Functional

Vesteraalens AS omega-3 oil in Functional Foods

Omega-3 fatty acids, such as ALA (found mainly in vegetable sources such as nuts, seeds and oils) and EPA, DHA (found in fish), are essential building blocks of life, key for regulating the functioning of all body cells. There are numerous scientific evidences for the health benefits of omega-3s in cardiovascular, cognitive, eye, joint, immune, mood, and pre- & post-natal health. Considering our food history, the content of omega-3s in the human diet was much higher than it is today. In addition, todays’ ratio of omega-6s vs. omega-3s, especially in the Western diet, is distorted with too much omega-6s. To increase the omega-3s in our diet, a common message is to eat at least 2 servings of oily fish (e.g. salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, lake trout) per week.  It remains an open discussion on how much omega3s we should get each day. Based on consideration of several international standards, GOED has established a daily recommendation for EPA + DHA of:

• 500 mg for healthy adults

• 700-1000 mg for pregnant/lactating women and for secondary prevention of CHD

• > 1 g for additional health conditions

Vesteraalens AS commitment is to bring sustainable and healthy foods to the world. We know that our omega-3 oil is of the best sensory quality out there. Exactly what is needed to formulate functional foods with omega-3s, without any taste compromise! We have customer references that demonstrate the feasibility and success of fortifying bread, dairy, chocolate, biscuits and spreads, amongst others, with our omega-3 oil.

When fortifying food with omega-3s, the intention is to increase our omega-3 intake, thereby contributing to a healthier diet. To really have an impact, it is important to consider the requirements allowing claims. Below are listed nutritional claims and 3 target health claims we believe can be key for omega-3 functional foods.

Even with the best quality starting material of omega-3s, we are aware of how sensitive these valuable fatty acids are. We know how to handle them with care and will collaborate with you to formulate the appropriate omega-3 marine oil allowing you to develop both healthy and tasty functional food products!