Omega-3 Fortification Hits Foodservice

According to the Jan. 2009 report, “Omega Fatty Acids: Trends in the Worldwide Food and Beverage Markets” from Packaged Facts, New York, “more than 8,000 research publications support the health claims of EPA and DHA. Only calcium has as much scientific evidence for importance in human health.”

The retail market for products fortified with omega-3s has enjoyed tremendous expansion in recent years, with $4.6 billion in global retail sales in 2007, a 33.5% increase from 2006. This sector is continuing to show strong growth, and growth in the foodservice sector is likely to follow.

People are looking for ways to eat a more-healthful diet, and that one of the areas in which Americans can significantly improve their diet is through the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, notes Cassie France-Kelly, senior manager, public relations, Martek Biosciences Corporation, Columbia, MD. “Recent trends and demand from consumers have driven restaurants to offer more healthy offerings, and one of the biggest efficiencies in the U.S. diet, and one of the things that has been on the top of the mind for U.S. consumers, is omega-3 fatty acids,” she says. “We’re trying to find ways to get DHA back into our diet, and consumers are demanding healthier choices.”

Starbucks Coffee Company uses Martek’s algae-derived, vegetarian-friendly DHA to fortify its apple bran muffin. “We get it from algae as opposed to fish, so it’s vegetarian, which makes it a nice option for things like muffins,” says France-Kelly. The DHA powder can be added to the muffin mix and baked right in, says France-Kelly—all without any flavor or stability implications.

The average American consumes only about 60 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per day, and the fortified apple bran muffins contain 50 mg. “You’re hitting almost the whole amount that an American would get in their day to begin with,” France-Kelly says. “Fish is obviously a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, but unfortunately people don’t eat enough fish for various reasons. So any product that’s enhanced with DHA is a great complement. It’s helping you hit your mark if you have a couple of these products.”