Inside Sandy Gooch’s fight to transform the supplement industry

Sandy Gooch, co-founder of Mrs. Gooch’s Natural Food Markets, recalls the key role her team and customers played in the effort to pass the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). Recognizing the need for action, Sandy partnered with attorney Loren Israelsen, who reviewed product labels, identified regulatory challenges and shared these concerns with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), helping to lay the groundwork for DSHEA. 

Mrs. Gooch’s staff educated employees, providers and customers about the importance of DSHEA. Through in-store conversations and their monthly newsletter, Mrs. Gooch’s Gazette, they detailed the regulatory challenges facing supplements and encouraged customers to take action. This grassroots effort sent countless letters to lawmakers, urging support for the bill. Sandy highlights how this movement demonstrates the power of education and collaboration in ensuring health and safety in the natural products industry, showcasing what just one chain of seven supermarkets was able to achieve.

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. 

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