“The interest in omega-3 fortification in food and beverage appears to be on the wane in developed markets where consumers have become apathetic towards their benefits,” said John Madden, head of ingredients.
“This is the case in Western Europe where omega-3 ingredients only posted a 1.4% growth from 2010 to 2015, with declining consumption in areas like bread contributing to this.”
Euromonitor data shows omega-3 food consumption grew 6% in Asia-Pacific “with spreadable fats and oils and milk [infant] formula particularly strong areas.”
“This suggests that going forward the fortunes of omega-3 ingredients will depend far more on developing markets,” Madden added.
Omega-3 forms like EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are most strongly linked in the scientific literature to heart and brain health benefits.