Adventure CPG Offers Natural Channel a Third Rail Option in National Distribution
Sign up and onboard for free at Adventure CPG’s booth at Natural Products Expo West,
March 5-7, 2025, Booth 3200, Hall C, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.
LOS ANGELES (Feb. 20, 2025) — Adventure CPG is the natural industry’s new end-to-end partner for affordable, safe and transparent national distribution of natural products and ingredients. The company offers a valuable, cost-saving alternative to the natural channel’s traditional national distribution model, with a particular focus on serving independent retailers and brands across the U.S.
“We’ve studied the natural and organic products supply chain and mapped out the most efficient cost of doing business — the trucks, the warehouses, everything logistical. At Adventure CPG, we take no margin, just a membership fee,” says company founder Torah Torres, who grew up in the natural industry, working in retail, manufacturing and distribution.
“By offering independent retailers the lowest price, no matter what size store, Adventure CPG passes the cost through so grocers can get back to what they do best — education, sampling and engaging with their customer base and community,” she says.
Unveiling the True Cost of Distribution
Adventure CPG helps unveil the true cost of distribution so that natural retailers and brands can be much more competitive. Using block-chain and state-of-the-art technology, provided by partners Eva Commerce, PopCapacity, The EASE Protocol, and others, Adventure CPG is committed to the highest standards to ensure its products are clean label, transparent and safe. “We cultivate partnerships with authentic brands in natural and healthy lifestyles, powered by a dynamic network of warehouses, trucking and shipping to reach anywhere in North America at the most efficient cost, including for dry, refrigerated and frozen goods,” says Torres.
For emerging and established natural and organic brands, Adventure CPG provides a suite of services built to minimize barriers to entry and accelerate go-to-market strategies in a faster, more affordable and transparent way. “We deliver the data metrics to help companies grow smarter, the tech that helps streamline processes, talent that helps teams evolve, and the mentorship that supports the growth and development of emerging and established brands,” she says.
‘Handle With Care’
By combining the best of technology, products, distribution and service, Adventure CPG offers independent brick and mortar as well as e-commerce retailers a universe of the cleanest products in the palm of their hands. “Our motto,” says Torres, “is ‘Handle with Care,’ meaning, we handle the entire distribution process with care, from product to people.”
Torres adds, “Adventure CPG was created to be of service to retailers and brands. It’s built out of love; not just for money. If we invest in smaller independent stores, they will make more money and help our industry grow and thrive. We’re doing this to help save the independent backbone of the natural products industry.”
Sign up and onboard for free at Adventure CPG & Eva Commerce’s collaborative booth at Natural Products Expo West, the world’s largest natural and organic products trade show, March 5-7, 2025, Booth 3200, Hall C, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.
About Adventure CPG
Offering a membership-based model that does not charge any additional margins or fees, Adventure CPG, founded by entrepreneur Torah Torres, is the natural industry’s end-to-end partner for affordable, safe and transparent national distribution of natural products and ingredients. From seed to shelf, we serve independent natural, organic and specialty retailers and emerging and established brands. We are your trusted ally, ensuring that every step of your product’s journey is safe, transparent and optimized for growth. Engage with Adventure CPG on LinkedIn and at AdventureCPG.com.
Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel: 303.807.1042
The Life in Your Years — Healthspan Trend Revitalizes Natural Products Sales
This article first appeared in the February 2025 issue of Presence Marketing’s newsletter.
By Steven Hoffman
As the saying goes, “It’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years.” Today, that sentiment is emerging as a lasting market trend, driven by a growing awareness of the concept of “healthspan” vs. “lifespan.”
Over the past few years, consumers have been shifting their focus on health and aging away from just extending the years in one’s life to enhancing the quality of life and health across a lifetime. From the growth in sales of dietary supplements, functional foods and “blue zone” diet products to “bio-hacking,” self-diagnostics and other personalized healthcare tools, the idea of active aging, or healthspan, is taking root.
And it’s not just aging baby boomers seeking to close the gap between lifespan and healthspan in order to remain energetic, vibrant, healthy and free from debilitating illness into advanced age. Recent research indicates that consumers of all ages are interested in promoting longevity and optimal health
"As consumers become drawn to the idea of healthspan, many are leaning into the idea of lowering their biological age – this can span from maintaining cellular health to ensuring they have strong muscles that can help them age gracefully and prevent falls. Aging has mostly been talked about in the context of outward appearance but consumers are now looking inward and optimizing for better functionality and performance as they age,” said the authors of the SPINS 2025 Industry Update & Trends Predictions, published in December 2024. "Lifespan has switched to healthspan focused on personal health and longevity. Chronological age vs. biological age is a new metric — and consumers want to biohack their way into feeling younger,” they added.
Healthy Aging Supplements Exponentially Outpacing Industry Growth
Natural products retailers are well positioned to capitalize on the healthy aging trend. “From lifespan to healthspan, the quest for longer, more active lives is driven by cutting-edge research, technologies, and tools, including a heightened focus on nutritional health and supplements. This year, The Vitamin Shoppe installed longevity-centric product displays in all stores to spotlight key areas of healthy aging needs, including cognitive health, cellular health, and mobility support formulas. Cognitive support products are the biggest sales driver by volume in the new longevity merchandise set, while cellular health support saw the biggest sales gains in 2023, up over 45% from the previous year,” the company said in its Vitamin Shoppe Health & Wellness Trend Report 2024, released in June 2024.
According to Nutrition Business Journal’s (NBJ) 2024 Condition Specific Report, which tracks the supplement market by ingredient category, sales channel and condition, “Brain Health hit the top of the growth chart and is expected to remain No. 1 through 2027, which is as far as we forecast,” Bill Giebler, NBJ’s Content and Insights Director, wrote in September 2024. “What’s compelling, though, is that Healthy Aging, which held the No. 9 growth position in 2020 and 2021, is expected to climb to the No. 2 growth position next year. Supplement usage always fluctuates between correction, maintenance and optimization, with the former two being the bedrock of the industry. Increasingly, though, optimization is coming into play,” he noted.
Market researchers also found that more than half of consumers are taking supplements to extend their healthspan, “and they’re not all seniors,” according to NBJ’s Longevity Report, published in September 2024. According to the study, sales of supplements for healthy aging have been exponentially outpacing overall supplement industry growth since 2022, and are projected to exceed $1 billion in 2027.
"Younger generations are just as, if not more, likely to be more concerned about the quality rather than the quantity of their later years. Millennials, in particular, are watching their aging parents struggle with debilitating health and cognitive issues and realizing they don’t want to grow old that way. Already more proactive about their health than the generations preceding them, millennials are a ripe market with a lot of runway for products that could not only help them stave off wrinkles and male-pattern baldness but also heart disease and dementia,” wrote Longevity Report author Robyn Lawrence.
“And when it comes to maximizing both healthspan and longevity, millennials are going all in on the biggest buzz in healthy aging circles these days: biohacking, or biological self-experimentation with the aim of fine-tuning both physiology and the nervous system to function optimally. NBJ found that taking supplements is the top activity or habit biohackers incorporate into their regimens, opening up a massive opportunity for supplement brands, and over half of millennials — more than any other generation — were somewhat or very interested in biohacking. More than a third of millennials said they would be more likely to buy products that are labeled and marketed using the term biohacking. For supplement brands, all of this means it’s time to take a good look at millennials,” Lawrence advised.
Surveys conducted for the Longevity Report found that consumers put supplements third only to diet and exercise when ranking the actions they’re taking to increase longevity and improve their healthspan. Sixty percent of women and 44% of men say they take supplements to extend their healthspan, NBJ found.
Blue Zone Diet and Foods for Longevity
As consumers catch on to the health risks associated with ultra processed foods, many are turning to whole foods and minimally processed options for healthy aging. “Consumers want their food to work harder for them,” Kathryn Peters, head of industry relations at SPINS, told Fi Global Insights in September 2024. “Consumers are moving away from processed foods, and back towards whole foods. Nutrient density has become a big topic. Consumers might be looking at the relative nutritional benefits of beans vs. processed white bread. They are also interested in consuming more protein and trying to stay away from added sugar. Consumers are demanding more from their products, and manufacturers need to find ways of seeking out ingredients that are minimally processed and better for their health. This is a macro-trend we are seeing, particularly in U.S., but also globally. Consumers are trying to figure out what habits they need to develop to help ensure they have a long and healthy lifespan,” Peters said.
Peters noted the healthspan trend also encompasses the beauty and self-care sectors, with consumers wanting to look and feel young and vibrant at every life stage. Peters pointed out that when it comes to beauty care, consumers prioritize premium brands and are unwilling to cut corners. “This underlines the importance and potential of this macro-trend. This mindset of wellbeing, of looking and feeling young, is here to stay,” she said.
Having studied and written extensively about the world’s “blue zones,” where individuals commonly live to be centenarians, Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow, New York Times best-selling author and Netflix host, co-founded Blue Zones Kitchen, a line of non-GMO, plant-based frozen meals. The line is now sold in more than 1,000 grocery stores, including Whole Foods Market, Wegmans and more. “Many health problems are related to eating processed foods, sugars and red meats, compounded within a healthcare system that expects doctors to talk to people in 15-minute appointments,” Buettner told attendees at Newtopia Now in August 2024. “Fortunately,” he said, “the foods that make up the diets of the world’s longest-lived people are the cheapest ingredients. They’re whole grains, beans and tubers [root vegetables].” According to Buettner, despite all his findings about the importance of exercise and social connections, the most direct healthy aging interventions for most Americans will happen in the kitchen. “I’d start with the food,” he advised.
Sharing insights about foods for longevity, Dr. Paul Savage, M.D., a specialist in toxin reduction and chronic inflammation, emphasized that a long and healthy life isn’t just about choosing the right foods — “It’s about choosing them wisely. Prioritize organic, wild-caught, and toxin-free options wherever possible to ensure you’re maximizing the health benefits and minimizing exposure to harmful substances,” he said.
The Ozempic® Effect and Healthy Aging
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) — a drug that is currently very popular in the treatment of diabetes, obesity and weight loss — reportedly may help with healthy aging by improving insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation, and promoting DNA repair. According to National Institutes of Health researchers in a study published in 2023, “GLP‐1 RAs provide proven and potential benefits that may help people experience a prolonged healthy lifespan with reduced risk of serious and chronic aging‐related conditions. Thus, the drug class is positioned as a novel pharmacotherapeutic option that in combination with non‐pharmaceutical interventions can help address the pronounced medical need associated with the aging human population.”
Natural products retailers are reporting a bump in sales of products related to the increased use of GLP-1 medications. Consumers using such medications are seeking nutritional supplement support to help enhance the GLP-1 drug’s mechanism of action, to promote optimal nutrition while on the medication, and to deal with symptoms related to the use of GLP-1, such as maintaining muscle mass during weight loss.
In a study published in June 2024 on The Vitamin Shoppe’s Top Five Health and Wellness Trends, the company reported, “Supplements including proteins, multivitamins, fiber, and probiotics are taking on new importance for patients who are taking semaglutide or tirzepatide weight-loss drugs, such as Ozempic® and Mounjaro®. A sales bump in certain supplement categories that support proper nutrition can already be seen at The Vitamin Shoppe. Ready-to-drink protein beverages, for example, were up 10% in 2023 versus the previous year, and meal replacement products tailored to weight management are up 13% in the first four months of this year. Industry-wide, protein supplements and meal replacements were up 15% for the 52 weeks ending November 5, according to SPINS data.”
“It's by far the hottest thing I've ever seen in my 20 years, and it's not a fad,” Robert Brewster, president of Ingredient by Nature, a company that markets a probiotic strain it refers to as a “longevity probiotic,” told Nutritional Outlook in November 2024. “GLP-1 is not going away.”
Healthspan: A Holistic Healthcare Approach
“While longevity is top of mind, it’s not the same as it once was. Consumers aren’t just looking to live as long as possible; they’re looking to live better longer in a new era dubbed as the ‘healthspan era.’ The forefront of healthspan is giving consumers greater control over their future wellbeing largely with nutrition as the central focus,” said SPINS Senior Director of Market Insights Scott Dicker in a special “Active Aging” edition of Whole Foods Magazine.
“One of the biggest contributions to healthspan, beyond food and beverages, is the increase in personalization around active nutrition. Technology like wearables gives consumers real-time updates on their own health data — allowing them to make health choices unique to their own personal needs. From tracking dietary deficiencies to sleep patterns, wearable technology trades ‘one-size-fits-all’ style solutions for tangible individual health plans,” Dicker added.
Newly emerging healthcare companies like Love.Life, founded by former executives of Whole Foods Market, are leading the charge in blending natural wellness with medical services geared toward optimizing one’s healthspan.
"Love.Life aims to transform the lives of millions of people," said CEO and co-founder John Mackey at the launch of Love.Life in July 2023. "The conventional medical system is fundamentally flawed, focusing on managing diseases and treating symptoms rather than prevention and finding the root cause. Studies show that 80% of chronic diseases can be prevented and reversed through diet and lifestyle changes, which are the focus of Love.Life's philosophy and are rarely included in conventional treatment plans." Through tele-health and concierge services and walk-in wellness centers, Love.Life’s stated goal is to “help people lead long, healthy, and vibrant lives by improving both lifespan and healthspan.”
XPRIZE Healthspan: A $101 Million Global Competition
The quest for healthy aging is serious business, so much so that in July 2024, teams began competing in XPRIZE Healthspan, a seven-year, $101-million global competition to revolutionize the way we approach human aging, the goal of which is to “advance proactive, accessible therapeutic modalities that reduce the risk of chronic age-related diseases, increases human health span and extends quality of life well into our later years,” say the XPRIZE organizers.
A trustee of XPRIZE Healthspan, Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., a psychologist, author of numerous books on aging, and CEO of Age Wave, has emerged as one of the world’s foremost visionaries regarding the lifestyle, marketing, healthcare, economic and workforce implications of aging. In an interview on Michael Krasny’s Grey Matter podcast in December 2023, Dychtwald said, “How many of your years are you healthy, vital, active, productive, vs. are you beginning to fall apart? We are 68th in the world when it comes to our healthspan in the U.S. What we all want is to live long and to live well and to not have the suffering and falling apart stretched out,” he said.
“Quality of life is what it is all about. We need to hold a mirror back to our own approach to healthcare and realize that we don’t take good care of our bodies, we eat a lot of junk food, two thirds of the population is overweight; we have a medical system that is all over the place, we have pharma industries and insurer industries making all kinds of money; we have a profit oriented system; we don’t even have geriatric competencies as a key variable among doctors, physical therapists, providers, etc.”
Dychtwald continued: “In a youth era, we assume that young people have hopes and dreams and you either achieve them or you don’t and then time’s up. But if you’re going to be living in a new era, a new age of aging, you might have new dreams at 70. You might have your biggest dreams beyond when you ever thought it was possible and we’ve got to open up the door to those possibilities. And so purpose is less a matter of simply hanging on for many people; for a growing number of people, it’s about discovering what their new purpose might be in their later years. Having done away with many acute and infectious diseases with things like penicillin, what are the breakthroughs we now need in healthcare so that we and our children and grandchildren can live long healthy lives?
Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing public relations, brand marketing, social media and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.
JAMBAR Named the Official Energy Bar of World-Class Ski Resort Aspen Snowmass
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (Jan. 7, 2025) – JAMBAR®, the artisan-made, whole food organic energy bar created by Jennifer Maxwell, inventor of the original PowerBar®, is pleased to announce it has entered into a three-year agreement as the official Energy Bar Affiliate Partner of Aspen Snowmass.
Founded in 1946, Aspen Snowmass comprises four internationally renowned mountain resorts that have played host to numerous international ski championships. JAMBARs will now be sold at over 18 points-of-sale across Aspen’s four mountain resorts in Colorado, including Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. Popular with skiers, snowboarders and outdoor enthusiasts, JAMBAR is being strategically placed at all mountain dining areas and highly trafficked Four Mountain Sports ski/ride rental locations at the base of each mountain.
JAMBAR will support this partnership by hosting more than 16 sampling days each season at the base of Aspen Snowmass’s four mountain resorts, working with celebrity athletes and others to generate excitement and brand awareness of its energy bars. JAMBAR is excited to interact with skiers and snowboarders visiting Aspen Snowmass each season about the value of balanced nutrition and organically produced, real food options, as JAMBAR sources the cleanest ingredients for its certified organic energy bars.
Based in California, JAMBAR makes delicious energy bars for active people, athletes and people looking for a quick satiating snack.
JAMBAR partners with more than 300 sports events each year across skiing, snowboarding, mountain/road biking, running, football, soccer and surfing. A woman-owned company, JAMBAR donates 50% of after-tax profits to organizations that support music and active living. Each bar is made with all natural, certified organic, whole food ingredients. A good source of protein and fiber (each bar contains 10g of protein), JAMBARs taste great and are easy to digest, and they contain no seed oils or processed sugars. JAMBARs are available in five unique flavors, including Chocolate Cha Cha, Malt Nut Melody, Jammin’ Jazzleberry, Musical Mango and Tropical Trio, with gluten-free and plant-based, vegan options available. The bars are perfect for a quick pick-me-up on the mountain as they don’t break, crumble, melt or freeze.
Over the course of the Affiliate Partner agreement, JAMBAR also will be featured as the official Partner of four of the biggest annual events hosted by Aspen Snowmass, including:
Summit for Life – Summit for Life is an uphill race where over 300 athletes climb the 3,627 vertical feet to the top of Aspen Mountain. Athletes can hike, skin or snowshoe to the top to promote organ, eye, and tissue donation. There are awards for the top athletes and biggest fundraisers in a number of categories, plus a post-race party at the top of the mountain.
Highlands Inferno – The Highlands Inferno race is hosted by the Aspen Highlands Ski Patrol. Aspen Highlands is a ski area in Colorado known for its steep terrain. The area includes Highland Bowl, a 270-acre powder playground with a summit of 12,392 feet. The bowl is considered a rite of passage for skiers, as it requires a 30- to 40-minute hike to reach the top.
Battle in the Bowl – Held at Aspen Highlands on the challenging terrain of the Highland Bowl, Battle of the Bowl is a competition where skiers race down a demanding course with multiple runs through the bowl's steep terrain, essentially testing their skills against each other.
Audi Power of 4 Race Series – The Audi Power of Four Race Series is a premier endurance race series utilizing the unique and varied terrain of each of Aspen Snowmass’s four mountains. Each race is designed to test the limits and skills of both elite and recreational athletes.
“JAMBAR was made for everyone, including kids and adults. Using organic whole food ingredients, produced without the use of toxic synthetic pesticides, I formulated JAMBARs to provide complete protein and optimal nutrition for weekend warriors and elite athletes alike,” says Jennifer Maxwell, food scientist, long-distance runner, mom and founder of JAMBAR. “The brand partnership with Aspen Snowmass is certainly a summit in our company’s growth.”
About JAMBAR
In 2021, Jennifer Maxwell founded JAMBAR with the goal of helping people feel good not only about the ingredients they put in their bodies, but also about the positive impact they can have on their local communities. JAMBARs are made in the U.S. and crafted in small batches in the company’s own state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in California. A woman-owned business and a mission-based “conscious CPG brand,” JAMBAR donates 50% of after-tax profits to organizations that support music and active living. JAMBARs are now available in popular sports specialty shops, leading independent natural foods and mainstream grocery stores, and online at Amazon.com and select ecommerce retailers. Learn more at www.jambar.com and follow JAMBAR on Facebook and Instagram.
Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel: 303.807.1042
Presence MarketWatch 2025
This article first appeared in the January 2025 issue of Presence Marketing’s newsletter.
By Steven Hoffman
With the Trump administration returning to the White House and the GOP controlling both the Senate and House of Representatives by narrow margins, the year 2025 is sure to bring significant change to regulatory policy, business and the economy, not just for the U.S. but also the world. To help leaders in the natural channel navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead, Presence Marketing will track and report on these issues over the course of the year ahead. Read on for a snapshot of some of the major issues that will impact the natural, organic and nutritional products market over the coming year.
Tariffs and Food Prices
President-elect Donald Trump ran on a campaign to lower grocery prices, which rose 23% since the onset of the Covid pandemic in Spring 2020. Food inflation has slowed over the past year, according to NBC News, and is now less than 2% as energy prices and supply chains have stabilized. Yet, experts caution that a combination of tariffs and mass deportations could have a further destabilizing effect on agriculture, food production and grocery prices. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs up to 60% on goods from China, and a 25% tariff on products from Mexico and Canada – all countries that are significant exporters of food and other products to the U.S. market.
In a Time Magazine interview in December 2024, Trump acknowledged it may be difficult to bring down grocery prices, saying, “Look, they got them up. I’d like to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up.” According to a study from the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Trump’s proposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada would have the biggest impact on prices for autos, vegetables, fuel, prepared food and animal products, reported CNN Business. The U.S. relies on Mexico for 89% of its imported avocados and 91% of foreign-grown tomatoes. “Higher tariffs on Mexico and Canada will … put upward pressure on U.S. food prices,” the Peterson Institute said. While it’s too soon to determine whether Trump will actually impose tariffs or if trade agreements can be reached to prevent them, “The only certainty is that new tariffs will be costly for the United States,” said the Peterson Institute study’s authors.
Food, Farm Workers and Mass Deportation
California’s Monterey County is the fourth-largest crop-producing county in the nation, with the agriculture industry there contributing $4.4 billion to the economy, and with an estimated 55,000 farm workers, including many who are undocumented. As such, the area’s growers have expressed concern that much of their workforce could disappear as a result of potential mass deportations once the Trump administration takes office. In an interview on Dec. 19, 2024, with NBC Bay Area News, Monterey County Farm Bureau CEO Norm Groot said, “It will absolutely impact food prices at the consumer level. If it impacts local and nationwide supplies, that will have a price increase.” NBC reported the farm bureau is teaming up with county officials and other stakeholders to create a task force in addressing local concerns around mass deportations, including concerns around family and child separation. "It's interesting that four years ago during the pandemic, they were essential," Groot said. "And now all of a sudden we’re looking at it from a different perspective and trying to understand how that dynamic has changed."
And it’s not just Monterey County – while it’s estimated that undocumented workers make up only 5% of the total U.S. workforce, the share of undocumented workers across the nation’s food supply chain is at least 16%, reported Successful Farming. In some industries this number is higher – the Idaho Dairymen’s Association estimated that nearly 90% of the state’s dairy workers were born outside of the U.S. According to a September 2024 study by the Peterson Institute, mass deportation could lead to a 10% increase in food prices. Between higher food prices that could come with proposed tariffs – and potential government bailouts funded by U.S. taxpayers to provide assistance to farmers affected by deportations – Americans could potentially get “double-whammied” by the higher costs and supply chain disruptions these proposed policies could bring.
RFK, FDA and the Nation’s Health
MAHA has become a rallying cry for many in the natural health and nutritional supplements industry as Congress weighs the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Kennedy, a lawyer, environmentalist and controversial health advocate, is Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a Cabinet-level position that oversees the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and others.
On one hand, RFK’s team is weighing a rewrite to the FDA’s rules overseeing food additives and taking a hard look at the harmful chemicals and pesticides used in food production. On the other hand, RFK’s top lawyer Aaron Siri stirred controversy when it was reported in December 2024 by CNN and others that he had petitioned the FDA to revoke approval of the polio vaccine. The World Health Organization declared that polio was eradicated in 2019 but warned it could re-emerge if vaccination coverage declines. According to a Dec. 4, 2024, article in Forbes, Kennedy criticized the FDA in a post on X (formerly Twitter) for “suppressing” a wide range of items, including “psychedelics, peptides, stem cells, raw milk, hyperbaric therapies, chelating compounds, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, vitamins, clean foods, sunshine, exercise, nutraceuticals, and anything else that advances human health and can’t be patented by Pharma.”
Kennedy will have an ally in Martin Makary, M.D., a surgeon, public policy researcher at Johns Hopkins University and a member of the National Academy of Medicine, and President-elect Trump’s choice to serve as FDA Commissioner. In September 2024, Makary joined RFK at a round table in Congress on health and nutrition, where he criticized how food in the U.S. is grown and processed. "We have poisoned our food supply, engineered highly addictive chemicals that we put into our food. We spray it with pesticides that kill pests. What do you think they do to our gut lining in our microbiome?" Makary said. In related news, Trump’s pick for Surgeon General, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a family medicine doctor who runs a chain of urgent care clinics in New York, was a regular Fox News contributor and is an advocate for nutritional supplements, marketing her own brand of dietary supplements called BC Boost, containing vitamins C, B-12, D and Zinc.
Brooke Rollins Nominated to Lead USDA
President-elect Trump in November nominated Brooke Rollins, President and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank based in Texas, to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American farmers, who are truly the backbone of our country,” Trump said in a statement. Rollins is a graduate of Texas A&M University, with an undergraduate degree in agriculture development. “From her upbringing in the small and agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational family farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep policy credentials in both nonprofit and government leadership at the state and national levels,” the statement said.
“We congratulate Brooke Rollins on her nomination as Secretary of Agriculture. This is an important moment for U.S. agriculture, and we are optimistic about the opportunities her leadership will bring to rural America,” Amy France, chairwoman of the National Sorghum Producers in Scott City, KS, told Successful Farming. "Sorghum farmers are at the forefront of innovation, contributing to domestic biofuels and heart-healthy, nutritious, ancient grain foods. We are eager to work with her to advance policies that strengthen the sorghum industry and benefit growers nationwide.”
“The Department of Agriculture plays a pivotal role in safeguarding our food supply, addressing food insecurity, managing our forests, as well as supporting America’s farmers and rural communities who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis,” said Rebecca Riley, Managing Director, Food and Agriculture, for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “Rollins needs to invest in America’s farmers – from small family farms to larger-scale operations – and to work toward a resilient and equitable food system that puts healthy food on the table, restores our soil, protects the climate, and safeguards the health of our communities … now is not the time to undermine climate-smart farming practices, favor industrial agriculture at the expense of small producers and consumers, or gut the nutrition programs that many Americans rely on,” Riley said.
California’s AB 660 Sets Landmark Food Date Labeling Standards
California Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2024 signed into law the nation's first mandatory food date labeling reform bill. California Assembly Bill 660 (AB 660) standardizes the use of “Best If Used By” and “Use By” dates on food labels, and prohibits the use of “Sell By” dates. The new law requires manufacturers to use the same phrase for date labels across their products, reported Food Safety. Beginning July 1, 2026, companies selling food products in California must only use “Best If Used By” to indicate the date by which a product will reach its peak quality, and “Use By” to indicate the date by which a product’s safety can no longer be guaranteed. The use of consumer-facing “Sell By” dates will be prohibited to reduce the chances of consumers confusing “Sell By” dates with quality or safety dates.
“On grocery store shelves today, there are more than 50 differently phrased date labels on packaged food. Some phrases are used to communicate peak freshness of a product or when a product is no longer safe to eat. Others, like ‘Sell By,’ are used only to inform stock rotation in stores but mislead some consumers into thinking the product is no longer safe to eat. AB 660 will close this gap by requiring manufacturers to use the same phrase for date labels across their products,” NRDC said in a statement.
Of course, as goes California, so goes the country. “AB 660 is game changing, not just for California, but for the country. It will be the first law of its kind to end the ridiculous confusion that causes consumers to throw out almost $15 billion of perfectly good food nationwide. It will also help reduce the significant toll that wasting food has on our planet,” Dana Gunders, President of reFED, told BioCycle Magazine. “Having to wonder whether our food is still good is an issue that we all have struggled with. Today’s signing of AB 660 is a monumental step to keep money in the pockets of consumers while helping the environment and the planet,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, author of the bill.
’Tis the Season: December’s Guide to Nonprofit Giving
This article first appeared in the December 2024 issue of Presence Marketing’s newsletter.
By Steven Hoffman
December is a time when the conscious CPG industry traditionally leans in to support nonprofit organizations dedicated to healthy living, the environment, community development, social justice, nutrition and hunger, animal welfare, education and more. Ask anyone in the natural channel what mission they support and more often than not, you’ll get a passionate earful. Surely, you and/or your company have particular causes you support. Yet, in this season of giving, we’d like to present 12 nonprofits worthy of consideration for their invaluable contributions to people and the planet.
Adopt a Native Elder
For more than 30 years, Adopt-A-Native-Elder (ANE) has used an integrated approach to go beyond charity to assist traditional elders on the Navajo Reservation in Utah and Arizona. ANE serves to help reduce extreme poverty, food insecurity and hardship facing traditional elders living on the Navajo Reservation. ANE is a humanitarian organization focused on delivering food, medical supplies, firewood and other forms of elder support while honoring the tradition and dignity of Navajo elders. ANE also offers one-of-a-kind, handmade woven rugs and jewelry available for sale, in which 100% of the proceeds benefit the elder artist.
Alaffia Foundation
Growing up and working to support his family in Togo, West Africa, Alaffia founder Olowo-n’djo Tchala witnessed firsthand the injustices and inequalities many of the women in his village faced. After attending university in the U.S., he felt driven to do something about it. In 1996, Tchala met his partner Prairie Rose Hyde, who served in his village as a Peace Corps volunteer. Inspired by a shared mission, the two launched Alaffia’s first shea butter collective in 2003. In 2004 they established the Alaffia brand in the U.S. Alaffia partners with Global Alliance for Community Empowerment (GACE), a 501(c)3 organization, to empower women and their communities in West Africa by investing in fair trade, maternal care, child education, clean water and climate change.
Comparsa
Comparsa is a documentary film dedicated to shining a light on a group of young women in Guatemala who use performance art to empower their community against gender-based violence. Directed by veteran filmmakers Vickie Curtis and Doug Anderson, Comparsa follows sisters Lesli and Lupe, who are spurred to action after the murder of their friend Siona in a fire. Driven to overcome a culture of silence, the sisters stage a grand public performance called a "comparsa" to raise awareness and combat violence against women, and to inspire a new generation of young leaders in Latin America. The nonprofit Girl Rising team is collaborating with the filmmakers of Comparsa to share Lesli and Lupe’s inspiring story.
Conscious Alliance
From exchanging copies of a poster donated by the String Cheese Incident to concertgoers at Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium for cans of food for a food drive in 2002, today Conscious Alliance operates out of an 11,000-square-foot distribution center, serving local communities and Native Americans, in particular the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Working with top bands and musicians, including Dave Matthews, Widespread Panic and others, along with renowned poster artists, Conscious Alliance’s Art that Feeds program has delivered millions of pounds of food and helps feed students at all 15 schools on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The group also serves communities hit by natural disasters. Conscious Alliance works directly with natural food companies for product donations. Buy a concert poster and make a donation at ConsciousAlliance.org.
The HerbiCulture Project
Established by Catherine Hunziker, founder of herbal products leader WishGarden Herbs, The HerbiCulture Project (HCP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing medicinal plants while promoting regenerative production methods to ensure the highest quality botanicals, and to rebuild soil health and sequester carbon. HCP brings together a network of herbalists, regenerative farmers, permaculturists, researchers, soil health and climate specialists, nutritional supplement providers, agri-voltaic leaders and more. HCP has a mission of reintroducing medicinal herb crops at scale domestically as a solution to three critical issues: 1) Generate more lucrative crop revenues and healthier soil for farmers, 2) Support a growing demand and need for sustainable wellness ingredients sourced in the U.S., and 3) Introduce strategies that can improve soil health, which is at the root of our climate crisis. Visit The HerbiCulture Project’s Go Fund Me Page to donate.
Kiss the Ground
With award-winning documentary films and storytelling, educational materials and partnering with companies, Kiss the Ground (KTG) is at the forefront of advancing regenerative agriculture. Founded in 2013, KTG holds the vision that every person has a unique way to participate in the reverence, stewardship and regeneration of the planet. In 2020, in partnership with Big Picture Ranch, Kiss The Ground released a groundbreaking documentary on Netflix narrated by Woody Harrelson. The film and its sequel, Common Ground, which have been viewed by millions of people, explore regenerative agriculture, an innovative approach to farming that combines indigenous knowledge, holistic management and modern science and has the potential to heal the planet, create food security and mitigate climate change. Learn more about partnering with KTG here.
Living Lands & Waters
After years of being told "no" by the government, in 1997, East Moline, Illinois, resident Chad Pregracke decided to start cleaning up the Mississippi River by himself, founding Living Lands & Waters. Inspired by NASCAR races, the nonprofit organization received its first sponsorship, and Chad was able to remove 45,000 pounds of refuse from the river in his first year. Today, with the help of more than 126,500 volunteers and supporters, Living Lands & Waters hosts river cleanups, watershed conservation initiatives, educational workshops, tree plantings and other environmental efforts. Since the organization was founded, it has grown to be the only “industrial strength” river cleanup organization like it in the world, and has removed over 13 million pounds of garbage from U.S. waterways. Learn more about Living Lands & Waters in this video, and contribute here.
Rodale Institute
Celebrating more than 75 years of organic leadership, The Rodale Institute remains at the vanguard of science and best practices in advancing organic and regenerative agriculture. Rodale's nearly four-decades-long flagship study, the Farming Systems Trial, has scientifically proven that organic agriculture performs as well as, if not better than, conventional agriculture. Rodale focuses on demonstrating the power of nutrient-dense organic food in preventing and reversing diseases and works to create economic vitality in rural communities by training tomorrow’s organic farmers. Rodale also partners with schools, hospitals and other community organizations to help people make informed choices about the food they eat and how that impacts their health. Visit https://rodaleinstitute.org.
Salt & Light Coalition
Based in Chicago, the Salt & Light Coalition is a grassroots organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of human trafficking through mind-body restoration and workforce development. Salt & Light believes that yoga, fitness, proper nutrition and spirituality can change the world. The organization provides a one-year program for survivors of trafficking that focuses on healing, job training and building self-sufficiency. Most victims are immigrants and people of color, says Salt & Light founder Isabel Olson, Ph.D. It's also an epidemic in our own back yard -- “Even though we’re not aware of it, 25,000 women are trafficked in the Chicago area every year. That’s two women every hour of every day,” Olson says. Learn more and contribute at https://saltandlightcoalition.com.
The Organic Center
The Organic Center (TOC) is the organic products industry’s leading independent research and education organization advocating for the nutritional, health, environmental and climate mitigating benefits of organic food and farming. Founded in 2002 as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization under the administration of the Organic Trade Association, TOC collaborates with leading academic and governmental institutions to advance research on organic food and farming, and to communicate those findings to the public. TOC is hosting its second annual Organic Night Out fundraiser on March 5 at Expo West 2025, and is currently accepting nominations from brands and businesses for the Organic Champions Awards, to be presented at the event. Visit https://www.organic-center.org.
Vitamin Angels
Founded in 1994 by natural products industry veteran Howard Schiffer, Vitamin Angels is a public health nonprofit organization working to improve nutrition and health outcomes in low-resource settings worldwide. The organization helps to strengthen, extend and amplify the impact of partner organizations working to reach the most nutritionally vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, infants and children, with evidence-based nutrition interventions and health services. Vitamin Angels works with more than 2,000 local organizations, including governments, to reach more than 60 million women and children in 65 countries annually. Vitamin Angels will host its 2025 Celebration on March 4 at Expo West. Visit https://www.vitaminangels.org.
WomenServe
In 2006, Nioma Marissa Sadler traveled to Rajasthan, India, as the Goodwill Ambassador for leading tea company Traditional Medicinals. While visiting the farms, she would sit with local women and listen to their stories of the oppression that still exists in rural India. Inspired by the stories they shared, WomenServe was born. Since then, the organization has invested over $5 million, with a mission to cultivate self-reliance in women and their communities by providing platforms and skills that foster community engagement, advocacy and collective participation. "Through amplifying women's voices and leveraging their strengths, we enhance local power and resilience. Rajasthan is just the start of our mission to establish gender equity and transform the lives of women and girls," says Nioma. Traditional Medicinals partners with WomenServe, particularly in farming communities in India. Visit https://www.womenserve.org.
Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing public relations, brand marketing, social media and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.
PETA Investigation Verifies Edward & Sons' Native Forest® and Let's Do Organic® Brands of Organic Coconut Products Are 'Monkey Labor-Free'
CARPINTERIA, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2024) – After visiting and conducting an extensive audit of organic food leader Edward & Sons Trading Company’s organic coconut supplier in Thailand, the animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has officially verified that the Native Forest® and Let's Do Organic® brands are “monkey labor-free following PETA investigations."
"When we launched Native Forest Organic Coconut Milk in 2002 as the first certified organic coconut milk in North America, we partnered with a Thai supplier committed to sustainable, monkey-free harvesting practices. As a vegetarian company, we have kept animal well-being at the heart of our values from the very beginning," says Edward & Sons founder Joel Dee.
In October 2024, PETA issued an updated Shoppers Guide to educate consumers about this important issue and to identify brands that have been verified as monkey labor-free. Among a small number of coconut milk brands that PETA’s investigations identified as monkey labor-free are Edward & Sons’ Native Forest® brand of organic coconut milk products, and its Let’s Do Organic® line of organic coconut products.
“Our customers trust us to uphold the highest ethical standards, and PETA’s verification is a testament to our commitment. By offering monkey labor-free coconut products, we’re proud to give consumers high-quality organic options that align with their values," says Alison Cox, VP Sales & Marketing.
Soaring worldwide consumer demand for food products made from coconuts – including coconut water, coconut milk and plant-based coconut yogurt, among others – led to focused attention on a 2022 PETA exposé about the shocking abuse of monkeys by some Thai farmers, who use enslaved, forced monkey labor to harvest their coconuts.
“Curious, highly intelligent monkeys are denied mental stimulation, companionship, freedom and everything else that’s natural and important to them — all so they can be forced to pick coconuts. By purchasing from brands that support monkey labor-free coconut-harvesting methods, you’ll be helping to end the cruel practice of exploiting vulnerable monkeys while also sending a powerful message to companies that make products from coconuts picked using abusive methods,” PETA said in its updated Shoppers Guide. In addition to PETA’s monkey labor-free verification, Edward & Sons’ supplier partner’s farm has also been inspected and certified “Monkey Free” by the Thai Department of Labor under a program launched in 2023.
“Edward & Sons is dedicated to upholding our values by ensuring that all of our coconut products are ethically produced using no monkey labor,” says President Russell Parker. “Further, we actively support the Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand, providing care and shelter for monkeys affected by this cruel practice. We encourage everyone to support a humane coconut supply chain that respects animals and keeps the wild truly wild."
Learn More
About Edward & Sons®
Offering a unique portfolio of plant-based, natural, sustainable and organic grocery brands since 1978, including Native Forest®, Edward & Sons®, Let’s Do Organic® and more, Edward & Sons Trading Company, Inc. is known for its convenient and nourishing foods that support local economies and the environment. An independently owned business based in Carpinteria, California, Edward & Sons is committed to providing health-conscious consumers “Convenience Without Compromise®.” For more information, visit www.EdwardandSons.com and follow on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram.
Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel 303.807.1042
The Armory Selects JAMBAR as Official Energy Bar for Second Year in a Row
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2024) – Popular West Coast energy bar maker JAMBAR has announced that, for the second consecutive year, the brand will sponsor the JAMBAR Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational at the Nike Track & Field Center at The Armory in New York City. As the maker of the official energy bar for the event, set for Dec. 21, 2024, JAMBAR will be onsite to provide its energy bars to runners and to engage with the 200+ attending coaches and 3,000+ runners.
“The Armory is thrilled to have JAMBAR supporting our next track season. The brand has been such a pivotal partner over the past year and JAMBAR organic energy bars are the perfect nutritious snack for our athletes, coaches and spectators,” said Rita Finkel, co-president of The Armory Foundation.
Recognized as the fastest track in the world, The Armory is home to more records than any other facility. Each year, The Armory hosts more than 100 track and field competitions and hundreds of training sessions, welcoming more than 300,000 visitors. JAMBAR will be an official sponsor for the 2024-25 season along with other major partners including Nike, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and KPMG.
“It’s great to be in partnership with JAMBAR once again for this upcoming indoor season,” said Jonathan Schindel, co-president of The Armory Foundation. “They are a wonderful partner and have a terrific product for the thousands of athletes of all levels that visit The Armory and will have a huge impact at this year’s JAMBAR Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational on Dec. 21.”
The Armory has been a special place for many pro runners including JAMBAR-sponsored athletes Sage Hurta-Klecker and Joe Klecker, who have both previously raced at The Armory. Sage, who ran in this year’s Olympic Trials, will make an appearance at the JAMBAR Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational in December to represent JAMBAR and to cheer on thousands of young runners. Earlier this year, Sage competed at The Armory in the 1000m, 1500m and mile races. Says Sage: “The Armory is one of my favorite venues and like a second home. It’s so great to see JAMBAR and The Armory in partnership – it’s really the perfect energy bar for athletes pre and post race.” Sage will be at the JAMBAR booth during the Invitational and also will help distribute awards at the end of the races.
About The Armory
The Armory Foundation is a New York City nonprofit institution, with the mission of “Keeping Everyone on Track.” Each season, The Armory – the proud home of the Nike Track & Field Center – produces the Millrose Games, hosts more than 100 track and field meets and welcomes more than 300,000 visitors. Among its many youth sports and educational programs, including the acclaimed Armory College Prep program, The Armory runs the leading collegiate indoor track meets with the Dr. Sander Scorcher and the HBCU Showcase sponsored by KPMG. Additionally, The Armory hosts the largest high school indoor track meets with the Hispanic Games, the JAMBAR Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational, the Chocolate Milk Officials Hall of Fame Invitational, and the U.S. Marines Corps Holiday Classic. The Armory runs the CUIMC Team Relay Marathon, which is the world’s largest indoor marathon relay. The Armory is also the home to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and dozens of very large education-focused events. For more information, visit Armory.NYC and ArmoryTrack.org.
About JAMBAR
In 2021, Jennifer Maxwell founded JAMBAR with the goal of helping people feel good not only about the ingredients they put in their bodies, but also about the positive impact they can have on their local communities. JAMBARs are made in the U.S. and crafted in small batches in the company’s own state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Northern California. A woman-owned business and a mission-based “conscious CPG brand,” JAMBAR donates 50% of after-tax profits to organizations that support music and active living. JAMBAR is now available in popular run shops in the East including TC Run Co, Mill City Running, Austin Jarrow, Runner’s Retreat, PR Run & Walk and select Fleet Feets, as well as 150+ national and independent retailers including Winn Dixie, ShopRite, The Fresh Market, Fairway Market, PSK Superfoodtown and A Matter of Health. Learn more at www.jambar.com and follow JAMBAR on Facebook and Instagram.
Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel: 303.807.1042
Leading Gluten-Free Sorghum Producer, Nu Life Market, Wins Kansas’ 2024 Governor’s Award of Excellence
For manufacturers seeking the highest quality, regenerative and sustainable sorghum ingredients, now is the time to secure contracts and best pricing for 2025.
SCOTT CITY, Kansas (Nov. 13, 2024) – With the global market for gluten free foods expected to double from $6.7 billion to an estimated $14 billion within the next decade, one Kansas-based producer of high-quality, food-grade sorghum, Nu Life Market, has been recognized for its leadership in the growth of the gluten free market.
During a ceremony hosted in October by the Kansas Department of Commerce, it was announced that Nu Life Market was the recipient of the 2024 Governor’s Award of Excellence. “Nu Life Market … is a large contributor to our state’s growing economic success in the agribusiness and food processing industries,” Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said. “By honoring and showcasing their accomplishments, we aim to inspire other businesses to keep reaching for new opportunities across our state.”
In addition, Nu Life Market was recognized as Kansas’ 2024 Statewide Agribusiness Award winner, for companies that stand out in the agribusiness industry. Nu Life Market was among a record 346 businesses, organizations and individuals who were nominated for the Kansas Department of Commerce’s 2024 To The Stars: Kansas Business Awards.
“With the growth in consumer demand for gluten free foods and foods that are sustainable, we’ve grown from processing a few hundred pounds of sorghum to millions of pounds annually. We’re now responsible for many of the food products you see that have grain sorghum as an ingredient,” said Nu Life Market founder and President Earl Roemer.
“Nu Life Market is proud to offer Western Kansas grain sorghum producers an opportunity to conserve the natural resources on their farms by utilizing regenerative agriculture production practices and add value to the sorghum grain they are currently harvesting,” Roemer added.
A Commitment to Sustainability and Food Safety
Nu Life Market is the largest dedicated grain sorghum milling and food processing company in the U.S. Since its founding in 2012 in the high plains of Kansas, where most of the country’s sorghum is grown, the company has established a fully traceable supply chain, working with farmers in the region to promote sustainable and regenerative practices.
“Our Farm to Family Food Safety Program reassures our customers that all precautions are taken to prevent potential cross contamination of gluten containing grains. We back this program by providing both internal and third party gluten analysis. Also, with high levels of heavy metals such as arsenic in rice being raised as a concern in gluten free products and baby foods, sorghum, with very low levels of such compounds, may be a safer ingredient option for manufacturers, bakers and food processors offering products in this category,” Roemer notes.
As the largest grain sorghum milling and food processing facility in the U.S., Nu Life Market can solve product development challenges that other major food companies and their food scientists cannot. The company developed specific varieties and milling processes for grain sorghum that translate into better tasting and textured food products.
In addition, Nu Life Market works closely with its farmer network to develop and incorporate strategies that reduce water usage and C02 emissions, as well as utilizing regenerative sorghum grain production practices such as no-till planting and low fertilizer usage.
Sorghum: ‘The Camel of Crops’
Sorghum, also known as milo, is a naturally nutritious, gluten-free, ancient grain that originated thousands of years ago in the arid lands of northern Africa. Given the crop’s impressive tolerance to heat and its drought resistance, sorghum is often referred to as the “Camel of Crops.” Sorghum plays a major role in the food security of millions of people in marginal agricultural areas throughout the world.
In the U.S., sorghum has found a home on the high plains of Western Kansas. The crop is capturing the attention of both growers and manufacturers for its resilience to climate change, and for its versatility as an ancient grain ingredient in gluten free baked goods, baby foods, breakfast cereals and “better for you” snack foods.
Western Kansas received ideal levels of moisture in the spring after the 2024 sorghum crop was planted. According to Roemer, the summer brought high temperatures with little rainfall, but late summer rains boosted grain quality, which translates into good yields in the mill and high quality sorghum ingredients. “Due to our fully integrated supply chain, we source sorghum directly from our team of growers and are able to secure excellent quality grain to fulfill 2025 customer contracts,” Roemer added.
For manufacturers seeking sorghum, Roemer advises that now is the time to secure contracts and best pricing for 2025. Email sales@nulifemarket.com, tel 620.872.5236.
About Nu Life Market
Based in Scott City, KS, Nu Life Market is the largest dedicated grain sorghum milling and food processing company in the U.S. For more information, visit nulifemarket.com, and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X and YouTube.
Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com tel 303.807.1042
Food Contact Chemicals Used in Production and Packaging Are Finding Their Way Into Humans
This article first appeared in the October 2024 issue of Presence Marketing’s newsletter.
By Steven Hoffman
Researchers working with the Food Packaging Forum discovered that of the roughly 14,000 known chemicals that are used in food manufacturing and packaging, approximately 25% or 3,601 of these food contact chemicals (FCCs) have been found in the human body. The chemicals include bisphenol, PFAS, phthalates, metals, volatile organic compounds, and many others that have been linked to endocrine system disruption, diabetes, obesity, neurodevelopment disorders, cancer and other diseases.
The study, Evidence for Widespread Human Exposure to Food Contact Chemicals, published in September 2024 in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, comprehensively searched biological data collections for detections of FCCs in humans, such as from samples of blood, urine, skin, and breast milk. The data is now assembled and available in a public listing with an interactive search tool.
“Our research helps to establish the link between food contact chemicals and human exposure, highlights chemicals that are overlooked in biomonitoring studies and supports research into safer food contact materials,” lead author Birgit Geueke, Ph.D., and Senior Scientific Officer at the Food Packaging Forum, said in a news release.
When the research team reviewed scientific literature to learn what is known about FCCs detected in humans, they concluded there is a broad lack of knowledge of the effect of these chemicals on human health, and the potential hazards of many of these chemicals have not yet been sufficiently investigated. For other chemicals that migrate from packaging into the food, such as synthetic antioxidants and oligomers (a type of non-intentionally added substance that may be present in plastic food contact materials), the authors pointed out that little is known about their presence in and impact on humans.
“Many of these FCCs have hazard properties of concern, and still others have never been tested for toxicity,” the researchers wrote. “Humans are known to be exposed to FCCs via foods, but the full extent of human exposure to all FCCs is unknown.” It also is likely that the actual number of FCCs in humans is even higher because only a subset of FCCs was investigated in detail, noted the study’s authors.
Dr. Jane Muncke, co-author of the study, expressed concern over such widespread chemical exposure, stating, "This work highlights the fact that food contact materials are not fully safe, even though they may comply with regulations, because they transfer known hazardous chemicals into people. We would like this new evidence base to be used for improving the safety of food contact materials—both in terms of regulations but also in the development of safer alternatives."
The Great Chemical Migration
From shrink wrap and takeout containers to plastic bottles and coated paperboard packaging, scientists have known for years that chemicals can migrate out of food packaging into the food itself. We all know not to microwave food in plastic packaging, as high temperatures can cause the plastic to leach into the food. Foods high in fat or acidity also tend to absorb more chemicals from packaging, reported the Washington Post. Foods packed into smaller containers have increased risk of chemical crossover, too — Muncke shared with the Washington Post that on a recent flight she was given a tiny container of salad dressing. “They served the salad with a 15ml little plastic bottle with olive oil and vinegar that you could pour over. I thought, ‘Well, I’m not doing that,’” she said.
Muncke also shared with the Washington Post that while most of the chemicals leaching from food packaging come from plastics, “Probably the worst one is recycled paper and cardboard. And I know that’s a hard one to stomach.” Recycling paper, cardboard or plastic for food packaging leads to non-food grade inks mixed in next to food, she said, adding to the chemical exposure risks. However, in a positive regulatory move, FDA announced in February 2024 that paper and paperboard food packaging coated with grease-proofing PFAS chemicals would no longer be sold in the U.S.
In January 2024, Consumer Reports published an investigation into plasticizers used in food packaging to make plastic containers softer, more flexible and durable. Phthalate compounds — the ones most commonly used as a plasticizer — are so ubiquitous that it has been reported that 95% of all humans have detectable levels of phthalates in their urine. What Consumer Reports found in tests of nearly 100 foods was that bisphenol and phthalates are widespread in food products. “We found them in almost every food we tested, often at high levels. The levels did not depend on packaging type, and no one particular type of food — say, dairy products or prepared meals — was more likely than another to have them,” Consumer Reports said. From canned sliced fruit to pasta to yogurt containers, the investigation found high levels of phthalates in the packaging. Some organic products the consumer advocacy group tested also were not immune to high levels phthalates detected in product packaging.
In addition to packaging, foods are often subject to chemical exposure in the production, manufacturing and potentially in the transport process. According to Consumer Reports, while early efforts to limit food exposure to such chemicals focused on packaging, “…it’s now clear that phthalates in particular can also get in from the plastic in the tubing, conveyor belts and gloves used during food processing, and can even enter directly into meat and produce via contaminated water and soil.”
Leah Segedie, founder of consumer advocacy group Mamavation, has conducted PFAS investigations into a number of different consumer products, and also to provide consumers with guidance in searching for products free of such chemicals. In 2022, she released a report about PFAS contamination of pasta sauces, both organic and conventional. Out of the 55 different pasta sauces she tested in 2021, 17 were organic and four of those, or approximately 25%, had detectable levels of PFAS.
“I believe that PFAS contamination of organic products is also taking place during the manufacturing process and when products get transported,” Segedie told Max Goldberg, Editor of Organic Insider. “What is touching the food? Was a contaminated lubrication used on a machine? Was food stored in a vat that was fluorinated, as it was crossing the Pacific Ocean in an incredibly hot shipping container? Does the food contain contaminated spices? All of these and many other variables are the reason why the end-product should be tested, not just the ingredient,” she said.
Finding PFAS Free Alternatives
Responding to growing concern over “forever chemicals” in food and consumer packaged goods, a number of natural, organic and conscious CPG companies are offering alternatives for products that contain PFAS. The Environmental Working Group compiled a list, updated in January 2024, of companies that have declared their products have no added PFAS, in including food, fashion, beauty care and other consumer products categories. Online retailer Thrive Market this year announced in a blog on its website that, “Though more research is needed, PFAS are being studied as potential carcinogens. This month, Thrive Market added PFAS to its list of non-compliant chemicals and substances, meaning that you won’t find it in any products on our site.”
Businesses such as HeyBamboo, a toilet paper brand made from 100% bamboo, is committed to using absolutely no plastic in its packaging. “The wrap is made from bamboo, and so is the core of our toilet paper and paper towel products,” said company founder and CEO Joslyn Faust. “We like to say that we’re sustainable to the core,” she said. Another emerging brand, Generation for Change, is committed to making plastic-free health and personal care products, stating that it’s “a company made for the plastic-free generation.” In 2022, FoodTank reported on 19 food and beverage companies looking to move beyond plastic packaging
For natural and organic food brands, Charles Haverfield, CEO of U.S. Packaging and Wrapping, offered this counsel in 2023 in Sustainable Packaging News: “Selecting suitable materials for organic packaging demands a discerning approach. Choose options that minimize the presence of unwanted chemicals while upholding organic and sustainable principles. Materials like compostable plastics, plant-based fibers and paper offer a natural breakdown without leaving behind harmful residues. Glass and metal containers, which are highly recyclable and chemically inert, limit interactions with the packaged goods. Steer clear of some conventional plastics, as they can harbor hazardous additives like phthalates and bisphenol-A. Instead, explore alternatives like bio-based plastics or cellulose-based materials. It's important to note that while aluminum is recyclable, certain aluminum-coated packaging materials may contain additional coatings that clash with organic principles.”
A number of packaging suppliers are offering PFAS free options, such as Good Start Packaging, Delfort, CarePac and others, which offer compostable fiber and paper food packaging with no added PFAS. In January 2024, Organic Produce Network reported that a new third-party packaging standard, GreenScreen Certified — a collaboration between the Center for Environmental Health and Clean Production Action — will certify packaging products that are free from PFAS, as well as “thousands of other chemicals of high concern to human health and the environment.”
Learn More
Video Abstract: Evidence for Widespread Human Exposure to Food Contact Chemicals
Full Study: Evidence for Widespread Human Exposure to Food Contact Chemicals
Summary of Study: Evidence for Widespread Human Exposure to Food Contact Chemicals
Database on Food Contact Chemicals Monitored in Humans (FCChumon)
Food Engineering Magazine: Get the PFAS Out of Food Packaging Materials ASAP
Guide to PFAS Free Food Packaging
Mamavation Guide to Avoiding Products with Forever Chemicals
Environmental Working Group Guide to Companies Marketing Alternatives for Products that Contain PFAS
Steven Hoffman is Managing Director of Compass Natural, providing public relations, brand marketing, social media and strategic business development services to natural, organic, sustainable and hemp/CBD products businesses. Contact steve@compassnaturalmarketing.com.