Ferré & Consulting Blog (English Version)

The omega-3 ingredients market is set to expand, thanks to the essential fatty acids health-giving properties and new production technologies which allow omega-3 fatty oils to be added to an expanding number of foods and beverages, says the US market research company Packaged Facts.

There is good evidence that omega-3 fatty acids support good cardiovascular, reproductive and immune system health. The report estimates U.S. retail sales of food and beverage products with a ‘high omega-3’ or ‘high DHA’ claim grew 11% and approached $4 billion in 2010.

Packaged Facts predicts the U.S. omega-3 ingredient market will grow 40% between 2010 and 2015 as U.S. retail sales of ‘high omega-3’ or ‘high DHA’ foods and beverages approach $7 billion by the end of 2015.

For many years fish oils and powders containing omega-3 fatty acids were consumed as dietary supplements. With better encapsulation technology companies have began to add fish oils to different types of foods, beginning with spreads and oils and continuing into dairy products, cereals and even fruit-flavoured beverages.

“When the first omega-3-enriched foods entered the market in 2003, some predicted that there would be a flood of products within a couple of years,” said Don Montuori, publisher of Packaged Facts. “But the challenges of finding ways to get the fatty acids into foods and beverages, making the resulting product palatable and achieving a reasonable shelf-life, were more daunting than expected.”

“Now that many of these technology hurdles have been overcome, more categories of products have become viable candidates for fortification with omega fatty acids. Several industry experts we interviewed believe that the biggest trend in the next five to 10 years will be food and beverage companies seeking to fortify their products with omegas.”

Source: Ingredients Network

Ingredients fatty acids, omega 3

omega-3

LycoRed has launched a vegetarian Omega-3 ‘Lyc-O-Mega 10 AL’, designed especially for the bakery and confectionery industries. Trials of the fish odour free algae oil ingredient have been conducted in chocolates, crackers and bread. The chocolate tablet (5g), for example, contains 5mg of DHA, which is one third of the recommended daily consumption, without affecting its taste profile.

“Following the latest publication of The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on Article 13.1, which included positive opinions on the use of DHA, Lyc-Omega 10AL provides all the health benefits of Omega-3 that is derived from fish source, with a bland taste for a wide range of applications,” says Udi Alroy, vice president of global marketing & sales at LycoRed.

Source: Confectionery Production

Ingredients DHA, LycoRed, omega 3

First Nationally Distributed Bread of Its Kind Provides New Way to Incorporate DHA-Omega 3 into Children’s Diets

Sara Lee North American Fresh Bakery today announced the expansion of its successful Soft & Smooth bread line with the introduction of its new Sara Lee® Soft & Smooth Plus breads Made with DHA Omega-3. Based on a growing body of scientific evidence, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) Omega-3 helps to support healthy brain development1. Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Plus breads provide moms with a nutritious and simple means to ensure their children continue to receive the benefits of DHA Omega-3, together with other sources of DHA in their the diet, beyond infant formula and jarred baby food.

“While moms recognize that DHA Omega-3 is important to their child’s diet, it can be difficult to incorporate, especially with picky eaters who turn their nose at one of the most common sources – fish,” said Dr. Alanna Levine, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and parenting-expert. “If parents can add small portions of DHA into their child’s diet from a variety of sources – especially in something as palatable as a mild, soft-textured bread – it’s easy for their child to get the daily nutrition they need.”

Available in 100% Whole Wheat and Made with Whole Grain White, Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Plus Made with DHA Omega-3 breads are the first nationally distributed breads of its kind in the United States. The new breads provide moms an option for their little ones that contains a portion of their daily recommended whole grain intake along with the mild taste and soft texture inherent in the Sara Lee Soft & Smooth line, now with DHA Omega-3. life’sDHA™, the algae-based ingredient that provides Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Plus bread with DHA Omega-3 nutrient, is produced by Martek Biosciences Corporation (Martek).

“We understand the need to ensure proper nutrition through all stages of life especially in younger children,” said Tim Zimmer, vice president, Sara Lee North American Fresh Bakery. “Bread with DHA Omega-3 is an excellent and simple way to provide moms with a great-tasting, nutritious option their little ones will love.”

Both varieties of Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Plus Made with DHA Omega-3 breads contain 12 mg of DHA Omega-3 per two-slice serving, which is at least 10 percent of the Institute of Medicine’s suggested daily amount for kids, depending on age, ranging from 1-13 years old2. Years of research show a role for DHA in the normal development and functioning of the brain1, especially in supporting healthy brain development during those early years when it makes a difference.

“Martek continually aims to provide resources to companies like Sara Lee so together we can promote health and wellness throughout all stages of life,” said David Abramson, president of Martek Biosciences Corporation. “Combining our life’sDHA with the Soft & Smooth product is a natural partnership.”

About DHA Omega-3/life’sDHA™

DHA Omega-3 is a long-chain Omega-3 fatty acid that serves as a primary building block for the brain and the eyes and supports brain, eye and heart health. Scientific reviews highlight the importance of DHA Omega-3 in proper brain and eye development and function, as well as its importance in cardiovascular health. Yet despite its importance, most consumers do not get enough DHA in their diets.

Fish are often incorrectly thought to be the only source of DHA Omega-3. However, life’sDHA™ offers a trusted, vegetarian form of DHA. Fish are sources of DHA because of the DHA-rich microalgae in their food chain; life’sDHA is derived directly from microalgae, a renewable, sustainable source of DHA that does not deplete ocean resources.

Companies bread, DHA Omega-3, omega 3, Sara Lee

All fats are made of various mixtures of saturated and unsaturated (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) fatty acids. All fatty acids are composed of chains of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Fatty acids are named and numbered based on how their carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms are arranged. “Omega-3”, “Omega-6”, and “Omega-9” are actually chains of unsaturated fatty acids categorized based on where the double bond between two carbon atoms occurs. Omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 have a carbon–carbon double bond in the #3 position, the #6 position, and the #9 position of their carbon chains, respectively.

Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely important to health because they help suppress inflammation, an underlying cause of many diseases. There are a number of omega-3 fatty acids. They can be categorized according to short chain or long chain configurations. One important short chain omega-3 fatty acid is alpha linolenic acid (ALA). It is essential to health; however, our bodies cannot make it, so we must get this fatty acid from our diets. It is a nutrient most Americans do not get enough of as relatively few foods are good sources. Canola and soybean oils are two widely available dietary sources of essential ALA so their inclusion in the daily diet is healthful. Longer chain omega-3’s are found in fatty fish, which also have health benefits.

Omega-6 fatty acids are also essential to health and are nutrients that our bodies cannot make. The most familiar omega-6 fatty acid is called linoleic acid (LA). Many oils contain omega-6 fatty acids, including safflower, sunflower, soybean, corn, cottonseed, and peanut oils so it is much easier to get the amount needed through our daily diet. There has been some debate regarding the importance of a balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the diet, but others feel that it is the absolute amounts of each fatty acid in the diet that matters. The current recommendation for omega-6 fatty acid intake is 5-10% of total calories.

Omega-9 fatty acids are found in various vegetable oils and animal fats. Unlike omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, they are not essential, but they too are important to health. Oleic acid is one of the main omega-9 fatty acids, and emerging evidence is showing that it may be important in metabolism and weight regulation. Oleic acid is the main component of olive oil, as well as, some of the new generation, heat stable oils, including high-oleic canola and sunflower oils. Another term for high-oleic oils is Omega-9 oils. Omega-9 oils refer to a category of oils that have over 70% oleic acid and less than 3% linolenic (ALA).

When it comes to frying, the fatty acid composition of the oil determines how well it stands up to the high heat of frying. Oils high in oleic acid are very heat stable. Omega-3 fatty acids are not very heat stable however they impart an important flavor profile to the oil so when there is just enough (above 1% or so), taste perception of the cooked food product is improved. New generation, low linolenic (ALA) soy oils also have enhanced heat stability and improved frying performance.

Ingredients fats, fatty acids, omega 3, omega 6, omega 9, saturated, unsaturated