Latest Functional Food Launch - Fortified Pasta Sauce
By Pam Ahlberg
Functional foods are those products that often have the same taste and appearance as conventional food, but are designed to contain an extra ingredient with a documented beneficial effect on health. Consumer demand for such products has prompted Omega Protein Corporation and Organic Food Products, Inc. to join forces to launch a new line of pasta sauce containing Omega-3 fatty acids.
The new sauce line, marketed under Organic Food Products' established Millina's brand as "Millina's Healthy Kitchen", will initially consist of three of the most popular pasta sauce flavors and will be available through both natural foods and mass-market retailers. The sauce line will be debuted at the Anaheim Natural Food Expo with roll out scheduled for March.
"Many experts point out that functional foods are quickly attracting the attention of health-conscious people who are exploring ways to reduce their risk of cancer and heart disease through dietary changes," said Omega Protein president and CEO, Joe von Rosenberg. "By using OmegaPure in their pasta sauces, OFPI will not only get a basic edible oil, but also the additional benefit of Omega-3 fatty acids."
Omega3s are polyunsaturated fatty acids found almost exclusively in fish and shellfish. According to Dr. Joyce Nettleton, a nutrition consultant and lecturer at Tufts University Frances Stern Nutrition Center, "new findings from populations, clinical trials and studies with patients have made it clear that Omega3s are vital from cradle to rocker."
Studies have linked Omega-3 long chain essential fatty acids with the treatment and prevention of disease and with overall healthy developments in areas such as: Cardiovascular systems; treatment of inflammatory disorders; human development; and fitness and performance.
Omega-3 fatty acids are immediately bioavailable because they are long chain. Other sources of Omega-3 fatty acids may be short chain, which the body must then convert to long chain before utilizing.
Omega Protein's Omega-3 fatty acid product was granted GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) status from FDA in November 1997. However, food products containing the same kind of Omega-3 fatty acids have been available in Europe for years, in items ranging from bread to carbonated drinks.
Omega-3 fatty acids can be added to food products either as the pure oil or as microcapsules. In this way it is possible to enrich a range of food products including margarine, ice cream, salad dressings, meat products, cereals, yogurt, cheese products, prepared meats, crackers, cookies, bakery products, soups, sauces and condiments. The food can be protected from oxidation by the proper choice of product, formulation, antioxidants and packaging.
Both Organic Food Products and Omega Protein are hoping that Millina's Healthy Kitchen pasta sauce is just the first in a series of health food products containing Omega-3 fatty acids. Whether more follow will depend on consumer response.
Omega Protein Corporation, headquartered in Hammond, LA, is a leading producer of fish oil and marine protein products from menhaden. Omega Protein's edible fish oil is high in nutritionally desirable Omega-3 fatty acids and used in a variety of food products.
Based in Morgan Hill, CA, Organic Food Products, Inc. manufactures and markets pesticide-free and preservative-free organic food products, as well as a range of natural food products under the Garden Valley Natural, Parrot, Millina's Finest, Cinagro, and Grandma Millina's Kitchen brands. The company produces bottled salsas, sauces and juices.
For more information, contact, Omega Protein, P.O. Box 1799, Hammond, LA 70404. Tel: 504-345-6234: Fax 504-345-5774.