This week’s must-see headlines included coverage from the FDA’s public meeting to explore the scope of dietary supplement ingredients, Herbalife’s acquisition of Bioniq and the rise of energy drinks in China.
A central question at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent public meeting to explore the scope of dietary supplement ingredients was around the definition of “dietary substance”.
Attendees at the Washington D.C. meeting debated whether “dietary substance” should be limited to ingredients already present in the food supply or broadened to include novel substances. Industry representatives advocated for expanded definitions to accommodate new science while consumer group CSPI cautioned about potential risks.
The meeting also considered scientific advances in ingredient manufacturing, such as plant cell culture and precision fermentation and advances around probiotics, enzymes, and peptides—ingredients that are not specifically cited in the definition of dietary supplement under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA)— and how these fit within the scope of the law.
“We’re interested in taking a hard look at our own regulatory framework,” said Kyle Diamantas, FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods. “The industry has grown and changed tremendously in the last 30-plus years, yet the regulatory framework has largely stayed the same and has not adapted to the change in your level of innovation.”
Global nutrition giant Herbalife Ltd. has acquired assets of UK-based personalized supplements company Bioniq to expand its tailored nutrition offering.
The deal, valued at up to $150 million, will enable Bioniq’s science-driven, personalized supplementation platform to scale globally through Herbalife’s extensive infrastructure, which spans 95 markets.
“The future of health and wellness is becoming more personalized and informed by data,” said Stephan Gratziani, chief executive officer at US-based Herbalife. “By combining Bioniq’s personalized supplement technology with Pro2col and the power of our global distributor network, we are expanding our ability to deliver personalized wellness at global scale.”
“Herbalife brings an unparalleled global platform, deep expertise in nutrition, and a powerful community-driven distribution model,” said Vadim Fedotov, founder and president of Bioniq. “By joining forces, we can accelerate our impact—taking our data-driven, individualized approach to health to a truly global standard.”
Eastroc Beverage reported strong growth in 2025, with total revenue rising 31.8% to RMB20.9 billion (US$3 billion), driven by robust demand for energy and sports drinks in China.
Energy beverages, led by Eastroc Super Drink, accounted for nearly 75% of revenue and grew 17.3%, while sports drinks, especially Eastroc Water Boost, surged 119% as their appeal expanded beyond athletes to everyday consumers.
The company’s strategy of combining high value for money with strong functional claims has helped shift consumption habits from occasional to habitual use, making functional beverages a key growth engine in China’s beverage market.
“Public awareness and acceptance of energy beverages have increased significantly, and consumption patterns are shifting from occasion-based consumption to everyday habitual consumption,” the company stated.
Its sports drinks category, on the other hand, has benefited from functional claims such as “rapid replenishment of electrolytes”. This has helped expand its target consumer group from sports players to the mass market.
