On July 21, 2025, the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation hosted a timely and important conversation on the future of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA)—a landmark law that continues to shape the supplement industry and protect consumer access to health and wellness products.
The panel—featuring Kyle Sampson (King & Spalding LLP), Steve Mister (Council for Responsible Nutrition), Scott Bass (Sidley Austin LLP), and Matt Sandgren (Orrin G. Hatch Foundation)—explored how DSHEA must adapt to new challenges while maintaining the law’s core purpose: balancing innovation, consumer access, safety, and responsible regulation.
A key focus of the discussion was the current controversy surrounding Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN), a compound promoted for potential anti-aging benefits. The FDA has determined that NMN is not a legal dietary supplement under Section 201(ff)(3)(B) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by DSHEA. NMN has been:
- It has been authorized for investigation as a new drug
- Substantial clinical investigations have begun
- The existence of those investigations has been made public
Despite this, special interest groups are pressuring the FDA to reverse its decision—a move that panelists warned would violate federal law, jeopardize public safety, reward illegal marketing practices, and undermine incentives for drug research and development. A lawsuit challenging the FDA’s position has been filed and is currently stayed pending the agency’s response to a related citizen petition.
Watch the Full Recording
Missed the live event? Watch the full conversation below.
Why the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation?
The Orrin G. Hatch Foundation is uniquely positioned to lead this conversation. Senator Orrin Hatch was the principal author and Senate sponsor of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA)—a historic piece of bipartisan legislation that created a distinct regulatory framework for dietary supplements.
Senator Hatch believed strongly in the right of Americans to access safe, effective, and affordable nutritional products without burdensome government interference. DSHEA protected consumer freedom while establishing safeguards to ensure quality and safety, and created a clear distinction between supplements and pharmaceutical drugs—enabling growth and innovation across both industries.
Throughout his decades of service, Senator Hatch was a tireless advocate for personal health freedoms, medical research, and the responsible advancement of wellness and nutrition. Today, the Hatch Foundation carries forward that legacy by convening experts, shaping policy discourse, and defending the principles on which DSHEA was built.