Last week’s headlines included the Indian government’s ban on the use of ashwagandha leaves, Health Canada’s publication of a prebiotics monograph, and the immense opportunity of India’s sports nutrition market.
India bans ashwagandha leaf use in any form, industry reacts
On April 16, the Indian government issued an advisory restricting the use of ashwagandha leaves in crude or extract or any other form in food products, catching many industry stakeholders by surprise.
Announcing the ban, the country’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) referred to schedule IV of the Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose regulation, which provides the list of plants or botanicals permitted for use in such products.
“In view of the above, all Food Business Operators (FBOs) are hereby advised to ensure strict compliance with the aforementioned provisions,” the notice reads. “Any deviation shall attract action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and regulations made thereunder.”
The move has drawn mixed reactions: Major root-only suppliers welcomed the directive, while others in the industry criticized the lack of evidence for harm and warned of economic and scientific drawbacks, including reduced farmer income and limited therapeutic potential.
The decision follows mounting European regulatory scrutiny over ashwagandha’s safety and may reshape global standards for the herb. Despite cited risks, some manufacturers argue that both root and leaf extracts have demonstrated safety in clinical studies and called for evidence-based regulation rather than blanket bans.
Health Canada publishes prebiotics monograph
Health Canada’s Natural and Non-Prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) has published a monograph for prebiotics, establishing a clear set of rules and the basis for health claims in Canada.
Health Canada states that it intends to follow the 2017 definition of prebiotics from the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), which was adopted by the International Probiotics Association (IPA) in 2025.
The monograph includes a defined list of accepted ingredients and sources, including Inulin, Acacia gum, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), Transgalactooligosaccharides (GOS), Xylooligosaccharides (XOS), and the human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) 2′-Fucosyllactose (2′-FL) and Lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT).
It also distinguishes clearly between prebiotic claims and fiber claims, noting that not all prebiotics are fibers and not all fibers are prebiotics.
George Paraskevakos, executive director of IPA, which expanded its scope in 2023 to include prebiotics, welcomed the publication. “As was the case with the Probiotic Monograph, IPA has been actively engaged with Health Canada NNHPD, contributing scientific and regulatory perspectives to support the development of this monograph,” he said.
“We are pleased to have advocated from the start as the need for alignment in how prebiotics are defined, assessed, and positioned for both industry and consumers is greater than ever as confusion still exists.”
India’s sports nutrition opportunity
Indian firm BigMuscles Nutrition sees significant growth opportunities in its domestic market’s sports nutrition industry, but challenges relating to misinformation, price sensitivity and product quality remain to be addressed.
India is one of the most dynamic and fast-evolving markets for sports nutrition, said Suhel Vats, founder and director of BigMuscles Nutrition.
While this presents “immense opportunity”, it also comes with challenges such as misinformation, price sensitivity, and inconsistent product quality across the industry.
“One of the biggest challenges is bridging the gap between awareness and education. While more consumers are entering the category, not all of them fully understand what defines a high-quality supplement. This often leads to decisions driven by price or marketing claims rather than ingredient integrity,” Vats told NutraIngredients.
“We see this as an opportunity to lead through education, transparency, and consistent quality—building long-term trust rather than short-term adoption.”
Over the past five years, BigMuscles Nutrition’s retail strategy has evolved from being primarily channel-driven to becoming heavily consumer-centric and omnichannel.
