JANUARY 7, 2026
WASHINGTON D.C. — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association representing the dietary supplement and functional food industry, today applauded the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for recognizing the role dietary supplements can play in helping Americans meet nutrient needs in the newly released 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
CRN praised the agencies for acknowledging that while nutrient-dense foods should remain the foundation of nutrition guidance, dietary supplements can serve as a practical and science-based tool to help address persistent nutrient shortfalls across the population.
“For many Americans, meeting nutrient recommendations through food alone is challenging—sometimes due to limited food sources, increased nutritional needs during certain life stages, or other real-world barriers,” said Steve Mister, President & CEO of CRN. “By appropriately recognizing dietary supplements as a way to help fill nutrient gaps, the agencies have taken an important step toward improving public health and ensuring the Dietary Guidelines are both evidence-based and practical.”
Evidence consistently shows that Americans fall short of many key nutrients, including vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and dietary fiber. Supplement use has been shown to help reduce the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy. CRN has long underscored the importance of addressing life-stage-specific nutrient needs in the Dietary Guidelines, including infancy, adolescence, pregnancy and lactation, and older adulthood. Consistent with CRN’s public comments, the new guidelines maintain that supplementation should be considered in these special populations in consultation with health care professionals.
“We support the agencies’ goal of improving the health of American families,” Mister added. “Recommendations for the appropriate use of dietary supplements strengthen the Dietary Guidelines and help consumers and healthcare providers make informed decisions. CRN has long urged consumers to have meaningful discussions with their healthcare providers about their supplement regimens, and we are delighted that the new Dietary Guidelines underscore the importance of these conversations.”
CRN looks forward to continued engagement with federal policymakers to advance nutrition policies that support nutrient adequacy, chronic disease prevention, and overall public health.
About the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 180+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Follow us on X @CRN_Supplements and LinkedIn.