Background Information

With the establishment of manufacturing facilities and corporate offices of companies such as General Nutrition and Leiner, South Carolina has become a recognized center for the nutraceutical industry.

Nutraceutical are foods or parts of foods, including dietary supplements, which are able to prevent or treat diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

There are no FDA regulations on nutraceuticals since they are considered foods under the dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994.  This situation is rapidly changing with renewed speculations that Congress will ask the FDA to become involved in product safety, standards and efficacy.

FDA regulatory involvement will increase products costs, but will move industry to invest in research.  Increased research will enhance consumer confidence and will greatly speed the integration of nutraceuticals into American healthcare.

The INR has been in existence since January of 2002 and during this time has established funding through NIH, USDA, private foundations and industry.

Page maintained by: Marge Putnam, Marge@clemson.edu