|
|
(HealthNewsDigest.com) – The dietary supplement industry in the United States is enormous. According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, it accounts for more than $122 billion in overall economic activity.
The industry continues to grow as millions of people opt to include such items as fish oil tablets, calcium supplements, and vitamins in their diets. Plant-based products, such as algae tablets, garlic pills, ginseng, echinacea, and many others, have also had a steady increase in popularity in recent years.
Three of the fastest-growing food supplement products are fish oil capsules, whey protein supplements, and a relatively new-comer to the scene, cannabidiol. More commonly known as CBD, it’s an extract sold in the form of oil or pills.
Consumers need to understand that not all supplemental products are created equal. That is, quality and content vary considerably. This brings up the critically important subject of traceability. The ability to trace all ingredients of a particular product to their point of origin is crucial for guaranteeing efficacy. It tells consumers where the product originated from, but other details, such as production methods or even about labor standards used to make the product.
The production of CBD offers an excellent example of traceability standards in action. The importance of CBD traceability is demonstrated by the fact that there are many varieties of cannabis plants. CBD can be extracted from both the non-intoxicating hemp plant or the psychoactive versions of which there are three primary kinds, Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis. Other factors come into play as well in terms of traceability. For example, where did the cannabis seeds originate? What fertilizers were used in the growing process? Where were the plants harvested? How were they cultivated?
It’s all about transparency. The importance of this to the consumer cannot be underestimated. That’s because people deserve to know about the origin of supplemental products so that they can make the right decisions about what they choose to put inside their bodies.
The fish oil industry has origin issues similar to the importance of CBD traceability. The term “fish oil” itself is generic. When a consumer purchases fish oil supplement tablets, the origin of the oil itself may be derived from cod, salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, or anchovies.
That’s just for starters in terms of the traceability of fish oil. For example, salmon and other fish have been subject to problems with mercury contamination. This demonstrates the necessity to have the ability to trace the origins of fish oil supplements to verify safety. Genetically modified foods are yet another issue. Some people do not want to use fish oil derived from genetically modified salmon. Traceability provides transparency about what is GMO salmon fish oil and what is not.
Finally, traceability also speaks to social responsibility issues associated with what we buy. For example, some foods could be harvested using child labor by unscrupulous producers. Others are produced in ways that are harmful to the environment.
Socially conscious consumers deserve to be informed about the environmental sustainability and social issues of the food products they choose to support with their purchasing dollars.