The current poll question was sponsored with the generous support of PLThomas, a New Jersey-based ingredient supplier, which offers more than 50 years of innovation in securing reliable, high quality value-added raw materials for the food, beverage, health and wellness, dietary supplement and nutricosmetics industries. PLT specializes in fruit, vegetable and botanical extracts, as well as specialty nutraceuticals and hydrocolloids. Click here for more information on application ideas, current industry information and technical service.
For more information about sponsoring a Quick Poll, contact Liz Smith.
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| A recent GAO report found heavy-metal and pesticide contamination in some supplements. How concerned are you about this? |
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Poll date: 06/8/2010
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| a. Not concerned. The contaminant levels are too low to worry about. |
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19% |
| b. Somewhat concerned. Bad press is bad news. |
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25% |
| c. Very concerned. Bad actors or ambitious lawyers could sink this industry. |
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56% |
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| What do you think the ultimate effect of GMP enforcement will have on the industry? |
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Poll date: 05/25/2010
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| a. Bad actors will be driven out, and consumers will have more confidence in our ingredients/products. |
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55% |
| b. Neutral. Most good companies are doing this stuff already anyway. |
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36% |
| c. Negative: Good companies will be driven out of business, stifling innovation. |
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9% |
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| "Beauty from within" or "inside-out beauty" means taking natural ingredients orally to gain skin-health benefits. Japanese and European consumers are way ahead of Americans in accepting the concept and shopping accordingly. What do you make of the US market? |
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Poll date: 05/11/2010
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| a. Creams only, please. How can a pill possibly make my complexion better? |
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0% |
| b. Although Olay and Avon failed last decade, they paved the way for this next generation of beauty supplements. |
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20% |
| c. B is for beauty. B is also for beverages. Drinks are going to be the preferred delivery system to bring it home for Americans. |
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80% |
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| Some companies seem to be stretching the definition of what's 'organic.' What's your view of the use of the term? |
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Poll date: 04/27/2010
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| a. It's a strong marketing message with a lot of regulatory muscle behind it. |
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18% |
| b. It's still a valuable certification but some operators have muddied the picture. |
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41% |
| c. There are so many companies claiming to be 'organic' that the term doesn't mean much any more. |
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41% |
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| What effect will the Prop. 65 lawsuit alleging impurities among a few fish oil supplements have on the omega-3 market? |
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Poll date: 04/13/2010
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| a. Fish oil sales will lead the heavy decline in omega-3s in 2010 |
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57% |
| b. Overall omega-3 market will remain stable, with fish oil alternatives like krill filling in where fish oils decline. |
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0% |
| c. Just a burp — no real change in the fish oils market. |
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43% |
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| Will the new health care reform legislation be a burden or a blessing to the industry? |
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Poll date: 04/01/2010
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| a. Blessing, I am pleased with the outcome for me and my company |
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32% |
| b. Burden - it may cost more personally and for my business |
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53% |
| c. Don't know enough of the details yet. |
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16% |
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| What is Sen. McCain's Supplement Safety Bill designed to accomplish? |
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Poll date: 03/22/2010
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| a. Legitimate industry regulation |
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24% |
| b. Control of illegal steroid sales |
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24% |
| c. Appease the professional sports associations |
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52% |
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| Should bisphenol-A be banned from food packaging? |
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Poll date: 01/26/2010
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| a. Yes |
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78% |
| b. No |
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11% |
| c. Only products for infants and children |
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11% |
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| How soon will concerns surrounding the healthcare crisis result in noticeable behavior changes toward consumer's purchasing healthier foods and supplements? |
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Poll date: 01/05/2010
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| a. As soon as the healthcare legislation passes |
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20% |
| b. As soon as the recession ends |
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10% |
| c. It's already happening |
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70% |
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| President Barack Obama chose Julie Brill, North Carolina's top consumer watchdog, and attorney Edith Ramirez to fill two vacant spots on the Federal Trade Commission. Brill was the senior deputy attorney general and chief of consumer protection and antitrust for the North Carolina Department of Justice and Ramirez, a lawyer, represented corporations like Mattel Inc and Northrop Grumman Corp. |
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Poll date: 12/8/2009
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| a. Both will be tough |
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0% |
| b. Both will be fair |
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0% |
| c. Brill will apply her consumer watchdog skills |
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67% |
| d. Ramirez will be sympathetic to corporate wishes |
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33% |
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| Should OTC drug and supplement combination products be approved by FDA for sale? |
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Poll date: 11/1/2009
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| a. Yes, with no restrictions |
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50% |
| b. No, never |
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25% |
| c. Yes, but only with prior FDA approval |
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25% |
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| Should ingredient suppliers be audited for quality assurance? |
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Poll date: 10/15/2009
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| a. Yes, domestic and international suppliers |
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93% |
| b. Yes, but only international suppliers |
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4% |
| c. Yes, but only domestic suppliers |
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3% |
| d. No, not ever |
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0% |
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| How should ingredient spiking and economic adulteration be enforced? |
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Poll date: 9/08/2009
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| a. Jail Time |
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12% |
| b. Serious Punitive Damages |
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21% |
| c. Both mandatory |
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67% |
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| Are Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Oz justified in their lawsuit about unauthorized endorsements of dietary supplements and skin creams? See story here. |
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Poll date: 8/25/2009
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| a. Yes |
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84% |
| b. No |
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8% |
| c. Online supplements are a Wild West, can't be reined in |
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8% |
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| Healthcare is top of mind for Americans. Will the rise in volume help or hinder perceptions of dietary supplements and integrative health care? |
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Poll date: 8/14/2009
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| a. Help |
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60% |
| b. Hinder |
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20% |
| c. Stay the same |
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20% |
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| How strongly do you agree that the FDA will become much more aggressive in enforcing DSHEA and more narrowly interpreting what is permissible under DSHEA? |
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Poll date: 7/28/2009
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| a. Very strongly - huge industry issue |
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46% |
| b. Strongly - changes are already being noted |
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23% |
| c. Somewhat |
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23% |
| d. Disagree - there are periodic "eruptions," but things are "status quo. |
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8% |
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Which of these categories do you believe will deliver the most supplementary nutrition to the consumer?
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Poll date: 7/14/2009
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a. Fortified Foods
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16 %
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b. Specialty Health Beverages and Bars
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22 %
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c. Tablets, capsules, and softgels
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56 %
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d. Powders for mixing into foods and drinks
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6 %
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What condition-specific functional attributes are you considering adding to your product formulations in order to attain a more unique position in the marketplace?
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Poll date: 7/1/2009
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a. cardiovascular and heart health
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29 %
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b. digestive health
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36 %
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c. cognitive health
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14 %
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d. joint health
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21 %
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When deciding on an ingredient source, what is the most important factor in deciding who to buy from?
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Poll date: 6/10/2009
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a. reputation of the supplier
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75%
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b. price
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6%
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c. technical support
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13%
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d. personal contact
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6%
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Should cGMP inspection reports be public knowledge?
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Poll date: 3/1/2009
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Yes
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91.18%
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No
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8.82
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What factor most influenced the FDA's recent approval of stevia?
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Poll date: 1/5/2009
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Politics
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36.17%
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Science
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19.15%
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Perserverance of the stevia industry
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19.15%
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Monetary cloud
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19.15%
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Weariness on the part of regulators
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6.38%
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