German ingredients firm Nutrinova announced yesterday that it can market its concentrated DHA product to European food and supplement makers.
The microalgae-derived ingredient, DHActive, has been available in the US for use in foods since the beginning of the year. It has now been accepted for the European market, as it is considered under European novel foods regulation to be 'substantially equivalent' to the DHA produced by US-based Martek Biosciences, also manufactured through a patented fermentation process.
Both companies promote the vegetarian aspect of their products, although Nutrinova claims that DHActive is a more highly concentrated source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
"The European authorities determined that it was substantially equivalent to the OmegaTech [now owned by Martek] product. We just had to notify the Commission that it was going on the market and now it will be available in all member states. This does not mean that it is the same however, only in its nutrition and safety aspects,"Professor Gert-Wolfhard von Rymon Lipinski, director of regulatory services and management systems at Nutrinova, told NutraIngredients.com at FiE yesterday.
The ingredient, incorporated into a cream cheese for display at the show this week, can be used in spreads, yoghurts, cereals, dietetic foods and dietary supplements.
Nutrinova says its product has significant advantages over an omega-3 rich fish oil. In addition to being vegetarian, DHActive contains a much higher concentration of DHA (at least 43 per cent) and a lower amount of undesirable fatty acid.
The fatty acid is widely researched for its benefits in cardiovascular health and brain health, with recent studies also supporting its link to reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease. Fish oil producers have seen burgeoning demand for their products in recent months as consumer awareness grows.
DHActive has self-determined GRAS status (Generally Recognised As Safe) in the US, allowing the ingredient to be included in functional foods. Martek has had a slim lead in the European market with novel foods approval in June this year and a new distribution agreement set to supply European supplement makers.
Nutrinova is a wholly owned subsidiary of speciality food ingredients firm Celanese. It also markets the high intensity sweetener Acesulfame K, marketed under the Sunett brand name, and dietary fibres, such as Caromax, derived from the carob fruit. It had a turnover of 161 million euros in 2002.