The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973 and based in Washington, D.C., is the leading trade association representing dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers.
CRN companies produce a large portion of the dietary supplements marketed in the United States and globally. Our member companies manufacture popular national brands as well as the store brands marketed by major drug stores, supermarkets discount chains. These products also include those marketed through natural food stores and mainstream direct selling companies.
CRN represents more than 150 companies that manufacture dietary ingredients and/or dietary supplements, or supply services to those suppliers and manufacturers. Our member companies are expected to comply with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety. Our supplier and manufacturer member companies also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics.
CRN’s mission
To protect and advance a climate for our members to responsibly develop, source, manufacture, and market science-backed dietary supplements, functional food, and their ingredients, for better health and nutrition.
What CRN does
CRN provides its member companies with expertise and action in the areas of science, regulation, legislation, communications and international affairs. CRN takes a leadership role in advocating for public policy based on sound science and the ability for consumers to have access to a wide variety of high quality, safe and beneficial dietary supplement products. In addition, CRN proactively promotes science-based information about the safety, benefits, and efficacy of dietary supplements and functional foods and responds to published studies and reporting related to supplements, as well. See our newsroom for more.
The dietary supplement industry is a major economic engine, according to an independent economic impact report funded by CRN and conducted by John Dunham and Associates, contributing $159 billion to the U.S. economy and employing more than 750,000 Americans.
As the leading voice advocating on Capitol Hill for the responsible dietary supplement industry, CRN holds a member fly-in, Day on the Hill, as well as regular meetings with legislators and staff, convening CRN member constituents for targeted meetings.
The Supplement OWL® (Online Wellness Library)—the dietary supplement product registry—is an industry-wide, self-regulatory initiative that’s helping increase transparency and accountability in the marketplace by providing a more complete picture of the marketplace for regulators, retailers and industry, and consumers. Are your company’s labels (including store brands) in yet? Learn more: www.SupplementOWL.org
The “Vitamin D & Me!” initiative delivers unbiased education on the latest science. Visitors to the site can browse summaries of key research on vitamin D with a “take home message” for each. In addition, the research area of the site offers a summary table of ongoing studies. The site also includes interviews with scientific experts, educational information on what vitamin D means to health status, and vitamin D in the news. Learn more: www.VitaminDandMe.org
CRN produces educational initiatives such as "Probiotics: What's Inside is Alive" on the intricacies of probiotic products. The initiative includes a retail buyer’s guide, scientific white paper, videos, infographics, and questions to ask vendors about probiotic supplements. Proper labeling or probiotics comprises three components: identity, quantity and viability. Retailers should inquire about all three when curating the products for their shelves. Learn more: www.crnusa.org/probiotics
NON-MEMBERS: JOIN US IN OUR EFFORTS
MEMBERS: MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP