On Oct. 15, 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) became law in the United States. This was a huge deal for consumers who desired access to botanicals and other specialty ingredients to supplement their diets. It was also a boon to the supplement industry, as it gave supplements a legal place in the U.S. market.
INSIDER has been celebrating the 20th anniversary of DSHEA for all of 2014 with our Celebrating 20 years of DSHEA Immersion Center. And later this week, at SupplySide West, we’re debuting the INSIDER documentary, “DSHEA: The Rest of the Story." View it on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 3 to 4 p.m. on the SupplySide Central Stage, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
However, INSIDER isn’t the only one celebrating the birthday month of DSHEA. The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) is celebrating the 20th anniversary of DSHEA by recognizing champions behind the legislative accomplishment, highlighting of significant milestones, and explaining how the law has served the industry and consumers.
CRN is supporting social media “throwback Thursdays" on Oct. 2, 9, 16 and 23. On Oct. 2’s first DSEHA Throwback Thursday, CRN’s Twitter handles, @CRN_Supplements and @WannaBeWell, showed a picture of Bill Clinton’s signature as it appeared on DSHEA, and its Facebook account, Life…Supplemented, linked to a scanned copy of the law, courtesy of the Government Printing Office.
Also on the social media front, CRN will hold a “#DSHEA20 Tweet Chat for Consumers: The Myths & Facts of DSHEA," which will help educate consumers on the law that regulates supplements. Plus, CRN promises to post educational videos featuring CRN leadership and more to celebrate DSHEA this month.
The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), which sets quality standards for supplements, is also honoring DSHEA by exploring the evolution of the dietary supplement industry from 1820 to the present in a three-part series on its USP Quality Matters Blog.
USP’s blogs include:
- “A Return to Our Roots" by USP chief science officer Dr. Srini Srinivasan, who wrote about USP’s history setting quality standards for dietary supplements, vitamins and minerals in the years before the passage of DSHEA.
- “International Regulators Respond to a New & Growing Industry" by Dr. Gabriel Giancaspro, vice president of foods, dietary supplements and herbal medicines, who explored how the dietary supplement industry continues to evolve both in the United States and abroad in the years since DSHEA was enacted.
- “Consumers Choose Quality Supplements with the Help of the USP Verified Mark" by John Atwater, senior director of USP verification program, who explained how the USP Verified Mark indicates a product surpasses current supplement regulations.
How are you celebrating DSHEA this year and month? I’d love to hear about it. Drop me a line or stop me as you see me at SupplySide West this week.