Sugar Land, TX— Dietary supplement manufacturer Bluebonnet Nutrition Corporation hosted Congressman Pete Olson of Texas’s 22nd District on a tour of its headquarters to show the growth and sophistication that has taken place in the natural products industry.

Bluebonnet president Gary Barrows was extremely honored by the opportunity, saying that this visit served as a “shining example for Congressman Olson to directly witness how cGMP-compliant manufacturing, analytical testing, packaging and distribution facilities in our industry can ensure quality control from start-to-finish.” Rep. Olson has previously expressed interest and support on issues pertinent to the industry, including supporting the Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act (DASCA), which was recently passed by the House of Representatives.

Picture left to right: Bluebonnet president Gary Barrows, Bluebonnet VP of sales and marketing Bob Barrows, Jr., and Congressman Pete Olson.

During the tour, Rep. Olson took part in several onsite discussions regarding the concepts of transparency and advocacy within the industry, emphasizing the right for consumers to have easy access to dietary supplement as well as full transparency regarding labels on the products they choose to buy. He also discussed the role that supplements play in healthcare and potentially reducing healthcare costs. At the moment, 92% of Americans are deficient in one or more nutrients, allowing supplements to fulfill a vital gap. Bluebonnet representatives noted that after seeing the level of analysis and testing that goes into each ingredient and product at the facility, Rep. Olson  personally witnessed that dietary supplements can be produced safely, and that the natural products industry is indeed highly regulated. Rep. Olson also pledged to support HR 2194, introduced by Rep. Erik Paulsen, which will allow consumers to utilize their Flex Spending Accounts on supplements.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, November 2014 (online 9/19/14)