Canada Approves Omega-3 EPA/DHA Ingredient for Most Foods

DARTMOUTH, Nova Scotia—Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd. (ONC) announced Health Canada expanded the scope of its Novel Food Fortification to include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from ONC for most food products. The approval also increased the amount of EPA and DHA from 50 mg to 100 mg per food serving, and allows ONC’s MEG-3® brand of omega-3 ingredients (www.meg-3.com) to be used in almost all food products in Canada. ONC’s original application, submitted in 2003, was approved by Health Canada only at the 50 mg inclusion rate in eight types of food. After completing a further safety assessment, the agency made the new amendment.

Ian Lucas, executive vice president of global marketing with ONC, said: “The exclusive approval of MEG-3® brand EPA and DHA ingredients for a broad range of foods in Canada is important because these nutrients are the active forms of omega-3 and offer true health benefits for Canadian consumers. Food companies can now put the most trusted source of omega-3 in their products, which will offer their consumers more value and product appeal, through differentiation. Consumers will now be able to trust their favorite brands for delivering the best source of omega-3.”