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  AHPA rebuts Washington Post narrative based on discredited research and regulatory misconceptions

  February 11, 2026 The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has moved to correct the record following a recent article in The Washington Post. In his piece titled “Can supplements reduce cancer risk?” author Mikkael A. Sekeres, M.D., references an investigation targeting herbal supplements that was built on now-discredited research and repeatedly asserts that the dietary supplement industry is “not well regulated.” In response, AHPA's Chief Science Officer Holly E. Johnson, Ph.D., has submitted a letter to the editor detailing the retraction of the notorious study that served as the foundation for the cited investigation and has requested that the publication acknowledge this missing context.   The investigation cited in the article was originally sparked by 2013 research from Steven G. Newmaster. Although the 2015 New York Attorney General's office used those findings to infamously allege that few herbal supplements found at four major retailers actually contained the herbs listed on their labels, AHPA clarifies that the Newmaster study was officially retracted by the journal BMC Medicine in July 2024 due to data fabrication. The University of Guelph's findings of fraud confirm what AHPA and others in the scientific community asserted over a decade ago: the investigation was built on findings from a scientifically invalid use of DNA barcoding to test processed herbal extracts.   Furthermore, AHPA also refutes Dr. Sekeres's repeated claims that dietary supplements are "not well regulated" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).   "The assertion that dietary supplements lack robust oversight is a persistent myth that ignores the comprehensive federal framework already in place," said AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby. "Dietary supplements are strictly regulated as a category of food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). To suggest otherwise overlooks the robust requirements that responsible manufacturers meet every day to ensure the products Americans use and trust are safe and accurately labeled."   Contrary to the author's claims, FDA maintains significant authority over the industry through several key pillars. These include mandatory Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) under 21 CFR Part 111, which ensure product identity, purity, strength, and composition, and the New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) notification process, which requires manufacturers to provide the FDA with evidence of safety for new ingredients before they reach consumers. The industry is also subject to a legal mandate requiring companies to report all serious adverse events to the FDA as well as strict labeling requirements and limitations on health and disease claims.   AHPA remains committed to defending the integrity of the dietary supplement and herbal products industries and ensuring that public narratives are rooted in current regulatory facts and verified, peer-reviewed science.

  • Wednesday, February 11, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA
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  AHPA supports Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act

  February 4, 2026 The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) has announced its support for the Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act, introduced today by Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY). The legislation seeks to reaffirm a single, science-based national standard for the regulation of dietary supplements over an inconsistent patchwork of state regulations.   Since enactment of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has maintained federal oversight to ensure product safety and labeling accuracy. However, several states have recently moved to impose their own dietary supplement regulations beyond those required by federal law. The Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act would clarify federal preemption, ensuring that interstate commerce remains efficient and that regulatory decisions remain grounded in science.   “AHPA strongly supports legislation to establish federal preemption, a move essential to protecting the free interstate commerce that defines our nation,” said AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby. “An inconsistent patchwork of state regulations would create a highly restrictive environment that would stifle innovation, increase business compliance costs and complexity, and ultimately restrict consumer access. AHPA applauds Congressman Langworthy for introducing the Dietary Supplement Regulatory Uniformity Act, which would appropriately defer to the country's robust national regulatory framework and help ensure that the millions of dietary supplements sold daily in the U.S. marketplace can reach Americans without needlessly burdensome state-level barriers.”   AHPA remains committed to working with congressional leaders and industry stakeholders to advocate for a consistent regulatory environment that prioritizes both consumer access to safe dietary supplements as well as the continued growth of the dietary supplement industry.

  • Wednesday, February 4, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA
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  2026 AHPA Board of Trustees Candidates

  February 3, 2026 The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is pleased to announce the candidates for the 2026 AHPA Board of Trustees election at the upcoming AHPA Annual Member Meeting on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Natural Products Expo West. 2026 AHPA Board of Trustees Candidates Cassandra Black (Banyan Botanicals) David Bunting (Herb Pharm) Bill Chioffi (Nammex) Julie Daoust (M2 Ingredients) Edward Fletcher (Native Botanicals) Kiel Henderson (PhytoLab) Elise Higley (Oshala Farm) Catherine Hunziker (WishGarden Herbs) Jeff Kaufman (Paragon Labs) Zoe Kissam (Traditional Medicinals) Laura Najera (Metagenics) Ajay Patel (Verdure Sciences) Carl Robinson (Cedar Bear Naturales) Jason Scott (Feral Fungi) Elan Sudberg (Alkemist Labs) Elizabeth Tilak (Givaudan) Matt Warnock (RidgeCrest Herbals) Katharine Wickenden (Whole Foods Market)   Read Candidate Statements here: 2026 AHPA Board of Trustees - Candidate Statements AHPA Active Members in good standing are eligible to vote in this election and will receive voting instructions in separate communications.   Please contact Melissa Do at mdo@ahpa.org with any questions about the election.

  • Tuesday, February 3, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA
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  AHPA welcomes Karin VanSlyke as Director of Member Services

  January 27, 2026 The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Karin VanSlyke as Director of Member Services. In this role, VanSlyke will drive membership growth, retention, and engagement while supporting educational initiatives to enhance the overall member experience.   VanSlyke joins AHPA with extensive experience in strategic partnerships and program management within the health and nutrition industry. Most recently, she served as Strategic Partnerships Manager at Informa. Her background also includes managing digital content marketing programs and coordinating high-visibility communications and events.   “AHPA is extremely excited to welcome Karin VanSlyke as our new Director of Member Services,” said AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby. “We are grateful for our ongoing strategic partnership with Informa and believe that Karin's addition to the AHPA staff will only serve to strengthen the relationship between our teams going forward. As our industry grows, so to does the need to support the growth of AHPA and provide excellent service to our members and we are confident Karin can help us do just that.”   VanSlyke is set to begin her new role on February 17, reporting to Amber Bennett, Vice President of Membership & Engagement.   “Karin's proven track record of cultivating industry relationships and her deep understanding of the health and nutrition landscape make her an ideal fit for this role,” said Bennett. “Her expertise in managing complex partnerships and her commitment to high-quality service will be instrumental as we continue to expand our community and enhance the benefits we provide to our members.”

  • Tuesday, January 27, 2026
  • | Posted by AHPA