On January 15, the Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ) announced that the American Botanical Council (ABC) will receive one of the publication’s 2013 Industry Achievement Awards. The awards recognize the most noteworthy leaders in the nutrition, natural, organic, dietary supplement, and integrative medicine industries and extended communities.

In a press release listing the 2013 recipients, NBJ stated, “These are individuals and companies who are committed to advancing the audience of healthy, educated consumers and fostering a business atmosphere that encourages sustainability and better nutrition.”¹

Award recipients will be recognized during the 17th annual NBJ Summit, July 22-25, in Dana Point, CA, where NBJ Editor-in-Chief Marc Brush also will reveal the recipient of the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award.

The NBJ website states that ABC was chosen to receive the Education award for “a refreshing willingness to ruffle some feathers with a series of well-researched reports on adulteration. The Council’s 100th issue of HerbalGram marks a long-term commitment to advancing education in the herb & botanicals industry.”² NBJ also is honoring ABC with a full-page profile in the January issue of their magazine, due to hit mailboxes in early 2014.

“We are deeply grateful to the editors of Nutrition Business Journal and other industry leaders who chose ABC to receive the NBJ Award in Education this year,” said ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal.

“ABC genuinely appreciates the acknowledgement from members of the natural products industry for our work in improving awareness of the growing body of scientific and clinical research supporting the health benefits that herbs and other plant-based materials offer in healthcare and selfcare,” Blumenthal continued. “In addition, we appreciate NBJ’s strong public support of our willingness to shine a light on the challenges and problems presented by accidental and intentional adulteration of herbal raw materials and extracts through the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program.”

This is the third time NBJ has given an award to ABC. In 2004, NBJ presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to Blumenthal for his many years of educational and advocacy services in the natural medicine and herbal research communities, and in 2007, ABC received the Industry Achievement Award for Education.

The 2013 NBJ award provides a fitting conclusion to an especially noteworthy year for ABC: 2013 saw the 30th anniversary of its flagship journal HerbalGram, the 25th anniversary of the organization, and the publication of the 100th issue of HerbalGram.

References

1. Nutrition Business Journal announces 2013 Industry Achievement Award recipients [press release]. Boulder, CO: Nutrition Business Journal; January 15, 2014. Available at: www.marketwired.com/press-release/-1869457.htm. Accessed January 17, 2014.
2. Polito R. The winners of the 2013 NBJ Awards. Nutrition Business Journal website. Available at: http://newhope360.com/business/winners-2013-nbj-awards#slide-5-field_images-582071. Accessed January 17, 2014.