Omega-3 food fortification could become mandatory
The case for fortifying foods with omega-3 is gathering momentum and could even become law if the fatty acid's behavioural benefits can be proven.
The links between diet and behaviour - the report of an enquiry held by the Associate Parliamentary Food & Health Forum - urges the government to support and commission more research into the relationship between nutrition and cognitive health.
The report analyses numerous omega-3 studies including the role of omega-3 and neurotransmission; links between omega-3 and the incidence of depression; and how omega-3 affects violent behaviour.
The forum acknowledges that adding omega-3 to products is at present a commercial decision taken by food companies. However, it observes that the Food Standards Agency is in favour of the mandatory fortification of set foods with folic acid and believes that further omega-3 research may fuel similar proposals.
"If evidence of the importance of omega-3 for physical and mental health becomes more fully established, there may be a case for fortifying some foods with it, but with controls in place," says the forum.
While the report states that the fortification of food does nothing to help people make healthy choices, it claims that there is virtually no risk of overdosing on omega-3.
In order to meet the demand for further omega-3 research, the first hurdle the forum faces is getting the government to take its report forward.
"The handicap we have compared to a select committee is that the government hasn't got to report on our findings," says forum chairman Lord Rea. But he explains that the forum will get around this by asking parliamentary questions or setting up a debate to discuss the effect of nutrition on mental health.
