Moving the needle on global nutrition policy

DECEMBER 9, 2021

Moving the needle on global nutrition policy

The need to change nutrition policy is becoming more pressing as the world enters an unprecedented era when populations in almost all countries are aging, according to a CRN-International (CRN-I) conference report recently published in the European Journal of Nutrition.

“Society’s response to population aging will require a vision to harness the years spent in ‘good health’ to those hoped for extra years of life,” noted the authors. The report, “Science-based Policy: Targeted Nutrition for All Ages and the Role of Bioactives,” is comprised of expert perspectives from CRN-I's 2020 Scientific Symposium webinar series and takes a deep dive into healthy aging and health promotion throughout the life-course. 

Since 2010, CRN-I has sponsored and organized annual scientific symposia at the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) meeting to provide national delegates with current scientific thinking, academic research, and public health policy considerations. 

“The goal is to move the needle with regard to public policy,” said CRN’s Jim Griffiths, Ph.D. “We’re trying to encourage the delegates to do something in the public health area that can ultimately be of benefit to the population at large.”

Get involved: Sign up for CRN’s International Trade and Market Development Committee (ITMDC) via the self-service portal and download the CRN Connect app to get updates, help organize your calendar, and connect with other members. Contact Jim Griffiths with questions.

Mark your calendar: The ITMDC's next virtual meeting will take place Dec. 13. Agenda and additional details here. Register here—members of CRN’s Regulatory Affairs Committee are also invited to attend!


AI-driven personalized nutrition must build relationships with consumers to succeed

Supplement sales driven by personalized nutrition grew 35% in 2020, according to Forbes’ “Powerful Consumer Trends To Watch In 2021.”

“Undoubtedly, consumers are curious about this space and we've got to balance the curiosity with ease of use of personalized nutrition,” advised CRN President & CEO Steve Mister. Mister recently participated in a panel discussion, “The Future of Health and Wellness: From Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Personalized Nutrition,” hosted by CRN associate member dicentra. The panel, moderated by Tom Aarts, Nutrition Business Journal founder and principal of the Nutrition Capital Network, included James DiNicolantonio of AIDP, Adam Monroe of Panaceutics, and Zak Zaidman of RDCL Superfoods.

“Personalization is the one trend that is here to stay,” Monroe predicted. “We're all constantly changing our inputs and experiencing different experiences and our health is changing…so even just to begin to help folks start noticing, and start paying attention…if we look at what even very basic analysis gives us, those insights can then guide us.” 

Getting consumer feedback is key to success in the personalized nutrition space, in addition to perfecting the algorithm. "It’s AI and the algorithms that are going to drive insights for customer engagement, product health categories, even product development strategies,” said Aarts. “But, you can’t just have a one and done test…and then leave the consumer, you have to have an ongoing relationship,” Aarts explained.

The big challenge for industry is to figure out “diagnostics that are minimally invasive…and easily repeatable, because if the experience truly is personalized, those numbers will change over time,” Mister advised.

Catch the replay of this session on dicentra’s YouTube channel.