WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association representing the dietary supplement and functional food industry, today announced a significant policy win in California with the enactment of S.B. 862. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 1, 2025, the legislation clarifies that dietary supplements are not subject to the state’s baby food testing and labeling requirements established under A.B. 899.
A.B. 899, passed in October 2023, requires manufacturers of baby food to test products for toxic elements and publicly disclose the results. While the law defined “baby food” as packaged foods intended for infants and children under two years of age, earlier this year the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) expanded its interpretation to include dietary supplements marketed for young children.
CRN immediately engaged with California lawmakers, including Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, the author of A.B. 899, to correct this misinterpretation and confirm that supplements were never intended to fall within the law’s scope. Through sustained advocacy, CRN secured clarifying language in S.B. 862, which explicitly excludes dietary supplements from the definition of “baby food.”
“California policymakers recognized what we have said all along: dietary supplements are distinct from baby food and should not be subject to duplicative and inappropriate testing requirements,” said Steve Mister, President & CEO, CRN. “This clarification ensures that consumers continue to have access to safe, beneficial supplement products for their families without unnecessary regulatory confusion.”
CRN emphasized that it will continue monitoring CDPH’s implementation of A.B. 899 and S.B. 862 to ensure that dietary supplements remain outside the law’s requirements and that member companies are not subject to unintended enforcement.
“This outcome demonstrates the value of proactive, persistent advocacy on behalf of the dietary supplement industry,” Mister added. “By engaging directly with lawmakers and regulators, CRN protected both consumers and responsible companies from regulatory overreach.”
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About 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.