I know this term has taken a rather negative connotation since, well, since the Vietnam War but – here is the situation.

The food and Drug Administration has been after the Dietary Supplement industry heavily since long before the passage of DSHEA. 

The Food and Drug Administration has taken a very laissez faire attitude concerning the enforcement of the existing regulations and then allow the media to send the message that the industry is unregulated.

The Food and Drug Administration has gone on and implemented (at the Industry’s request because someone fell asleep at the switch and did not believe in the first two dominoes above) an Adverse Event Reporting System.

The Food and Drug Administration has moved to the forefront of agricultural regulation as opposed to the USDA.  This includes presiding over and gnashing teeth concerning a series of well publicized (there’s the media again) food contaminations.  Much more moaning and gnashing of teeth by FDA.

The Food and Drug Administration has taken tremendous heat from the current and relatively new Administration and vowed to clean up the food supply.

The House of Representatives has now passed a Food Safety Bill – a piece of legislation that grants broad powers to FDA to regulate the manufacture of foods and food products.

Dietary Supplements are FOODS – according to the law. 

With these dominoes in place and the industry still in its state of abject profit stupor – when the falling of these dominoes occurs – the industry will likely not notice nor care.  The future – the long-term future – of this industry is at stake and there is precious little that the industry will do about it.  To believe otherwise is to believe as much in the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny.  The current trade association heads are not engaged – non-existent or completely of the belief that the industry needs this sort of regulation.  Without one hint of caution about wishing for things carefully – the industry is approaching a critical state.  The production of food under tighter regulation will not significantly impact the food industry.  Food is a necessity.  Paying for it is a matter of need.  Dietary Supplement expenditures are from discretionary income.  Tightening the noose around the neck of the industry will not impact either the economy significantly nor the public to a sufficiently demonstrable degree.

As the dominoes fall and regulations roll out – we will face challenges along the lines of those faced back in 1990 when the passage of NLEA started the ball rolling that ultimately led to DSHEA.  Whether this industry in its current state has the gumption to address the issue sufficiently well or the wherewithal to accomplish another DSHEA –like rally is doubtful.

Start now – before the legislation is complete.  Start today to pose to the President and the Administration that there is benefit in supplements that goes beyond the matters of discretionary income.  Pose the arguments that we can demonstrate the benefits of supplements and that we are willing to.  The overall health of America and the support of that ongoing health go directly through supplemental nutrition.  We can and should make the argument NOW not in response.  Health care reform as posed by the current Administration includes matters of PREVENTION as well as an onslaught of drugs to address maladies.  Demonstrate to the Administration that these benefits are real and they are of greater import than the newly released drug that will grow your eyelashes longer.  Do it NOW – before the dominoes fall and we are left trying to catch the last one before it falls.

I know this term has taken a rather negative connotation since, well, since the Vietnam War but – here is the situation.

The food and Drug Administration has been after the Dietary Supplement industry heavily since long before the passage of DSHEA. 

The Food and Drug Administration has taken a very laissez faire attitude concerning the enforcement of the existing regulations and then allow the media to send the message that the industry is unregulated.

The Food and Drug Administration has gone on and implemented (at the Industry’s request because someone fell asleep at the switch and did not believe in the first two dominoes above) an Adverse Event Reporting System.

The Food and Drug Administration has moved to the forefront of agricultural regulation as opposed to the USDA.  This includes presiding over and gnashing teeth concerning a series of well publicized (there’s the media again) food contaminations.  Much more moaning and gnashing of teeth by FDA.

The Food and Drug Administration has taken tremendous heat from the current and relatively new Administration and vowed to clean up the food supply.

The House of Representatives has now passed a Food Safety Bill – a piece of legislation that grants broad powers to FDA to regulate the manufacture of foods and food products.

Dietary Supplements are FOODS – according to the law. 

With these dominoes in place and the industry still in its state of abject profit stupor – when the falling of these dominoes occurs – the industry will likely not notice nor care.  The future – the long-term future – of this industry is at stake and there is precious little that the industry will do about it.  To believe otherwise is to believe as much in the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny.  The current trade association heads are not engaged – non-existent or completely of the belief that the industry needs this sort of regulation.  Without one hint of caution about wishing for things carefully – the industry is approaching a critical state.  The production of food under tighter regulation will not significantly impact the food industry.  Food is a necessity.  Paying for it is a matter of need.  Dietary Supplement expenditures are from discretionary income.  Tightening the noose around the neck of the industry will not impact either the economy significantly nor the public to a sufficiently demonstrable degree.

As the dominoes fall and regulations roll out – we will face challenges along the lines of those faced back in 1990 when the passage of NLEA started the ball rolling that ultimately led to DSHEA.  Whether this industry in its current state has the gumption to address the issue sufficiently well or the wherewithal to accomplish another DSHEA –like rally is doubtful.

Start now – before the legislation is complete.  Start today to pose to the President and the Administration that there is benefit in supplements that goes beyond the matters of discretionary income.  Pose the arguments that we can demonstrate the benefits of supplements and that we are willing to.  The overall health of America and the support of that ongoing health go directly through supplemental nutrition.  We can and should make the argument NOW not in response.  Health care reform as posed by the current Administration includes matters of PREVENTION as well as an onslaught of drugs to address maladies.  Demonstrate to the Administration that these benefits are real and they are of greater import than the newly released drug that will grow your eyelashes longer.  Do it NOW – before the dominoes fall and we are left trying to catch the last one before it falls.