Omega-3 brain and vision benefits could boost food firms

While the cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 are already well understood by consumers, last year’s positive EFSA rulings with regard to brain and eye health have significantly boosted consumer confidence.

That’s the view shared in this exclusive podcast for FoodManufacture.co.uk​ by Diana Cowland, a health and wellness analyst at Euromonitor.

‘Vital for consumer trust’ ​

“It can take a long time for the health benefits of omega-3 to be seen by the consumer, so that is why the sound scientific basis of the claim was vital for developing consumer trust,”​ she said. “This is now providing the largest opportunity for manufacturers if there is more use of the health claim.”​

Speaking to us at the Vitafoods trade show in Geneva last week, Cowland also highlighted how advances in microencapsulation techniques were broadening the range of products fortified with omega-3, and how the food fortification sector was now valued at 10 times that of the omega-3 supplements industry.

Cowland also discussed which food sectors were experiencing sustained growth for fortification and why she thought biscuit fortification would continue to soar.