RDIA Spearheads Conference On Dietary Ingredients: How Much Science is Enough?

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 1999--

New Association Participates Today in FDLI Conference;

Discussions to Focus On Pressing Need for Standards to Regulate

Functional Food and Dietary Ingredients

"Consumers are taking control of their own health, and that means finding additional ways - such as functional foods and dietary supplements - to help prevent disease and promote wellness," says Robert Hoerr, M.D., Ph.D. and president of the Research-based Dietary Ingredient Association (RDIA). "The RDIA's goal is to ensure that the emerging functional food and dietary ingredient industry continues to develop responsibly. We believe that committed companies can create standards for scientific research and product claims without new government regulation."

The RDIA, based in Washington, D.C., was established in 1998 to develop and promote base-line scientific standards to ensure that functional food and dietary ingredients are safe and effective for consumers. The member companies, which cut across food, pharmaceutical and medical food industry lines, at this time include Monsanto, Cargill, Novartis, GalaGen, Menu Direct and Environ. Its membership is limited to companies and organizations that sponsor or license clinical research.

Today, RDIA is a participant, and its members primary presenters, in a Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI) seminar being held from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton Embassy Row Hotel in Washington, DC. The seminar is titled "Dietary Ingredients: How Much Science is Enough? Proving Safety and Efficacy for Functional Foods and Dietary Supplements." The day-long series of talks and panel discussions brings together prominent scientists, government officials and others involved in health-related food products. FDLI is dedicated to education about laws, regulations and policies related to pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices, food, dietary supplements, cosmetics and animal health products.

"As an increasing number of responsible companies enter the functional food and dietary supplement markets, there is an even greater need to understand and agree on product research and claims," explains Dr. Hoerr. "This seminar aids in the discussion surrounding important dietary ingredient issues, including proving structure/function claims and establishing safety guidelines. It will also assess the need for clinical testing and address the protection of this critical research investment in the market. These issues are challenging ones for even the most experienced corporate managers and regulatory personnel."

The FDLI seminar is considered an initial step by the RDIA, which is working towards the development of a third-party review system to provide an independent assessment of whether a product's safety and claimed structure/function benefits meet a "reasonable certainty" standard. "Our goal is to create a regulatory environment for functional foods, ingredients and dietary supplements that rewards companies for investing in science and assures consumers that the products they buy have met standards of safety and effectiveness," says Dr. Hoerr. "This conference lays the groundwork for further discussion."

Note to assignment editors: Dr. Hoerr will be available to answer questions.