CRN Group Ratifies Long Chain Omega-3 Monograph

CRN Group Ratifies Long Chain Omega-3 Monograph

WASHINGTON--The Council for ResponsibleNutrition's (CRN) Omega-3 Working Group ratified a voluntary monograph for longchain Omega-3 essential fatty acid (EFA) products marketed in North America. TheWorking Group, which included representatives from 24 companies, has beenworking on the voluntary monograph for more than a year, seeking input fromindustry, regulators, academics and consumer groups.

The monograph specifies a uniform standard of analysis, qualityand purity criteria for the long chain omega-3s EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) andDHA (docosahexanoic acid). It identifies desirable limits for measures ofoxidation in the polyunsaturated oils, establishing maximum limits for peroxidesand anisidine. It also establishes stringent limits on remaining traces ofcontaminants such as dioxins, PCBs and heavy metals such as mercury; the limitsare consistent with current or emerging European standards and those establishedunder California's Prop 65.

CRN's Working Group intends to submit the monograph forconsideration by the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), the American Oil Chemists Societyand the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The intent is thatstandards equivalent to the voluntary monograph would be adopted to providefurther incentive for compliance with the standards.

Several exhibitors at the upcoming SupplySide West participatedin the CRN Working Group. They include:

CRN Working Group Holding Session at SupplySide West

The Omega-3 Working Group is holding a session at SupplySideWest that is open to all attendees to discuss the new monograph. Among thetopics to be covered are technical details of the monograph and how the industryand consumers can benefit from the efforts to provide quality products. Thesession is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 5, at 8 a.m. in room 506 at the SandsExpo Center.