11.01.08
NSF: Raising the Quality Bar for Supplements & Functional Foods
NSF International, Ann Arbor, MI, is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that develops quality standards for a wide range of product categories, including dietary supplements and functional foods. Its 60-year history speaks to its expertise and leadership in the education of the public and industry about the benefits of third-party assessment services, while at the same time representing the interests of all stakeholders in developing quality standards for their businesses.
In the case of dietary supplements, noted Ed Wyszumiala, general manager, Dietary Supplement Programs, NSF entered the market because industry came to them. “A lot of the time industry will come to NSF. In 2000, for example, dietary supplement companies started approaching NSF to create and draft standards for the industry. The goal was for us was to come together with the various stakeholders to devise a palatable standard that would also promote public health.”
In response, NSF formed a working group comprised of trade associations, key regulatory officials and stakeholders. The result was a draft standard that became the first and only national standard for dietary supplements. Adding an extra layer of credibility, these standards are verified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), a decentralized entity that oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in multiple sectors. Mr. Wyszumiala explained, “If you don’t have a body like ANSI certifying the guidelines there is a lot of confusion on the consumer level.”
So how do the new GMPs change NSF’s game plan? “We were already working in a lot of the areas FDA was working. In fact, 95% of our standard was similar to the GMPs that came out from FDA,” Mr. Wyszumiala said.
Still, he believes there is a lot of work to do in getting companies to be compliant. “It will be a rough road ahead and it will get worse before it gets better,” he commented. “But if you want to have a healthy tree, you have to trim the branches.”
The encouraging thing, Mr. Wyszumiala points out, is that most companies are willing to do the work. “A lot of it comes down to education and that is something we can provide,” he said. “There is a lot of good science minds in this industry—it’s just a matter of them getting pulled in the right direction.”
The most recent endeavor for NSF exists in the realm of sports nutrition. Its Certified for Sport Program adds another dimension to its already existing standards for dietary supplements. In this particular context, the rules are more stringent when it comes to banned substances. The goal of the program, according to Mr. Wyszumiala, is to rebuild confidence within the athletic community when it comes to supplements. Certified supplements, he said, offer players, coaches and trainers the assurance of additional testing for banned substances so athletes can take them with confidence. In speaking with a group of golfers recently, Mr. Wyszumiala said one of them brought up a great point: supplements should be certified just as golf balls are certified before distribution to tour players.
Another growing area for NSF is China. “We are really beefing up our services in China and trying to become an accredited standards agency just as we are in the U.S.,” he said. “So far we have an office in Shanghai with about two dozen people to monitor the Chinese market and business is really picking up.”
Last but not least, NSF recently launched its Beverage Quality Program. The goal is to inspect beverage label claims for accuracy, “especially since FDA has been very vague in this area. If a beverage contains a Supplements Facts panel you would assume these beverages have to meet supplement GMPs. In light of this, some companies may have to upgrade their facilities based on what they decide to call their product.” Mr. Wyszumiala said. To remedy this confusion between what is considered a supplement or a beverage, NSF intends to work with regulators to provide more clarity around this issue.—R.W.
NSF International
789 N. Dixboro Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Telephone: 734-913-5706
Fax: 734-827-6138
E-mail: ewyszumiala@nsf.org
Website: www.nsf.org