Increasing Omega-3 Options

Consumers are increasingly looking for food products with ingredients that will help them live longer, healthier lives. Omega-3 fatty acids have emerged among the most sought-after of such ingredients. “Consumer awareness on the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids is higher than it’s ever been,” says Patrick Luchsinger, marketing manager, North America, Lipid Nutrition. “As fish oil supplements were starting to become popular, we became aware that, pretty soon, consumers would want omega-3 fatty acids included in the everyday foods they ate, so that they could incorporate this healthy benefit fairly easily.”

In response, the company developed the Marinol™ line of marine-based omega-3 ingredients. “Natural marine sources offer the purest source of omega-3 fatty acids,” Luchsinger says. “And they are much more efficient in providing the amount of DHA and EPA needed to receive health benefits, such as cardiovascular health, joint health and neurological health.

“FDA recommends that consumers not exceed more than a total of 3 grams of omega-3 per day, with no more than 2 grams per day from a dietary supplement,” Luchsinger continues. “The FDA qualified health claim states that there is supportive, but not conclusive, scientific evidence that suggests a reduction in coronary heart disease as a result of eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This important health benefit will help consumers as they work to improve their diets by selecting foods that will benefit their health.”

The line includes EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in oil and powder forms, including:

The challenge for food manufacturers has been to find a way to incorporate omega-3 fatty acids into products without compromising flavor and stability. Both the HS Powder and DHA HS Powder include the carbohydrate mannitol, which improves oxidative stability and prevents the smell of fish oil when in powder form.

“Marine-based omega-3 fatty acids have a reputation for tasting and smelling ‘fishy’,” Luchsinger says. “This makes food processors hesitant to use them as ingredients. However, our unique manufacturing process and microencapsulation technology produces a flavor-friendly marine-based omega-3 ingredient with a clean taste and a non-fishy aroma, and allows a product to be shelf stable.”

Further, concentrated levels of DHA and EPA allow food processors to use less of the ingredient per serving to achieve a target amount in the finished product. “On the application side, we have seen that, typically, food manufacturers produce prototypes incorporating 50 mg to 100 mg of Marinol per serving in the end product,” Luchsinger says. Marinol fish oils and powders have been used successfully in the following applications: margarines, dairy spreads, nutritional bars, confectionary, crackers and yogurt.

The Marinol line currently has GRAS status in some 40 food categories, including baked goods and baking mixes, cereals, cheese products, chewing gum, egg products, meat products, nonalcoholic beverages and many more. 

Lipid Nutrition BV 
24708 W. Durkee Road 
Channahon, IL 60410-5249 
Phone: 815/730 5200 
E-mail: [email protected] 
Website: www.lipidnutrition.com