OCTOBER 10, 2024 | SALT LAKE CITY – SEE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS HERE
Good morning, everyone! It’s great to see so many familiar faces. The last time I saw many of you, we were looking out at the Pacific Ocean. This year we are surrounded by the stunning Wasatch Range.
Much like the mountains that surround Salt Lake, I’m happy to report that our industry is also standing tall. These mountains were carved over time into the amazing peaks we see today as a result of external pressures which caused the earth to first collide and then rise up to form mountains. In much the same way, our industry has been shaped by external forces such as regulatory scrutiny, media misinformation, legislative restrictions, and so many more—forces that continue to challenge us every day.
Still, despite the pressure and change, our products have become a staple in the lives of millions of Americans. It’s no coincidence that our 2024 Consumer Survey shows that 91 percent of supplement users believe that supplements are essential to maintaining their health.
This faith in our industry and our products didn’t happen overnight. It certainly wasn’t cultivated by mainstream media, or the medical community. It isn’t even because of the thousands of influencers posting about our products.
Consumers believe in the safety, efficacy, and benefits of supplements primarily because our companies continue to responsibly produce and market high-quality products that enrich the health and wellness of the people who take them.
I am proud to have had the privilege to lead this organization for the past two years, which provided me the opportunity to get to know member companies and industry leaders in a meaningful way. And being chair has given me the chance to see up close the impact CRN has on the success of our industry. Our success is often without fanfare or media hype. But it is real and it is powerful, and it is possible because of the support of CRN member companies.
There are three areas I would like to discuss where I believe we have incredible opportunities to come together and impact the industry and the people we serve in ways that are more difficult to do as individual companies.
First, “Expanding Access to Health & Nutrition;” Second, “Advocacy” and how we can collectively advocate for a fair regulatory framework; and Third, “Self Regulation” and how we voluntarily demonstrate for consumers and our industry at large, actions which validate accountability and trustworthiness.
I’ll start with Access. Our Strategic Vision includes the belief that improved health and wellness is attainable through better nutrition, health preservation, and disease prevention for all people. But believing in the nutritional benefits of supplements is meaningless to those who don’t have access to them. I want to reiterate the importance of continuing the Access Initiative efforts introduced by Barry Ritz when he issued the Chairman’s Challenge a few years ago. The Access Initiative through the CRN Foundation is, in my opinion, one of the most important efforts this association can continue.
Our latest CRN Consumer Survey highlights a concerning reality: nearly 27% of non-supplement users report that they don’t use supplements because they are simply too expensive for their budgets. While supplements have become an integral part of the wellness routines of many households, financial barriers are leaving underprivileged communities behind. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey consistently reports that supplement use is associated with higher income levels. Those who are wealthier can prioritize and afford supplements, while those with lower incomes cannot - despite being at greater nutritional risk.
Nutritional gaps continue in many communities across the US, intensified by food deserts, poor diets, and the prevalence of highly processed foods. According to the USDA, millions of Americans live in areas where access to fresh, healthy food is scarce, forcing people to rely on convenience stores and fast food for their meals. This leads to serious deficiencies in essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, D, calcium, magnesium, and iron, all of which are critical for long-term health. It is no coincidence that many of these communities are also the ones most affected by chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
But our products can help. Supplements can provide critical nutrients for individuals who may not have access to fresh, nutritious foods.
For this reason, we must continue advocating for policy changes and program expansions that make supplements more accessible and affordable, such as integrating supplements into SNAP, WIC, and Meals on Wheels programs, and of course continuing our efforts to have supplements included as covered products in FSA/HSA spending accounts.
But pursuing legislative and regulatory solutions is not our only option. We can also continue to partner with non-profit organizations, to further develop ways to not only get our products to underserved populations, but also to educate so that people are armed with information to help them to make choices that will improve their overall health and wellness. If we can combine affordability and accessibility with educational efforts, we have the potential to make a real difference.
I have seen this first-hand. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit two of the clinics which are affiliated with The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, the organization that we have partnered with for our Access Initiative. One of the clinics that I visited was near my home in Southern California, and the other is here in Utah, just outside of Salt Lake City. What I took away is that there is a real need and that we as an industry have the tools and resources available to make a difference.
I will share more about the Access Initiative shortly, but for now I’d like to shift gears and talk about the concept of “access” more broadly. Because of our collective membership with CRN, we are able to advocate not just for the interests of the industry, but for the rights of all consumers to continue to enjoy access to our products. Unfortunately, it’s often the regulatory climate itself that denies or restricts access.
Since we met last year in California, the need for more structured and sophisticated advocacy became necessary when New York passed a law imposing age restrictions on supplements offered to consumers to support their weight management and fitness goals. The asserted purpose of the law is to address the serious problem of teenage eating disorders and body dysmorphia. We can all agree that addressing this terrible problem is important. However, the New York law fails in every respect to accomplish the stated goal.
There is simply no causal connection between dietary supplement usage and teenage eating disorders – no more than there is a causal connection between teenage eating disorders and body weight scales, or diet sodas, or foods labeled as low calorie, or even fitness and calorie tracking apps.
While a teenager suffering from an eating disorder or body dysmorphia may use any or of all of these safe products, none of the products caused the disease and restricting access to them will not prevent or cure the disorder.
Stores and online vendors can lock down their checkout systems, demand ID when they drop off a package, put the products in a glass case or behind the counter, or stop selling the products entirely, but these restrictions on supplements only make it harder for all consumers to find the products they want while having zero impact on the underlying problem of teenage eating disorders.
Unfortunately, what became law in New York is just the start. CRN has been fighting these bills for several years in at least eight states with many more bills are on the horizon. In each instance, CRN has tried to engage in conversations with the bill proponents and with legislators to discuss the science – to try to work toward a reasonable compromise if possible — but the proponents of the bills are not interested in reasonable compromises and refuse to engage in discussions based on the science or facts.
As a result, the CRN Board of Directors made the difficult decision to file a lawsuit against the State of New York earlier this year. And while a similar lawsuit by another association has been dismissed, the CRN case continues to move forward — currently the appeal on our motion for a preliminary injunction is pending in the Second Circuit, and the remainder of our case is proceeding toward trial.
We can all agree that litigation is not the preferred course of action if it can be avoided, it is expensive, time-consuming and there are no guarantees regarding the outcome. If any single member company was forced to take on this legal challenge on its own, their individual legal expenses would be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The good news is that being a member of an association provides the benefit of spreading the legal expenses across the membership, so that each member company pays a much smaller portion as its share of the expenses.
You likely received in your inbox earlier this week an invoice for a portion of the legal fees identified as a Special Assessment. I want to explain what this represents. The CRN Board of Directors voted last month to take the rare, but necessary action of instituting a special assessment on all CRN Voting members to help fund the litigation. Although the assessment applies to all members, the board voted to assess the board members – their own companies - with a higher $10,000 assessment, while capping the assessment for other member companies to a maximum amount of $5,000.
As I said, this was not an easy decision, but the board determined that this is a fight worth having and that it is committed to taking a stand for the industry.
Now, I’d like to turn to the unveiling of CRN’s campaign, "Responsible. It’s Our Middle Name,” which underscores CRN's commitment to promoting responsible practices. While publicly highlighting our self-regulatory programs may be somewhat new, the commitment to self-regulation goes back to our beginnings.
As leaders in the dietary supplement industry, it is crucial we recognize the power and importance of self-regulatory initiatives. These efforts aren't just about compliance; they are about building and maintaining consumer trust. According to the 2024 CRN Consumer Survey, 74% of supplement users trust our industry. That trust is not incidental—it is earned through our commitment to transparency, safety, and quality.
Which is why CRN members continue to collectively commit to implementing industry-wide practices that put consumer safety first. Practices such as the Supplement OWL, ensuring transparency by making supplement product labels available for consumers and regulators.
And over the past two years, we have enhanced our voluntary programs with the adoption of four new guidelines.
We implemented the E-commerce voluntary guidelines which assure that consumers have access to all label information before they click the “Buy Button.”
CRN's guidelines for melatonin include new warning label statements and a requirement for child deterrent packaging of flavored forms of melatonin, helping to prevent children from accidentally taking the products.
With the popularity of gummies, new guidelines were implemented to provide clear direction for the delivery of safe and effective gummy products.
Self-regulation is an investment in the credibility and long-term success of our industry. I want to encourage everyone, even companies who are not CRN members, to review our voluntary programs and adopt them. Everyone benefits when we raise the bar. Together, through responsible leadership, we can continue to show that supplements are safe, effective and essential.
And speaking of responsible leadership in our industry, I am so excited about the new Trailblazing Woman Award by Radicle Science and CRN - another example of the spirit of collaboration and excellence within the CRN community. The award celebrates women who have made significant strides in innovation, leadership, and mentorship in the dietary supplement industry. The finalists—Rachel Brewer, Lori Lauersen, Amy Mozingo, Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie (In kru mah Ellie) , and Taneesha Routier—demonstrate how CRN members are fostering diversity and pushing the boundaries of scientific and business leadership.
I am proud of all of these women, but I am also proud of the CRN community for believing that recognition like this is important. I see it every day on LinkedIn, members of different companies cheering on and supporting their colleagues in other companies. Collaborating. Caring. And fostering our community.
And on that note, I’d like to return to the Access Initiative. Not only do we care for and support each other through our CRN network, but we also recognize how important it is to take care of other communities, especially those that are not always able to benefit from the health, wellness and nutrition our products offer.
I am thrilled to officially launch our Access Initiative for 2025. After considering several options, we have chosen to work with the National Association for Free and Charitable Clinics. NAFC is a nonprofit organization with more than 1,400 clinics across the U.S., whose mission is to tackle the issues and medical needs of underserved people. NAFC is committed to working toward health equity and addressing the racial, social and economic factors that influence people’s health.
As I mentioned earlier, I visited two of the clinics, including one located in Midvale, Utah, just outside of Salt Lake City. I was deeply moved by the work that the clinics are involved in and how they are positively impacting their communities. These clinics rely on volunteers and donations to deliver services to those who are without access to care.
And here’s the good news: they don’t need millions of dollars, although I’m sure they would love that! Our member companies can donate products to any of their clinics around the country, or even arrange to volunteer time providing educational or other support services.
On the screen behind me are instructions on how you can express your interest in supporting these clinics. Many of these facilities are in your own backyards. This is just a soft poll to gauge how CRN members might be able to pledge their participation next year. Taking the poll does not commit you to the initiative, but your feedback will help us as we plan for 2025.
In the words of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
As this is the last CRN conference I attend as Chair, I am hoping that when the time comes, you will commit to this cause – that you will support the 2025 Access Initiative so that together we can make a lasting difference in the lives of those who can benefit from our products and our collective knowledge.
Now, it is my honor to introduce to you Ariana Gordillo De Vivero, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives with NAFC and Mauricio Agramont, Executive Director of the Midvale Community Building Community clinic which is located just outside of Salt Lake City. Please, hear what they have to say, and then join me in pledging our support for 2025. Thank you.
