On the back of heightened global interest in health and wellness, the concept of ‘beauty-from-within’ has gained fresh impetus in recent years. Our Ingredient of the Year category for beauty from within looks to celebrate the best the industry has to offer in tailored nutritional solutions to maintain and enhance skin, nail and hair care across all age groups.

Our Judges will look at how your ingredient meets specific needs and will base their scores on your evidence to demonstrate:

• A genuine consumer demand or requirement based upon a common issue or risk factor 
• Solid scientific evidence to demonstrate a unique nutritional solution to this need or problem – including peer-reviewed data to back up any performance or health claims made 
• Commercial success and engagement from your core target market(s). Give numbers and examples of sales and applications that are available in the market 
• What gives your ingredient the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)
  

To view the requirements for this category, click to download  

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, Ingredient of the Year categories are required to have the ingredient in a finished product that is commercially available in the United States.

Our award for Ingredient of the Year in the Cognitive Function category aims to celebrate the best ingredients dedicated to supporting cognition, memory, alertness, and other cognitive processes. All ingredients specifically designed for and marketed with brain health applications are eligible for entry into this award. From ingredients aimed at aging populations to solutions for office workers looking for a little extra help on the day job, this award celebrates ingredients designed to meet the specific demands of the cognitive health category.

Our Judges will look at how your ingredient meets specific needs and will base their scores on your evidence to demonstrate:

• A genuine consumer demand or requirement based upon a common issue or risk factor 
• Solid scientific evidence to demonstrate a unique nutritional solution to this need or problem – including peer-reviewed data to back up any performance or health claims made 
• Commercial success and engagement from your core target market(s). Give numbers and examples of sales and applications that are available in the market 
• What gives your ingredient the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)
  

To view the requirements for this category, click to download  

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, Ingredient of the Year categories are required to have the ingredient in a finished product that is commercially available in the United States.

With the global population getting older and an increasing number of over 50s in every country, the demand for anti-aging nutritional solutions has risen sharply in recent years. Our Ingredient of the Year category for healthy aging looks to celebrate the best the industry has to offer in tailored solutions to remain physically and mentally healthy as we age. From the latest ingredient for maintaining cognitive health to solutions aimed at reducing the risk of frailty, this award is open to ingredients specifically designed to meet the challenges of aging.

Our Judges will look at how your ingredient meets specific needs and will base their scores on your evidence to demonstrate:

• A genuine consumer demand or requirement based upon a common issue or risk factor 
• Solid scientific evidence to demonstrate a unique nutritional solution to this need or problem – including peer-reviewed data to back up any performance or health claims made 
• Commercial success and engagement from your core target market(s). Give numbers and examples of sales and applications that are available in the market 
• What gives your ingredient the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)
  

To view the requirements for this category, click to download  

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, Ingredient of the Year categories are required to have the ingredient in a finished product that is commercially available in the United States.

The biotics playbook is expanding: Probiotics and Prebiotics remain the main ingredients, but options also now include synbiotics, postbiotics, and phages. Each brings its own advantages, but central to each will be to build the science to substantiate the claims, and market in a way that is true to that science and accessible to consumers.

Our Judges will look at how your ingredient meets specific needs and will base their scores on your evidence to demonstrate:

• A genuine consumer demand or requirement based upon a common issue or risk factor 
• Solid scientific evidence to demonstrate a unique nutritional solution to this need or problem – including peer-reviewed data to back up any performance or health claims made 
• Commercial success and engagement from your core target market(s). Give numbers and examples of sales and applications that are available in the market 
• What gives your ingredient the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)
  

To view the requirements for this category, click to download  

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, Ingredient of the Year categories are required to have the ingredient in a finished product that is commercially available in the United States.

Our award for Ingredient of the Year in the Sports Nutrition category aims to celebrate the best ingredients dedicated to enhancing performance, boosting recovery, or aiding endurance. All ingredients specifically designed for and marketed with sports nutrition applications in mind are eligible for entry into this award. From high-end nutrient combinations aimed at elite athletes through to solutions for on the go consumers looking to get healthy, this award celebrates ingredients designed to meet the specific demands of the sports and active nutrition category.

Our Judges will look at how your ingredient meets specific needs and will base their scores on your evidence to demonstrate:

• A genuine consumer demand or requirement based upon a common issue or risk factor 
• Solid scientific evidence to demonstrate a unique nutritional solution to this need or problem – including peer-reviewed data to back up any performance or health claims made 
• Commercial success and engagement from your core target market(s). Give numbers and examples of sales and applications that are available in the market 
• What gives your ingredient the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)
  

To view the requirements for this category, click to download  

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, Ingredient of the Year categories are required to have the ingredient in a finished product that is commercially available in the United States.

Botanical ingredients are seeing a resurgence in interest from the industry and consumers, following new science and growing popular interest in ‘traditional’ and natural health solutions. This award celebrates the best branded or own-label supplements, functional foods and beverages containing botanical ingredients.

Our judging panel will base their decision on the following criteria:

• Whether your product meets a genuine consumer demand, and how relevant the core ingredient is in meeting this demand
• Evidence that the product works for its specified use, including peer-reviewed data to back up any performance or health claims made
• Brand recognition and the commercial success of your product, including evidence of strong retail and consumer interest or listings of your product.
• Evidence of that your product and its delivery system(s) has no, or beneficial, impact on bioavailability (especially if citing single ingredient data). 
• What gives your product the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)

To view the requirements for this category, click to download

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, Product of the Year categories are required to have the finished product commercially available in the United States.

Entry holders for this category are also required to submit 4 samples of their finished product for judging. More details & instructions will be shared when an entry is submitted.

Consumer demand for, and knowledge of, omega-3s has risen spectacularly in recent years – leading to a raft of innovation and new product launches of omega-3 containing products. This award looks to reward the brightest and best branded or own-label supplements, foods and beverages containing omega-3 as a core ingredient.

Our judging panel will base their decision on the following criteria:

• Whether your product meets a genuine consumer demand, and how relevant the core ingredient is in meeting this demand
• Evidence that the product works for its specified use, including peer-reviewed data to back up any performance or health claims made
• Brand recognition and the commercial success of your product, including evidence of strong retail and consumer interest or listings of your product.
• Evidence of that your product and its delivery system(s) has no, or beneficial, impact on bioavailability (especially if citing single ingredient data). 
• What gives your product the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)

To view the requirements for this category, click to download

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, Product of the Year categories are required to have the finished product commercially available in the United States.

Entry holders for this category are also required to submit 4 samples of their finished product for judging. More details & instructions will be shared when an entry is submitted.

It’s not just about Probiotics and Prebiotics anymore – synbiotics, postbiotics, and phages have been added to the list of nutritional interventions for microbiome modulation, and these terms are starting to appear on product labels. This award celebrates the best branded or own-label supplements, functional foods and beverages for modulating the microbiome to improve health.

Our judging panel will base their decision on the following criteria:

• Whether your product meets a genuine consumer demand, and how relevant the core ingredient is in meeting this demand
• Evidence that the product works for its specified use, including peer-reviewed data to back up any performance or health claims made
• Brand recognition and the commercial success of your product, including evidence of strong retail and consumer interest or listings of your product.
• Evidence of that your product and its delivery system(s) has no, or beneficial, impact on bioavailability (especially if citing single ingredient data). 
• What gives your product the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)

To view the requirements for this category, click to download

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, Product of the Year categories are required to have the finished product commercially available in the United States.

Entry holders for this category are also required to submit 4 samples of their finished product for judging. More details & instructions will be shared when an entry is submitted.

Sports and active nutrition products are positioned for both niche athletic populations and the more mainstream ‘active’ consumer. This award celebrates the best branded or own-label supplements, functional foods and beverages positioned to enhance athletic performance and recovery.

Our judging panel will base their decision on the following criteria:

• Whether your product meets a genuine consumer demand, and how relevant the core ingredient is in meeting this demand
• Evidence that the product works for its specified use, including peer-reviewed data to back up any performance or health claims made
• Brand recognition and the commercial success of your product, including evidence of strong retail and consumer interest or listings of your product.
• Evidence of that your product and its delivery system(s) has no, or beneficial, impact on bioavailability (especially if citing single ingredient data). 
• What gives your product the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)

To view the requirements for this category, click to download

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, Product of the Year categories are required to have the finished product commercially available in the United States.

Entry holders for this category are also required to submit 4 samples of their finished product for judging. More details & instructions will be shared when an entry is submitted.

The Editors' Award is decided on by our award-winning NutraIngredients-USA editors. This year’s award will celebrate the best industry initiative and is open to any program, project or platform that is able to demonstrate deep and significant improvements for the industry. If your organization has launched a significant initiative to improve quality, transparency, consumer confidence and trust in the dietary supplements’ industry, then we want to hear from you.

Our judges will base their decision on evidence for:

• A novel or innovative program, project or platform that increases consumer trust and transparency
• Demonstrable success, including evidence of retailer and consumer interest and any other accolades won
• What gives your initiative the ‘X factor’ – how does it move the industry forward

To view the requirements for this category, click to download

Entries for the NutraIngredients-USA Editor's Award for Industry Initiative of the Year Award are required to have a direct impact on the United States industry.

The last decade has witnessed a rise in products and ingredients dedicated to improving women’s health—tackling issues such as fertility, pregnancy, menstruation, menopause, pelvic health, sexual wellness and more. With so many differing health challenges across a woman’s lifetime, this new award seeks to recognize innovators with the best ingredients or products to promote women’s health, research projects specifically benefiting female health and wellness, and women-led start-ups.

Our judging panel will base their decision on the following criteria:

• A genuine consumer demand or requirement based upon a common issue or risk factor 
• Consumer demand and interest in your format, delivery system, and/or matrix – including how innovative any delivery system is.
• Whether your product meets a consumer demand, and how relevant the main ingredient is in meeting this demand
• Packaging ease of use and design, including appeal and ease of use, novelty
• Evidence that the product works for its specified use, where possible this will be product specific research, however research citing the main active ingredients solely will also be considered.
• Solid scientific evidence to demonstrate a unique nutritional solution to this need or problem – including peer-reviewed data to back up any performance or health claims made
• Evidence of that your product and its delivery system(s) has no, or beneficial, impact on bioavailability (especially if citing single ingredient data).
• What gives your product the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)

To view the requirements for this category, click to download

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, Innovations in Women's Health Award, if ingredient or product-based, are required to have the ingredients or products commercially available in the United States.

If research project specific to women’s health or female founded start-up-based, are required to have direct activity in the United States.

Finished product entry holders for this category are also required to submit 4 samples of their finished product for judging. More details & instructions will be shared when an entry is submitted.

Not all hero’s wear capes. This award is dedicated to the celebration of our industries the biggest champions and heroes and will be judged by our panel of independent experts. Whether it is for driving new standards and policies, increasing public knowledge and interest in nutrition, or pushing for innovation and championing ingredients, our NutraChampion award will celebrate those who leave a lasting impact on nutrition and the nutrition industry. Entries are by nomination only and should outline why each potential NutraChampion deserves this honor.

Judges will base their decision a combination of:

• Evidence of a lasting impact on the nutrition industry
• Wider public recognition or public impact
• The potential for good

To view the requirements for this category, click to download

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, NutraChampion are required to have an impact in the United States. .

Research and development are at the heart of everything done in the nutrition industry. Sound science is a must to back up product claims and inform business decisions. This category rewards the best game changing nutrition research projects that push the boundaries of nutritional science.

Judges will look at how your research project has the potential for a positive impact on the nutrition industry, based on the following criteria:

• How the research project is designed to address a genuine consumer demand, nutrition requirement, policy issue or healthcare risk 
• Whether the research has provided solid scientific evidence to demonstrate a unique nutritional solution to this need or problem – including peer-reviewed data to back up these findings
• Evidence of good research methodology, analysis, and findings consistent with best practices 
• The potential for commercial applications or wide-sweeping changes in the industry on the back of research
• What gives your research project the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)

To view the requirements for this category, click to download

Today’s start-ups and spin-outs are the future major players of the industry. In this award, we look to celebrate the best new companies blazing the trail in the nutrition and health market. From university spin-outs and one-man outfits making a big impact to incubators and fast-growing new companies about to make it big, this award rewards new ideas, the potential for change, and commercial success in companies established in the past 5 years.

Our judges will base their decision on the following criteria:

• Be a start-up, incubator, spin-out or new company that has been trading less than five years
• Able to demonstrate sound science, research, and/or technological developments that back up your business
• Commercial potential or success: Evidence of commercial interest, success, or potential market applications (if not yet launched)
• Whether the idea, product or initiative has potential to be a ‘game changing’ innovation in the developing personalized nutrition space
• What gives your product the ‘X factor’ – something that makes it stand out from the crowd and edge out the competition (including evidence to back up claims)

To view the requirements for this category, click to download

Entries for The NutraIngredients-USA Awards, Start-Up Award category are required to be an active company in the United States or Canada.