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Weekly Digest
August 11, 2026
Volume 5, Issue 2
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What’s Inside This Week
The self-affirmed GRAS era may be coming to an end. HHS and FDA announced a proposed rule this week that would make GRAS notifications mandatory for the first time since the program launched in 1997, a change with direct consequences for how supplement companies bring new ingredients to market under DSHEA. The same announcement confirmed that a first federal definition of ultra-processed foods is on the way. Meanwhile, consolidation reshaped the industry landscape, with P&G agreeing to buy Thorne for $3.8 billion and Japan’s Kirin acquiring Jamieson Wellness for C$2.5 billion. This issue also covers a proposed class action over protein label claims, an NMN-based longevity launch from Lemme, new research on drug-supplement interaction awareness among clinicians, and product news from Herbalife and Thorne.
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FDA & Regulatory Action
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NutraIngredients • August 11, 2026
FDA’s 140-page proposed rule, published in the Federal Register this week, would convert the voluntary GRAS notification program into a mandatory system for substances added to food. The change matters enormously for supplements because GRAS self-affirmation has long served as a practical on-ramp for new dietary ingredients, and industry groups have warned that closing the pathway without a supplement carve-out could slow innovation. Noncompliance would become a factor in how FDA prioritizes ingredients for post-market review.
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FoodNavigator • August 10, 2026
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. framed the GRAS proposal and a forthcoming federal definition of ultra-processed foods as twin pillars of the Make America Healthy Again agenda. Reaction split sharply, with the Environmental Working Group calling mandatory notification a necessary first step and the Consumer Brands Association warning the UPF definition lacks scientific foundation. Supplement stakeholders will be watching whether the final rule distinguishes food additive uses from dietary ingredient pathways governed by DSHEA.
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Industry Consolidation
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CNBC • August 4, 2026
Procter & Gamble agreed to buy Thorne from L Catterton in a $3.8 billion cash deal, one of the largest supplement acquisitions on record. Thorne grew revenue from $229 million in 2022 to more than $500 million in 2025 and is on track for $650 million this year. The deal signals that the world’s biggest consumer companies see regulated dietary supplements under DSHEA as a core growth category, not a niche.
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NutraIngredients • August 6, 2026
Japan’s Kirin Holdings will make Canada’s leading supplement company a wholly owned subsidiary, calling North America the world’s largest vitamins and supplements market. The deal follows Kirin’s acquisitions of Blackmores and FANCL and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals. Global capital continues to flow into the US supplement market that DSHEA’s framework helped build.
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Litigation & Label Claims
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NutraIngredients • August 4, 2026
A proposed California class action alleges Ryse Clear Protein Drinks contain 6% to 11% less protein than the 22 grams declared on the label, based on independent laboratory testing. Compliance experts say protein-content litigation remains a favorite target for plaintiffs’ attorneys because many brands miscalculate the PDCAAS-adjusted daily value required by FDA labeling rules. The case is a reminder that accurate labeling under existing law remains the industry’s best defense of DSHEA’s framework.
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NutraIngredients • August 11, 2026
The National Advertising Division sided with Force Factor in a challenge from rival beet brand Humann, finding its “America’s #1 Best-Selling Beets Brand” claims substantiated by unit sales data and reaffirming that unit sales, not dollar sales, remain the preferred metric for such claims. NAD did recommend disclosing the unit-sales basis on the most general claim, and Force Factor agreed to comply. The decision shows industry self-regulation working alongside FDA and FTC oversight to police supplement advertising within the existing DSHEA-era framework.
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NMN & Longevity
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Nutritional Outlook • August 11, 2026
The women’s wellness brand launched Lemme NAD+, combining nicotinamide mononucleotide with resveratrol, spermidine and a skin-focused antioxidant blend. Mainstream launches like this underscore how quickly NMN has rebounded commercially since FDA reversed its drug exclusion position in September 2025 and confirmed NMN is lawful in supplements. The episode remains a cautionary tale about how the drug preclusion clause can disrupt an entire ingredient category, which is why continued vigilance on preclusion policy matters for DSHEA stakeholders.
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Science & Safety
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NutraIngredients • August 11, 2026
A survey of 311 healthcare practitioners published in Nutrients found that while 90.6% recognize the clinical relevance of herb-drug interactions, only 57.6% routinely ask patients about supplement use. Researchers called for better training and systematic screening of supplement use in clinical practice. Better practitioner education supports the safe, informed use of supplements that DSHEA envisions, without resorting to restrictive gatekeeping.
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Industry & Product News
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NutraIngredients • August 10, 2026
Herbalife is betting its financial growth on personalized nutrition with the launch of Bioniq GO, extending its partnership with the personalization platform Bioniq. The move reflects a broader shift among legacy supplement companies toward technology-driven, individualized formulations. Personalized nutrition raises fresh regulatory questions that will play out within DSHEA’s existing framework.
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NutraIngredients • August 10, 2026
Days after news of its acquisition by P&G, Thorne announced the first prenatal supplement with bioactive folate to earn NSF Certified for Sport status. Third-party certification programs like NSF’s demonstrate how voluntary quality standards raise the bar within DSHEA’s framework. Certifications of this kind give consumers and athletes verifiable assurance beyond what regulation alone requires.
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Your Voice Matters
FDA’s proposed rule to make GRAS notifications mandatory was published in the Federal Register this week and is now open for public comment. This rulemaking will shape how new ingredients reach the supplement market. Make sure the supplement community’s perspective is heard.
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© 2026 DSHEA Preservation Alliance. All rights reserved.
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