Jon Benninger Takes Over Presidency As Industry Group Launches New Initiatives

Sarasota, FL (January 12, 2006) ­ The Dietary Supplement Education Alliance (DSEA), a not-for-profit partnership of scientific, educational and industry groups, announced today the election of officers for 2006. The new officers are:

DSEA President: Jon Benninger, business development director, Virgo Publishing;

DSEA Vice President: David Morrison, vice president scientific and regulatory affairs, The Vitamin Shoppe;

DSEA Secretary/Treasurer: Michael McGuffin, president, American Herbal Products Association.

“The new executive team at DSEA is ready to launch several aggressive initiatives focused on communicating the benefits of dietary supplements,” said Jon Benninger, incoming president. “We have a very strong board and more than 100 donating companies from all facets of the industry. We are able to deliver substantive, cost effective programs that build confidence in dietary supplements.”

”In 2006 our programs will address the immediate and life-long benefits from taking supplements,” said Benninger. “Those benefits include better health as well as cost-savings for individuals and society.”

DSEA a unique coalition of scientific, educational and industry leaders ­ educates consumers, the media, and policymakers on the benefits of dietary supplements for optimizing health and prevention of disease, with a focus on their safety, efficacy, and regulation. Its membership includes dietary supplement ingredient suppliers, retailers, publishers, consultants and trade associations.

Since its inception five years ago, DSEA has increased public awareness of the benefits of dietary nutritional supplements. Two major DSEA-funded studies completed by The Lewin Group have indicated dramatic cost savings potential of selected dietary supplements and have been featured in a congressional hearing, a National Press Club press conference and a Capitol Hill briefing. The organization’s efforts have resulted in positive coverage on more than 130 television news programs and more than 2,000 articles in newspapers and magazines.  DSEA also publishes a monthly email newsletter that goes out to more than 1,000 health-oriented journalists.

In addition to media outreach, DSEA supports a web site, www.supplementinfo.org, which has become a well-known resource for objective information about dietary supplements. More than 25,000 visitors, including media, consumers and health professionals, access the web site each month. DSEA also provides federal legislators with information packages about dietary supplements.

The other DSEA board members are Elliott Balbert, president and CEO of Natrol Inc., Valerie Bell, president of the Canadian Health Food Association, Fredrik Linder, president of New Hope Natural Media, Marlene Ross, executive director of marketing for NBTY, David Seckman, executive director and CEO of the National Nutritional Foods Association, and Bob Whitelaw, director of sales, marketing and business development at Capsugel.

For information about joining DSEA, contact Deb Knowles at (941) 349-9044 or e-mail her at debknowles@supplementinfo.org.

Contact:
Deb Knowles
Tel: (941) 349-9044
Email: debknowles@supplementinfo.org
Website: www.supplementinfo.org