On May 15, 2015, FDA posted on their website, FDA and Marijuana: Questions and Answers, a statement that the agency considers CBD products to be excluded from the definition of "dietary supplements." On August 1, 2016, FDA updated this statement and "concluded that it is a prohibited act to introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce any food (including any animal food or feed) to which cannabidiol has been added."

Since the NHN Expo Standards are based on FDA and other regulations, Natural Products Expos have updated our exhibitor standards as follows:

Isolated or Added Cannabidiol (CBD) in dietary supplements and foods for human/pet consumption are not allowed at Natural Products Expos. The Expo standards department is requesting that exhibitors do not display, sample, highlight or promote anything as a CBD products.

Cosmetics and bulk CBD will be allowed for display until further notice. Full-Spectrum cannabinoid industrial hemp extract products may be accepted on a case-by-case 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
Cannabidiol (CBD) - isolated/added/concentrated, or labeled/marketed as the featured ingredient, includes pet products

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
Artificial sweeteners
Artificial colors
Artificial flavors
Cannabidiol (CBD) - isolated/added/concentrated, or labeled/marketed as the featured ingredient

COSMETICS
Artificial colors
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.

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 - Beginning Expo East 2016		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.

Exhibitors may have literature (sales sheets, fliers, brochures, catalogs, etc.) about food products that contain these artificial sweeteners, but those products, packaging and samples are not allowed for exhibit on the show floor.

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) - Beginning Expo East 2016	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.