The opening of a $10 million, expansion for omega-3 fish oil concentrate production facility in Mulgrave, Nova Scotia will make, it claims, Ocean Nutrition Canada (ONC) the largest manufacturer in the world of high quality omega-3 fish oil concentrates.
Once the new facility is working at full capacity, it is expected to increase production capacity by 400 per cent.
Other omega-3 producers have also been overwhelmed by demand. Norwegian firm Pronova Biocare is currently investing more than €6 million in production facilities to meet the rapid growth in the market for marine omega-3 fatty acids over the last year.
Robert Orr, president of Ocean Nutrition Canada, said: "This significant expansion is in response to market demand for omega-3 concentrates. It will fill the gap resulting from increased consumer demand in omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA/EPA)."
The recent FDA-approved qualified health claim reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease as well as a constant flow of new research on health benefits of EPA and DHA, have resulted in a huge increase in media attention and resulting consumer awareness of the value of EPA and DHA in human nutrition.
The US market has experienced a 20 per cent increase in annual growth rate for omega-3 EPA and DHA concentrates and the trend is expected to continue.
Increasing concerns about the growing obesity epidemic have pushed omega-3 fatty acids into the limelight. As a result consumer awareness has risen - over 50 per cent of consumers in the US are aware of omega-3 fatty acids.
The increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids has been linked to several health benefits. As well as improved cardiovascular health, brain development, particularly for the developing foetus and the infant, it is believed the fatty acids provide protection against type 2 diabetes.
Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA are found in fish and seaweed. Fish are the best source of physiologically useful long chain omega-3s. Alphalinolenic acid (ALA), which is a shorter chain omega-3 fatty acid, can be found in plants and plant oils such as soy and some vegetables such as spinach, green peas and beans.