Breaking the binary: How DSHEA redefined the supplement industry

In this video, Loren Israelsen, founder of the United Natural Products Alliance, reflects on the transformative impact of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). Before DSHEA, the supplement industry was stuck in a binary system governed by food and drug regulations, leaving no space for dietary supplements. DSHEA changed this by creating a framework that defined dietary ingredients, protecting products like botanicals, fish oil and probiotics that were at risk of being excluded. 

Loren describes DSHEA as the greatest driver of growth in the history of the supplement industry but notes that challenges remain. From emerging technologies like AI and genomics to the continued tension between tradition and science, the industry must navigate its future thoughtfully. Watch the interview to learn how DSHEA laid the foundation for innovation and why the supplement industry’s next steps will shape its global evolution. 

Watch the full documentary The DSHEA Effect.  

Hear from the team behind The DSHEA Effect in this episode of The Natural List.  

Presented by New Hope Network and Nutrition Business Journal.  
Underwritten by Ingredion, Country Life, Alkemist Labs, Now Foods and Specialty Nutrition Consulting.