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Press Releases - Health Forum of Utah
Federal and State Legislation and News
Health Forum of Utah Sponsors 25th Annual Utah Legislative Luncheon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2026
Contact: Health Forum of Utah
PO Box 13511 Pleasant View, UT 84412
Phone: 801-971-7440 BRHough@healthforumofutah.com
Health Forum of Utah Announces 25th Annual Utah Legislative Luncheon Event Highlights Healthy Choices and Strong Economic Impact of Utah’s Dietary Supplement Industry.
Salt Lake City, Utah — The Health Forum of Utah will host its 25th Annual Utah Legislative Luncheon on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, from Noon to 2:00 p.m. in the Rotunda of the Utah State Capitol.
The annual gathering brings together state legislators, public officials, and leaders from Utah’s dietary supplement and natural products sector to discuss policy, public health, and the industry’s substantial contribution to the state’s economy. Now in its twenty-fifth year, the luncheon is a favorite among members of the Utah Legislature and their staff. The event offers a healthy, nutritious meal as an alternative to the typical grab-and-go lunches common during the busy legislative session, aligning with the Health Forum of Utah’s commitment to promoting healthy choices for consumers. Leaders from Utah’s dietary supplement companies and ingredient suppliers will be on hand to meet with policymakers and answer questions about the industry’s role in innovation, consumer health, and economic development across the state.
Major Economic Driver for Utah: Utah is one of the nation’s leading centers for dietary supplement manufacturing, research, and ingredient supply. Industry data show a significant and sustained impact on employment, wages, and economic growth:
- The dietary supplement industry and ingredient suppliers pay $595.2 million annually in employee wages in Utah.
- These are high-quality jobs with an average annual wage of approximately $57,000.
- The industry directly provides more than 10,435 jobs in Utah and supports an additional 16,340 related jobs, for a total of 26,775 jobs statewide.
- The sector generates approximately $1.5 billion in total wages across direct and related employment.
- In Utah alone, the dietary supplement industry has a direct economic impact of $2.9 billion and an estimated overall economic impact of $6.142 billion.*
Dietary supplement manufacturers and ingredient suppliers operate throughout Utah and across the United States, forming a long-standing manufacturing base that has created good-paying jobs for decades. Nationally, according to an independent economic analysis conducted by John Dunham and Associates and funded by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN):
- The dietary supplement industry employs more than 750,000 Americans.
- The industry generates $20 billion in state, local, and federal tax revenue annually.
- The overall U.S. economic impact of the dietary supplement sector is estimated at $158.6 billion, driven largely by growing consumer demand for health and wellness products.*
These tax revenues help support essential public services, including education, public safety, infrastructure, and community development.
Supporting Dialogue and Healthy Policy: “The Utah Legislative Luncheon provides an important forum for constructive dialogue between policymakers and one of Utah’s most dynamic manufacturing sectors,” said Bruce R. Hough, Executive Director of the Health Forum of Utah. “For 25 years, this event has highlighted the industry’s commitment to consumer health, economic growth, and responsible innovation. We are proud to continue this tradition and to showcase the many ways Utah companies contribute to both the well-being of consumers and the strength of our state’s economy.”
The luncheon is held annually during the legislative session to foster collaboration and provide legislators with direct access to industry leaders and subject-matter experts. Legislators and invited guests are welcome to attend.
About the Health Forum of Utah: The Health Forum of Utah is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public understanding of nutrition, health, and wellness. The organization works with industry leaders, policymakers, and community partners to promote consumer access to safe, high-quality health products and to support policies that encourage innovation, transparency, and responsible manufacturing in Utah’s natural products sector.
*Independent report by John Dunham and Associates (JDA) sponsored by the Council for Responstible Nutriton.
Health Forum of Utah Supports Federal Legislation to Protect Consumer Access to Dietary Supplements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2026
Contact:
Bruce R. Hough, Executive Director
Health Forum of Utah
801.971.7440
brhough@healthforumofutah.com
HEALTH FORUM OF UTAH SUPPORTS FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CONSUMER ACCESS TO DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
The Health Forum of Utah today expressed support for newly introduced federal legislation aimed at strengthening national regulatory consistency for dietary supplements and preserving consumer access to products regulated under federal law.
The bill, introduced by Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.), would clarify federal preemption in the regulation of dietary supplements, reaffirm the authority of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and reinforce the original framework established under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). According to the sponsoring office, the legislation is intended to maintain a uniform national marketplace for supplements while ensuring that products remain subject to FDA safety and labeling requirements.
“Utah has long been a national leader in the responsible manufacture and distribution of dietary supplements,” said Bruce R. Hough, Executive Director of the Health Forum of Utah. “A clear and consistent federal framework is essential to maintaining consumer confidence, protecting public health, and ensuring that Americans—regardless of where they live—have access to safe, properly regulated nutritional products.”
Under DSHEA, dietary supplements are regulated at the federal level by the FDA, which oversees manufacturing standards, labeling, adverse event reporting, and enforcement actions against unsafe or misbranded products. The proposed legislation would reinforce that federal authority and prevent a patchwork of conflicting state-level requirements that could create confusion for consumers and compliance challenges for responsible companies.
“The intent of Congress in 1994 was to create a national standard that balances access and safety,” Hough added. “Reaffirming that structure helps consumers, retailers, healthcare practitioners, and manufacturers operate within a stable, science-based regulatory environment.”
Recent proposals in several states have sought to impose additional restrictions or requirements on certain categories of dietary supplements. Supporters of the federal measure note that inconsistent state rules could complicate interstate commerce, increase costs for businesses, and create uncertainty about product availability for consumers. Congressional staff associated with the bill have indicated that the legislation is designed to ensure regulatory clarity while maintaining FDA oversight and enforcement authority.
“Consumers deserve transparency, quality, and confidence in the products they choose,” said Hough. “A uniform national framework allows regulators to focus on safety and compliance while enabling innovation and responsible growth in an industry that supports health and wellness for millions of Americans.”
The Health Forum of Utah will continue to monitor the progress of the legislation and engage with policymakers, industry stakeholders, and public health leaders to support policies that promote consumer safety, informed choice, and responsible regulation.
About the Health Forum of Utah
The Health Forum of Utah is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public health, consumer education, and responsible industry practices related to nutrition, dietary supplements, and wellness. The organization works with policymakers, researchers, healthcare professionals, and community partners to support science-based policies and initiatives that benefit consumers and strengthen public health outcomes.
Health Forum of Utah Opposes Federal “Dietary Supplement Listing Act,” Urges FDA to Enforce Existing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2026
Contact:
Health Forum of Utah
Bruce R. Hough, Executive Director
801.971.7440 brhough@gmail.com
Pleasant View, Utah
Health Forum of Utah Opposes Federal “Dietary Supplement Listing Act,” Urges FDA to Enforce Existing Law Instead of Expanding Regulation
Pleasant View, Utah — The Health Forum of Utah today expressed strong opposition to the reintroduction of the federal Dietary Supplement Listing Act by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), warning that the proposal would impose unnecessary and costly regulatory burdens on lawful dietary supplement manufacturers while doing little to enhance consumer safety.
The legislation would require dietary supplement companies to submit product listings to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including ingredient lists, labels, and claims, for placement in a publicly accessible federal database. While framed as a transparency measure, the Health Forum of Utah maintains that the FDA already has the statutory authority, tools, and access to information necessary to oversee the marketplace under existing law.
“Consumers deserve safe, high-quality dietary supplements, and federal law already provides a comprehensive framework to ensure that outcome,” said Bruce R. Hough, Executive Director of the Health Forum of Utah. “Rather than layering on duplicative requirements, Congress should ensure that FDA fully enforces the robust authorities it already has to identify and remove bad actors from the market.”
Existing Authority Under DSHEA and FDA Oversight
The U.S. dietary supplement market operates under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), which established a national regulatory framework granting the FDA broad oversight authority. The agency can:
- Take enforcement action against adulterated or misbranded products
- Inspect manufacturing facilities for compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)
- Issue warning letters, seize products, and pursue injunctions or criminal penalties
- Require adverse event reporting and maintain surveillance systems
- Access product labeling and ingredient information during inspections and enforcement actions
Health Forum of Utah leaders emphasized that the information contemplated in the proposed registry—labels, ingredient lists, and claims—is already available to FDA through existing compliance requirements and inspection authorities.
“The issue is not a lack of statutory authority,” Hough said. “The issue is consistent enforcement against bad actors who intentionally evade the law. A new federal registry risks diverting resources away from targeted enforcement and toward paperwork compliance for responsible companies that are already following the rules.”
Concerns for Consumers, Innovation, and Small Businesses
Health Forum of Utah cautioned that additional regulatory layers could increase costs across the supply chain, ultimately raising prices for consumers and reducing access to health and wellness products relied upon by millions of Americans. Smaller manufacturers and emerging innovators could be disproportionately affected by administrative burdens without a corresponding public-health benefit.
Utah is home to a large share of the nation’s dietary supplement manufacturing and innovation sector, employing thousands and contributing significantly to the state’s economy. The organization warned that duplicative federal requirements could chill research and development while doing little to address the unlawful actors who already ignore existing rules.
“The vast majority of supplement companies are committed to compliance, quality, and consumer safety,” Hough said. “Congress should focus on empowering FDA to act swiftly against those who break the law—not creating new mandates that treat responsible manufacturers as if they were the problem.”
A Call for Targeted Enforcement and Collaboration
Health Forum of Utah urged policymakers to prioritize enhanced enforcement resources for the FDA, interagency coordination, and public-private collaboration to combat illegal products and misleading claims. The organization also called for continued dialogue with industry stakeholders, regulators, and consumer advocates to identify reforms that strengthen safety without undermining access or innovation.
“Consumers benefit most when regulators use existing authority effectively and efficiently,” Hough added. “We stand ready to work with Congress and FDA on practical solutions that protect public health while preserving access to safe, science-based dietary supplements.”
About Health Forum of Utah
The Health Forum of Utah is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing informed public policy, consumer access to safe health products, and responsible innovation in nutrition and wellness. The organization works with policymakers, health professionals, manufacturers, and community partners to support evidence-based approaches that strengthen public health and consumer choice.