NSF Acquires INA, Forms Alliance with NNFA

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--NSF International (www.nsf.org)made two major announcements in mid-November. First, it acquired the Institutefor Nutraceutical Advancement (INA) from Industrial Laboratories. Theacquisition price was not revealed. NSF will continue INA's work in methoddevelopment and validation through NSF's Dietary Supplements Program. Accordingto NSF, the INA (www.inanetwork.com)Methods Validation Program (MVP) will be an integral part of NSF certification.

"INA's recognized expertise in methods development and validation willhelp us enhance credibility for botanical ingredient suppliers whose productsare tested and certified through the NSF Dietary Supplements CertificationProgram," said Ray Jaglowski, NSF's vice president of new businessdevelopment. Mark Lange, Ph.D., director of INA's MVP, will continue his workwith the program and NSF for the time being.

According to John Collar, president of Industrial Laboratories, the companyconcluded that the mission of INA had a better strategic fit with NSF."Since the program was founded four years ago, it has evolved into a biggerplace," Collar said. "NSF has experience with standards andcertification, and we're excited to work with them as this project movesforward."

In other news affecting the Dietary Supplements Program, NSF announced astrategic alliance with the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) to useNNFA's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) materials as part of its certificationprogram. NSF will also recognize NNFA GMP audits as meeting its requirements.The NSF program requires formulation reviews, plant audits and laboratorytesting to verify conformance to NSF Draft American National Standard173-Dietary Supplements. The standard provides methodology and evaluationcriteria for verifying and testing ingredients, and assuring GMP conformance."Combining our 57-year testing and certification experience with NNFA's GMPexpertise will enable us to offer dietary supplements manufacturers andingredient suppliers the most comprehensive certification programavailable," Jaglowski said.

NNFA (www.nnfa.org) and NSF made theannouncement during a media presentation in Washington on Nov. 15. During theevent, NNFA also released results of a recent study that found 65 percent ofAmericans aged 50 or older consider dietary supplements "essential"for people their age. The study questioned 736 adults on their behaviors,perceptions and attitudes about dietary supplements.

While 70 percent of older Americans take vitamins, minerals or herbs, only 40percent have received dietary supplement recommendations from their doctors."The report that older Americans expect to discuss the use of dietarysupplements with health care practitioners is a wake-up call for the medicalcommunity," said David Seckman, NNFA's executive director and chiefexecutive officer. "Physicians should make inquiries about what supplementsolder Americans take to prevent drug interactions and ensure they're meetingnutritional needs."