Episode 3

In Part 2 of “How Supplements Became Regulated in the US” on the Orange Pill Podcast, we recap the journey from the 1960s through the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) of 1990. The focus shifts to the pivotal Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, championed by Senators Orrin Hatch and Tom Harkin. This landmark bipartisan legislation established the regulatory framework for dietary supplements, defining dietary ingredients for the first time and directing the FDA to develop NDI Guidance and GMP regulations.

At a time when botanical ingredients were treated as unapproved food additives, DSHEA provided a transformative solution—emphasizing safety and quality in manufacturing while ensuring consumer access to innovative ingredients.

Stay tuned for Part 3, where we explore federal legislation and final rules that empowered the FDA to better enforce compliance in the dietary supplement industry.