New Hope Network Hemp and Cannabinoid Policy
Please Be Aware:
The New Hope Network Standards Program has adopted this policy for products that contain hemp and hemp-derived cannabinoids to help ensure the industry complies with existing regulations and to encourage best practices that help ensure quality and transparency. Acceptance as an exhibitor and approval for exhibition of any cannabinoid product at a Natural Products Expo is NOT a determination that the product complies with all local, state, and federal laws all of which may vary. Neither is it, nor is it intended to be, legal advice; exhibitors should always seek the advice of a qualified attorney.
New and Returning Exhibitors - Pre-Approval Required:
All products that contain cannabinoids, at any level (other than hemp seeds and hemp seed oils which have been designated GRAS), require pre-approval before they may be exhibited at any Natural Products Expo event.
Returning Exhibitors - Pre-Approval is not required for:
Products made from hemp seed and hemp seed oil.
Products made from hemp fiber that are not intended for ingestion or oral use, topical application or inhalation.
Review Criteria:
When reviewing cannabinoid products, our highest priorities are safety, transparency, truthfulness, reliability and responsibility.
- Products cannot contain more than 0.3% THC
- Disease claims and all claims explicitly rejected by FDA, e.g. chronic anxiety, are prohibited
- All statements must be substantiated
- Transparency, clarity, and truthfulness in labeling are required
- Responsibility and care for vulnerable populations are required
- Vapes and vape accessories are prohibited
- Devices, including patches, are required to have appropriate FDA clearance (510k, PMA, registration and/or listing)
- Exhibit review and approval is on a product-by-product basis
INGREDIENTS NOT ALLOWED IN PRODUCTS DISPLAYED OR SAMPLED AT NATURAL PRODUCTS EXPOS:
FOODS
Artificial sweeteners
Artificial colors (FD&C Colors)
Artificial flavors
High-fructose corn syrup
MSG
Trans fat / Hydrogenated oils and/or partially hydrogenated oils
Synthetic constituents of the hemp plant
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
Artificial sweeteners
Artificial colors (FD&C Colors)
Artificial flavors
Synthetic constituents of the hemp plant
COSMETICS
Artificial colors (nail polish may be exception)
Triclosan
Complete list of Ingredient Standards (enforced) and Guidelines (not enforced) is below.
INTRODUCTION: To assure the quality of the Natural Products Expo brand and to help preserve the integrity and meaning of the term "NATURAL," New Hope Network has introduced a phased-in process that will not allow specific artificial ingredients in foods at Natural Products Expos.
This effort represents our attempt to be responsive to the many comments, suggestions and concerns from industry manufacturers, distributors, brokers and retailers.
These Ingredient Standards & Guidelines are updated and refined over time, and exhibitors are notified about the Ingredient Standards prior to contracting exhibit space.
*Literature may not contain prohibited products (ex. vapes, artificial prohibited ingredients, etc.).
COMMENTS: Please submit all questions or comments to standards@newhope.com.
STANDARDS: These are enforceable for all Expo exhibitors.
GUIDELINES: These are recommendations not currently enforced.
SECTION II.H of the New Hope Network Natural Products Expo/Engredea Exhibitor Standards:
II.H: Product Ingredients / Not Allowed / Artificial Sweeteners / Standard:
The following sweeteners are synthetic, do not occur in nature, and will not be allowed as ingredients in food products for exhibit on the Natural Products Expo tradeshow floor:
INGREDIENT |
E NUMBER* |
FUNCTION |
WHY IS IT ARTIFICIAL? |
Ace-K |
E950 |
High-intensity artificial sweetener |
Short for acesulfame potassium |
Acesulfame potassium |
E950 |
High-intensity artificial sweetener |
The potassium salt of a derivative of acetoacetic acid |
Aspartame |
E951 |
High-intensity artificial sweetener |
A dipeptide made by esterification of aspartic acid and phenylalanine |
Equal® |
E951 |
High-intensity artificial sweetener |
See aspartame |
GMO Sugar |
|
Sweetener |
Sugar made from genetically modified sugar beets |
High-fructose corn syrup |
|
Sweetener |
|
Neotame |
|
High-intensity artificial sweetener |
Chemical derivative of the peptides, aspartic acid and phenylalanine |
Nutrasweet® |
E951 |
High-intensity artificial sweetener |
See aspartame |
Saccharin |
E954 |
High-intensity artificial sweetener |
Saccharin is produced from purified, manufactured methyl anthranilate |
Splenda® |
E955 |
High-intensity artificial sweetener |
See sucralose |
Sucralose |
E955 |
High-intensity artificial sweetener |
Made from sugar by the chemical addition of chlorine atoms |
Sunett® |
E950 |
High-intensity artificial sweetener |
See acesulfame potassium |
Sweet 'N Low® |
E954 |
High-intensity artificial sweetener |
See saccharin |
*E numbers are used in the European Union (EU) to designate additives that have been reviewed for safety and allowed in foods. They appear on the label of products sold in the EU.
II.I: Product Ingredients / Artificial Sweeteners / Foods / Guidelines
Most polyol sweeteners (with the exception of erythritol) occur in nature, but in commercial practice they are obtained from hydrogenation of simple sugars to create the finished form. Therefore, these sweeteners, which are often used in low-carbohydrate, low-calorie or restricted-calorie products, should not be labeled as "natural." There are few low-calorie, natural alternatives to these sweeteners. They may be described as chemically identical to the product that occurs in nature, but it is misleading to label them as "natural," since hydrogenation is not a natural process.
INGREDIENT |
E NUMBER |
FUNCTION |
WHY IS IT ARTIFICIAL? |
Isomalt |
E954 |
Polyol sweetener |
Made from hydrogenation |
Hydrolyzed starch hydrolysates |
|
Polyol sweetener |
Made from hydrogenation |
Lactitol |
E966 |
Polyol sweetener |
Made from hydrogenation |
Mannitol |
E421 |
Polyol sweetener |
Made from hydrogenation |
Maltitol |
E965 |
Polyol sweetener |
Made from hydrogenation |
Sorbitol |
E420 |
Polyol sweetener |
Made from hydrogenation |
Xylitol |
E967 |
Polyol sweetener |
Made from hydrogenation |
There following natural sweeteners are available and compatible with natural foods and the natural and organic retail channel.
Acceptable natural sweeteners include:
Barley malt syrup
Beet sugar†
Cane sugar (vegetarians have concerns about sugar filtered through bone char)
Dextrose*†
Erythritol (polyol sweetener made from fermentation; available as certified organic)
Evaporated cane juice
Fructose*†
Fruit pastes (raisin, date)
Glucose*†
Honey
Juice concentrates
Lactose
Lo han kuo (monk fruit)
Maltodextrins*†
Maltose
Maple syrup
Molasses
Rice syrup
Stevia and steviosides
Sucanat®
Thaumatin
Turbinado sugar
Xylitol - with documentation ingredient is naturally sourced
*Corn-based sweeteners may be derived from genetically modified corn seed.
†Manufacturers should use non-GMO sources for these sweeteners.
II.J: Product Ingredients / Artificial Colorings / Foods / Standards
Natural foods should not contain any artificial colors. The FDA regulates the use of Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) colors that are intensely colored compounds for use in foods. These are considered certifiable colors.
INGREDIENT |
E Number |
FUNCTION |
WHY IS IT ARTIFICIAL? |
FD&C Blue 1 |
E133 |
Coloring |
Synthetic pigment |
FD&C Blue 2 |
E132 |
Coloring |
Synthetic pigment |
FD&C Green 3 |
E143 |
Coloring |
Synthetic pigment |
FD&C Red 40 |
E129 |
Coloring |
Synthetic pigment |
FD&C Red 3 |
E127 |
Coloring |
Synthetic pigment |
FD&C Yellow 5 |
E102 |
Coloring |
Synthetic pigment |
FD&C Yellow 6 |
E110 |
Coloring |
Synthetic pigment |
II.J.A - Product Ingredients / Artificial Colorings / Standard
Some non-certifiable colors, even though derived from natural sources, such as caramels and synthetic beta-carotene, should not be used in foods labeled as "all natural". Some caramel colorings are processed with sulfite and/or ammonia and should not be used in foods labeled as "all natural". Oleoresins may use synthetic solvents for their production.
INGREDIENT |
E Number |
FUNCTION |
WHY IS IT ARTIFICIAL? |
Beta-apo-8'-carotenal |
E160e |
Coloring |
Synthetic |
Beta carotene—natural identical |
E160a |
Coloring |
Synthetic—food should not be labeled as "all-natural" |
Caramel coloring, Classes II, III and IV |
E150c,d |
Coloring |
Processed with ammonia and/or sulfites |
Cochineal/carmine |
E120 |
Coloring |
Derived from the bodies of insects—should not be used in vegetarian products |
Paprika oleoresin |
|
Coloring |
Synthetic solvents used in production |
Acceptable natural colorings include:
Annatto extract
Aronia (chokeberry) juice
Beet juice
Beta-carotene from carrots
Black currant juice
Carrot juice, purple/black
Elderberry juice
Grape juice
Grape skin extract
Lycopene
Paprika
Purple potato juice
Red radish juice
Red cabbage juice
Riboflavin
Saffron
Turmeric
II.K: Product Ingredients / Artificial Flavors and Flavor Enhancers / Standard
Natural foods should not contain any artificial flavorings. Some non-U.S. products may contain "nature-identical" flavorings, which are considered artificial in the United States. These products should not be labeled as natural. Allowed flavorings must be labeled as natural and must have certification from the flavor manufacturer that the flavoring is natural. It is recommended that the specification be reviewed and that all non-flavoring materials also should be natural, as the U.S. FDA will certify flavorings as natural which contain synthetic non-flavoring ingredients.
INGREDIENT |
E Number |
FUNCTION |
WHY IS IT ARTIFICIAL? |
Artificial flavorings |
|
Flavoring |
Synthetic |
Vanillin |
|
Flavoring |
Synthetic |
Glutamates, including monosodium glutamate (MSG) |
E620-E625 |
Flavor enhancer |
Synthetic, added rather than naturally occurring |
Flavorings
The use of any artificial flavorings in natural foods is not allowed for the trade show. Any products labeled with artificial flavoring or natural and artificial flavoring are unacceptable. Also, many imported products may contain "nature-identical" flavorings, which are considered artificial in the United States. These are also not allowed.
Allowed flavorings must be labeled as natural and must have certification from the flavor manufacturer that the flavoring is natural. It is recommended that the specification be reviewed and that all non-flavoring materials also should be natural as the FDA will certify flavorings as natural which contain synthetic non-flavoring ingredients.
II.K.A: Product Ingredients / Artificial Flavors and Flavor Enhancers / Standard
INGREDIENT |
E Number |
FUNCTION |
WHY IS IT ARTIFICIAL? |
Natural and artificial flavorings |
|
Flavoring |
Synthetic |
Nature Identical flavorings |
|
Flavoring |
Synthetic in the US |
Inosinates |
E630-E633 |
Flavor enhancer |
Synthetic |
Guanylates |
E626-E629 |
Flavor enhancer |
Synthetic |
Acceptable natural flavorings and flavor enhancers include:
Natural Flavors with no artificial non-flavoring ingredients
Yeast (non-GMO)
Salt
II.L: Product Ingredients / Artificial Preservatives / Foods / Guidelines
Natural foods should not contain any artificial preservatives. Microbiological preservatives are used in foods for microbiological stability and for color and flavor stability, such as preventing rancidity. Stability may be achieved using a combination of heat, low pH, lower moisture (or water activity) or other means.
INGREDIENT |
E Number |
FUNCTION |
WHY IS IT ARTIFICIAL? |
Ascorbic acid |
E300-E302 |
Preservative |
Synthetic as available commercially; should not label products all-natural |
Benzoates |
E210-E213 |
Preservative |
Synthetic |
BHA/BHT |
E320/E321 |
Preservative |
Synthetic |
EDTA |
E385 |
Preservative |
Synthetic |
Malic acid |
E296 |
Preservative |
Should use L-version made from fermentation |
Nitrates/nitrites |
E250, E251 |
Preservative |
Synthetic |
Proprionates |
E280-E283 |
Preservative |
Synthetic |
Propyl gallate |
E310 |
Preservative |
Synthetic |
Sorbates |
E200-E203 |
Preservative |
Synthetic |
Sulfites |
E220-E226 |
Preservative |
Synthetic |
TBHQ |
E319 |
Preservative |
Synthetic |
Acceptable natural preservatives include:
Acetates
Celery juice
Citrates
Citric acid
Mixed tocopherols
Natamycin
Nisin
II.M: Product Ingredients / Artificial Gums, Thickeners and Emulsifiers / Foods / Guidelines
Natural foods should not contain any artificial gums, thickeners or emulsifiers. Gums and thickeners are used in foods to provide texture, increase viscosity and to help with dispersion and stability of ingredients within a food matrix. There are many chemically modified gums available that should not be used in natural foods. Emulsifiers are designed to help stability of oil/water matrices, such as in salad dressings. Many are derived from synthetic ingredients or sources.
INGREDIENT |
E Number |
FUNCTION |
WHY IS IT ARTIFICIAL? |
Modified celluloses—ethyl, methyl, carboxy menthyl, hydroxypropyl, etc |
E461-E468 |
Thickener |
Synthetic |
Bleached lecithin |
E322 |
Emulsifier |
Synthetic |
Modified alginates—propyl, methyl, etc |
E405 |
Thickener |
Synthetic |
Polysorbates (or sorbitan esters) |
E432-E436; E491-E495 |
Emulsifier |
Synthetic |
Mono- and di-glycerides and their esters, such as DATEM |
E471-E472f |
Emulsifier |
Synthetic as they are derived from hydrogenated oils |
Esters of fatty acids |
E473-E479b |
Emulsifier |
Synthetic |
Modified starches—corn, tapioca, etc. |
E1413-E1451 |
Thickener |
Synthetic |
Steroyl lacylates |
E481-E482 |
Emulsifer |
Synthetic |
Acceptable natural gums and thickeners include:
Agar
Arrowroot
Carrageenan
Cellulose (unmodified)
Gellan gum
Guar gum
Gum Arabic
Konjac flour
Kudzu
Pectin
Pectins
Lecithin (unbleached)
Locust bean gum
Native starches—corn, tapioca, potato, wheat
Salts of alginic acid (sodium, potassium, calcium alginate)
Tragacanth
Xanthan gum
II.N: Product Ingredients / Artificial Bread Ingredients and Dough Conditioners / Foods / Guidelines
Breads for the natural products industry should be made with unbleached flours and preferably with whole grain flours, wherever possible. In addition, there are many ingredients used in the baking industry that are synthetic and should not be used in natural products.
INGREDIENT |
E Number |
FUNCTION |
WHY IS IT ARTIFICIAL? |
Bleached flour |
|
Ingredient |
Bleaching |
Potassium bromate |
|
Dough conditioner |
Synthetic |
Potassium iodate |
|
Dough conditioner |
Synthetic |
Azodicarbonamide |
E927b |
Dough conditioner |
Synthetic |
Acceptable natural bread ingredients include:
Ascorbic acid (should not be labeled as all natural as commercial ascorbic acid is synthetic)
Enzymes (should be non-GMO)
Unbleached flours
II.O: Product Ingredients / Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) / Foods / Standard
Foods containing ingredients made with genetically modified organisms may not be labeled as “natural” or “all natural.”
II.P: Product Ingredients / Other Ingredients / Standard
The following ingredients will not be allowed in foods or dietary supplements:
- Trans Fats/Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs): Foods containing trans fats from hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils
II.Q: Product Ingredients / Cannabidiol (CBD) / Standard
Cannabidiol (CBD) dietary supplements and foods with added CBD are not allowed at Natural Products Expos.