About Us
Soyfoods Association of North America
1050 17th Street, N.W. Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
202.659.3520
Fax 202.659.3522
info@soyfoods.org
SANA Mission Statement
The Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA) is a trusted advocate in providing information about the health benefits and nutritional advantages of soy consumption. We encourage sustainability, integrity and growth of the soyfoods industry through our members, by proactively promoting and upholding the benefits of soy-based foods to consumers, health professionals, researchers, media, government officials, and industry partners.
SANA Objectives
- To increase consumer awareness and use of soyfoods and soy-based ingredients.
- To be the key resource for credible, science based information about soyfoods and soy-based ingredient consumption.
- To create a forum to proactively manage key issues and opportunities that confronts the soy industry.
- To establish, promote and adopt soy industry standards for new and existing soyfoods.
Membership
Click here for a list of SANA members.
SANA History
Founded on July 30, 1978 in Ann Arbor, Michigan by a group of over 70 entrepreneurs, the Soyfoods Association of North America has prospered into a first-rate association. Originally called the Soycrafters Association of North America, the association was created as an outlet to provide a joint forum for discussing industry issues as well as providing opportunities for joint promotional efforts. By 1983, 15 members voted to change the name of the association to the Soyfoods Association. By 1984 the Soyfoods Association officially became a non-profit organization with by-laws and a membership structure in place. Over the span of 20 years, the association has grown to more than 50 members. To reflect a growing international membership, in 1997 the association expanded upon its name and changed it to the Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA). Currently, membership of SANA is comprised of large and small soyfoods companies, growers and suppliers of soybeans, nutritionists, equipment representatives, food scientists, and retailers.
In a span of 20 years, SANA has had many accomplishments.
- In 1985-1986— the standards committee developed and submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tofu standards.
- 1989-1992— the marketing committee organized the Soyfoods Pavilion at Natural Products Expo East and West shows where they sponsored numerous speakers.
- 1997—Soyfoods Month established
- 1999—the SANA standards committee successfully requested FDA to waive the fat limitation for health claims, allowing tofu, soymilk and other soyfoods that are naturally higher than the fat limit to carry the soy and heart disease health claim
- 2000—SANA defended the Voluntary Standards for the Composition and Labeling of Soymilk in the United States (pdf) in a meeting with FDA, after the National Milk Producers Federation threaten the use of term soymilk on products
- 2000—SANA launched the web site, attracting steady traffic to Locating Products, Soyfoods Fact Sheets, and other consumer information
- 2001—SANA joined the United Soybean Board to host the 9th annual Soy Symposium and subsequent symposia
- 2001—SANA launched a video news release on the Soy Health Claim, attracting over 10 million viewers
- 2002—SANA met with USDA and sponsored research to resolve issues about how soymilk and related soy-based products should be handled in calculating the percentage of organic matter to comply with National Organic Program rules.
- 2002—USDA hosted a tasting of a wide array of soyfoods for over 60 officials throughout the Department in the Atrium of the Whitten Building
- 2002—SANA introduced members of Congress to so yfoods through gift boxes delivered to offices on Capital Hill
- 2003—Soyfoods Come of Age, as SANA celebrated its 25th year in existence with a grand party in Washington, DC attended by some of the founders.
- 2004—SANA secures an opening in the National Child Nutrition Act for non-dairy alternatives, such as calcium-fortified soymilk, to be offered to children who don’t drink milk as part of a reimbursable meal
- 2004—SANA provided written and oral comments on the Dietary Guidelines, a proposed Food Guidance System, and Reformulating the WIC Food Package to secure a place for soyfoods such as soymilk, soymilk products, tofu, and meat alternatives in these federal documents and programs.
- 2005—SANA produced and released a VNR on soy and obesity that reach about 12 million people nation wide.
- 2006—SANA provided written comments to USDA on both the Revisions to the WIC Food Packages and the Inclusion of Milk Alternatives in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.
- 2007—SANA redesigned www.soyfoods.org to be more user-friendly and distributed Feel Alive! materials on soy and cholesterol to 10,000 dietitians.
- 2008—SANA releases an evidence based review in Obesity Reviews that shows soy protein is equal to other protein sources for assisting in weight loss.
2008 SANA Board of Directors
- Aaron Skyberg, SK Food International
- Elizabeth Tilak, WhiteWave Foods
- Ted Nordquist, WholeSoy Company
- Paul Lang, Natural Products, Inc.
- Mark Albertson, Illinois Soybean Association
- Bruce Bennet, ADM
- John Breen, PMO Wildwood
- Deb Wycoff, Devansoy
- Kent Holt, Solae Company
- Peter Golbitz, SunOpta
- Mohamed Obanni, The Hain Celestial Group
- Karl Weingartner, INTSOY, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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Yoko Difrancia, House Foods America Corp.
SANA Officers
- President – Mohamed Obanni
- Vice President -Aaron Skyberg
- Treasurer – Deb Wycoff
- Past President – Ted Nordquist
SANA Committee Chairs
- Marketing Committee – Yoko Difranciat and Courtney Kingery
- Membership Committee – Aaron Skybergand John Breen
- Technical Affairs Committee – Elizabeth Tilak and Karl Weingartner
- Sustainability Committee – Kent Holt and Peter Golbitz
- Executive Director – Nancy Chapman
SANA Membership Information
To learn about the benefits of membership and how to join SANA please visit our Become a Member page.
