FDA Commissioner Named Keynote at IFT FIRST Annual Event
Newly named FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas has been announced as the opening keynote of day two of the IFT FIRST Annual Event and Expo. Hosted by the Institute of Food Technologists, the event will take place form July 12-15 at the McCormick Place convention center in Chicago. Moderated by Anna Rosales, RD, Vice President, Science & Policy Institute of Food Technologists, "Regulatory Frontiers: Navigating Food Safety in a Changing World" will be a discussion on the latest developments in regulatory science, risk assessment, and compliance. Diamantas will offer details on his vision for the FDA's plans to proactively shape the future of safe and nutritious food and insight into the growing evolution of global standards to address novel ingredients, technologies, and consumer expectations. Event registration details are available here.
AHPA Releases 2025 Impact Report
American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) members can now download the organization's latest report, "A Year of Transition & Impact." A detailed account of the recent challenges and changes faced by AHPA's leadership, the report discusses regulatory shifts, legislative challenges, and the difficulty securing critical enforcement discretion on DSHEA disclaimers and defending dietary supplements at the state level. The 2025 review also highlights the association's strategic efforts to secure relief for members navigating the complex international trade and tariff landscape.
AHPA President & CEO Graham Rigby offered his perspective on the industry's collective strength following a year of major milestones and the loss of late, longtime AHPA President Michael McGuffin. "Reflecting on the past year, I am moved by the incredible resilience and unity of our community," said Rigby. "Michael's legacy is the garden he spent decades planting and growing — a rich landscape of advocacy, science, and stewardship. Today, that garden is ours to tend. Every initiative we undertake, every resource we share, and every connection we forge is an act of cultivation."
A full copy of the report is available here.
PLT Health Solutions Rolls Out New Initiative
The PLT Longevity Initiative is the newest company-wide strategic commitment from PLT Health Solutions, cultivated to shape its clinical research, ingredient development, and customer innovation work. The developer and marketer of high-quality, scientifically support ingredients centered the program around two connected tracks:
- Cellular longevity: mechanistic, biomarker-driven solutions addressing cellular health and the biology of aging; and
- Experiential Longevity: translating those cellular mechanisms of aging into benefits consumers can feel in daily life
"There is an active discussion in the natural products industry about what ‘longevity’ really means, and how it differs from healthy aging or condition-specific solutions,” shared Devin Stagg, President of PLT Health Solutions. “Our view is that longevity has to stay grounded in mechanistic science, but it also has to connect with tangible and meaningful outcomes that consumers can actually feel. It’s not just about extending lifespan-it’s about extending the ability to live those years well. Many current longevity solutions are future-focused investments that require a degree of belief in long term outcomes. Experiential Longevity lets consumers feel the benefits of impacting these key mechanisms in the near term while the foundational work continues to pay dividends over a lifetime.”
Scientific support for the initiative will be presented during this week's Vitafoods Europe event taking place in Barcelona. Dr. Jeremy Appleton will discuss a six-month randomized clinical study on PLT's Kinexa Joint Longevity Complex.
Pet Honesty Makes New Commitment with Honest Difference
The Honest Difference is the pledge to deliver products backed by the rigorous scientific validation, testing, and clean ingredients required to deliver real, noticeable results for pets, from science-driven pet health and wellness brand, Pet Honesty. With a market segment flooded with so much information, pet parents can often find it difficult to decipher the ingredients found in the products they choose to purchase. Keeping that at the forefront, Pet Honesty centered its product development initiatives around three absolutes; clean ingredients free from hidden fillers, rigorous scientific formula validation, and products pets actually love.
"Honesty is in our name, it’s a promise of transparency that we take very seriously,” said Rich Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer. “Our consumers trust that when they choose Pet Honesty, they are getting products that are formulated to work and that their pets will love. This is the foundation of The Honest Difference. We’ve done the heavy lifting—from rigorous testing to uncompromising ingredient selection—to ensure that the results are real and the science is validated. We do the hard work, so pet parents can focus on enjoying happier, healthier years with their pets.”
CapsCanada Rebrands as Lyfe Group
Manufacturers of empty hard capsules and oral dosage-form solutions, CapsCanada, will be joining its North and South American operations under one corporate name and identity: Lyfe Group. The new single, cohesive brand structure, will help solidify the company's position within the global empty capsule and drug delivery market. Even though operations will be unified under one single new brand, all existing product quality, manufacturing standards and supply chain operations will remain in place.
Jonathan Gilinski, Executive Director, Lyfe Group, spoke on the importance of the transition for the company, "Becoming Lyfe Group is the natural next step in our journey. For more than 40 years, CapsCanada's reliability and reputation has been built on quality products, a reliable supply chain, excellent technical service, and the depth of our customer relationships. This transition brings all of that together under a unified identity that reflects the full scope of who we are today and the ambition of where we are going. We are proud of our legacy as CapsCanada, and we are excited to write the next chapter as Lyfe Group."
Joolies Expands into Sprouts Farmers Market
California-based date brand, Joolies, has announced its Date Sours will now be available nationwide at Sprouts locations. Available at the markets "Forager table section" through the end of July, fans of the sour, gummy-style, clean-label snack, will be able to pick up flavors:
- Watermelon: Refreshing, juicy melon with a crisp, mouthwatering sour finish
- Cherry Cola: Nostalgic cherry fizz with a tangy cola bite
- Peachy: Juicy, sun-ripened peach with a sweet-meets-sour twist
- Blue Raspberry: Bright, electric berry with a bold tart kick
“We are so excited to partner with Sprouts to nationally launch our Date Sours,” said Amanda Sains-Harris, Head of Marketing at Joolies. “Our mission has always been to spread the love for dates, and this exclusive launch allows us to share our tiny little superfruit in a way that’s totally fresh and innovative.”
Elmhurst 1925 Debuts Clean Protein Line at Sprouts
Plant-based dairy product brand, Elmhurst 1925, is partnering with Sprouts Farmers Market to launch its first Clean Protein line featuring 27g of complete plant protein, 190 calories, and as little as 3g of sugar per bottle. Crafted using the company's patented HydroRelease method, their latest product marks the company's first ready-to-drink protein offering, further expanding its portfolio of clean-label, plant-based beverages. Available for $4.99, customers will be able to choose from four varieties including:
- Pistachio Crème – A 2026 NEXT Award winner, the elevated take on a trending flavor is crafted with Elmhurst’s velvety pistachio milk and real vanilla extract for a creamy, indulgent finish.
- Sea Salt Chocolate – Elmhurst’s twist on the ultimate classic is crafted with real, rich cocoa, creamy cashew milk, and a pinch of sea salt for a rich, comforting and nostalgic finish.
- Vanilla – This fan-favorite flavor is crafted with real vanilla extract, dreamy cashew milk and for a smooth, creamy taste with just a touch of natural sweetness.
- Strawberries and Cream– Crafted with real strawberry puree with creamy cashew milk for a bright, juicy flavor that’s perfectly nostalgic and anything but artificial.
“Sprouts Farmers Market is the ideal partner for the retail debut of Clean Protein,” shared Jack Warren, National Sales Director at Elmhurst 1925. “Their shoppers are focused on ingredient transparency and nutritional discovery, aligning perfectly with our mission. We developed this line for those who demand high-quality protein without sacrificing a clean label or a smooth taste. We are proud to deepen our partnership with Sprouts as we bring this new innovation to health-conscious households nationwide.”
