyt7r ✅ Fast-paced, efficient format for sharing research discoveries, ingredients, and technologies  ✅ Three-hour session with six 25-minute presentations on the “Innovation Exchange” stage  ✅ Tabletop booths for one-on-one discussions Our steering committee members—Don Bird, of Jamieson Wellness Inc., Michael Hartman PhD of Plexus Worldwide, Michael H. of Nestlé Health Science, Susan Hazels Mitmesser, PhD, of Pharmavite and Robert "Rob" Sinnott of USANA Health Sciences—are looking forward to selecting the top entries for this exciting new event.

CRN's Haiuyen Nguyen had a wonderful time yesterday hearing perspectives on nutrition science and greeting CRN members at the American Society for Nutrition's (ASN) #Nutrition2024 conference. Great to see so many CRN members sharing their knowledge and sponsoring sessions that help advance nutrition and the #dietarysupplement industry forward. Alpa V. Shah, MS, RDN | Rachael Patusco DCN, RDN | Karen E. Todd, MBA, RD | Eri Nakazaki | Danielle Citrolo, PharmD | Andrew Shao, Ph.D. | Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie, PhD | Sonia Hartunian-Sowa | Eric Ciappio, PhD, RD | Deshanie Rai, PhD, FACN | Abbott | Amway | OmniActive Health Technologies | Unilever

🏆 CRN's Haiuyen Nguyen is attending the American Society for Nutrition's (ASN) Nutrition 2024 conference, where she got to present this year's recipients of the CRN-supported Mary Swartz Rose Awards. ✅ The Senior Investigator Award honoree went to Colin Kay, Ph.D., University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, whose work has resulted in the creation of the MetaboFood® database, which includes chemical and metabolome data to support precision nutrition and health initiatives. ✅ The Young Investigator Award honoree went to Rafaela (Ha-fa-ella) G. Feresin, PhD, Georgia State University, who is currently studying the antihypertensive properties of blackberry and raspberry polyphenols in a hypertension animal model. 👉 Learn more about the Mary Swartz Rose Awards here: https://lnkd.in/eQQYFv2D

🏆 Join us in recognizing leaders in the #dietarysupplement and #functionalfoods industry with the first-ever CRN / Radicle Science Trailblazing Women Award! 👉 Nominees should be bold women working at CRN member companies, who have: ✅ Increased women's presence in leadership roles ✅ Broken barriers and championed diversity ✅ Advocated for women's empowerment ✅ Made significant contributions to women's health research ✅ Elevated the dietary supplement industry with her work 🗳 Learn more about the award and how to submit nominations here: https://lnkd.in/eVQ5Bppk