USA
Federal funding measure falls short on hemp/CBD
Despite advocacy by lawmakers and trade organizations, an interim federal government funding bill did not include language that would lead to the creation of a legal pathway for hemp/CBD products
The 1,773-page bill does, however, earmark $2 million in funding for FDA to conduct market surveillance, issuance of an enforcement discretion policy and other activities relating to hemp/CBD products.
It also directs the agency to within 60 days of the enactment of the funding measure to report to Congress on its progress in the regulation of these products. The agency is also directed to conduct a sampling study to determine the extent of adulteration in the marketplace for hemp/CBD products. That study is stipulated to be finished within 180 days.
Loren Israelsen, president of the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) called the omission of hemp/CBD regulatory language a disappointment.
“What this means is we DO NOT have a resolution toward a regulatory pathway, and we believe that aggressive efforts on the part of FDA and those arguing against a consumer market for HEC (hemp extracts/CBD) have been both effective and convincing in sowing doubt in the minds of Congressional staff and members,” Israelsen said in a memo to UNPA members.
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USA
DuPont-IFF merger creates $45 billion nutrition & flavor business
The mega-merger between International Flavors & Fragrances Inc (IFF) and DuPont nutrition & biosciences unit will create a global leader in high-value ingredients and solutions in the global food and beverage, home and personal care and health and wellness markets.
The combined estimated revenue for 2019 of the two businesses is more than $11 billion and EBITDA of $2.6 billion. The new company leadership combines portfolios across multiple key markets including nutrition, probiotics, enzymes, taste, texture, scent, cultures, and soy proteins.
“The combination of IFF and N&B is a pivotal moment in our journey to lead our industry as an invaluable innovation and creative partner for our customers. Together, we will create a leading ingredients and solutions provider with a broader set of capabilities to meet our customers’ evolving needs,” said Andreas Fibig, IFF Chairman and CEO, who will also serve as Chairman and CEO of the new company.
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Europe-Asia
High dose EPA may improve attention in ADHD children
Consuming high doses of EPA may improve attention in children with ADHA, suggests a study by scientists from King’s College London and China Medical University in Taiwan.
Data from the 12-week, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial indicated that 1.2 grams per day of EPA led to greater improvement in focused attention at the continuous performance test (CPT), compared to placebo.
Moreover, children with the lowest EPA levels at the start of the study experienced improvements in their level of vigilance, compared to placebo.
On the other hand, EPA supplementation did not improve other areas, including the ability to control impulsiveness.
The findings were published in Translational Psychiatry.
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