Last week’s headlines included FC Barcelona striker and captain of Poland’s national soccer team, Robert Lewandowksi, partnering with KSM-66 ashwagandha, H&H Group’s new products that work at the cellular level, and efforts to restrict access to select dietary supplements in Michigan.
FC Barcelona star striker partners with KSM-66 Ashwagandha
Robert Lewandowksi, one of the top goalscorers in Bundesliga and Champions League history, has signed on as global brand ambassador for KSM-66 Ashwagandha.
The FC Barcelona striker and captain of Poland’s national soccer team will represent the brand across all KSM-66 markets, from North America and Europe to Asia-Pacific.
“At 37, playing at this level isn’t just about training harder, it’s about recovering smarter,” Lewandowski shared in a press statement. “I’ve been using KSM-66 for years because it helps with what matters most: recovery after intense matches and staying mentally focused under pressure.”
Manufactured by Ixoreal Biomed, KSM-66 Ashwagandha has been formulated into products marketed by over 4,500 brands in over 60 countries around the world, including the Lewandowski family’s own wellness brand Levann in Poland.
Kartikeya Baldwa, founder and CEO of KSM-66/Ixoreal Biomed, highlighted the authenticity of the partnership, noting that Lewandowski has been using KSM-66 Ashwagandha for years.
“He didn’t choose us for this announcement,” Baldwa said. “He chose us long ago based on quality and clinical validation. His sustained excellence reflects results that come from uncompromising standards. This partnership formalizes a relationship built on genuine trust.”
H&H Group zeros in on cellular health for new beauty, longevity launches
Health and Happiness Group (H&H Group) is addressing beauty and longevity needs through new products that work at the cellular level as it aims to become a market leader in this emerging category. Its new products were recently launched in Australia and further afield in Europe and the United States.
In Australia, the Hong Kong-based H&H Group has launched the products under the brand Swisse Nutra exclusively in pharmacy chain Chemist Warehouse.
Aside from beauty-from-within, products under the Swisse Nutra range also support cognition, energy, joint mobility and metabolism by targeting cellular health.
The focus on cellular health and longevity is due to new scientific evidence showing how healthy aging begins at the cellular level—including supporting mitochondrial energy to help cells function optimally and reducing oxidative stress.
“The overarching goal for Swisse Nutra is to establish the brand as the clear market leader in cellular nutrition and healthy longevity, setting a new science-led standard for proactive wellbeing in Australia,” the company stated.
“The ambition is to build and own this emerging category—educating consumers, expanding the portfolio across different categories and making advanced, clinically informed cellular nutrition accessible to consumers.”
Michigan legislator introduces restrictive supplements bill
This year started with a flurry of bills being introduced across multiple states in the United States to restrict access for minors to select classes of dietary supplements. A recent bill introduced in Michigan shows that prohibitive efforts will continue into 2026.
Michigan House Bill 5250, which has been given the title Weight Loss Products and Minors Act, was introduced last week by State Representative Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn).
“Diet pills are not something children need, and marketing them to minors is simply wrong,” Byrnes said in a press release. “These products can be dangerous, come with serious side effects, and minors who use them are far more likely to develop body image issues, dysmorphia or eating disorders later in life.”
Jeff Ventura, vice president of communications at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), said his organization opposes the bill in its current form because “it is premised on a misunderstanding of both the science and the regulation of dietary supplements. There is no credible evidence linking these products to the development or worsening of eating disorders, and age restrictions would not address the complex psychological and social factors that truly drive these conditions.
“Dietary supplements are already extensively regulated by the FDA, and imposing age limits would unnecessarily restrict access for all consumers, stigmatize safe and legal products, and—because these kinds of bills are often overly broad—risk sweeping in basic vitamins and minerals never intended to be targeted.”
