Omega-3 fatty acids have many health benefits but present challenges for manufacturers. While omega-3 is in high demand, it is difficult to determine the true market size due to inconsistencies in how it is categorized. Producing products with stable omega-3 oils and meeting labeling regulations can also be challenging. Alternatives sources of omega-3 like algal oils are increasingly important as fish stocks decline.

1. Omega-3: the market
.
The Fats of
•
Omega-3 has been
widely hailed for its
benefits to health.
But using the 'miracle'
ingredient presents
manufacturers with a
range of challenges,
WVWV.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM CR~ACART
says Paul Hart
Years ago mothers would have ensured Since the same metabolic pathway (shared usually do not: yet both have clearly
that their children remained healthy by enzymes) is used to produce omega-3 and independent health effects in the body.
giving them cod liver oil. Good for you it omega-6 fatty acids, intermediates and end Herein lies another communication
may have been, supplying both Vitamins A products in either series inhibit production complexity: omega-3 may be on the
and D, but it did not taste very nice - even of the whole pathway and suppress consumer's radar - but education is vital
when masked with orange flavouring. production of each other. This represents to prevent confusion so that consumers
A couple of generations on, there's a difficulty if we eat one omega family to understand the difference between
enormous interest in omega-3 and the excess. Which we do. essential ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) and
health and vitality it can bring. Put simply, One nutritional concern is that developed 'omega-3 in its most effective form' long-
just like some amino acids, vitamins and nations consume way too much omega-6 chain EPA and DHA.
trace minerals, omega-3 fatty acids are - which inhibits the omega-3 pathway and
essential for nutritional wellbeing. subsequent production of longer-chain Nutritional adequacy
Omega-3 innovation is developing at such EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA Though fatty acids, which the body is
a rapid pace that it is virtually impossible (docosahexaenoic acid). It is argued the unable to synthesise, are considered
to establish an accurate market value dietary ratio of the post-industrial age is essential, there are no statutory reference
and estimates have ranged from €196M about 15:1 whereas our ancestors enjoyed nutritional intake (RNI) recommendations in
-€780M about 3:1. Some nutritionists agree such place in EU member states.
Carla Ogeia, at researcher Mintel, said: ratios are too high and should be less than While studies indicate the benefits of
"Some ranges have only recently been 10:1 - or optimally 4-5:1. omega-3 for health, general wellbeing
fortified, so it's difficult to add up the value and improving clinical markers of disease
or market size~' Balanced intake - the optimal level of daily intake is under
However, such data does not distinguish But before yet another dietary concept scrutiny by nutritionists.
plant from marine sourced omega-3, takes hold with all the attendant consumer Various international recommendations
making it virtually impossible to segment communication complexities - let's take a for a reference nutritional intake have been
its functional category and establish a true step back. Do modern diets even reflect made for ALA: in 2004 the International
valuation based on ingredient type and nutritional adequacy for omega-6 and Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and
health benefits. omega-3? Emphatically 'yes' and 'no'. Lipids (ISSFAl) recommended 0.7% of
And if clarity here is not obvious to Omega-6 is usually present in the diet energy intake.
market analysts, then the issue is certainly at levels that exceed guideline nutritional However, the bulk of research studies,
no clearer to consumers. intakes - whereas those for omega-3 and suggestions for nutritional intake,
8 Ingredients, Health & Nutrition

2. Omega-3: the market
=-~~s ~o long-chain omega-3 EPA and DHA. 60% deficient in the recommended daily • Claim: 'omega-3 fatty acid source': the
, ISSFAL recommended a daily intake of omega-3 DHA and EPA. The food must contain more than 15% of the
-~ s f 0.65g long-ehain omega-3 EPA average daily omega-3 consumption of recommended nutritional intake (with RNI
~-:::::>rl (min. 0.22g each) as part of a pregnant women on the trial was just set at 2g/day for an adult male) for an adult
::: :::JO<cal/day diet. The committee for the 240mg per day (110 mg/day EPA and 130 male of the omega-3 fatty acids concerned
::~ OOIET project recommends 2g ALA mg/day DHA). For pregnant and lactating per 100g or 100ml or 100kcal.
=-0 200mg long chain omega-3. women a daily intake of 130mg omega-3 • Claim 'high in omega-3 fatty acids': the
'1 France, the Apports Nutritionnels DHA represents a deficiency of 60% for food in question must contain more than
::::'lseilles pour la Population Franr;aise this vital nutrient compared to ISSFALs 30% of the recommended nutritional
.:. 'C) recommended 500mg long chain recommendation. intake for an adult male of the omega-3
:: ega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids This UK data is also confirmed by the fatty acids concerned per 100g or 100ml or
::>UFAs)or men, 400mg for women and
f findings of a dietary study of pregnant 100kcal.
: e elderly, which equates to 0.2% of and lactating US women that reported an If these nutrition claims are eventually
e ergy intake. average daily intake of omega-3 of just incorporated into the Regulation annex,
In 2004 the UK Food Standards Agency 54mg DHA and 22mg EPA16 - 20% of fortification levels will need to be raised:
FSA). took advice from the Scientific the DHA intake recommended by ISSFAL. for the 'omega-3 fatty acid source' 15% of
dvisory Committee on Nutrition, to Less than 2% of American women met 2g/day RNI total omega-3 per 100g is 300+
recommend increased weekly consumption this recommendation. mg; and 'High in omega-3 fatty acids' 30 ~
of fish for the general population of one to In France, the ANC recommended long RNI is 600mg per 100g.
four portions (140g) of oily fish (eg. sardine, chain omega-3 consumption of 1,000 mg As a roug guioe: "0' - 00'T.9 ::~.:. 2-::
herring, anchovy) per week. This equates per day or 0.4% of energy for pregnant DHA,incl ding:::>P' ao sa"0--:-s'-0::,2S
to a daily long chain omega-3 PUFA intake or lactating women. A high-water mark oes adding i sno .-enain ,.L.;..: ,er ioeal
range of 0.45 - 0.9 g per day, or 3g per indeed circumstances this ould gi ea 21 Yo rise
week. in total omega-3 to 120+ mg.
However, some health professionals Health claims
regard this level as a minimum for omega-3 In 2005, the European Commission asked Big deal!
EPA and DHA intake. Also since only about The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) About three times this amount is required
a third of UK adults eat oily fish, and then to provide an opinion on nutrition claims to reach the proposed lower claim - and
perhaps one small portion per week, and for omega-3 fatty acids and concluded a six-fold increase would be needed to
seven out of 10 eat no fish at all, including that the following claims be added to the reach a 'high in omega-3 fatty acids' claim.
vegans and some vegetarians, the FSA Commission's proposed annex of the Such levels will present a major challenge
recommendations may not be achievable. Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation. to manufacturers and may affect the food
The proposed claims do not distinguish - taint could well be an issue in bland
Pregnancy and lactation between ALA and long chain omega-3 products such as yoghurt and bread.
The omega-3 DHA nutritional status PUFAs, which have different nutritional roles Meanwhile, the Nutrition and Health
of pregnant and lactating women is a Claims Regulation will establish the legal
framework for EU member state nutrition
separate consideration. During the final
three months of pregnancy and lactation,
Analysts have claims and eventual health claims based
DHA is an important nutrient as the estimated that on 'generally-accepted science'. EU
member states are currently canvassing
central nervous system and brain of the
foetus and infant develop strongly. DHA is the market's value manufacturers for submissions on claims
to be considered.
provided by the mother during pregnancy
and thereafter is a constituent of breast ranges from It is likely that the UK Joint Health
milk - however, precise nutritional status
here varies with intake. Indeed, most infant €196M -€780M Claims Initiative's carefully defined position
distinguishing between short and long-
formula milk on the market now provides
DHA for this reason.
The FSA recommends, 'girls and
women who might have a baby one
day' and 'women who are pregnant or
breastfeeding' eat two (140g) portions
of oily fish a week - half the level of the
general population, when mums should be
eating more. This lower recommendation
is based on a concern that oily fish may
contain contaminants such as mercury,
dioxins and PCBs that could affect a
baby's development. However, sourcing
ingredients from 'clean' fisheries, or from
fermented cultures of marine algae, is
E-.:een
entirely feasible.
r",
ISSFAL - an international panel of health
r:: professionals and omega-3 researchers
- recommends a daily intake of 300mg per
day of DHA during pregnancy and lactation.
According to research published earlier
this year, pregnant women in the UK are Short-chain omega-3 occurs naturally in such crops as flax
Ingredients, Health & Nutrition 9

3. Omega-3: the market
chain omega-3 efficacy for its 'heart health'
claim will be considered carefully by EFSA.
It could be a while enough fish left in the sea for everyone.
Thus, opportunities for fermenting
This could lead to meaningful health claims before we see marine micro-algae are being exploited.
being set at a total of 200mg of long-chain Progress is expected shortly from Lonza
omega-3 - approximately double the level,
per serving, to which the food industry
omega-3 cereals and Nu-Mega that will help provide more
competitive pricing for the most expensive,
currently formulates nutritional claims. ... unless they are but DHA-rich, omega-3.
Alternatively, a sustainable and
Manufacturing
PUF. oils are highly unstable and readily
kipper flavoured pollutant free source could be genetically
engineered plants with genes from micro-
:: -::;-5", - li seed oil (flax) air dries to becomes a vain and forlorn hope. algae or fungi that enable them to create
~::~ 3 :~~gn c-no or varnish_ owever, A range of ingredients is necessary to long-chain omega-3. DuPont is field-testing
::- 5 ::-::::2--:-. - ~3'-re -S -s m ch less service various food sector categories a soybean with a 40% long-chain omega-3
:::SS -3::: =_ -2 r: aro, :- ene:, ra cid across the huge range of potential content, while BASF and co-researchers
:3s:es a oe pre emeo, e 0 d supply applications. But it could be a while before on the EU-funded Lipgene project have
chain care, by an appropriate antioxidant we see omega-3 cereals - huge surface been developing transgenic crops to find
mixture, either in the oil blend or as part of area, long shelf-life and, without nitrogen- those best able to convert ALA into EPA
the ingredient mix to achieve the necessary flushed packaging, potential for speedy and DHA.
shelf-life_ deterioration - unless they are kipper However, enhancing omega-3 production
In terms of product application, marine flavoured_ at the expense of omega-6, due to the
oil sensitivity to deterioration doesn't end Ocean Nutrition's Meg-3 is getting much shared production pathway, could be
with a stable ingredient - it continues in marketing support and does not disappoint trickier_ Meanwhile, Monsanto is looking at
the product This favours short shelf-life, Meg-3 is probably the premier ingredient in SDA (Stearidonic acid) production.
mid-pH products such as bakery or dairy. terms of market share too. It is reckoned to While a genetically modified (GM)
However, their very blandness means that account for nigh on 50% of the global fish approach will present little if any consumer
reminders of rocky foreshore seaweed oil market in supplements and food. concern in the US, in Europe sensitivity to
may be picked up - even if the long-chain But also give a thought to the source oil GM ingredients and their acceptability will
omega-3 oil has been nowhere near a dead ratio: if the health claim is anti-inflammation be aroused and, unless retail buyers are
fish - algal oil producers please note I then EPA-rich may be best - if it is cognitive convinced, it simply will not happen. However,
Micro-encapsulated powders offer long development DHA - eg. Clover's tuna oil there would be a clear fish-saving supply chain
ingredient shelf-life and ease of handling, Nu-Mega - would be better advantage and consumer health benefits.
dosing and processing, along with ability Ingredient costs depend on the Attracting less health-aware consumers
to withstand heat and homogenisation. nutritional claim; high quality oils are with omega-3 in more tempting substrates,
However, the protective micro-encapsulant cheaper than powders, whereas cultured such as chocolate, combines health with
raises issues of bioavailability and analytical algal oils are the most expensive. pleasure.
recovery. Also, the rigours of the drying Danone's DanaCol, which packs an Rich in antioxidants, substituting
process impose stress on the sensitive almighty omega-3 punch with 200mg per saturated fat for omega-3 could be a
oil- and the encapsulation material adds 100g, falls well within the UK JHCI's heart dream combination: except that the new
further components (eg. protein) - directly health claim and sets a benchmark to beat Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation
proportional to the omega-3 loading This level is achieved courtesy of DSM will have something to say about claims
- which may affect product properties. Nutritionals' excellent emulsion technology for foods with high levels of nutrients such
From a colloid science perspective this - seen in sister company Puelva's omega- as saturated fat and sugar considered
may provide unwitting complexes beyond 3 milk in Spain (sales €100M, 2005) and detrimental to health.
the supplier's application expertise. Ways Dairy Crest's St Ivel Advantage Clever Milk.
around this involve adding secondary DSM has worked hard to achieve excellent Paul Hart is general manager of ingredients
ingredients and process steps - which can taste with a knock-out loading. consultancy Nutraceuticals Ltd He has
exceed manufacturers' capital resource more than 25 years of experience in food
allocation - thereupon 'stir it and see' Not enough fish in the sea? R&D, intellectual property rights and
Achieving nutritional adequacy for omega-3 regulation. paul.m.hart@btopenworldcom
in the general population is a worthy
objective but raises concerns that because
fish stocks have been depleted,
alternatives sources will have to
be sought as there simply aren't
.
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